Category: NSW News

The NSW Government has today announced a $1 million investment to help not-for-profit community education providers upgrade crucial infrastructure and training equipment.
Around 30 Adult and Community Education (ACE) colleges across NSW have received crucial funding from the NSW Government in recognition of the services they deliver to disadvantaged students, communities and regions.
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said the funding will see students benefit from upgraded resources and industry standard training equipment.
“ACE colleges support the delivery of training to disadvantaged students who face barriers engaging in mainstream vocational education,” Mr Lee said.
“The funding will allow 30 ACE colleges to expand their online delivery by providing IT equipment, laptops and software as well as upgrading industry‐specific plant and equipment for specialist vocational training.”
Mr Lee said the grants had come at an important time and will help community colleges advance their virtual teaching capabilities thanks to the new IT equipment.
North Coast Community College executive officer Kate Kempshall said the funding will allow their not-for-profit college to invest in updated specialised equipment to facilitate vital First Aid, Hospitality and Primary Industries courses.
“The funding will ensure our students are learning with the advanced technology and resources to meet the requirements of emerging industries,” Ms Kempshall said.
“We will be investing in new manikins for first aid, and safer and more reliable chainsaws for primary industries inclusive of up-to-date safety equipment.”
“This funding will also allow us to purchase new video conferencing equipment increasingly more important for today’s learning environment.”

Up to 500 new jobs will be created in Blacktown thanks to the NSW Government paving the way for a new industrial precinct close to the future Western Sydney Airport.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said a proposal had been approved to rezone nearly 30 hectares of land in Prospect to build the industrial hub south of the M4 Motorway.
“Prospect South will provide plenty of industrial employment opportunities for hundreds of workers in the heart of Western Sydney and on the doorstep of the future airport,” Mr Stokes said.
“Importantly, all 7,000 square metres of Cumberland Plain Woodland on the site will be retained, with a 10-metre buffer to separate and protect it from development on the site.
“It is vital that we strike the right balance between rolling out new infrastructure and job-generating development, while protecting the natural environment, and this project delivers exactly that.”
Minister for Western Sydney and Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres said the project provided much-needed industrial land that was highly accessible to major road and freight routes.
“This rezoning unlocks the future development of a wide range of manufacturing and warehouse related businesses close to major transport links,” Mr Ayres said.
“This is a great outcome for the site and for Western Sydney families as we transform the vacant paddocks into a productive and job-generating development closer to where people live.”
Any development of the site will be subject to development applications, expected to be lodged next year.

Police are reminding the community of the continuing state-wide operation to enforce all public health orders, after a number of concerning breaches in the past 24 hours.
Officers across Sydney are focusing on compliance in every PAC and PD across the state, with 160 PINs issued in the past 24 hours. 55 of those were issued to individuals for not wearing a mask.
$7000 worth of fines were also issued to seven people after they were discovered having a birthday party at an office on George St, Sydney.
Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon, Metropolitan Field Operations, said police would continue to focus on enforcing all public health orders in every PAC and PD across the state.
“Not only are we continuing our high-visibility compliance operations, but we’re following up every single report to Crime Stoppers too,” Deputy Commissioner Lanyon said.
“Police are investigators and as some of the recent breaches show, if you are a repeat offender or we receive information retrospectively, we will go back and fully investigate every piece of information we receive to ensure community safety.
“Never has compliance with these Health Orders been more vital to the safety of our community, so I would urge everyone to stick to the Health Order and work together to stop the spread.”
The Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott welcomed the decision to stand-up an Emergency Operations Centre in Bass Hill to support Greater Sydney.
“The Centre is run by highly-experienced government and non-government operators who know the Greater Sydney region and understand the needs of their people,” Mr Elliott said.
“The people of Greater Sydney need to be reminded that police are working tirelessly to protect their families and loved ones from harm. But police will have zero tolerance for those carelessly flouting the orders.
“I urge everyone in the area to work with the team at the Emergency Operations Centre and police across the State to fight the spread of this disease,” Mr Elliott said.
PINs issued in the last 24 hours include:
*A total of $7000 worth of fines were issued to seven people after they were discovered having a party inside an office suite on George Street, Sydney late last night. Officers from Sydney City PAC who were performing COVID compliance duties noticed a man outside a building on George Street. Officers approached the man and upon questioning led police to an office suite where a birthday party was taking place. The seven party goers were issued $1000 PINs for breaching the current Public Health Orders.
*A 21-year-old Merrylands man was issued with a PIN for travelling outside the 10km radius without a reasonable excuse. About 11.40am (Monday 19 July 2021), the man attended Bondi Police Station to speak with officers about a Traffic Infringement Notice he was issued the day before. Officers explained that was not a reasonable excuse for him to leave his area and directed him to immediately return to his home in Merrylands. A short time later he was seen standing on Gould Street, Bondi making no attempt to leave the area. Police approached and asked him again to leave. Soon after he was found exercising at the North Bondi outdoor gym area. He was then issued a PIN.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

Two new NSW Health vaccination centres have opened their doors this morning, boosting the NSW Government’s contribution to the Federal Government’s vaccine rollout.
The growing number of NSW Health sites complements the GP Network, which has and will continue to deliver the majority of COVID-19 vaccines across NSW.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the opening of these centres was another important milestone as NSW Health works towards vaccinating up to 200,000 people each week, if sufficient vaccine supply becomes available.
“The new centres are an important addition to the vaccine rollout and add to the more than 100 NSW Health vaccination clinics and outreach locations across the state,” Ms Berejiklian said.
The mass vaccination centre in Belmont, Lake Macquarie, which has been transformed from an old Bunnings Warehouse into a vaccine centre in six weeks, began administering jabs this morning.
The centre will have capacity to administer up to 20,000 Pfizer vaccinations each week and will employ around 100 nurses, 25 pharmacists/pharmacy technicians, and around 200 other support staff.
The new vaccination clinic on Pitt Street in the Sydney CBD also began administering vaccines this morning, and has capacity to administer up to 7,000 Pfizer vaccinations each week.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said NSW Health has worked incredibly hard to turn these vaccine centres around within weeks.
“I would like to thank our NSW Health team and the hundreds of nurses, pharmacists/pharmacy technicians and support staff who are ensuring thousands of people receive their vaccine each day,” Mr Hazzard said.
Mass vaccination centres at Macquarie Fields in Sydney’s south-west and Wollongong are set to open in the coming weeks.
To check your eligibility and book an appointment use the  vaccine eligibility checker:
https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility

Police attached to the hotel quarantine operation were notified of an alleged breach of the Public Health Order (Covid-19 Air Transportation Quarantine) at a hotel on Sussex Street, Sydney, about 8.45pm on Friday (16 July 2021).
Following inquiries, a 46-year-old woman was issued a $1000 Penalty Infringement Notice for not wear face covering yesterday (Sunday 18 July 2021).
NSW Police assisted Australian Border Force with the transfer of the woman to Sydney International Airport this afternoon (Monday 19 July 2021), following the cancellation of her visa, departing to the United Kingdom.
 

From tomorrow, eligible NSW businesses, sole traders and not-for-profit organisations will be able to apply for up to $15,000 from the first of the NSW Government’s economic support packages: The 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grant.
Applications for the second tranche of assistance, which includes the Micro Business Support Grants and the JobSaver program, will open from Monday, July 26.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said over $4 billion had been directed by the NSW Government to where it is needed most to help families and businesses during this difficult time.
“From the outset of the pandemic we’ve always said we would do whatever was necessary to protect people and jobs and this suite of measures will do exactly that,” Mr Perrottet said.
“These programs will provide timely and targeted support for businesses to help them with much needed cash flow, maintain employees and provide relief for business expenses, for which no other government support is available.
“We’re committed to keeping businesses in business, and people in jobs which is why we’re providing tax-free grants of between $7,500 and $15,000 to help alleviate some of the economic pressures being faced during the current COVID-19 lockdown.”
The 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grant will be available to NSW businesses that have a turnover of more than $75,000 and up to $50 million, and have a total annual wages bill of below $10 million.
Businesses can expect to start receiving funds from the Business Support Grant from the end of July.
Eligible businesses for the 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grant will receive:

• $15,000 for a decline in turnover of 70 per cent, or more;
• $10,500 for a decline in turnover of 50 per cent, or more;
• $7,500 for a decline in turnover of 30 per cent, or more.

Minister for Digital and Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the digital application process would be available for business owners through Service NSW.
“The digital architecture is already in place to deliver these grants into the bank accounts of the businesses in need as quickly and as seamlessly as possible,” Mr Dominello said.
“Applying businesses will use the same quick and easy online application tool as previous grants, which saw 97 per cent of users give the process a thumbs up.”
Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said small businesses were the backbone of the State’s economy, representing more than 98 per cent of businesses in NSW.
“It’s imperative that every effort is made to safeguard our businesses, no matter the size; we want to keep businesses thriving, whilst keeping our community safe”, Mr Tudehope said.
“From Monday, businesses, sole traders or not-for-profit organisations across NSW impacted by the public health restrictions may be eligible for grants of up to $15,000.”
From July 26, the Micro Business Support Grant will be available for eligible businesses with a turnover of between $30,000 and $75,000 that experience a decline in turnover of 30 per cent or more. Eligible businesses will receive $1,500, tax-free, per fortnight of restrictions.
In addition, the joint NSW Government and Commonwealth JobSaver program will help small and medium businesses retain staff.
Eligible businesses with a turnover from $75,000 and up to $50 million who maintain their staff headcount will receive tax-free fortnightly payments of 40 per cent of their weekly payroll, with a minimum payment of $1,500 per week, and a maximum payment of $10,000 per week. Eligible non-employing businesses will receive $1,000 per week. These payments will also be made fortnightly.
For more information on the 2021 COVID-19 Business Support Grants visit: www.nsw.gov.au.
Support for individuals impacted by the current COVID-19 restrictions and stay-at-home orders is available through Services Australia. For more information visit: www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/covid19.

Given the number of infectious cases in the community, the following changes will be made to further limit the spread of the COVID-19 Delta strain.
On the basis of updated health advice, the following changes come into effect across Greater Sydney including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour until 11.59pm on Friday, 30 July:
From 11.59pm on Saturday, 17 July:

• Retail premises will be required to close (‘click and collect’, takeaway and home delivery can still operate), except the following can remain open:
  • Supermarkets and grocery stores (including butchers, bakeries, fruit and vegetable stores, liquor stores and fishmongers);
  • Stores that predominantly sell health, medical, maternity and infant supplies;
  • Pharmacies and chemists;
  • Petrol stations;
  • Car hire;
  • Banks and financial institutions;
  • Hardware, nurseries and building supplies;
  • Agricultural and rural supplies;
  • Pet supplies;
  • Post offices and newsagents; and
  • Office supplies.
• In addition to the stay-at-home rules, residents of Fairfield, Canterbury-Bankstown and Liverpool LGAs cannot leave their LGA for work except for emergency services and healthcare workers (including aged and disability workers). Where those workers do need to leave their LGA for work, they are required to be tested every three days, even if they do not have symptoms;
• Anyone who leaves the home must have a mask with them at all times. They must be worn when you are working outdoors, in outdoor markets, outdoor shopping strips, and in an outdoor queues waiting for products such as coffee and food; and
• All carpooling to be stopped unless among members of the same household.

From 12.01am on Monday, 19 July:

• All construction to be paused; and
• Non-urgent maintenance, including cleaning services, and repair work on residential premises to be paused.

From 12.01am on Wednesday, 21 July:

• Employers must allow employees to work from home if the employee is able to do so, failure to do so can result in a fine of up to $10,000.

We are constantly reviewing the health advice and will continue to update the community if any changes are required.
All other restrictions currently in place across Greater Sydney including the Central Coast, Blue Mountains, Wollongong and Shellharbour will remain in place.
These decisions have not been made lightly and we understand this is a difficult time for the community and appreciate their ongoing patience.
It is vital people continue to come forward for testing to help us find any COVID-19 cases in the community.
Restrictions in regional NSW remain unchanged.
For the latest information visit www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

COVID-19 FIGHTING FUND TO PROTECT BUSINESSES, SAVE JOBS AND SUPPORT NSW THROUGH LOCKDOWN

• The NSW Government announced a comprehensive economic support package worth billions of dollars aimed at helping businesses and people right across the state fight through the current COVID-19 lockdown.
• The commitment will now be up to $5.1 billion, including more than $1 billion from the Commonwealth as part of a business and employee support program.
• For more information on the $5.1 billion support package visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

TEACHER VACCINATIONS PRIORITISED IN SOUTH WESTERN SYDNEY

• More than 10,000 teachers and school staff in South Western Sydney’s areas of COVID concern will have priority access to the vaccine rollout.
• A vaccine hub will begin operating at Fairfield Showground this Friday, 16 July to vaccinate teachers and aged care workers.
• Eligible staff will be issued links to access a vaccine appointment and they will need to provide proof of employment when they arrive for their vaccination.

EXPANDED COVID-SAFE CHECK-IN MANDATE TAKES EFFECT

• Customers and businesses are reminded that the use of the NSW Government’s COVID-Safe Check-In will be mandatory at most workplaces and retail businesses in the State.
• Minister for Digital and Customer Service Victor Dominello said check-in information from these additional venues is critical to support the work of NSW Health contact tracing teams in the fight against the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19.
• More information regarding the expanded COVID-Safe Check In mandate including affected businesses and industries can be found on nsw.gov.au.
• Businesses who need to register for the NSW Government QR code can find the application form and more information at https://www.nsw.gov.au/register-your-business-as-covid-safe
• For those without a digital device, businesses must provide a tablet or other device to assist customers complete the online check in form.

SUPPORT FOR COMMERCIAL TENANTS AND LANDLORDS UNDER COVID FIGHTING FUND

• Eligible commercial tenants and landlords will receive greater support and certainty during the current restrictions with the NSW Government acting quickly to implement the Retail and Other Commercial Leases (COVID-19) Regulation 2021 as part of the $5.1 billion COVID-19 economic support package.
• Commercial and retail landlords will be required to attempt mediation before taking certain actions, such as recovering a security bond, locking out or eviction against a tenant impacted by the Public Health Orders.
• For more information on mediation support and the Small Business Commission visit: https://www.smallbusiness.nsw.gov.au/

NSW GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE FOR RENTERS AND LANDLORDS

• The NSW Government has announced new support for renters and landlords impacted by the COVID-19 lockdown, including up to $210 million in grants to eligible landlords.
• Residential tenants will have greater protection with a targeted eviction moratorium, which will be implemented through legislative changes.

SUPPLY DROP FOR SCHOOLS AS TERM 3 BEGINS

• More than a thousand schools now have access to extra equipment to assist online learning for the start of Term 3.
• Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said a major operation has been undertaken so that thousands of devices and supplies are available for schools across the state.

RELIGIOUS AND MULTICULTURAL LEADERS THANKED FOR DELIVERING MESSAGE

• Religious and community leaders are being thanked by the NSW Government for helping deliver the crucial stay at home message to our multicultural community.
• Minister for Multiculturalism Natalie Ward said there is overwhelming support to ensure everyone is aware of the public health orders.
• For more resources in your language, please visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/resources-other-languages

LOCKDOWN LIFELINE: MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT PACKAGE FOR NSW

• People in mandatory isolation will have access to around the clock wellbeing and mental health support and there will be increased access to services for parents, young people and multicultural communities who are struggling during the lockdown.
• As part of a joint Commonwealth and NSW Government package worth $17.35 million, NSW will provide $5.1m for a range of mental health services across NSW.

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If you are in an emergency, or at immediate risk of harm to yourself or others, please contact emergency services on Triple Zero (000).
DRIVERS REMINDED TO SLOW DOWN IN SCHOOL ZONES

• Drivers are being reminded to slow down and take extra care with school zones back in force across New South Wales.
• Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said while most students in Greater Sydney are learning from home this week, schools remain open for those who need to attend and school zones are still enforced from the first day of term.

Three removalists who allegedly had knowledge they were COVID positive before travelling from metropolitan Sydney to regional NSW are among the latest people to breach the Public Health Order in the past 24 hours.
Just after 2.30pm yesterday (Friday 16 July 2021), officers from Central West Police District attended Speedy Street, Molong, and spoke with four men – aged 21, 49 and two aged 27 – after receiving information they had travelled there from West Hoxton.
Police established the men, who were working as removalists, had travelled from West Hoxton to Figtree, before travelling to Molong, stopping in regional areas including South Bowenfels and Orange along the way.
It will be alleged three of the men travelled to Molong after being notified they had tested positive to COVID-19.
Police escorted all the men and their vehicles back to Greater Sydney where they have been instructed to isolate for 14-days.
The younger three men were issued Court Attendance Notices for not comply with noticed direction re section 7/8/9 – COVID-19.
Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott was troubled by this significant breach of the Public Health Orders.
“This thoughtless act has now placed our regional communities in NSW at the greatest risk so far with this pandemic,” Mr Elliott said.
“We know that the delta variant is highly transmissible, and it is unfathomable to think that, with all the public information and health warnings, people could so blatantly ignore the health orders.”
State Emergency Operations Controller, Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys, said police will be increasing their response to ensure public safety is the number one priority.
“Currently, we are seeing millions of people right across this state doing the right thing being let down by a small minority who continue to be irresponsible and put themselves and their communities at risk,” Deputy Commissioner Worboys said.
“Today’s strengthening of the health orders means that people will have to change the way that they behave.
“The greater restrictions will see police ramping up our response across all of greater Sydney and regional areas to ensure people comply with the health orders and that public safety is the number one priority,” he said.
In total, police have issued 162 Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) and charged 18 people for breaches of the Public Health Act in the past 24 hours.
Police attended more than 1,000 COVID-related jobs yesterday, with about 630 of those coming from reports to Crime Stoppers.
Incidents of note in Greater Sydney includes:

• A 25-year-old man who worked in an aged care facility in south-western Sydney and had been informed that he had tested positive to COVID-19 and was directed to stay-at-home. About 10.30pm (Friday 16 July 2021), officers from the North West Region Operations Support Group discovered the man had left his Mr Druitt home and travelled by car to Blacktown to buy dumbbell weights. The man has since been issued a $1000 PIN for failing to comply with noticed direction – individual.

Other incidents of note in regional NSW includes:

• Just before 11am (Friday 16 July 2021), officers attached to Tenterfield Traffic and Highway Patrol were conducting patrols when they stopped a Mitsubishi Lancer on the New England Highway, south of Guyra, and spoke to the driver, a 20-year-old man, and his male passenger. Inquiries revealed they were from Knawal and Charmhaven on the Central Coast and they were each issued $1000 PINs. Inquiries are continuing.

• About 6.20pm (Friday 16 July 2021), officers attached to Tuggerah Lakes Police District observed a grey Audi sedan travelling at speed on the Pacific Highway, Doyalson. Police stopped the car on Scenic Drive and spoke to the driver, a 27-year-old man, and a male passenger, also aged 27. Following inquiries, both men were issued a $1000 PIN for not complying with current health orders as they do not reside in the same household and did not have a reasonable excuse to leave their homes.

• At 12.40am today (Saturday 17 July 2021), police spoke to a man who was asleep in the rear of a white Volkswagen Tiguan on Booner Street, Hawks Nest. The 60-year-old man said he travelled from his Turramurra home to the area for some peace and quiet. After being reminded of the current stay-at-home order, he was issued a $1000 PIN before being directed to return home via the most direct route.

The NSW Government is providing targeted support for the state’s accommodation sector to ease the pain of lost bookings over the winter school holiday period.
The cash-flow boosting funding will enable eligible accommodation premises that have lost room nights between 25 June and 11 July inclusive to apply for grants up to $5,000.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said this $26 million initiative was critically important for accommodation providers with occupancy rates plummeting over the past month.
“It is heartbreaking that this recent outbreak of COVID-19 occurred right on the cusp of the winter school holidays, meaning Sydneysiders, NSW residents and interstate visitors were not able to fulfil their travel plans across the State,” Mr Ayres said.
“The sector has reported a dramatic decline in occupancy rates, with some Sydney properties reporting only two per cent occupancy in July 2021.
“This program is for all eligible accommodation premises across NSW, as the current restrictions not only affect Greater Sydney operators but also those in regional NSW who lost their main source market from metropolitan Sydney or interstate.
“There are more than 38,000 accommodation providers in NSW – from hotels and motels to holiday home rentals. I encourage all businesses to look at the Service NSW website for more information – including detailed eligibility criteria – as it’s published in the coming weeks.”
“The $5.1 billion support package, including up to $4.1 billion from the State Government, announced by the Prime Minister, NSW Premier and NSW Treasurer yesterday will come as a huge relief to many businesses involved in the State’s visitor economy, allowing them to keep staff on and doors open in preparation for our recovery.
“Now it is up to all of us to stop the spread of the virus so we can get back to travelling and enjoying our state’s experiences and attractions as soon as possible, which is what businesses really need.”
There will be two tiers of grants available to accommodation premises through the initiative:
– Tier 1: For accommodation premises that have had a cancellation of 10 room nights or less, there is a grant of $2,000
– Tier 2: For accommodation premises that have had a cancellation of 11 room nights or more, there is a grant of $5,000
To be eligible, businesses must be registered for GST and/or hold an ABN, be located in NSW and the accommodation premises must be an entire property, i.e. not holiday letting of a spare room in a residence.
Where an owner/operator owns multiple accommodation premises (identifiable by differentiated street addresses), each accommodation premises is eligible for the grant.
Accommodation providers can apply for this grant and other support measures such as the COVID-19 Business Grant and business and employee support program. Details of all support initiatives are available on the Service NSW website.