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Parramatta Light Rail is on the home stretch to service Western Sydney communities in the coming months, set to enter the final stage of testing and officially named the L4.

Final preparations for passenger services are now underway, with the project shifting into ‘trial running’ on Monday 8 July.

This will see a series of interactive drills undertaken that replicate potential incidents and recovery plans, such as systems breaking down or situations involving emergency services.

Trams will be running in both directions between Westmead and Carlingford, from 5am to 1am, testing the operator’s ability to deliver the final timetable and identifying any issues before passenger services commence.

The community is reminded to stop, listen and look around when driving, walking or riding near the tracks, and to follow new traffic signals, as trams run regularly through Parramatta for the first time in decades.

This is a significant next step in the extensive testing program before approval is granted by the independent national rail safety regulator, permitting passengers to get on board.

While passenger information displays on light rail vehicles and platforms will be activated as part of testing, and doors will open and close, passengers will not be allowed to board.

The milestone means integration testing of the new infrastructure is now complete, which demonstrates the 45-metre-long light rail vehicles, tracks, 16 stops and systems are all working reliably along the 12-kilometre alignment.

Almost four kilometres of the light rail alignment uses wire-free technology. This includes at the Westmead terminus to minimise impacts of electrical wires and other tram infrastructure close to hospital buildings.

When operational, the light rail network will support 150 jobs in Western Sydney, based out of the now fully operational Stabling and Maintenance facility in Camellia. This includes operations and ground staff, engineers, maintenance workers and drivers. All 53 driver positions have now been filled and training is progressing well.

When the full Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1 timetable launches, passengers will have access to reliable, modern and comfortable trams every 7.5 minutes in the peak between Westmead and Carlingford via the Parramatta CBD.

In the 2024-25 Budget, the Minns Labor Government committed $2.1 billion to Parramatta Light Rail Stage 2 to further connect growing communities in Western Sydney between Ermington, Melrose Park, Parramatta and Olympic Park.

This is part of the NSW Government’s plan to build better communities close to essential services they can rely on.

The L4 will ensure new housing in the region is well-connected to the Parramatta CBD, along with the Westmead healthcare precinct, schools and university campuses.

On July 1, the state-led rezoning for Parramatta’s Church Street North precinct, alongside the light rail, came into effect. It allows for up to 1,800 new homes to be built as part of a revitalisation of the precinct.

This helps transform an ageing area in need of renewal while tackling the housing crisis right on the doorstep of Sydney’s second largest CBD.

The L4 accompanied by new homes forms part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to build a better NSW, tackling the housing supply crisis with well-built homes in well-located areas to avoid becoming a city with no young people.

The new route joins the L1 Dulwich Hill Line, L2 Randwick Line and L3 Kingsford Line as part of the Sydney light rail network.

For more information about Parramatta Light Rail, visit: www.nsw.gov.au/parramatta-light-rail.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“L4 will deliver more convenient and connected journeys for tens of thousands of people every day.

“This will make it easier for people to move between work, home, and key areas like the Westmead Health Precinct, Parramatta CBD and CommBank Stadium.

“The people of Western Sydney deserve this kind of public transport – and these final tests mean it’s looking like all systems go for the L4 in the coming months.”

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“Parramatta Light Rail is getting closer and we’re putting the network to the ultimate test before commuters can jump on board the L4.

“Trial running will allow us to fine-tune the systems with scenario-based exercises to make sure we’ve covered all bases when it comes to safety.

“From 2032 Westmead will be the station that has it all – connecting the T1 to the new L4 and the future Metro West.”

Member for Parramatta Donna Davis said:

“People can expect to see more trams more often and I’m so excited we’re in the final stages of testing.

“With the L4 expected to start passenger services soon, it’s important the community stays alert as tram frequency is increasing.

“L4 will revitalise local businesses and create a new way for the people of Parramatta to move around our great city.”

A NSW Government funded sport-based life skills and leadership program is changing the game for Aboriginal students in Western NSW by enabling personal growth and opportunities.

Narromine teenager Callum Hutchison is set to join more than 500 young people from 36 countries for a conference at the Paris Olympics, after developing his leadership skills though the Rugby Creates Chances program.

The NSW Government’s Regional Aboriginal Partnerships Program invested $1.5 million to support Rugby Creates Chances, an initiative delivering a variety of school and community-based rugby and coaching programs in Narromine, Coonamble, Warren, Brewarrina and Walgett to help Aboriginal youth kick personal goals and get job-ready.

Supported by NSW Rugby, the two-year Rugby Creates Chances initiative includes a 10-week Tackle Life program, which trains 14-to-17-year-old students how to develop and teach rugby union skills in primary schools, at after-school activities, and in local clubs and community centres.

The program has opened an extra special door for 17-year-old Callum Hutchison , who has been invited to experience a range of Olympic and Paralympic sports, as well as cultural enrichment opportunities, at the Festival 24 conference in Lyon and Paris.

Western NSW students take part in a 10-week Future Pathways program to identify their strengths, consider their careers and participate in mock job interviews and CV building to help them emerge from school work-ready.

The program then gives students the chance to get hands-on employment experience while earning a Certificate III in Sports Coaching, as well as develop leadership and problem-solving skills, and connect with their communities.

Upon completion of the program, NSW Rugby will offer five local Aboriginal young people ongoing employment as coaches, facilitators and coordinators, and 20 additional casual coaching positions to support local after-school and weekend activities.

The Regional Aboriginal Partnerships Program seeks to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people within NSW to access pathways through education, training, employment and business support to reach their aspirations. For more information, go to www.nsw.gov.au/RAPP

Minister for Regional and Western NSW, Tara Moriarty said:

“The NSW Government is improving opportunities for people in Western New South Wales and our Aboriginal communities, and is delivering funding through partnership programs and the Regional Development Trust.

“I am delighted Callum will get to experience something as extraordinary as attending the Paris Olympics after his involvement in this program which has been made possible through the NSW Government’s Regional Aboriginal Partnerships Program.

“We can see how Callum and other youth are taking on new challenges, emerging as community leaders, plus practising the skill of self reflection which can influence behaviour.”

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, David Harris said:

“By utilising young people’s love of sport, Rugby Creates Chances offers an engaging pathway for Aboriginal youth to get active, train and upskill on Country while gaining valuable life and leadership experience.

“Alongside their Student Based Apprenticeships with NSW Rugby, the kids are getting a program with a proven track record for inspiring engagement, confidence and ensuring they emerge from school, job ready.

“I’m confident Rugby Creates Chances will deliver meaningful results for our young people in Western NSW while assisting to Close the Gap on Priority Reform 5, which aims to drive positive employment, training and broader social outcomes for Aboriginal peoples across New South Wales.”

Rugby Creates Chances student from Narromine, Callum Hutchison said:

“Rugby Creates Chances has really opened my eyes – I never really thought of going down the sporting career track until I jumped into the program and I now plan on getting a job in sport, finishing high school and possibly going to university.

“I am still pinching myself that all of this has led to me being invited to go to Paris Olympics as part of Festival 24.

“Since starting Rugby Creates Chances, I have learned a lot about leadership skills, how to be more independent, and how to be a role model and mentor for the younger kids and people around me.

“Programs like this are important for country kids like myself because there’s not as many opprotunites in smaller towns, especially in sports or traineeships, and you have to travel pretty far to have a crack at trialling for things.”

Proud Dharawal man and Australian Rugby Sevens Olympian, Maurice Longbottom said:

“The Rugby Creates Chances program not only teaches kids skills about Rugby, but about resilience and leadership and preparing for the future, and I’m grateful and happy to hear that kids like Callum have these opportunities to grow and learn and prosper.

“Opportunities like this can be few and far between in smaller country towns, and I just love that this program is taking rugby and coaching skills on the road as part of a much bigger picture for these kids.

“I wish Callum all the best for his big trip to Paris, and I hope he can catch some of our games to keep that fire roaring in his belly for rugby and whatever comes next.”

Sixty-six regional communities across NSW have been awarded funding from a program that supported the emergence of the Deni Ute Muster and the Parkes Elvis Festival.

Founded in 1999, the Deni Ute Muster has become one of regional NSW’s most unique and exciting events. Initially conceived as a response to the hardship of drought, the annual event now attracts around 20,000 people, thousands of utes, and millions in visitor spending to the remote regional community of Deniliquin. From its first year, the event was supported by the NSW Government’s Regional Events Fund which began in 1996 and has funded over 470 events.

The Regional Event Fund first started supporting the Parkes Elvis Festival in 2004, when it was attracting a few hundred people. It now attracts an estimated 25,000 attendees and generates $13 million in revenue. In 2024-25 a new selection of sixty-six music, sports, food and cultural events will be awarded $1.3 million of grants of up to $50,000 each.

The program provides an important economic boost in regional areas, creating jobs, injecting vitality and supporting accommodation providers, restaurant owners and tourism operators.

This year’s list of recipients includes:

• The Tamworth Barbeque Festival where meat and motorbikes combine for a four-person[1]team BBQ competition event and a motorbike rally.
• The Gum Ball, a three-day festival on 100 acres of bushland in Lower Belford in the Hunter Valley with a huge line up of live music and a kids program called “The House of Big Dreams.”
• The Orange Wine Festival, a two-week wine and food crawl through some of Australia’s most beautiful wineries and restaurants.
• The Festival of W sees the main street of Wagga Wagga transformed into a winter wonderland with ice skating, light and sound projections, live music; and premier dining experiences showcasing the produce from the regions agricultural sector.
• Sporting events across the state, including the Pilliga Ultra, the Mount Panorama Punish, the National Freestyle Mountain bike Championships in Shellharbour and the Let’s Surf Lake Mac event at Lake Macquarie.

The Regional Event Fund The fund, managed by Destination NSW, bolsters event organisers with equipment hire, venue hire, market research, photography, videography, publicity and marketing to attract out-of-region visitors.

The fund is a key contributor to the continued growth of the NSW visitor economy, which is now worth more than $50 billion to the state.

It has three streams designed to support event organisers to progress their offering and grow in scale, with the goal of replicating high-profile success stories including the Deni Ute Muster:

• Incubator Event Stream: supports the establishment of events in their first or second year of operation, providing seed funding of up to $20,000.
• Flagship Event Stream: supports the marketing of emerging events to increase their profile and encourage visitation. This stream offers an annual grant of $20,000 or a triennial grant of $30,000 for events that have already received the maximum of three annual grants.
• Event Development Stream: supports the strategic development of events that are proven visitor economy drivers, that have completed their third year of the Triennial Flagship Event stream funding, are eligible for grants of up to $50,000.

To view the full list of successful recipients of the 2024/25 Regional Event Fund and for more information on the program, click here.

Minister for Jobs and Tourism, Arts, Music and the Night-Time Economy John Graham said:

“We know that regional events and event owners are faced with significant challenges in this current environment and these grants will help alleviate some of that financial pressure.

“We want to help these events reach the heights of the Deni Ute Muster or the Parkes Elvis Festival, events that are now highlights of the NSW calendar. These unique events reflect the personalities of their communities and draw visitors from all over the country.

“The NSW Government is committed to growing a vibrant visitor economy across the state by supporting a diverse range of events, driven by locals, who know their communities best.”

Minister for Agriculture, Regional New South Wales, Western New South Wales Tara Moriarty said:

“These events will bring fun, colour and a big economic boost to the towns that host them.

“Creating these unforgettable experiences will keep visitors coming back to regional New South Wales again and again, all year round.

“I congratulate the successful sixty-six recipients. These events will create great experiences for their local communities and drive vibrancy in local towns and communities across the state.”

Orange and communities across the Central West are expected to benefit from a range of health investments in the 2024-25 NSW Budget recently announced by the Minns Labor Government aimed at creating more pathways for people needing health services and reducing hospital emergency department (ED) wait times.

Regional Health Minister Ryan Park toured local health facilities and met with staff in the central west this week alongside Member for Orange Phil Donato, to talk about what the NSW health budget means for them and the local community.

The latest Bureau of Health Information data for the March 2024 quarter shows attendances to the ED at Orange Health Service increased by 4.1 per cent from the same period last year, to almost 8,000.

Hospitals across the state including in Orange are facing enormous pressure.

The 2024-25 NSW Budget includes funding boosts to connect more people with high quality, accessible and timely care, by expanding alternatives to the ED through investments in urgent care services, expanding services accessed via Healthdirect through the Single Front Door, and a Bulk Billing Support Initiative for GPs.

Urgent care services across NSW will receive $100 million in funding to continue supporting the community for a further two years, providing a pathway to care outside of hospitals. The Orange Urgent Care Service has already seen around a thousand visits since opening in March this year, helping many avoid a trip ED.

A $171.4 million investment will expand the ‘Single Front Door’, introducing additional virtual care services to the Healthdirect service accessible on 1800 022 222 – meaning that the community in Orange and the Central West can access the same quality care that they do around the state. Access to mental health services will now also be available through Healthdirect for the first time.

The Single Front Door is a single point of advice, assessment, triage and referral for people in NSW with urgent non-life threatening conditions, helping thousands avoid a trip to the ED.

The Minns Labor Government is also supporting GPs with an estimated $188.8 million investment as part of the Bulk-Billing Support Initiative, ensuring that primary health care services remain accessible to families and households.

This will protect the cost of seeing a GP for families and households, reduce the strain on emergency departments and save hundreds of clinics from closure.

The bulk billing rate across the Western NSW Public Health Network is currently 82.2%, well above 70% threshold for clinics with contractor GPs to receive the new, ongoing rebate.

The investments in the 2024-25 NSW Budget build on the NSW Government’s work to deliver the long-term repair and structural reform of healthcare across NSW, including:

• making 1,112 temporary nurses permanent including hundreds in rural and regional NSW;
• delivering an extra 500 regional paramedics. Of the first 125 rolled out this year, 15 are based in Parkes;
• abolishing the wages cap and delivering the highest wage increases for health workers in over a decade;
• doubling rural health incentives for our hardest to fill and most critical roles; and
• boosting doctors in our regional GP surgeries as well as hospitals through the single employer model.

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park said:

“No matter where you live in across the state you should have access to essential healthcare.

“Our emergency departments across NSW including here in Orange face significant challenges, so we are making the necessary investments to relieve that pressure and provide more alternatives for the community.

“Whether it be through our urgent care services, expanding virtual care through the Single Front Door or protecting access to bulk billing GP services, the NSW budget’s investment into health will be acutely felt in Orange and the Central West region.

“I want to thank Phil for welcoming me in his electorate and acknowledge his strong advocacy on behalf of his community.”

Member for Orange Phil Donato said:

“The Orange Urgent Care Service provides an excellent alternative for people in my community with health issues that are urgent, especially if means they can avoid attending a busy ED.

“I’m also really pleased the expansion of virtual care from the NSW Government will especially benefit those in Orange and the communities of the Central West receive the care they need.”

NSW Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education, Steve Whan has visited the impressive WesTrac Institute, a leading training provider offering comprehensive trade and post-trade training to support the construction and mining industries.

Funded under the NSW Smart and Skilled program, the collaboration between the NSW Government and WesTrac Institute is benefiting hundreds of apprentices and trainees in the Hunter region.

The collaboration underscores the NSW Government’s steadfast dedication to revitalising and empowering regional communities – the powerhouses of our state.

At WesTrac Instutite, up to 300 students annually hone their skills within state-of-the-art facilities, boasting 14 classrooms, 2 laboratories, and a spacious 5-bay workshop. Currently, the Institute hosts 99 WesTrac apprentices, 59 post-trade students, and over 140 external students and customers.

Offering qualifications such as Certificate III in Automative Electrical Technology, and Certificate III in Mobile Plant Technology, alongside specialised courses such as Certificate II in Automative Air Conditioning, the Institute plays a pivotal role in upskilling the workforce.

In addition, it can cater for up to 4,000 students annually in post-trade courses, ensuring continuous upskilling of the workforce.

Since its inception in 2012, WesTrac Institute has invested in vocational education, achieving a high completion rate amongst its apprentices – a testament to its unwavering commitment to excellence and fostering a resilient, skilled workforce crucial for regional prosperity.

Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education Steve Whan said:  

“It was great to visit the WesTrac Institute and see firsthand how a collaboration between government and industry can improve vocational education and drive industry excellence and regional growth.

“The Institute’s dedication to training not only its own apprentices and trade workers but also supporting the broader mining and construction industry is truly commendable.

“Its high completion rates and extensive post-trade training programs underscore Its dedication to excellence in education and workforce development.”

Member for Port Stephens, Kate Washington said:

“The impressive Westrac Institute is an incredible asset to Port Stephens. They set a very high standard for vocational training in NSW, not only training their own apprentices but also supporting the wider mining and construction industry.

“The high completion rates at the WesTrac Institute and their extensive post-trade training programs are a testament to their commitment to excellence. This ensures a well-trained, resilient workforce that is crucial for the prosperity of our region.”

WesTrac Institute NSW/ACT chief executive Adrian Howard said:

“WesTrac continues to invest in our facilities, the institute, and our trainers to provide the best possible training in an innovative learning environment for the students attending the institute.”

“As part of our Employee Value Proposition, ‘made for more than just today’, we are training and upskilling our people to be experts in the field today, and skilled for tomorrow, to meet the needs of our customers.”

Australia’s largest disaster adaptation project on the Northern Rivers has moved into its next phase, with tailored home assessments available to make homes more resilient against flooding.

Under the Home Raising and Home Retrofit stream of the $790 million Resilient Homes Program approximately 370 homeowners have been identified as eligible for home raising or retrofit.

A key recommendation of the NSW Flood Inquiry, home raising reduces risk by raising homes to reduce the frequency of potential flood related damage, while home retrofits reduce risk by refurbishing homes to better withstand flooding.

The NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) is working with leading architect for flood resilient design, James Davidson from JDA Co, to establish the program and develop guidance for home raising and retrofit work. After receiving their free in-home assessment report, homeowners can appoint their builder of choice to deliver works suitable to their home to make it more resilient to future flooding.

Eligible homeowners will be granted up to $50,000 for a home retrofit and $100,000 for a home raise with a dollar-for dollar co-contribution between the RA and homeowners, up to a maximum of $100,000 for retrofits and $200,000 for home raising.

In addition to this program, the highly anticipated North Lismore development has been announced as the latest site to be released through the $100 million Resilient Lands Program and will deliver around 85 home sites.

This follows previous announcements at East Lismore, Goonellabah, Brunswick Heads, Casino and Lennox Head, with more than 2,800 housing sites now in the planning pipeline across the Northern Rivers.

North Lismore will be master planned and developed in consultation with the community, taking into consideration the site’s environmental, biodiversity and cultural significance.

As part of the supporting infrastructure program, to assist primary producers, up to 100 drains that support agricultural properties across the Northern Rivers are being repaired and cleaned out through the $5 million Northern Rivers Agricultural Drainage Reset Program.

Vegetation build-up presents a serious problem with large drains unable to channel water away from the land.

The program will drive long-term resilience and ensure farmers and communities are better equipped to withstand and recover from future floods. It is being delivered by the RA in partnership with Soil Conservation Service and in cooperation with local councils.

The recovery program is being informed by feedback from the community and the Northern Rivers Community Leaders Forum which was established 12 months ago.

Between August 2023 and January 2024, the RA doorknocked more than 4880 homes across seven LGAs. Pop-up information offices continue to be an important conduit between the RA and the community, with more than 4,339 visitors as of late June.

These changes are expected to lead to better outcomes as the region moves into medium to long-term recovery phase from the 2022 floods.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“What we’re doing in the Northern Rivers is not a simple rebuilding exercise – we’re making significant long-term changes to where people live, how we plan for climate change and how we mitigate future disasters.

“As part of our commitment to disaster mitigation, there’s already been significant progress with the Resilient Homes Program, but there is still more to do.

“As of June 28, 788 buyback offers had been approved and 656 offers accepted, which represents an 83 per cent take-up rate.

“Today we’re announcing that North Lismore is the sixth site for more homes through the Resilient Lands Program and there are more to come.”

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“During our many visits to the area we have seen the community working together to maintain the unique identity of the region and the strong desire to build back better.

“We established the community leaders forum to guide decision-making and local engagement is informing projects supporting flood recovery efforts and making communities more resilient.

“Across the region a wide range of projects are underway including improvements to evacuation routes which will provide better access for emergency workers and supplies during disasters.”

Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery Janelle Saffin said:

“As chair of the Community Leaders forum I am enormously pleased to see input from that group included in announcements like today.

“Feedback from the community has helped the NSW Reconstruction Authority to develop a more people-friendly, place-based approach to determine eligibility for key programs like the Resilient Homes Program. That is a good thing.

“Repeat visits by my parliamentary colleagues show the reset is progressing in the Northern Rivers and the NSW Government is in this recovery for the long haul.”

Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg said:

“I am pleased that the NSW Government agreed to Council’s call for a ‘reset’ a year or so ago and developed a more community centric approach that has seen the pace of our recovery pick up, although as we all know. We still have some way to go.

“I welcome the announcement on North Lismore that will allow disaster-affected families to build new houses or relocate their existing timber home. The commencement of the Raise and Retrofit program will also be very welcomed by the community.”