Category: NSW News

The world’s largest express transportation company, FedEx Express, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the NSW Government that will connect the Western Sydney Aerotropolis to more than 220 countries around the world by supporting the design and development of a new freight and logistics hub.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the MoU with FedEx Express will support increased trade and export of local products through the Western Sydney International (Nancy Bird Walton) Airport.
“The 24/7 freight and logistics hub will be a cutting-edge facility that allows fresh produce to be transported from local paddocks to international plates in under 36 hours and open up a global market for farmers and local businesses in Western Sydney,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“FedEx Express has agreed to play a key role in the development of a freight and logistics hub in the Western Sydney Aerotropolis. We will leverage their expertise to transform the way goods are brought from Western Sydney to the world.”
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the latest MoU helps ensure Western Sydney has a competitive advantage when it comes to freight and logistics.
“With the latest technology, this is an opportunity to position Western Sydney to capitalise on that advantage for our businesses,” Mr Ayres said.
“We have now signed MoUs with companies across aerospace, defence, manufacturing, agribusiness, education and logistics and are on track to create 200,000 jobs in the Western Parkland City.”
FedEx Express, Australasia vice president Peter Langley said FedEx Express is pleased to be able to work with the NSW Government to build a leading freight and logistics hub in Western Sydney.
“In today’s business environment, having a competitive edge is critical to success and with our FedEx and TNT services, we are offering customers the ability to optimise their cross-border supply chains at high speeds and without compromise on reliability,” Mr Langley said.
“With the presence of this facility, we are creating more possibilities for local businesses to reach potential new markets across the world.”
The freight and logistics hub, to be built on the doorstep of the Western Sydney International Airport, will be supported by automated technologies and include digital capabilities that are having a big impact in the way goods are moving around the world.

Detailed new plans to transform Westmead into Australia’s most significant and dynamic health and innovation district have been released by the NSW Government.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the draft Westmead Place Strategy outlines a vision for a national centre for excellence in health, research and education.
“Westmead is already Sydney’s medical capital, home to leading researchers, entrepreneurs, health workers and students, but these plans will provide the precinct with a refresh and a platform to build even further,” Mr Stokes said.
“The arrival of the Sydney Metro West will be the catalyst for major change, transforming the area with a mix of housing types, better public transport, walking and cycling connections and thousands of jobs close to homes in Western Sydney.”
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said Westmead will become a model 21st century smart city with a vision for approximately 50,000 jobs located close to transport and homes.
“This dynamic strategy will secure Westmead as one of Australia’s most significant hubs for jobs, investment and research of the future,” Mr Ayres said.
“This will be a precinct that everyone across Western Sydney can be truly proud of.”
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education and Member for Parramatta Geoff Lee said the draft strategy will encourage new tertiary opportunities for Westmead allowing for synergies with the health cluster.
“Our strategic vision will put people at the centre of future development with a focus on pedestrian-friendly streets and new community facilities, including exploring potential new river crossings to improve access,” Mr Lee said.
“We will protect heritage buildings and find ways they can be repurposed for new community uses, where appropriate.”


Westmead has been divided into seven sub-precincts, each defined by its own purpose and distinct character to create an integrated, coherent and sustainable community.
The seven sub-precincts are:

• Westmead South Precinct: A walkable residential neighbourhood, transformed by the proposed Metro Station to increase connectivity, offering housing choice and diversity, with an urban village at its heart;

 

• Health and Innovation Precinct: Westmead’s engine room, defined by its world-class health, research, education and innovation facilities;

 

• Westmead East Precinct: A bustling neighbourhood offering housing diversity, a thriving high street along Hawkesbury Road with connections to Parramatta;

 

• Northmead Employment Precinct: An employment precinct that has the potential to capitalise on advance manufacturing and support health businesses. The precinct will take advantage of Toongabbie Creek to improve amenity and connections to the Health and Innovation Sub-Precinct;

 

• Northmead Residential Precinct: An amenity-led residential neighbourhood embracing its proximity to Toongabbie Creek;

 

• Northmead Enterprise Precinct: A revitalised enterprise precinct that strengthen the role of providing commercial and urban services to the local community; and

 

• Parramatta North Precinct: A mixed use precinct set within a highly valued heritage and parkland setting. The precinct will attract new investment and renewal with facilities in innovation, tertiary education, enterprise, vibrant public domain spaces, community and cultural uses and housing diversity.

Following finalisation of this strategy, the Greater Sydney Commission will coordinate a whole of government response to deliver on the potential at Westmead. For more information and to have your say visit www.planning.nsw.gov.au/westmead

More customers are being welcomed back to the public transport network today with an increase in the number of people allowed on trains, buses, ferries and light rail, in line with health advice.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said with community transmission remaining low, NSW Health recognises that transport usage will increase across the network.
“We know more people are moving around this summer and we are at a stage where we can safely let more people onto the public transport network to help people get back to jobs, recreational activities and public spaces in a COVID safe way,” Mr Constance said.
“A Waratah train will now be able to carry 86 customers per carriage, up from 68, and a typical two-door bus will be able to carry 27 customers, up from 23.”
NSW TrainLink services are already being booked to 50 per cent capacity, with additional demand being met by supplementary coach services, to maintain physical distancing when travelling long distances.
Transport for NSW Chief Operations Officer Howard Collins said green physical distancing dots will continue to guide customers on the best places to sit and stand on public transport.
“We have added 1,200 extra services to the 3,300 extra services rolled out in June giving customers plenty of options when planning their travel,” Mr Collins said.
“There are three simple steps for a COVID safe public transport trip – plan ahead and check physical distancing capacity, wear a mask and find a green dot.
“Enhanced cleaning continues with 1,600 extra cleaners employed and 1.5 million extra cleaning hours carried out since March 2020, while extra staff continue to help customers move through busy stations and interchanges in a COVID safe way.
“I want to thank all the commuters and businesses who have worked with us from day one and continue to work with us to keep services safe and moving.”

The final strategy for Pyrmont and Ultimo envisages a global entertainment and cultural hub with enhanced streetscapes, parklands and more open space.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the final Pyrmont Peninsula Place Strategy provides more certainty and clarity regarding the future of the CBD’s western gateway.
“We’ve listened to community and business feedback and have adapted the plan so that Pyrmont remains a prosperous and unique part of Sydney,” Mr Stokes said.
“Striking a balance in planning is never easy and the unique geography and history of Pyrmont’s settlement pattern provided a particular challenge. Our fundamental task was to encourage economic development while enlivening the peninsula, boosting jobs and providing for more quality public open spaces for everyone to enjoy.
“Our plan will unlock public access to Sydney’s foreshore from Blackwattle Bay to Woollomooloo Bay since the 1800s.
“The pandemic has shown us the importance of public space and this strategy provides hectares more open space, uninterrupted foreshore and plenty of community infrastructure to support new and existing development.”
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the Place Strategy confirmed the importance of the peninsula as a hub for economic growth.
“Pyrmont is the real gem of Sydney and for too long its potential has been overlooked and underutilised,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This strategy will boost the economy and at the same time ensure we improve the area and build a gateway from the western harbour, through Barangaroo and the CBD, all the way to the Opera House.”
The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment will now prepare master plans for the Pyrmont Peninsula’s seven sub-precincts – Pirrama, Darling Island, Blackwattle Bay, Tumbalong Park, Wentworth Park, Pyrmont Village and Ultimo.
Details in the final strategy include:
Blackwattle Bay

• A new active transport link from Blackwattle Bay to the Fish Market Light Rail Station
• Building heights limited to 120m – 156m
• ‘Low-line’ beneath the Anzac Bridge pylons and Western Distributor overpass, including a ribbon of public, recreational space

Wentworth Park

• Facilitate the return of the Wentworth Park greyhound track land and the temporary pop up school once their terms expire as newly activated, publicly accessible open space as part of a larger and enhanced parkland
• A working group with government agencies and stakeholders to be established to assist in identifying a suitable alternate site for greyhound racing

Harbourside

• Publicly accessible open space on rooftop areas
• Protection of sunlight on the harbour foreshore
• Building heights below 170m

The Star

• A 110m tower on the northern end, on the condition it is a six-star hotel (maximum height of 60 metres to remain in place for any other development type)
• Tower on southern end of site maximum 140m
• Improved public spaces ie landscaping, increase in tree canopy
• Reduced street parking and relocated tourist bus lay overs on site
• Fund upgrades in surrounding public spaces, including improved landscaping, additional greenery, increase in tree canopy and upgrade to public seating and congregation spaces

More details are available in the final Pyrmont Peninsula Place Strategy is available at: www.planning.nsw.gov.au/pyrmontpeninsula

The NSW Government will build a new metro railway station at Pyrmont as part of the mega Sydney Metro West project, greatly enhancing plans to revitalise the inner city precinct to encourage jobs, investment and economic growth.
Minister for Transport Andrew Constance said the new station will deliver major benefits to the Pyrmont community and create an unparalleled opportunity to support the Government’s plans to transform the suburb.
“This is so much more than somewhere to catch a train,” Mr Constance said.
“It will become the centre of the community and the western gateway to the Sydney CBD providing not only world-class transport options but opportunities to support new jobs and homes.
“Modelling also predicts this will be one of the busiest stations on the Sydney Metro West line and will provide customers with more choice.”
A Sydney Metro station at Pyrmont will:

• Create 500 direct and 1700 indirect jobs.
• Ease congestion at key CBD railway stations like Central and Town Hall.
• Relieve demand on the Dulwich Hill Light Rail Line by about 10 per cent.
• Serve major events and entertainment activities, including those around Darling Harbour and the Sydney International Convention Centre.
• Support Pyrmont as a diverse, desirable, vibrant and accessible inner urban precinct.
• Provide customers with about a 26-minute saving between Parramatta and Pyrmont, with the trip taking just 18 minutes.

A value share contribution mechanism will be applied to the Pyrmont Peninsula once the Sydney Metro West project opens.
It will require some commercial property owners, other than small businesses, that benefit from increased land values associated with the new station to make an annual contribution to offset the cost of building the station.
A one-off Transport Special Infrastructure Contribution will also be applied to certain new developments in the Pyrmont Peninsula in advance of the station opening.
The Pyrmont metro station location is subject to further planning and design work.
Sydney Metro has worked with the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and other stakeholders to ensure the plans for a metro station at Pyrmont are consistent with the planning work being undertaken to unlock innovation and investment in the Pyrmont Peninsula.
The Metro project forms part of the NSW Government’s record $107 billion infrastructure pipeline, a key part of the COVID Recovery Plan.

A world-class multi-disciplinary university campus will be able to be delivered within the Westmead Health and Innovation District with the signing of a framework agreement between the NSW Government and the University of Sydney.
The new University campus will build on the District’s role as one of the largest health, education, research and training precincts in Australia.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the agreement was an important step for the long-term future of the Westmead Health and Innovation District.
“A globally recognised University campus in the Central River City at the core of the Westmead Health and Innovation District will drive innovation and catalyse future growth, ensuring we become a world leader in lifelong education and research partnerships that save lives and cure diseases,” Mr Ayres said.
Mr Ayres said over the next 30 years, the NSW Government’s vision for the District is expected to create more than 20,000 new jobs and contribute an additional $2.8 billion of economic output per year to the NSW economy.
“Having the University at the core of the Westmead Health and Innovation District will help transform the district into a powerhouse of invention, creativity, and commercialisation, and home to world-leading enterprises, start-ups, researchers and students,” Mr Ayres said.
Mr Ayres paid tribute to the vision of the outgoing Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sydney, Dr Michael Spence AC, to expand the University’s presence in Western Sydney over coming decades, contributing to the economic, social, cultural and intellectual growth of the area and the broader Sydney metropolis.
Dr Spence, who will become President and Provost of University College London in January 2021, said he was delighted the University of Sydney and NSW Government had agreed to develop a shared vision for a mixed-use University campus at Parramatta/Westmead.
“This once-in-a-century opportunity in Western Sydney would build on our 40-year history at Westmead and create a genuinely multidisciplinary major campus that enables new partnership and innovation opportunities for all of Sydney,” Dr Spence said.
“We are committed to offering students in Western Sydney more opportunity to study and pursue research with our incredible academics to help solve some of the world’s most challenging problems.”
Pending final agreement around the size and timings of the campus development, the University hopes to attract more than 25,000 students and 2,500 staff by 2055 and provide affordable student and staff accommodation.
Minister for Health and Medical Research Brad Hazzard said the NSW Government and the University of Sydney are committed to working together as health will continue to be a strong focus throughout Westmead and the future of the site.
“Westmead Health and Innovation District will continue to deliver world-class health services for the communities of Western Sydney by developing new and innovative models of health care.”
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education and Member for Parramatta Geoff Lee said the agreement was a win for Parramatta and Western Sydney.
“Westmead is already the largest biomedical precinct in Australia. The commitment by University of Sydney today will transform the precinct by offering a comprehensive suite of university courses beyond health studies. Parramatta City has established itself to be the education capital of Western Sydney,” he said.
The agreement marks the next step in exclusive negotiations between Government and the University which commenced in November 2018. It confirms the University of Sydney as the ‘educational anchor’ for the Government’s planned innovation district, based on the University’s leading status as a top-100 global university. It also confirms a site for the new campus in Parramatta North adjacent to the Westmead hospitals, and a process for ongoing engagement once land for the proposed campus becomes available for development.
For more information please visit here.

Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital has become the first public hospital in NSW with a robotic pharmacy, with the $265 million Stage 2 redevelopment on track for completion next year.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard, along with Member for Hornsby Matt Kean, saw the robotic dispensing and stocktaking system in motion today and toured the newly opened 12-bed Intensive Care Unit.
“The $265 million Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital Stage 2 redevelopment will provide a superior experience for patients, carers, staff and visitors, with a larger emergency department and an Intensive Care Unit about three times the size of the previous one,” Mr Hazzard said.
“The new, state-of-the-art pharmacy is also more than double in size and, thanks to its advanced robotics, can select and dispense medications and conduct stocktakes faster, reducing errors and wastage and allowing pharmacists to spend more time with patients.”
Mr Kean said the new Intensive Care Unit opened less than a month ago and is a modern, purpose-built department that includes single patient rooms, with large observation windows and a large staff station.
“This new Intensive Care Unit brings Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital into the 21^st century by ensuring the building matches the superior care the clinicians deliver. There is vast space for clinicians to provide outstanding care, with patients’ needs at the centre of its design,” Mr Kean said.
“There is more natural light which is important for the patient’s recovery, more privacy for patient care and family discussions and every room can be an isolation room if required, meaning better infection control.”
Other departments to have opened as part of the redevelopment include Outpatients, Paediatrics and Medical Imaging.
The $265 million Stage 2 redevelopment will deliver a new Clinical Services Building, due for completion next year, and a refurbished and expanded Emergency Department.
The Clinical Services Building will include:

• A combined Intensive Care and High Dependency Unit;
• Combined Respiratory/Cardiac and Coronary Care beds co-located with a Cardiac Investigations Unit;
• Ambulatory Care Centre (Outpatients Department);
• Medical Imaging;
• Paediatrics;
• Medical Assessment Unit;
• Inpatients Units (including general medicine, rehabilitation, stroke and dementia/delirium beds);
• Co-located education space with The University of Sydney
• Helipad

The redevelopment will also deliver a refurbished and expanded Psychiatric Emergency Care Centre, new day chemotherapy unit and renal dialysis unit for the first time at Hornsby, expansion of oral health services and integration of community health services.

Plans to slash travel times for drivers and public transport commuters in Sydney’s north have taken a major step forward with the Beaches Link Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) released today.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the mega-project will include twin tunnels under Middle Harbour with three lanes in each direction, allowing commuters to avoid peak hour congestion on the Spit Bridge, Military Road and the Roseville Bridge.
“Beaches Link will transform the way people move to and from the Northern Beaches, bypassing 19 sets of traffic lights through The Spit, Mosman and Neutral Bay and help save up to 56 minutes between Dee Why and Sydney airport,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Residents in Neutral Bay, Mosman and Cremorne will experience less congestion and noise, with traffic volumes expected to reduce by around a third along Spit Road.
“The Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link program is expected to support around 15,000 full-time jobs.”
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the project will integrate with new and existing public transport connections.
“There will be the opportunity for new express bus services to key centres including St Leonards, Macquarie Park, North Sydney and Sydney CBD, and direct access to North Sydney to interchange with the new Sydney Metro,” Mr Constance said.
“We’re also planning more than five kilometres of new cycle and pedestrian pathways, including links to the Northern Beaches Hospital precinct.
“This is the next stage of the consultation process, giving the community another opportunity to have its say.
“Transport for NSW has adapted its community engagement in line with current health advice regarding COVID-19, and will be providing enhanced online engagement with virtual information sessions throughout January and February.
“We’ll also work closely with locals in Balgowlah, where we’ll be returning an area equivalent to around 90 per cent of the current open space to the community. Further consultation will be held with the community on open space in Balgowlah later in 2021.”
The tunnel will be up to 108 metres in depth (approximately 33 storeys) and include new connections on the Gore Hill Freeway at Artarmon, Warringah Freeway at Cammeray and direct access onto Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation at Balgowlah and Wakehurst Parkway at Seaforth.
The Wakehurst Parkway will be widened from one lane to two in each direction between Seaforth and Frenchs Forest.
The project is also expected to slash future travel times by:

• up to 38 minutes between Balgowlah and Sydney CBD
• up to 54 minutes between Frenchs Forest and Rozelle
• up to 32 minutes between Manly and Macquarie Park

The EIS will be on extended public exhibition from Wednesday 9 December 2020 until Monday 1 March 2021.

A man from the southern NSW city of Albury is expected to be charged with terrorism-related offences following a NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) investigation.
The 18-year-old man was arrested earlier this morning (Wednesday, 9 December 2020) and is due to be charged with a range of criminal counter-terrorism-related offences.
He is expected to face Albury Local Court once charged, and an application will be made to have the matter heard in a Sydney court at a later date.
The investigation began in August 2020 after NSW JCTT investigators became aware of a number of online posts containing an extreme right wing ideology that indicated potential criminal activity.
It will be alleged in court that the man has regularly used social media forums and communications applications during 2020 to encourage other people to commit violent acts in furtherance of an extreme right wing ideology.
NSW JCTT investigators became concerned about the escalating content of some of the man’s communications, which allegedly indicated his willingness to commit a violent and criminal act. The decision was made to execute a search warrant on his Albury residence.
Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Counter Terrorism Scott Lee said NSW JCTT investigators were concerned about the man’s actions to date, and made a decision to act early to ensure community safety.
“The sole aim of today’s activity was to ensure the safety of the community by preventing further planning, preparations or advocacy by this man that could have resulted in an attack in Australia,” he said.
“The investigation into this matter remains ongoing, but we remain wary about the speed with which lone actors can progress from online activities to ones that impact the real world. It highlights the commitment and professionalism of the people and agencies involved in the JCTT, and their desire to protect the community by bringing people to account for their criminal actions.”
NSW Police Force Counter Terrorism and Special Tactics Commander, Assistant Commissioner Mark Walton, said regardless of the nature of a person’s extremist views, there was no place for them within our community.
“The NSW JCTT will continue to work together to ensure the community is protected from those who seek to do us harm, and those who think they can exploit the online environment to spread their extremist ideologies.
“If we see activity that concerns us – as we have during the course of this investigation – we will act swiftly to ensure that activity does not escalate.
“I would like to take this opportunity to remind the community that they are our eyes and ears – so if you see something online, report it. Your information is often invaluable in assisting investigations such as this one.”
The man is expected to be charged with one count each of the following offences:

• Urging violence against members or groups, contrary to section 80.2A (1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is seven years imprisonment.
• Advocating Terrorism, contrary to section 80.2C (1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is five years imprisonment.

The NSW JCTT is comprised of members from the Australian Federal Police, NSW Police Force, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the NSW Crime Commission.
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.
There is no ongoing threat to the community relating to this investigation.

A new social media campaign from the NSW Government and eSafety is cracking down on image-based abuse by providing advice and support to people who have had intimate digital content shared without their consent.
Reports of image-based abuse to eSafety increased by 172 per cent between March and September this year when compared to the same period in 2019.
Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor said women aged 18 to 24 are among those most at risk, but warned it can happen to anyone regardless of age, sexual orientation, race, religion or socio-economic status.
“Sharing an intimate image or video of someone without their clear consent is never ok. We want people to know exactly what to do if they fall victim to this appalling act,” Mrs Taylor said.
“This campaign highlights everything you need to know about image-based abuse, from reporting an offence to accessing counselling and having images or videos removed from social media and search engines.”
Attorney General and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Mark Speakman welcomed the campaign and said image-based abuse took many forms.
“This abuse also includes threats to share intimate images or videos and digitally altering material to appear sexual or nude,” Mr Speakman said.
“Recent Government reforms aim to address this abuse too, with courts now able to order an offender to remove, retract, delete or destroy an intimate image when found guilty of threatening to distribute it without consent to give traumatised victims some peace of mind.”
The eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said it will take a community effort to stop this behaviour.
“Parents, carers, friends, partners or siblings – we can all create positive change to stop image-based abuse by calling out anyone misusing intimate content,” Ms Inman Grant said.
At the age of 18, Noelle Martin discovered that pictures of her had been stolen and digitally edited into explicit content. She said that raising awareness is important to help stop this kind of exploitation.
“To those who may be experiencing image-based abuse – please know you are not alone and there is help and support available. Please know that it does not have to define you and you can get through it,” Ms Martin said.
Anyone experiencing abuse can report it to esafety.gov.au/report or call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) for 24/7 support and referrals.