Category: NSW News

Liberal candidate for Kiama Serena Copley welcomed the announcement by NSW Liberal Leader Mark Speakman that a NSW Liberal Government will deliver $26 million for urgently needed upgrades to the Kiama Sports Precinct Complex.

Ms Copley said this $26 million commitment will deliver the first stage of Kiama Council’s masterplan for a modern, fit-for-purpose sporting precinct for Kiama.

This major investment will deliver:

·       New football amenities and changerooms, including dedicated facilities for female players for the first time
·       New netball amenities and changerooms
·       Installation of high-grade lighting for four football fields (including cricket) and the athletics track
·       Resurfacing and reconfiguration of outdoor netball courts and car parking
·       Extensive new drainage and irrigation to weather-proof fields and track
·       Construction of a new synthetic athletics track (replacing the existing grass track)
·       Installation of new CCTV to improve community safety and security

Ms Copley said the local sporting community had been crying out for these upgrades.

“From netball and basketball to football, cricket, athletics and Little A’s, the precinct supports thousands of players every week. This funding will make sure those facilities keep pace with demand and are safe, accessible and ready for the future,” Ms Copley said.

“This announcement is about listening to the needs of local clubs and delivering what matters most, modern amenities, safer playing surfaces, and facilities that encourage participation for all, including women and juniors.”

“I’m proud to be part of the Liberal Team that believes so strongly in Kiama and is willing to invest to ensure we have a better future for generations to come.”

The NSW Waradas have crowned their inspiring campaign at the First Nations Netball Tournament with a thrilling gold medal victory, edging out Queensland 53-51 in extra time. Showcasing resilience and belief under pressure, it was the Warada’s relentless attitude that carried them over the line in a memorable grand final.

Head Coach Colleen Mitchell praised her players for their ability to embrace the challenge of a demanding week, which saw them collectively play close to 10 matches.

“”I’m so proud of this incredible group of athletes. This was a big ask for such a young team, but their resilience and energy were outstanding. They not only held their own against older and more experienced opponents, but also grew stronger with each match.”

Mitchell also highlighted the team’s versatility throughout the tournament.

“We used the week to trial different combinations, and that really helped us adapt to the intensity of finals netball. The players showed real maturity in how they embraced those changes and supported each other on and off the court.”

NSW started strongly, edging ahead by one at the first break before extending their lead to five midway through the second quarter. Relentless defensive pressure from Jaylah Boney combined with the sharp shooting of Charlotte Ryan kept Queensland on the back foot. But as half time approached, Queensland clawed their way back, narrowing the margin to just two goals, with NSW leading 21-19.

The third quarter shifted the momentum. When Acacia Ellers was handed a two-minute penalty, Queensland capitalised, turning a five-goal deficit into a two-goal advantage by the three quarter break. NSW showed their resilience in the last term, fighting back from four goals down to draw level at 40-40, even having a chance to steal the lead in the dying minutes. At full time, the scoreboard read 42-42, sending the contest into extra time.

With the pressure at its peak, the Waradas held their composure. Their determination and grit shone through in the final minutes as they steadied, regrouped, and pushed ahead to claim a famous victory – and the gold medal.

“It was a great dynamic among an amazing group of young athletes – there was lots of determination and grit about them,” Mardi Aplin, Netball NSW General Manager of Performance and Pathways said.

Featuring a dynamic new line-up of athletes aged just 17-21 years, the Waradas impressed across the week with their determination, grit, and ability to adapt. Most of the 10 athletes had previously crossed paths at state tournaments, but this was the first time they united on the national stage as one team.

Across the campaign, the Waradas produced dominant performances, recording victories over Northern Territory (45-19), Yakanarna (43-28), Victoria (48-32), Netball Lutruwita (44-32), Western Australia (55-39), and the ACT (37-23). Their only loss in the preliminary rounds came against the more experienced Queensland side (35-51), setting the stage for a highly anticipated rematch in the decider.

A highlight of the First Nations Netball tournament was the cultural immersion day, where athletes came together to experience bush tucker making and combination painting.

“It was great for allowing different mobs from around Australia to come together for a common reason,” Aplin said.

Mitchell added:

“That cultural experience was just as important as what happened on court. It reminded the athletes of the bigger picture – the power of connection, identity, and pride in representing their communities.”

The Minns Labor Government is continuing work to build a safer New South Wales for victim-survivors of domestic and family violence by strengthening the workforce and sector that provides them with crucial support.

The work our domestic and family violence specialist workers do is incredibly challenging, so it’s vital that they feel supported at work through better training, supervision and career opportunities, to avoid burnout.

A strong and robust workforce will be able to continue to provide the best care and support to victim-survivors.

Launching today, “Strengthening the NSW Domestic and Family Violence Sector: Workforce Development Strategy 2025-2035” lays the foundation for long-term reform of the NSW domestic and family violence sector, to support the recruitment and retention of highly skilled workers who help victim-survivors stay safe, heal and recover.

It includes actions such as prioritising workplace safety, health and wellbeing, improving workforce recruitment and renewal, driving workforce diversity, boosting collaboration and supporting skill and capability development.

Backed by $2.5 million in the 2025/26 Budget, this will allow us to begin critical work to make sure workers have access to high-quality supervision, recognise the value of lived experience in the workforce, and investigate models for student recruitment into the sector.

The Strategy was developed in consultation with over 100 organisations in the domestic and family violence sector, including Domestic Violence NSW, Women’s Legal Services, No to Violence, Aboriginal Women’s Advisory Network, and many others.

It is underpinned by significant research and evidence, including an extensive survey of the domestic and family violence specialist workforce.

This is part of the government’s wider effort to secure the future of our domestic and family frontline services, which includes moving to 5-year contracts for most services in the domestic and family violence sector, giving them funding certainty to attract and retain workers.

The specialist domestic and family violence workforce is a vital part of the work the Minns Government is doing to help victim-survivors escape violence and rebuild their lives. They are the frontline workers who provide supports including through the Staying Home Leaving Violence program, Women’s Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Service, Safety Action Meetings and other casework.

The Strategy will help build the sustainability, capacity and capability of the sector, so workers can better support victim survivors, and enhance responses for people using violence.

This is in addition to funding to expand critical support services such as Staying Home Leaving Violence, strengthening our laws to protect victim-survivors and rolling out New South Wales’s first dedicated primary prevention strategy to stop the violence before it starts.

To learn more about the Workforce Strategy, go to: https://dcjnsw.info/DFV_WorkforceStrategy

Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison said:

“Eliminating domestic and family violence is a priority for the NSW Government, and we need to do everything we can to support the workforce that is committed to achieving this goal.

“This is long-term work that has been neglected and that the sector has been crying out for.

“Domestic and family violence specialist frontline workers who provide vital support for victim-survivors of abusive relationships are passionate about their work, have deep empathy for the people they work with, and are committed to ending domestic and family violence.

“That is why we must support them. This Strategy is the first step, setting out a 10-year roadmap for us to create a stronger, more robust workforce that feels supported and can attract new people to it.

“A strong and connected workforce will continue to respond to and create safety for families escaping violence.”

NSW Women’s Safety Commissioner Dr Hannah Tonkin said:

“Improving responses to domestic and family violence requires a specialist workforce that is well equipped, connected and supported to do this critical work. The specialist sector in NSW has incredible expertise and commitment, but many workers are overstretched and burdened by stress, burnout and vicarious trauma.

“This new workforce strategy has the potential to offer meaningful support to these vital frontline workers and better protect their health and welfare, while also improving their training and career opportunities and increasing pathways into the sector.

“I’m pleased to see the announcement of the workforce strategy and look forward to seeing it implemented across the state.”

Acting CEO Domestic Violence NSW Carolyn Hodge said:

“The specialist domestic and family violence workforce delivers complex, life-saving support to victim-survivors across NSW every day.

“This Strategy is an important opportunity to strengthen and expand this essential workforce, delivering better outcomes for people, families, and communities.

“In implementing this Strategy, we’ll be looking to ensure it’s backed by the sustained funding and resourcing needed to meet its objectives and ultimately enhance NSW’s response to ending domestic and family violence.”

The Adira Centre Casework Lead Dilini De Silva said:

“Domestic, family and sexual violence practitioners drive positive safety outcomes but need to be supported with the same dignity and recognition they offer victim-survivors.

“The new Strategy provides critical opportunities to build, enable and sustain a domestic, family and sexual violence workforce that reflects the diversity of the NSW community and is supported with the skills, knowledge and resources to provide culturally responsive care to improve equity of access and outcomes for all.”

Liberty Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Services People and Culture Manager Brooke Maggs said:

“This is a positive step to strengthen the domestic and family violence workforce and ensure long-term sustainability.

“The strategy creates a clear roadmap for building and investing in a workforce that is recognised for their expertise and better supported to respond to increasing demand for services.”

Support:

If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, call the Police on Triple Zero / 000.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic and family violence, call the NSW Domestic Violence Line on 1800 65 64 63 for free counselling and referrals, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For confidential advice, support, and referrals, contact 1800 RESPECT or 13 YARN.

The Minns Labor Government is investing in two projects to boost the South Coast’s local economy as part of its plan to drive economic development and support job creation in regional NSW.

The Government’s NSW Regional Development Trust program will fund $5.5 million, and the project’s proponents will invest $4.7 million to deliver much needed training opportunities for groups of vulnerable young people in key growth sectors and upgrading critical infrastructure that will deliver economic benefits.

This funding is part of the Minns Government’s approach to delivering smart investment, with local partners, to ensure there is a focus on priorities that make a real difference to regional communities.

The two South Coast projects receiving Regional Economic Development and Community Investment Program funds are as follows:

• $5 million – Upgrade the key South Coast aviation hub – Merimbula Airport
  • The runway extension will allow for larger aircraft to operate at the airport, benefiting essential goods and health services, boosting passenger transport opportunities, strengthening capacity for aeromedical and emergency services, and increasing tourism opportunities.
  • The project will extend the Merimbula Airport runway at both ends, increasing take-off length from 1,602 metres to 1,800 metres.
• $512,000 – Training young people in key horticulture and land management growth sectors
  • Deliver training in Bega in partnership with Kiama Community Colleges for 60 participants for the Grow your Future project where youth aged 15–24 years old, who face barriers to training and employment, will get the chance to develop skills in horticulture, ecosystem and conservation management, and business.
  • In addition, the project will also deliver another program for youth aged 12-17 years to encourage disengaged students to engage in outdoor learning across 8 school terms.
  • In total, 160 young people will participate in skills development for the in-demand sector of regenerative land management and sustainable business practices.

Investments from the Regional Development Trust are reviewed by the Regional Development Advisory Council, an independent body appointed by the Minister for Regional NSW to provide advice to government on investments that must aim to meet the interests of regional communities.

Further announcements on successful projects across NSW from the Regional Development Trust will be made in the coming months.

For more information, go to: nsw.gov.au/regionaldevelopmenttrust

Minister for Agriculture and Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:

“This smart funding backs regional communities with projects that they have said are a priority and are ready to go, so that benefits can start flowing to those communities as soon as possible.

“The Minns Government is committed to demonstrating a new and better way of funding regional projects so that it involves local partners, meets a priority local need and has been recommended by experts and locals.

“These two South Coast projects in Merimbula and Bega will create jobs and boost local businesses so the benefits flow into those communities.

“The upgrades to Merimbula Airport will help future-proof the region in terms of essential and emergency services and position the South Coast to make the most of future tourism opportunities.

“The Minns Government is also pleased to be investing in regional young people, who are critical to the region’s future. These programs in horticulture, land management and business practices will make a real difference to the those involved, providing opportunities in growing sectors.”

The number of overdue surgeries has been reduced by more than 6,000 since the end of March, and by almost 12,000 since March 2023.

The NSW Government announced funding of $23 million as part of the 2025-26 Budget to further reduce the number of patients with planned surgeries waiting longer than clinically recommended.

This is in addition to the $186 million provided at the end of 2024 for planned surgery, which is already having an easing effect on wait times.

This investment has seen a massive improvement, with around 2,500 overdue surgeries at the end of June this year, a significant reduction from the over 8,500 overdue surgeries at the end of March.

NSW is one of the strongest performing states in Australia for planned surgery with the highest proportion of patients admitted within clinically recommended time at 85.3 per cent in 2023-24, above Queensland (81per cent), Victoria (80 per cent) and Western Australia (80 per cent).

Since the establishment of NSW Surgical Care Governance Taskforce in 2023, a range of innovative statewide strategies have been implemented to cut down wait times as well as improve and maintain access to planned surgery.

This includes the expansion of same-day surgery across NSW. Surgery that can be safely performed on the same day helps to meet the demand for surgery and improves patient experiences by enabling patients to return to the comfort of their home with support, where clinically appropriate.

The Surgical Care Strategic Committee is continuing the work of the Taskforce to ensure public hospital surgical services in NSW are sustainable and patients can continue to access the care they require in clinically recommended timeframes.

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“This government is absolutely determined to ensure that everyone who needs surgery in NSW gets it as quickly as possible and drive down the overdue surgeries list.

“I want to say a massive thank you to NSW Health staff who have helped us reach this significant milestone, with many working on additional theatre lists on evenings and weekends to allow more procedures to be performed.

“We are going to continue to remain focused on reducing surgery wait times, including increasing the number of same-day surgeries where it’s safe to do so.”

The NSW Government’s successful night-time district grant support initiative, the Uptown program, has expanded to the Central Coast, with $355,000 in funding to support two successful districts in the region.

The Gosford Strip Precinct and The Esplanade in Terrigal are the region’s first successful precincts to participate in the program.

Across the state, 37 precincts have received funding under the third round of the NSW Government’s $5.5 million Uptown Grant program. 

The Uptown District Acceleration Program is a key element of the NSW Government’s 24-Hour Economy Strategy. A catalyst for change, it supports place-based collaboration, branding and storytelling within districts, and provides a platform for districts to innovate with reduced risk and ultimately become self-sustainable in the future.   

The program is delivered in two phases. The capacity-building Uptown Accelerator Program, which features a series of workshops designed to help districts build on their unique vision, and the Uptown Grant Program. 

The Office of the 24-Hour Economy Commissioner has also engaged with local government and industry in regional areas across NSW, to understand the unique needs, challenges and priorities of these areas to better understand how a program like Uptown could be rolled out across NSW.  

All new Uptown districts will be featured on the NSW Government’s Neon Marketplace to help these Districts connect with the creative community and collaborate on local activations and initiatives.   

For more information on the Uptown District Acceleration Program visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/business-and-economy/office-of-24-hour-economy-commissioner/uptown-program

For more information on Neon Marketplace visit: https://www.neonmarketplace.nsw.gov.au/

Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, John Graham said: 

“We’ve seen amazing success stories come out of the Uptown program, from district partnerships with major events like Vivid Sydney and SXSW Sydney to amazing community events and activations like the Inner West Ale Trail’s Inner West Country festival. I’m pleased to see districts from the state’s Central Coast, north and south coasts in the program. 

“The Uptown Grant Program allows often cash-strapped businesses to work together and develop product offerings and promotional strategies that tell the stories of their local areas and encourage people to come, stay and spend. 

“We want to create self-sustaining district initiatives that will go from strength to strength in promoting their vibrant local offerings and help promote our visitor economy for years to come.”

Minister for the Central Coast, David Harris said:

“Gosford and Terrigal are key centres on our rapidly growing Central Coast and it’s great to see them as part of this initiative that will ensure locals and visitors can enjoy the unique stories and offerings these dynamic hubs have to offer.

“We’ve always been known for our spectacular beaches, but there are so many talented local businesses and artists. This investment will support more collaboration across businesses, and bring more opportunities for the community to enjoy and give visitors an even better excuse to get along and soak up the vibe.”

Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch said:

“Gosford is full of Coastie charm and warmth. The local community has been working hard at the grassroots, driven by the belief that community grit can help build a better Gosford.

“I’m pleased the NSW Government can back those local businesses and support that collaboration to develop a sustainable and vibrant precinct with great options for people to explore and enjoy.”

Gosford Strip Precinct Board Chair Juan Locco said:

“For a long time, our CBD has been defined nationally by decline—vacant shops, failed projects, and a sense of being forgotten. Uptown Grant marks a turning point. It doesn’t just back our vision—it acknowledges the resilience and hard work of our diverse collective of business owners, community organisations, and everyday go-getters who’ve rolled up their sleeves to rebuild our city’s heart.

“This grant is a game-changer for our team and the entire Gosford community; the Uptown Grant allows us—for the first time—to professionally resource and coordinate our district’s efforts. We’ll be able to employ dedicated team members to lead precinct coordination, strengthen collaboration between local businesses and organisations, and local government as well as drive consistency and momentum across our initiatives.”

The Minns Government has once again shown it has no plan for jobs in New South Wales, with the Minister for Jobs today exposed as completely out of his depth during Budget Estimates.
 
Shadow Minister for Jobs, Mark Coure, has slammed the Minns Labor Government after Jobs Minister, Stephen Kamper, failed to acknowledge how many jobs have been lost under Labor’s watch.
 
When questioned on basic facts about unemployment, the Minister was unable to provide clear answers, despite thousands of families across NSW struggling with job losses and cost-of-living pressures.
 
“NSW has lost 45,000 jobs in just the past two months. More than 205,000 people across our state are unemployed, and yet the Minister responsible for jobs can’t even say how many jobs have been lost since Labor came to office,” Mr Coure said.
 
“This isn’t just his regular incompetence or a slip-up, it’s a reflection of a government with no plan and no answers for hundreds of thousands of families who are struggling right now.”
 
The facts are clear:
 

• When Labor came to power in March 2023, the NSW unemployment rate was 3.3%; under their watch it ballooned to 4.4%.[1]
• NSW is the only state or territory where unemployment increased over 12 months from May 2024 to May 2025, dragging up the national unemployment rate.[2]
• Areas like Parramatta (5.6%), Blacktown (5.1%) and South-West Sydney (5.7%) experience far higher unemployment rates than the state and national average.[3]

 
“This do-nothing government has cut 1515 public sector roles and has failed to create any new jobs since coming to office, except in their own offices, where recent data revealed a 32.34% increase in staff salary costs for Minister Kamper’s office,” Mr Coure said.
 
“Families out of work across NSW know how tough things are, but clearly the Minister doesn’t. He is offering excuses instead of solutions, and that is simply not good enough.”
 
“NSW needs leadership that creates opportunities and secures jobs, not a Minister who can’t answer the most basic questions about unemployment.”

Chris Minns and Paul Scully must order investigation into $100 million Hawks Nest development and its links to Obeid associates

Scott Farlow
Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces

Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Scott Farlow has today called on Premier Chris Minns and Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully to order an immediate investigation into the Hawks Nest beachside development and its links to associates of disgraced former Labor Minister Eddie Obeid.
 
In NSW Budget Estimates yesterday the Secretary of the Premier’s Department, Simon Draper, confirmed his office has oversight of more than 400 planning applications. At the same hearing, the Premier praised the importance of the Housing Delivery Authority and the work it is doing. If the Premier truly believes in that work, then he and his Minister for Planning and Public Spaces must direct Mr Draper to investigate this $100 million project without delay and Minister Scully should revoke his Ministerial order on the project until the investigation is complete.
 
The Opposition has already asked Premier Minns and Minister Scully whether any close associates, consultants or known proxies of the Obeid family are financially or professionally connected to the Hawks Nest development. Both failed to answer to give any real answers and instead they pushed responsibility away while allowing the project to be fast tracked as a state significant development with no disclosure of who really benefits.
 
Eddie Obeid is not the people’s problem. He is Labor’s problem. Some of the very Ministers and MPs now serving under Chris Minns sat around the caucus and worked as staffers
when Obeid ruled the Labor Party. They know the damage he caused. They know how it destroyed Labor’s reputation and drove it from office. Those same Ministers should not be searching for excuses. They should be demanding action to stop history from repeating itself.
 
Families across NSW deserve a government that is transparent and accountable. Instead, they are being let down by a Premier and Minister for Planning and Public Spaces who are looking the other way.
 
Shadow Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Scott Farlow said this is a $100 million project on pristine beachfront land, fast tracked by the Minns Labor Government, yet the public has no idea who is really behind it.
 
“The Premier and Minister have the power to commence an investigation and revoke the Ministerial order until the investigation is complete,” Mr Farlow said.

Secret government documents have revealed Labor’s hidden tax grab. The Minns Labor Government is pocketing billions in extra revenue through bracket creep, quietly pulling more from businesses without changing a single law or making a single announcement
 
Payroll tax thresholds have been frozen since Labor came to power. When the Liberals and Nationals were in government, we lifted the payroll tax threshold time and again to give small businesses breathing room. Labor has done the opposite.
 
This now means 1,200 more businesses are dragged into payroll tax every year, punished for hiring more people and paying better wages. Treasury forecasts show bracket creep will gouge an extra $500 million from employers over the next four years.
 
On top of that, Labor scrapped the indexation of land tax thresholds. Treasury now confirms that this decision will pocket more than $18 billion over the next decade. By 2033-34, almost a third of all land tax collected will be the result of this freeze.
 
Instead of encouraging growth, the Minns Labor Government is punishing it. At a time when NSW needs productivity, investment and jobs, Labor’s answer is higher bills and heavier burdens.
 
Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said Labor governments always find ways to spend other people’s money.
 
“Now we know the Minns Labor Government is taxing by stealth, punishing businesses and families for working harder and trying to get ahead,” Mr Speakman said.
 
Shadow Treasurer Damien Tudehope said bracket creep is a silent tax.
 
“There is no law change, no debate, just more money flowing into Treasury while businesses and landholders are left worse off,” Mr Tudehope said.
 
Shadow Minister for Small Business Tim James said every year, another 1,200 small and medium businesses are dragged into payroll tax because Labor froze the threshold.
 
“These are family businesses trying to grow, hire and contribute, yet Labor sees them as nothing more than a cash cow,” Mr James said.

The Minns Labor Government is working to urgently repair the 127 year old Hampden Bridge in the Kangaroo Valley, with the first round of safety works nearly complete as part of a $500,000 three-point plan outlined to the Kiama and South Coast communities today.

The Minns Labor Government has acted quickly to ensure the bridge is safe for vehicle traffic and is investigating options for temporary or permanent replacement bridges for the longer term.

This follows concerns about the safety of the heritage bridge, which prompted a recent load limit reduction from 42.5 tonnes to 23 tonnes.

The $500,000 Hampden Bridge strategy is part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to ensure the people of the Kiama area have the essential services they need and rely on, including road infrastructure to boost safety and efficiency for local communities.

This is in stark contrast with the former Government who in twelve years neglected to invest in improvements to Hampden Bridge. The Coalition failed to take significant action after part of the bridge fell on to roadway in 2020. In fact, the last significant bridge works were taken under the previous Labor Government.

Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison again inspected the bridge with Labor Candidate for Kiama Katelin McInerney, briefing local farmers and community members on progress.

The Minister was briefed by Transport for NSW engineers, who said that urgent night repair works on the bridge this month have proceeded smoothly and will be completed on schedule this week, with another round of major works to be planned and implemented. This work has provided confidence that the bridge can continue safely to remain open at 23 tonnes limit while Transport engineers assess the best way to proceed.

The Minns Labor Government’s three-point plan for urgent restoration of the historic bridge, which is under development by Transport for NSW, is:

1. Undertake essential maintenance to keep the bridge safe. Night work to replace 12 damaged timber beams along the top of the truss is scheduled to be completed on Thursday 21 August, weather permitting. These repairs will support the continued use of the bridge at its current 23 tonne load limit and reduce the risk of further damage. A more complex program of strengthening work is being planned with another 12 timber beams along the bottom of the trusses to be replaced.
2. Investigate the options for a temporary access across Kangaroo River, including a temporary bridge next to the existing bridge, or a detour option with an alternate river crossing. There are various constraints that need to be considered for these options which are currently being worked through.
3. Invest $500,000 in planning for a permanent new bridge. Options for a new crossing are being developed by the Minns Government in consultation with the community and Shoalhaven City Council. Early design concepts, cost estimates and initial economic modelling will be part of the investigation process.

The community will be updated on the feasibility of crossing options once investigations are completed.

The Government is committed to completing this process as quickly as possible.

All investigation work will aim to preserve the heritage value of the existing bridge.

Transport for NSW has worked with freight operators to understand their concerns about long diversions which are creating cost and time impacts for them, particularly in the dairy industry.

The previous Liberal-National Government’s maintenance regime was inadequate. It failed to plan a permanent way to protect the increasingly fragile structure from further damage and to maintain access for the community and freight at 42.5 tonnes.

This unique heritage bridge is an icon of the Kangaroo Valley which provides critical connectivity across the Kangaroo River for the local community and freight travelling between the Illawarra and South Coast.

Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison said:

“Labor is getting on with the job, after more than decade of Liberal-National inaction, to finally deliver the infrastructure the people of Kangaroo Valley and Kiama deserve.

“The Liberals and Nationals failed to fund proper planning to ensure a safe, efficient crossing for local motorists and businesses.

“The Minns Labor Government has heard directly from the community and is investing $500,000 to provide short, medium and permanent solutions to ensure heavy freight can cross the Kangaroo River, including a new bridge.

“Delivering a new temporary or permanent bridge is a complex process and won’t happen overnight, but our teams are working as quickly as possible to increase the weight limit.

“We understand the impact the current load restrictions have on the freight industry and community. That’s why we are funding investigations for a long-term solution.

“We will present viable options as quickly as possible and I thank heavy vehicle operators and the dairy industry for their patience and ongoing cooperation while investigations are under way.”

Labor Candidate for Kiama, Katelin McInerney said:

“This is a very important issue for the community and I welcome the fact that Minister Aitchison has come here today to talk to locals about the situation and to offer positive solutions.

“Hampden Bridge is much loved but it’s done long service beyond what it was initially designed for.

“I will continue to push for an outcome for the community that ensures our road connections are not only restored but enhanced.”