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The Minns Labor Government has today released its response to the statutory reviews of the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and the native vegetation provisions of the Local Land Services Act 2013. The response signals a shift in the way the state fulfills its responsibilities to protect the environment and manage native vegetation across the State, now and into the future.

The plan will deliver on three key election commitments in this term of government: to reform the biodiversity offsets scheme, to end excess land clearing and strengthen environmental protections.

It also outlines the legislative, policy and program directions the NSW Government will take to respond to the statutory reviews and deliver on its commitments.

The response:

• recognises a change in approach is needed to set nature on a path to recovery;
• acknowledges the intrinsic relationship between biodiversity and Aboriginal culture and recognises the social, economic and environmental benefits that flow from caring for Country as well as the broader interests’ Aboriginal people have in biodiversity and land management issues;
• sets out short, medium and long-term priority actions to improve biodiversity protections and land management practices;
• sets the direction to halt and reverse biodiversity loss and support environmental repair and regeneration;
• introduce a NSW Nature Strategy to guide actions to protect, restore and enhance ecosystems and landscapes;
• recognises the strong connection farmers and landholders have with their land and the key role they play in managing and enhancing native vegetation and natural assets;
• outlines NSW Government support for landholders to access emerging natural capital markets, incentivising them to undertake sustainable farming practices while protecting and restoring their environmental assets;

Amendments to the Biodiversity Conservation Act will also require the biodiversity offsets scheme to transition to overall ‘net positive’ outcomes, and upfront consideration of biodiversity will be strengthened in planning and development processes. To support ongoing improvements to native vegetation management on private land, the NSW Government will strengthen prescriptions in the Land Management (Native Vegetation) Code and implement a new monitoring, evaluation and reporting framework.

The NSW Government is committed to working with the community to design and deliver the wide range of initiatives outlined in the response to ensure natural resources are managed in the social, economic and environmental interests of the state.

The full response is available at www.nsw.gov.au/nsw-plan-for-nature

Minister for the Environment Penny Sharpe said:

“We cannot ignore the truth: biodiversity in NSW is in crisis. Our goal must be to leave nature better off than we have found it.

“The independent review of the Biodiversity Conservation Act showed we need to take a number of reform measures not just to protect the biodiversity we have now, but to build on this baseline and do better. Our response to this review is that we are ready to take on that challenge.

“It’s clear we need new approaches, and that additional effort must be directed into proactive landscape-scale biodiversity protection, restoration, and management. We must go beyond the aim of halting loss to one of achieving overall ecosystem gains.

“The response sets out our immediate priorities and directions, but this is the start of concerted action, reform, investment.”

Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said:

“The NSW Government is committed to improving the management of native vegetation on private rural land and supporting landholders to improve environmental outcomes and access emerging natural capital markets.

“While the statutory LLS review found the objectives of the native vegetation provisions are valid, it also showed us there are actions we can take to improve native vegetation management on private land.

“To support further improvements to native vegetation management on private land, there will be an independent review by the Natural Resources Commission commencing in 2025, to provide Government with advice and options to further protect and restore biodiversity in regional landscapes and enhance value and support for landholders.

“Importantly, we will be working with farmers to deliver the actions outlined in this response to ensure we better protect native vegetation and promote sustainable agricultural production.”

Farmers or landholders who have questions about native vegetation management can contact their closest LLS office: www.lls.nsw.gov.au/i-want-to/contact-my-local-office.

The Minns Labor Government has awarded $2 million to three outstanding motor neurone disease (MND) reseachers, to support people in NSW affected by the disease and to better understand its causes.

Motor neurone disease is a rare, progressive neurological disorder that causes rapid degeneration of muscle activity and can impair walking, talking, breathing and general functioning. There is no cure for the disease.

MND affects approximately eight in every 100,000 Australians, and 90 per cent of cases occur sporadically, without any apparent reason or family link.

The MND Grants will fund research to help improve the wellbeing and health outcomes for people living with the disease, and drive advancements in diagnostic tools to improve rates of early detection and referral.

The merit-based funding will also support researchers to improve gaps in understanding about why incidences of MND is more prevalent in parts of NSW, by exploring environmental and occupational factors.

The MND Researcher Grants recipients are:

• Professor Dominic Rowe AM, Macquarie University. Awarded $997,808 to undertake systematic identification of sporadic MND patients in NSW to try and better predict random occurrences of the disease and improve delivery of care and therapy.
• Dr Rachel Tan, University of Sydney. Awarded $485,515 to identify blood measures of brain changes to improve diagnosis, prognosis and accelerate targeted intervention.
• Professor Steve Vucic, Sydney Local health District. Awarded $500,000 to develop a new multimodal diagnostic approach for Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – a MND of the nervous system.

For more information on the Motor Neurone Disease Research Grants, visit: https://www.medicalresearch.nsw.gov.au/motor-neurone-disease/

Minister for Medical Research David Harris said:

“This research is an important step to ensure we improve treatment and outcomes for people in NSW with a motor neurone disease diagnosis.

“It is a privilege to support these three remarkable researchers and invest funds to improve treatment outcomes for a disease that currently has no cure.”

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“I want to congratulate the recipients of the Motor Neurone Disease Research Grants, who work incredibly hard to improve our understanding of this debilitating condition, so the health system can continue to provide care and support to the people in NSW suffering with the disease.

“This grant program delivers on our 2023 election commitment to invest funding to support research into motor neurone disease in NSW, including in the state’s Riverina.”

Member for Murray Helen Dalton said:

“The people in my electorate have been deeply concerned about this crisis for more than a decade. With this continued funding for research hopefully we are another step closer to treatment and a cure.

“Rates of motor neuron disease are up to seven times higher around Lake Wyangan, located near Griffith, than in other areas of Australia and this allocation of funds is great news for communities in the Riverina.

“I’m pleased the Minns government has listened to our community and delivered on their election commitment to continue this vital research, because ultimately it’s our lives that are at stake here.”

Major construction is underway for the $53 million Gunnedah Hospital Redevelopment, which will deliver enhanced health facilities for the region.  

The Gunnedah Hospital Redevelopment includes construction of a new acute services building, housing an expanded emergency department and a modern birthing, maternity, and inpatient unit, which will support contemporary models of care.

New artist’s impressions for the redevelopment have been released, including the inpatient bedrooms to be delivered, which feature a carer’s zone and large windows with views of the landscaped courtyards.

The interior design reflects the Gunnedah landscape and includes contemporary, calming, and welcoming spaces that have been designed in consultation with staff and the local community.

Early works have been completed including demolition to prepare the site for the next stage of construction. The hospital main entry and reception has also been refurbished to improve access for patients and visitors.

Construction is expected to be completed in late 2025, and hospital services will continue to operate throughout the construction period.

The redevelopment is being delivered by Health Infrastructure in partnership with the Hunter New England Local Health District and supported by builder Richard Crookes Constructions.

For more information about the Gunnedah Hospital Redevelopment, visit:

https://hneinfra.health.nsw.gov.au/projects/gunnedah

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:

“As this exciting project takes shape, the community can expect to see an increasing number of builders onsite in the coming months.

“The new artist’s impressions showcase a health facility that will provide contemporary facilities for patients and a better workplace for staff.”

Labor Spokesperson for Tamworth Anthony D’Adam MLC:

“The design for the new facility has been developed following extensive consultation with staff, consumers, carers, community members and the local Aboriginal community.

“There will also be breakout spaces for family, carers and visitors, which will provide areas for families to stay on Country to further support the health and healing of those in need of clinical care.” 

In a state first, the NSW Government will use its enhanced planning powers under the NSW Reconstruction Authority Act to return students back to Broadwater Public School in the first term of 2025, ending years of delay and impacts to the community.

Broadwater Public School was extensively damaged in the devastating floods that impacted the Northern Rivers in 2022, leaving most of the buildings uninhabitable and in need of repair. Since then, local students have had to travel out of the area to attend school.

With the support of the NSW Department of Education, Richmond Valley Council, the school community, and the CEO of the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA), the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces has authorised the school’s redevelopment using the RA’s enhanced planning powers.

Broadwater Public School’s new facilities will include three modern flexible classrooms, a new library, canteen, administration area, large undercroft play space and amenities, a yarning circle, and landscaping to complement the school’s surroundings.

The new school will include modular buildings raised 3.7 metres from the ground and be supported by a flood resilient steel structure. Using Modern Methods of Construction techniques, classroom modules have been completed offsite and will be transported and craned into the existing site once the steel structures are in place, cutting construction time.

More information about the construction program and next steps will be shared with the Broadwater Public School community at an information session in Term 3.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“Rebuilding Broadwater Public School as quickly as possible is a priority for the Minns Labor Government, so students and teachers can finally return to their own school on a permanent basis.

“This change by the Planning Minister will ensure that work to rebuild Broadwater’s school can now proceed swiftly.

“The people of Broadwater know that public schools are integral to the wellbeing of communities, and I want to acknowledge the unwavering support shown to getting Broadwater Public School back on track.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“This is the first time this planning power has been used and is an important step in our Government’s response to disaster recovery.

“The powers in the NSW Reconstruction Authority Act mean that we can fast track recovery and reconstruction projects to better support communities.

“This Government is committed to getting communities like Broadwater back on their feet and as we’ve shown today, we will use the full powers available to the RA to help us do that again when needed.

Minister for Emergency Services Jihab Dib said:

“This is a great example of government partnering with flood-affected communities to find solutions that work.

“Schools are a vital part of any community, and it is imperative that we get the students and teachers at Broadwater Public School back into the classroom as soon as possible.”

Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery Janelle Saffin said:

“The Broadwater community has spoken, and we have been listening, they need their school back.

“That’s exactly why we established the Northern Rivers Community Leaders Forum, to guide local decision-making and local engagement for outcomes like the one we have today.”

Acting CEO of the Reconstruction Authority Mal Lanyon said:

“It is important we back projects that support flood recovery efforts and make communities more resilient.

“Recommending to the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces for a Ministerial authorisation under the NSW Reconstruction Authority’s Act to rebuild the Broadwater Public School is a significant demonstration of our commitment to recovering and ensuring the safety and welfare of communities.”

Relieving Broadwater Public School Principal Bronwyn Cole said:

“This is extremely welcome news for our school and community, and we are very grateful for the ongoing support we have received.

“Since the floods, we’ve all witnessed remarkable unity and resilience within our community, and I am deeply moved by the bonds that have strengthened during this time.

“We are looking forward to the rebuilding of our school so students can learn and thrive in their own community. This journey is not just about rebuilding, but about nurturing our school community and fostering a safe, supportive space for learning and growth.

“Together, we will continue to build a strong foundation for our students’ success and well-being.”

Member for Clarence Richie Williamson MP said:

“The Broadwater Public School P&C Association has left no stone unturned and has been fighting day in, day out to get to this point.

“It has been an absolute pleasure to work side by side with them, and I congratulate them on their steadfast commitment and dedication to the rebuild project, the school and the local community.”