Category: NSW News

The $632 million Campbelltown Hospital redevelopment has reached a major construction milestone, with the 12-storey Clinical Services Building reaching its highest point.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Health Minister Brad Hazzard visited the new building and met with nursing graduates who are among 264 nursing and midwife graduates starting at hospitals across Sydney’s south-west next month.
“The new Clinical Services Building will be the centrepiece of the Campbelltown Hospital Redevelopment and will boost bed capacity across the hospital by more than 50 per cent,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Construction of the redevelopment is supporting around 700 direct jobs helping stimulate the economy, a key part of the State’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the redevelopment will also deliver a new maternity unit almost double in capacity, as well as significantly expanded cancer and mental health services.
“The NSW Government’s record investment in south-west and western Sydney public hospitals will ensure people living in the fastest growing region in our state will have access to state-of-the-art health services closer to home,” Mr Hazzard said.
“I’m also so pleased to welcome a total of 264 nurses and midwives to the South Western Sydney Local Health District in coming days and weeks, 51 of which will work at Campbelltown and Camden hospitals.”
The $632 million Stage 2 Campbelltown Hospital will include:

• New state-of-the-art digital operating theatres and procedure rooms;
• Dental and oral health department for the first time;
• Double the ICU bed capacity;
• Expanded cancer therapy centre;
• Almost double the number of maternity beds;
• New and expanded surgical services including interventional radiology; and
• Expanded specialist mental health services.

Member for Camden Peter Sidgreaves said the new hospital reflects the NSW Government’s commitment to meet the needs of the growing south-western Sydney community.
“This $632 million investment is a tremendous boost for health services in the region, ensuring we are well placed to welcome the 133,000-plus new residents expected to call our south-western community home in the next 12 years,” Mr Sidgreaves said.
Member for Wollondilly Nathaniel Smith said the Campbelltown Hospital redevelopment is a huge win for the Macarthur Region.
“Top class healthcare services, a strong economy and jobs growth are vital for our Macarthur region community to flourish as it grows, and the Campbelltown Hospital redevelopment is delivering on all counts,” Mr Smith said.
The $134 million Stage 1 redevelopment was completed in January 2016. An additional $34.1 million was invested for a multistorey car park completed in early 2020, providing more than 800 spaces.

Economic indicators are proving that the post-coronavirus recovery is well under way in NSW
CONFIDENCE is an enigma, a way of being rather than an emotion. US quarterback and seven-time Superbowl champ Tom Brady exudes it in spades.
Despite falling short at the Australian Open last week, tennis star Ash Barty is the living embodiment of “quiet confidence”.
For much of his career, golfing great Greg Norman was confidence personified, but when it evaporated, as it did a quarter of a century ago at the 1996 US Masters, the Shark’s implosion and loss of confidence was tragic to behold.
So it was in 2020, with COVID-19 leaving the global economy out in the cold, like a rejected suitor left holding a bunch of roses on Valentine’s Day.
For consumers and businesses, the shock of lockdowns, border restrictions and ongoing uncertainty was a disaster for confidence.
As the horrors of 2020 begin to recede in the rear-view mirror, NSW looks to be on the up-andup once again.
The Westpac-Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment index climbed 3.5 per cent in February to reach 111.7 index points. When compared to the same time last year, the index has climbed 20 per cent in NSW.
The NAB business confidence index is also firmly positive, after the pandemic drove it down to the lowest levels since records began.
This is extraordinary. Barely eight months after the most severe economic contraction in three decades, confidence in economic conditions for the year ahead is higher than at any point in the past seven.
The latest jobs figures released last week offer more hope. Although 53,144 people are still out of work compared to a year ago, the current unemployment rate in NSW last week dropped to 6 per cent.
This is lower than the national rate of 6.4 per cent, and considerably below the double digit figures which were feared when the pandemic first struck.
Many challenges remain, and jobs is a top focus for the government, but a renewed sense of optimism is a testament to the indomitable spirit of the people of NSW.
Confidence is a vital driver of economic activity. So the rebound is good news for the bottom line, but it hasn’t just happened by chance.
Australia is among a select group of countries to have kept the spread of the COVID- 19 virus relatively under control. In Europe, the US and various other hot spots, daily new cases are still being counted in the thousands, while here we fret about one or two.
In NSW the prowess of our health system — and, most importantly, the amazing NSW Health personnel who have kept raising the bar for testing and contact tracing — has undoubtedly boosted confidence, demonstrating a consistent ability to contain outbreaks as they arise such as on the northern beaches at Christmas.
The approach taken by our government in tackling both the health and economic challenges has been very much geared towards giving the people of our state as much confidence as possible in the most uncertain period in living memory.
The impact of a snap five-day lockdown in Victoria was a stark reminder of the constant challenges of COVID and how far and wide decisions made by governments are felt.
Metung is a picturesque town in East Gippsland about 300km from Melbourne’s quarantine hotels. It was once a favoured bolt hole for country legend Slim Dusty back in the day.
When local publican David Strange was interviewed by Melbourne radio station 3AW, his frustration at being locked down again was palpable.
“We are going to have outbreaks of this thing for the next 12 months, I’m sure, and you can’t just say ‘The science says close the state’ and we close it,” he said.
Sky News reported that on day one of the Victorian lockdown, Lifeline received the third highest number of daily calls in its 60-year history.
The challenge for every government remains the need to balance the health response with the social and economic consequences with every decision we make.
That’s what is driving our approach and it’s an important factor in ensuring the people of NSW can face the future with optimism, determination and confidence.
Dominic Perrottet
NSW Treasurer.
 

Restrictions will be eased from 12.01am Friday, 26 February across Greater Sydney and NSW:
 

• 50 visitors will now be allowed in the home;
• 30 people allowed to dance at weddings, with rotation on and off the dance floor;
• Increased class limits for gyms to 50 people (currently 30) subject to the 4sqm rule;
• Number of performers singing indoors increased to 30 (currently 5) subject to physical distancing requirements;
• Singing by congregants allowed in places of worship if masks are worn and subject to one person per 4sqm (currently no congregant singing allowed, with one per 2sqm permitted in places of worship);
• Increase capacity for cinemas to 100 per cent; and
• If current trends continue, drinking while standing up at indoor venues will be allowed in three weeks’ time (from Wednesday, 17 March).

 
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the easing of restrictions was due to the support of the NSW community.
“With the rollout of the vaccine now underway, and no new locally acquired cases in NSW, we are able to make further changes towards a new ‘COVID normal’,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“I thank the community for following the health advice to keep the virus at bay. However, we cannot become complacent.”
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said today’s announcement was another step forward for NSW.
“Each time we are able to further ease restrictions it’s another shot of confidence for the NSW economy,” Mr Perrottet said.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said NSW has come a long way since the virus arrived here and we should be proud of the position we are in.
“This week NSW started rolling out the vaccine across the state and now we are further easing restrictions, which is a fantastic achievement,” Mr Hazzard said.
Dr Chant said while household gathering restrictions have been eased, people are urged to remember COVID-19 can be transmitted more easily in crowded indoor settings.
“Don’t attend these types of events if you have COVID-19 symptoms – instead get tested immediately and self-isolate. If holding these gatherings, please use outdoor settings and well ventilated spaces where available and avoid overcrowding to reduce the risk of COVID transmission,” Dr Chant said.
For the latest information and COVID-19 testing sites please visit:
www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19
 

Sydney’s busiest rail lines will benefit from hundreds of extra weekly services thanks to an additional $1 billion investment from the NSW Government.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the next wave of funding through the More Trains, More Services program will continue the rail revolution as part of the integration of Sydney Metro City & Southwest in 2024.
“$1 billion in funding ensures we’re future-proofing the existing rail network to keep pace with demand, but at the same time getting on with the job of building the next stages of Metro,” Mr Constance said.
“Moving Bankstown Line services to the new standalone metro system removes an existing bottleneck and frees up capacity to deliver more services on other lines where it’s needed.”
Key service improvements for customers as part of the program will include:

• More services for the T8 Airport Line, including an 80 per cent increase at the International, Domestic, Mascot and Green Square stations during the morning peak, as well as extra services from Revesby and Campbelltown in south west Sydney.
• A 30 per cent increase in peak services on the T4 Illawarra Line, with extra services from Cronulla, Waterfall and Hurstville, providing space to carry 6,000 more customers.
• More services on the T2 Inner West Line, with an extra four services in the morning peak hour providing space for more than 4,800 more customers.
• More services on the South Coast Line, meaning a service every 15 minutes instead of every 20 minutes in the peak, and a service every 30 minutes instead of every hour between Wollongong and the Sydney CBD in the off peak.

Key infrastructure upgrades and additional train fleet will also be delivered to enable the service improvements across the network. Further information about these two aspects are still being finalised as part of the full program of work.
The additional funding will build on improvements already planned across parts of the train network, providing more space for tens of thousands of train customers.
The extra rail services form part of the NSW Government’s $5.3 billion More Trains, More Services program that will deliver further improvements progressively from 2022.

The new Batemans Bay Bridge over the Clyde River will open to two lanes of traffic in late March, months ahead of schedule.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the early completion of the bridge was a win for the Batemans Bay community.
“Travelling to and accessing the beautiful South Coast is about to improve, providing an economic boost to our communities, and delivering a much-needed new link for the entire region,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Previously, the new bridge was expected to open by the middle of the year but the project has powered ahead despite the impacts of bushfires and COVID-19.
“The project has employed around 1,000 people so far and nearly half of them are local to this area.”
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole welcomed the early bridge opening saying it was another demonstration of the NSW Government’s commitment to safer and stronger regions that the work to complete the bridge was able to be accelerated ensuring it could open to traffic before the holidays.
“The benefits of the new bridge include fewer supports in the river, safer navigation and better connections in and around Batemans Bay for motorists, freight, river users, pedestrians and cyclists,” Mr Toole said.
“The two lanes on the western side of the $274 million project will be the first to open, operating initially with one lane in each direction.”
Member for Bega Andrew Constance said the project has created a safer and more efficient crossing over the Clyde River, particularly for emergency services.
“To be ahead of schedule and have the bridge open to traffic for the Easter school holidays is fantastic news for visitors and locals,” Mr Constance said.
“One of the real dividends of this bridge project is that the NSW Government’s Infrastructure Skills Legacy Program has provided improved opportunities for groups typically under-represented in construction. Around nine per cent of workers are female, 14 per cent are under 25 and more than 15 per cent are Aboriginal.”
Princes Highway northbound traffic will move onto the new bridge first, followed by southbound traffic a few hours later and the three metre pedestrian and cyclist path a few days after that.
Removal of the existing bridge will start within three days of the new bridge opening to two lanes of traffic.
Ramps and steps are continuing to be built to connect the bridge to the foreshore and the existing pedestrian network, and new fishing and viewing platforms will provide better amenity for recreational fishing and views of the area when the project is complete.
Old Punt Road will be widened and connected with Wharf Road under the bridge in the next stage of the project to improve access to the northern foreshore, and the Kings and Princes highway intersection upgrades will improve traffic flow.
The new bridge height allows uninterrupted access for boats requiring up to 12 metres height clearance at Mean High Water Spring.
For more information about the new Batemans Bay Bridge project, go to https://nswroads.work/batemansbaybridge.

More businesses and customers will benefit from the State Government’s Dine & Discover NSW program, with the second phase of the pilot commencing in the Northern Beaches, Sydney CBD and Bega Valley from today.
The expanded pilot follows successful and continual testing of the technology in The Rocks and Broken Hill.
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the stimulus will bring much needed relief to businesses hit hard by COVID-19 and last year’s bushfires.
“These communities have been brought to their knees due to the pandemic and bushfires, and the vouchers will deliver a boost for businesses and encourage customers to get out and about safely,” Mr Dominello said.
“It’s not too late for eligible businesses to register. It can be done online and could bring more customers through the door. Customers should also download the Service NSW app now and reap the rewards.”
Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said the findings from the pilots will inform the state wide rollout, which will be progressively rolled out from March.
“About 700 businesses in Bega Valley, the Northern Beaches and Sydney CBD will take part in the second phase of Dine & Discover NSW, and more than 125,000 NSW residents have been invited to participate,” Mr Tudehope said.
“This stimulus is exactly what businesses need with summer ending soon. It will also put extra money in the pockets of households.”
Every NSW resident aged 18 and over will soon be eligible for four $25 vouchers worth $100 in total, to spend in participating businesses.
Dine & Discover NSW vouchers will be divided into two categories:

• Two $25 vouchers to be used for eating in at restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs and clubs from Monday to Thursday, excluding public holidays.
• Two $25 vouchers to be used for entertainment and recreation, including cultural institutions, live music, and arts venues, available 7 days a week, excluding public holidays.

The vouchers can only be used at eligible businesses that have implemented a COVID Safety Plan and are registered as COVID Safe.
For more information on Dine & Discover NSW, visit www.nsw.gov.au

Major work to ease congestion and improve safety along Memorial Avenue has started, with the sod turned at Kellyville today on the $224 million upgrade.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the NSW Government is committed to improving traffic times and is getting on with the job of delivering vital infrastructure.
“This major upgrade will improve congestion, safety and travel times for the 30,000 drivers who use Memorial Avenue every day,” Mr Constance said.
“Memorial Avenue is being widened to a four lane divided road, with shared pedestrian and cyclist paths, helping people better connect with the Sydney Metro stations at Kellyville and Bella Vista.”
“The upgrade also includes additional dedicated left and right turn lanes at the Windsor Road and Memorial Avenue intersection, and bus users will benefit from new bus priority traffic lights.”
Baulkham Hills State Liberal MP David Elliott said the Memorial Avenue upgrade would assist the community meet the future transport needs of Sydney’s growing North West.
“Residents are looking forward to the delivery of this much-needed upgrade to manage current and predicted increases in traffic and respond to residential and commercial development in the area,” Mr Elliott said.
Work will be carried out on weekdays (excluding public holidays) between 7am and 6pm, weather permitting.
During this time, road users are urged to drive to conditions and follow the directions of signs and traffic control.
The Memorial Avenue upgrade is expected to open to road users in late 2023. Once completed, Memorial Avenue will have a consistent speed limit of 80km/h.

Regional communities across NSW will benefit from a new fleet of state-of-the-art intensive care ambulances thanks to an $11.7 million funding boost by the NSW Government.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the 69 intensive care ambulances will carry the most advanced equipment, including upgraded life-saving defibrillators, to bolster the frontline emergency response across the State.
“Every second counts in the race to save a life and these highly specialised vehicles give paramedics the best chance when transporting a patient on extended trips to a major regional hospital,” Mr Barilaro said.
“The NSW Government is building a safer and stronger regional NSW, with 50 of the 69 ambulances being based in rural and regional areas, supporting those who live hundreds of kilometres from the nearest trauma centre.”
The intensive care ambulances will be rolled out to Western NSW, Southern NSW, Northern NSW, Hunter New England and Central Coast regions as well as metropolitan areas.
Minister for Health Brad Hazzard said the new fleet is in addition to the 35 intensive care ambulances rolled out across the State last year.
“We will now have more than 100 of these highly specialised ambulances in NSW, the largest fleet of this type in any state or territory in Australia,” Mr Hazzard said.
“These specially equipped ambulances, operated by our fantastic highly trained paramedics, will give patients the best chance of survival before they reach hospital.”
The new vehicles carry cutting-edge equipment including upgraded monitor defibrillators, video laryngoscopes and mechanical CPR devices.
NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dominic Morgan said the equipment will make a big difference for patients suffering trauma, cardiac arrest, stroke or breathing difficulties.
“The equipment also provides our paramedics with greater protection when treating suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients,” Dr Morgan said.
In 2020-21 the NSW Government is investing more than $1 billion in NSW Ambulance, including $27 million for 180 new staff, the third tranche of the 2018 commitment to recruit 750 more paramedic and control centre staff over four years.

A 24-year-old man who is currently in Goulburn Correctional Centre has been charged by counter terrorism officers for allegedly planning acts of terrorism targeted at police, military personnel and corrective services staff while behind bars in NSW.
His charging yesterday by the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) follows an investigation known as Operation Zellaer, which began in late 2018 into a number of people alleged to be engaging in terrorism-related activities. The 24-year-old was later found to be an associate of these people.
The man was also the subject of a separate investigation by the NSW Police Force’s High Risk Terrorist Offenders Unit (HRTOU), who had commenced an investigation into him concerning his eligibility for a supervision/detention order under the Terrorism (High Risk Offenders) Act 2017 (NSW).
As a result of that investigation, the man was placed on an Interim Continuing Detention Order, and evidence identified during this was referred to the JCTT.
In October 2019, the NSW JCTT, with the help of Corrective Services NSW, executed a search warrant on the man’s cell at Goulburn Supermax. The man was on remand for matters unrelated to terrorism at the time.
Police will allege evidence seized during the search warrant relates to the planning of acts of violent extremism within the community, aimed at police, military personnel and correctional staff.
The 24-year-old was charged yesterday with two counts of acts done in preparation for, or planning terrorist acts.
He is due to appear before Parramatta Local Court on 2 April 2021.
The man faces a maximum penalty of life imprisonment if convicted.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Scott Lee said any talk of acts of terrorism within the community was concerning.
“With the good work conducted by the NSW JCTT and NSW Police’s High Risk Terrorism Offenders team, this investigation uncovered alleged plots to harm the very men and women who our community members trust to keep them safe,” Assistant Commissioner Lee said.
“It shows why it is imperative for our officers to stay one step ahead of people who wish to turn to violent means to achieve their own ends. The AFP and our partners will tirelessly investigate and target this type of offending and bring perpetrators before the courts.”

NSW Police Force Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Commander, Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton, said the results demonstrate the full gambit of counter terrorism investigations in NSW.

“Our investigations teams are complemented by a range of specialist units, which seek to identify and disrupt potential terrorist plans by individuals or groups, monitor those at risk of radicalisation and detect those who seek to do harm within our community,” Assistant Commissioner Walton said.

Anyone with information about extremist activity or possible threats to the community should come forward, no matter how small or insignificant you may think the information may be. The National Security Hotline is 1800 123 400.