16 News

Motorists will benefit from safer and smoother journeys along the Central Coast Highway, with plans progressing well to upgrade the intersection at Tumbi Road.

The Australian and NSW governments are investing $65.5 million to upgrade the notorious bottleneck as part of plans to improve traffic flow and safety on the Central Coast Highway between Wamberal and Bateau Bay.

The Australian Government has committed $52.4 million towards the project. This includes an additional $1.2 million committed in the 2024-25 Budget to ensure the project is fully funded.

Key features of the upgrade include replacement of the existing intersection roundabout with traffic lights and widening the highway north of the intersection to 2 lanes in each direction to the project boundary near Forresters Beach Garden Centre.

For the next stage of the project, Transport for NSW is inviting Expressions of Interests (EOI) from pre-qualified contractors to build the upgrade of the Highway with Tumbi Road.

Transport for NSW has carried out extensive community consultation, with the Review of Environmental Factors on display for feedback in October 2021 and the subsequent submissions report addressing matters raised by the community, published online in June 2022.

Last year, Transport carried out early works to prepare for the intersection upgrade including vegetation clearing, surveying, minor earthworks, geotechnical testing, demolition of Transport-owned property, and installation of utilities pits, conduits and cables.

Timing on the next stage of construction is yet to be confirmed but is expected in early 2025. The project will take about 2 years to complete, weather permitting.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said:

“The Australian and NSW governments are committed to upgrading one of the most congested intersections on the Central Coast Highway and ensure the best possible outcome for motorists travelling to, from and around the region.

“This upgrade will reduce delays, queuing and improve traffic flow at the intersection as well as increased safety and reliability for all road users.

“Once completed, this project will make a real-life difference to the 26,000 motorists, including 1000 heavy vehicles, that use this section of road each day.”

Federal Member for Dobell Emma McBride said:

“The Central Coast is a busy and growing region, and locals deserve a strong road network that they can rely on.

“Once completed, this upgrade will improve safety and ease congestion for locals and visitors.”

NSW Minister for the Central Coast David Harris said:

“We know the intersection between the Central Coast Highway and Tumbi Road is a notorious bottleneck. The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments are moving forward with our blueprint to fix it.

“Once the upgrade is delivered the existing roundabout will be replaced with traffic lights and the highway north of the intersection will be widened to 2 lanes in each direction.

“This upgrade will cut congestion, improve road safety and make travelling around the Central Coast much easier for all motorists.”

NSW Regional Roads and Transport Minister Jenny Aitchison said:

“Central Coast road users have been calling for this upgrade for a long time and together the Albanese and Minns Labor governments will deliver it.

“The EOI process is an important step forward and will help Transport for NSW identify a short list of applicants who will be invited to put in a tender for the critical construction component of this project.

“In a boost for the local economy, we expect that when construction work ramps up around 125 jobs will be supported.”

State Member for The Entrance David Mehan said:

“The Central Coast Highway provides an important connection between the M1 Pacific Motorway at Kariong and the Pacific Highway at Doyalson through Gosford, Erina and The Entrance.

“This is a great step forward in progressing the Tumbi Road intersection upgrade which will help ensure local communities enjoy improved reliability and connectivity on this important route.”

Sydney has a new train station for the first time in five years, as Waterloo Metro becomes the first to cross the construction finish line for the transformative City & Southwest Metro project, set to welcome passengers this year.

It comes as the NSW Government takes another step forward in addressing the state’s housing crisis, with the topping out of a nine-storey building with 70 social homes as part of the Waterloo Metro Quarter development above the new station. The topping out marks construction of this building reaching its highest point.

Nearly 19,000 passengers are expected to use the state-of-the-art Waterloo Station each day when it opens.

Waterloo Station is the first of six new world-class stations on the City Metro line to be complete, and the remaining five are following close behind.

When City Metro services begin in coming months, Waterloo will provide fast, safe and reliable journeys to Central in two minutes, Barangaroo in eight minutes and to Victoria Cross in North Sydney in 11 minutes.

There are several further steps before the official opening of the Sydney Metro City & Southwest later this year. These include approval from the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator, the handover of the line and all stations to the operator, and a period of full trial running. These milestones are all on schedule.

The Waterloo Renewal Project is a major redevelopment that will transform the estate into a modern, sustainable and vibrant community with a mix of social, affordable and private housing, as well as retail, community facilities and public open spaces.

The NSW Labor Government last year increased the number of new social and affordable homes being delivered as part of the renewal of Waterloo South estate from 34 per cent to 50 per cent, resulting in an uplift of up to 500 homes.

Construction of the social housing building in the Waterloo Metro Quarter started in mid-2023 and is due to be completed next year. It will feature 70 social housing units, community room, roof top garden and internal bike storage.

Existing Waterloo South social housing tenants will be given an opportunity to relocate here, allowing residents to stay in their local area while the renewal development is underway.

The Waterloo Metro Quarter development above the new Sydney Metro station will include 220 social, affordable and private residential homes. It will also feature student accommodation, retail outlets and commercial space across four buildings, along with public open space and a car park.

The Waterloo Metro Quarter development will provide well-located apartments near well-connected transport infrastructure, giving people a place to call home where they can move around our city easier.

For more information about Waterloo Station: sydneymetro.info/station/waterloo-station.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“This is an important milestone for Sydney Metro, with construction now complete for the first new station on this line.

“This is a good example of what happens when we link the provision of housing and public transport. Everybody wins.

“More homes close to our train stations means we’ll have better connected communities.

“This is a great example of revitalising an inner-city community and incorporating housing and public transport.”

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“We’re taking a huge step towards opening the next stage of Metro, which is just around the corner and will see tens of thousands of people using these new stations and enjoying faster connections.

“This mega station will be a game-changer for Waterloo, Redfern and Alexandria and significantly reduce traffic on our inner-city roads, while alleviating pressure at nearby Redfern and Green Square stations.  

“It took more than 5,000 people five million work hours – more than four years – to complete the new station, including excavation of 330,000 tonnes of material.

“This is a striking station with a design that honours Aboriginal heritage and pays homage to Waterloo’s history. Its 170-metre-long platforms will receive a lightning-fast train every four minutes in the peak.”

Minister for Housing Rose Jackson said:

“Waterloo Estate is one of the state’s largest ever social housing renewals. This is a significant step forward in addressing the injustices of the former government, and ensuring our commitment to providing more homes for those who need them most.

“This construction milestone at Waterloo Metro Quarter is just the start of more social and affordable homes to come in this area.

“As part of the renewal, we have boosted the number of social and affordable housing in Waterloo South to 50 per cent delivering approximately 1,500 to those in need. We know housing plays a critical role in outcomes for Aboriginal communities, so we’re dedicating a minimum of 15 per cent of all new social and affordable homes for Aboriginal people to keep communities connected and work towards closing the housing gap.

“Tenants deserve to be with us every step of the journey, which is why we will continue to ramp up efforts to be out and about in the community, and I want to thank people for their patience.”

Construction for the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital has been given the green light, with the State Significant Development Application (SSDA) approved for the project.

The NSW Government’s $260 million investment in the new hospital will deliver a range of expanded and enhanced healthcare services closer to home for the entire Eurobodalla Shire community from Narooma to Batemans Bay.

The new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital will be established as a Level 4 health facility and include:

• An emergency department with a larger capacity than the current combined emergency services of Moruya and Batemans Bay hospitals.
• An eight bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU) / Close Observation Unit (COU). This will be the first intensive care service available in the Eurobodalla region.
• Increased capacity for chemotherapy treatments and access to renal dialysis
• Surgical and operating theatres and a day stay surgical unit.
• Expanded medical imaging, including a new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) service.
• Ambulatory care for community outpatient services.
• Paediatric and maternity services, and a special care nursery.
• Mental health beds for short term admissions.
• Enhanced education and training facilities, including a simulation laboratory.

Work to prepare the site for main works will soon get underway, with construction of the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital expected to start in June 2024.

The Batemans Bay Hospital and Moruya Hospitals will continue to operate and provide healthcare services for the community, while the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital and $20 million Batemans Bay Community Health facility is being built.

For the latest news and information about the project visit: eurobodallahs.health.nsw.gov.au

Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park:

“I’m thrilled the community is a step closer to accessing a brand-new hospital, which will provide more health services than are currently available at both the Moruya and Batemans Bay hospitals combined. 

“It will reduce the need to travel for care and ultimately improve health outcomes for everyone in the Eurobodalla, no matter where they live.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully:

“This is a major milestone for the project, paving the way for the new hospital to be built, following the appointment of a main works contractor.

“Feedback from staff, clinicians, patients, stakeholders and the community has informed the planning and design of the new hospital, which will deliver world-class and contemporary care for Eurobodalla and surrounding communities.”

Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland:

“As someone who has long advocated for investments in regional health facilities, I know that a regional Level 4 Hospital will save lives and allow more people to receive world-class critical care closer to home.

“I’m very excited we’re getting on with the job, as each step of the process gets us closer to delivering the new Eurobodalla Regional Hospital to provide the health services our community deserves.”

Motorists in NSW will benefit from the largest rollout of public kerbside EV chargers in the country, as the NSW Government awards the first round of electric vehicle kerbside charging grants.

The NSW Government is delivering on its election commitment to increase the take up of EVs by investing $4.1 million to install 671 EV charging ports at 391 sites across the state. This will be matched by $8 million in private investment.

Electric vehicles are not only driving down the cost of transport for NSW households, but they are also helping NSW to meet our net zero emissions targets. Expanding the state’s EV charging infrastructure network gives drivers the confidence to hit the road in an electric vehicle, knowing they have many options to top up the battery.

The new kerbside EV chargers will provide more convenient charging options for drivers without offsite parking, such as those in apartments and busy metro areas.

The kerbside chargers will be installed across 16 Local Government Areas, by 8 grant recipients:

• Waverley Council
• City of Newcastle
• Evie Networks
• EVSE
• EVX
• Jolt Charge
• Plus ES
• ChargePost.

The funding is for chargers ranging from 7 kilowatts to 75 kilowatts and will include pole mounted, pedestal and ‘kiosk’ EV chargers. They will be installed on kerbsides or in public council car parks.

All chargers will be installed over the next 12 months and will be open to the public 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

This is part of the NSW Government’s $209 million investment into charging infrastructure. The investment also funds:

• $149 million for EV fast chargers which reduce the time it takes to top up batteries
• $20 million for EV destination charging grants to install ports at regional tourist destinations in NSW
• $10 million in EV ready buildings to retrofit EV infrastructure in apartment buildings.

The NSW Government is committing $260 million to underpin the rollout of an updated NSW EV Strategy which will be released later this year.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe said:

“This investment will significantly increase the availability of public charging options and give people confidence their next vehicle purchase can be an EV.

“Almost 30% of NSW drivers do not have access to private, off-street parking to charge an EV. That figure is considerably higher in metro areas.

“We will continue to roll out EV charging grants to further support the NSW goal of being the easiest place in Australia to own and drive an electric vehicle.”

Member for Coogee Dr Marjorie O’Neill said:

“A combined total of $1.2 million will fund 202 charge ports across 138 sites in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

“We have now well surpassed our key election promise to deliver $700,000 to support EV charging infrastructure in Waverley, Randwick and Woollahra councils.

“This is further evidence that the interests of the people of my electorate of Coogee are best served by a Labor Government.”

Electric Vehicle Council Chief Executive Officer Behyad Jafari said:

“We know convenient and visible charging infrastructure in densely populated areas is critical to giving people the confidence to switch to EVs.

“These chargers mean everyone can benefit from EVs, including renters and people who can’t charge at home.

“This investment is important not just for the direct amenity it provides, but also because it serves as a powerful signal to consumers that the NSW Government supports your move to a zero-tailpipe emission vehicle when you’re ready to make the switch.”

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Round One recipients of the EV kerbside charging grants:

Recipient	Number of sites	Number of charge ports	NSW Government funding
Evie Networks	26	80	$800,000
ChargePost	5	40	$362,032
EVSE	28	68	$680,000
City of Newcastle	10	30	$270,572
Waverley Council	31	51	$286,740
EVX	77	154	$760,452
PLUS ES	149	149	$794,979
JOLT Charge	65	99	$180,000
Total	391	671	$4,134,775

671 chargers will be installed across 16 Local Government Areas:

• Blacktown City Council
• Burwood Council
• Council of the City of Sydney
• Georges River Council
• Inner West Council
• Ku-ring-gai Council
• Lane Cove Municipal Council
• Liverpool City Council
• Mosman Municipal Council
• City of Newcastle
• North Sydney Council
• Northern Beaches Council
• Randwick City Council
• Waverley Council
• Willoughby City Council
• Woollahra Municipal Council

The NSW Government is continuing to raise public awareness and understanding of coercive control, with an in-language campaign to raise awareness and understanding of coercive control among culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities beginning today.

Developed by a specialist multicultural marketing agency, the campaign uses the image of a spider’s web to symbolise the interconnected pattern of behaviours which traps victims of coercive control.

This follows a broad advertising campaign which commenced at the beginning of May, which used the tagline “It’s not love, it’s coercive control”. In August 2023, a website was launched to ensure the NSW public had access to credible information on the subject.

Coercive control is insidious and can manifest in many ways. It is a pattern of behaviour which may include financial abuse, threats against pets or loved ones, tracking someone’s movements, or isolating them from friends and family to control them.

NSW is the first Australian jurisdiction to introduce a standalone dedicated offence of coercive control.

The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Coercive Control) Act 2022 will criminalise coercive control in current or former intimate partner relationships in NSW starting from 1 July 2024. If found guilty, perpetrators can face up to a maximum of 7 years in prison.

The need to support community awareness of coercive control, including specific CALD support, was recommended by the Joint Select Committee on Coercive Control.

The NSW Domestic Violence Death Review Team found about 97% of intimate partner domestic violence homicides in NSW between 2000 and 2018 were preceded by the perpetrator using emotional and psychological abuse as a form of coercive control towards the victim.

This campaign has been developed in consultation with community members and the CALD Communities Reference Group that provides advice to the Coercive Control Implementation and Evaluation Taskforce.

The advertising campaign is initially tailored for Arabic, Vietnamese, Cantonese and Mandarin speakers. Translated information for additional language groups will be added over the coming months.

A campaign tailored for First Nations audiences will launch next week.

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

“Coercive control is an insidious abuse that can manifest in many ways, be hard to recognise, and look different in various communities.

“We also know that people from multicultural backgrounds are less likely to seek help due to cultural and language barriers, which is why we need to make sure our message is reaching them.

“The new coercive control laws will come into effect from 1 July and the government is committed to making sure all people in all communities understand this complex and dangerous abuse.”

Minister for Multiculturalism Steve Kamper said:

“The NSW Government is working hard to ensure all communities across NSW are aware of the new coercive control laws.

“We have acted on the recommendation from the Joint Select Committee to deliver dedicated outreach and tailored communication to our culturally and linguistically diverse communities.  

“We need to make sure everyone from all walks of life gets the message loud and clear. Coercive control is a crime.”  

Support Services

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

For confidential advice, support, and referrals, contact 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732.