Category: NSW News

Three Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) have been issued since the last COVID-19 update.

• Officers from Orana Mid-Western Police District yesterday (Tuesday 8 September 2020) issued the licensee of a hotel on Montefiores Street, Wellington, with a $1000 PIN after receiving prior warnings for breaches including overcrowding, patrons not being seated and not practising physical distancing.

• Two people have been issued PINs following an altercation at a hotel in Albury. The man and woman were with family members at the hotel on Dean Street yesterday (Tuesday 8 September 2020), when police were called about an altercation between the group. Checks revealed the pair, from Victoria, had a permit to be in NSW; however, the permit stated they should minimise contact with others for two weeks. Both were issued a $1000 PIN.

Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.

Creating innovative asphalt using recycled crushed glass (RCG) is now even easier thanks to new guidelines released by the NSW Government.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the guidelines would help industry navigate the steps for establishing and operating glass-recycling facilities, and processing glass to the standard required for use by Transport for NSW.
“Transport for NSW has already incorporated the use of recycled crushed glass on a number of its construction and maintenance projects, and has the potential to use up to 45,000 tonnes in the next three financial years, which equates to 234 million glass bottles,” Mr Constance said.
In addition, the NSW Government has awarded more than $735,000 in grants to three separate projects which will unlock new markets for the use of recycled glass in road construction.
Fulton Hogan has been awarded a $250,000 to upgrade its Eastern Creek asphalt plant and a further $236,000 grant to use recycled glass as a replacement for natural sand in asphalt on construction of the Albion Park Rail Bypass.
Construction company, John Holland has also received a grant of $249,987 to develop and trial geopolymer concrete containing recycled crushed glass as a replacement for virgin sand.
Environment Minister Matt Kean said these grants will encourage the reuse of construction and demolition waste, and also encourage the use of recyclable materials such as glass, plastics and cardboard in civil construction projects.
“Through this grant program, the NSW Government is boosting the future of recycling services in NSW, and helping industry prepare for the ban on the export of waste glass from Australia, coming into effect in January next year.” Mr Kean said.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said this technology would not just benefit the city, but would also be used on regional roads.
“The NSW Government is leading the way in delivering innovative solutions that can allow us to build more roads at less cost, while minimising the impact on the environment, so it’s great to see what would have been waste products given a new life in new roads such as the Albion Park Rail Bypass,” Mr Toole said.
Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said councils have supported the use of recycled materials in the roads sector, including local roads, and will continue to do so as part of the NSW Government’s plan to increase the use of recycled materials.
“We will continue to work with industry and councils to help develop the supply chain and reduce barriers to uptake in the use of recycled materials in road and building projects,” Mrs Hancock said.
Member for Kiama Gareth Ward said he was extremely pleased to see recycled crushed glass being used in the construction of the Albion Park Rail Bypass project.
“It is fantastic to see recycled materials being used which is paving the way for other projects to follow suit and will see more recycled materials being incorporated into major infrastructure projects across the State,” Mr Ward said.

NSW Government investment in Shellharbour Hospital has more than doubled, ensuring a world-class facility on a new site, boosting local jobs and the economy.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the $320 million funding boost is part of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan to fast-track infrastructure and create jobs across the state.
“The NSW Government has increased its contribution from $250 million to $570 million to deliver the Illawarra a state-of-the-art hospital on a new site,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“This investment is about creating thousands of new jobs and ensuring the South Coast has a world-class hospital with the capacity to care for the health needs of the community now and into the future.”
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said a total of $700 million will be funnelled into the project from the State and Federal Government.
“Not only will this bigger facility attract world-class clinicians and hospital staff to the region but it will deliver up to 2,800 jobs during construction to boost the local economy,” Mr Perrottet said.
“And by building a brand new hospital on a greenfield site, it provides greater opportunity to design a campus which can accommodate future demand and growth.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the new Shellharbour Hospital will relieve pressure on the existing hospital network and offer locals first-class facilities on their doorstep.
“We know in the next decade one in four people in the Illawarra will be aged 65 or older and need better access to care, in addition to its millions of visitors,” Mr Hazzard said.
“Work is already underway to identify a site where health services for all demographics could be collocated in one place and building can commence as soon as possible.”
Member for Kiama Gareth Ward said this investment would change lives in the region.
“When I make a promise to our community, I always get it done. I’ve been fighting hard for southern Illawarra residents to ensure we have a hospital that will serve our region for many years to come,” Mr Ward said.
“As a local MP, I’ve worked hard to deliver infrastructure that changes lives and saves lives – this announcement takes the cake.”
Minister for Local Government and Member for South Coast Shelley Hancock said scores of senior Illawarra doctors had petitioned her and fellow MPs for this outcome.
“This investment is a terrific outcome for patients and health professionals because it will concentrate vital services in one spot and bring forward works,” Mrs Hancock said.

A new landmark is taking shape above Central Station, with a feature roof going up as part of the Sydney Metro construction works.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the roof over the Northern Concourse is nearly two thirds complete, after workers installed the steel girders, affectionately known as the “hockey sticks”, and cassette roof sections.
“The 80-metre-long and 40-metre-wide roof extends from the northern end of Platform 8 to Platform 16, and will sit more than 16 metres above ground to enable natural light to filter into the station,” Mr Constance said.
“More than 500 workers are currently delivering the Sydney Metro works at Central, with more than 5,000 working across the Sydney Metro City & Southwest project.”
The roof structure was manufactured and preassembled in the Hunter Valley town of Kurri Kurri, before large sections were transported to Sydney in the middle of the night.
Principal Contractor Laing O’Rourke has worked with architects Woods Bagot and John McAslan + Partners on the bespoke design for the 330 tonne roof.
As part of the upgrade to Australia’s busiest railway station, two new underground Metro platforms are being built as well as the landmark Central Walk – a new underground pedestrian concourse to help customers connect between light rail, suburban and inter-city trains, the Metro and buses.
Excavation work to build the underground Metro platforms “box” has reached 18 metres below ground level and preparations are in place to break into the tunnel in the coming months, as workers head for the final depth of 30 metres.
More information about the roof:

• 58 cassette sections being installed, each weighing around five tonnes.
• Largest cassettes are 16m long and 4.5m wide.
• Eight girders being installed, each weighing 30 tonnes.
• Longest girders are near the Station Master’s Office, measuring 21 metres long.
• 21,000 square metres of existing canopy was demolished for the new roof.
• Roof has perforated aluminium cladding panels, 21 distinctive diamond shape skylights, lighting and speakers.

Sections of the roof will be progressively installed over the Northern Concourse until the end of the year, with the Central Walk expected to be open to customers in 2022.
Sydney Metro construction will continue with metro rail services through the city expected to start in 2024.

Police have charged a man after he allegedly produced false documentation to leave hotel quarantine in Sydney.
On Friday 4 September 2020, a 30-year-old Victorian man arrived at Sydney Airport without an exemption.
The man was taken into hotel quarantine; however, the following morning he provided what he claimed to be a valid exemption document stating he was in NSW to visit his terminally ill grandfather in hospital.
The man was subsequently released from the hotel.
Following inquiries, police determined the documentation he provided was false. Further checks revealed the man’s grandfather was not in hospital.
Yesterday (Monday 7 September 2020), police attended a home on Rodley Avenue at Penrith where they arrested the man.
He was charged with fail to comply with noticed direction in relation to 7/8/9 -COVID 19, and produce false or misleading application.
He was given bail to appear in Penrith Local Court on 12 October 2020.
The man was returned to hotel quarantine.

The NSW Government is seeking feedback on proposed guidelines to promote mentally healthy workplaces in NSW.
Minister for Better Regulation, Kevin Anderson, said a draft SafeWork NSW Code of Practice for managing the risks to psychological health is being developed to provide simple and practical guidance for workplaces to promote improved mental health.
“Mitigating and managing mental health risks at work can be complex, that’s why we’ve drafted a practical guide for employers, making it easy for them to create a mentally healthy workplace,” Mr Anderson said.
“Mental health is everybody’s business and it is vital that every single workplace in NSW has the tools to create a positive and healthy environment.”
NSW will be the first state in Australia to develop a code of this kind that encompasses a broad overview of risks to psychological health covering all NSW workplaces.
“We want to hear from the public as to how clear and effective the draft code is. Once the consultation period has ended, every submission received will be considered,” Mr Anderson said.
Minister for Mental Health, Bronnie Taylor, stressed the importance and benefits of having a mentally healthy workplace for employers and employees.
“Most of us spend about one-third of our waking lives at work. It’s a huge part of what we do and can have a huge impact on our mental health in a positive or negative way,” Mrs Taylor said.
“Knowing how to prioritise the mental health and wellbeing of staff, is more important than ever, and can also make a big difference to workplace morale and productivity.”
Individuals and organisations are invited to comment on the consultation paper. Submissions can be made at www.safework.nsw.gov.au

The NSW Government is cutting red tape to help homeowners affected by the devastating 2019-20 bushfire season get back on their feet by allowing them to clear land and rebuild without doing koala habitat surveys.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the changes to the Koala SEPP have been shaped by feedback from councils and fire-affected local communities and were necessary to facilitate the safe and timely rebuilding and repair of homes.
“What those people went through was devastating and while protecting the habitat of our koalas is vital, we must make it easier for those who lost everything in last summer’s traumatic bushfires,” Mr Stokes said.
“What we have done is include a provision in the Koala SEPP to allow homeowners impacted by the bushfires to clear the land around where their home previously stood in order to rebuild more quickly.
“It’s the role of government to change things for the better when and where we can and there is a clear need to support these people right now. By allowing them to clear and develop their land without considering these requirements, it will save them much-needed money and time.”
The change is supported by a number of checks and balances to ensure development does not impact koalas, including requiring any rebuilding of homes destroyed by fire in the last five years to occur on the same site.
The amendment will enable an Asset Protection Zone to be created around the damaged or destroyed home and any clearing and development within this area will not need to consider the Koala SEPP, saving applicants time and money in the development application process.
“NSW has faced an unprecedented series of catastrophic events from flooding, bushfires to COVID-19. Our regional communities are doing it tough and we need to support them in any way we can.”
The Guidelines to the Koala SEPP were recently exhibited. The Department Of Planning, Industry and Environment is now carefully reviewing the 2,200 submissions made. The draft will be revised taking into account issues raised in submissions.

More than 700 HSC teachers at 300 schools across NSW have already benefitted from the NSW Government’s Best in Class team of teachers.
The team has spent the last six months supporting HSC students and will now expand to support more teachers with mathematics and writing across all secondary years.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell announced 16 new teachers will be hired to join the Best in Class team.
Ms Berejiklian said the NSW Government is focusing on the core subjects of literacy, numeracy and STEM in implementing its new curriculum.
“The ‘Best in Class’ team have done an excellent job supporting teachers with remote learning techniques during the pandemic and offering easy-to-access teaching materials online.
“The team will now expand to ensure teachers across NSW are equipped with the best skills to support students, with a focus on writing and mathematics.
“The teachers selected to deliver the program stand out and we want to replicate these great teaching methods across the all the State’s classrooms.”
Ms Mitchell said the team has proven invaluable during the pandemic, developing on-demand professional learning materials and supporting staff remotely.
“The ‘Best in Class’ team directly supported teachers during the pandemic. This effort was supplemented by the HSC Hub which has had over 33,000 user visitors since going live on July 1,” Ms Mitchell said.
“The teams and these additional streams will continue to grow, developing and delivering the best teaching practices to teachers across the state as we continue our focus on lifting student performance statewide.”
Best in Class is a team comprising 66 of the state’s best teachers who will share their classrooms skills directly with those teachers and students who need it most, while also developing a new ‘best practice’ teaching package.

An artificial intelligence (AI) strategy released by the NSW Government today will create jobs and deliver smarter and better services to citizens across NSW.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the strategy will create thousands of jobs across NSW including demand for IT professionals, cyber security experts, data scientists, and engineers.
“This is great news for citizens, researchers and businesses. We know how important AI is and this strategy puts us at the forefront of this emerging space,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Science, technology, engineering and mathematics will play a pivotal role in shaping our State’s future economy and we cannot be spectators on the sidelines. We must lead and be the engine room for future jobs.”
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the strategy sets a bold roadmap for the trusted, tested and transparent use of AI in government services.
“Whether it’s at home, online, on the road or at the supermarket, the use of AI is becoming more prevalent in day-to-day life and is often deployed in subtle ways to make customer interactions and services more seamless,” Mr Dominello said.
“This strategy brings together the three key pillars of privacy, transparency and security, within the prism of ethics.”
A new body, the NSW Government AI Review Committee, will be established to oversee the use of AI across government. The Committee will be chaired by the NSW Government Chief Data Scientist, Ian Oppermann and work with all government agencies.
The strategy also prioritises the development of AI skills in government and will strengthen industry partnerships through a consistent approach to procurement of AI products and services.
Current examples of the use of AI in NSW Government include:

• Transport for NSW’s use of AI and machine learning to anticipate required maintenance and proactively schedule downtime for maintenance, which helps increase passenger safety and equipment reliability.
• NSW Health’s use of algorithms from deidentified medical records, to assist with the early detection and treatment of sepsis in emergency department waiting rooms, which helps to save patient lives and improve service levels.
• NSW Department of Planning, Industry & Environment use drones and AI to identify and protect threatened plants and animals which is part of the Saving our Species program.

The AI Strategy is the third pillar of the State Government’s commitment to making NSW the digital capital of the southern hemisphere, having recently launched policies on the Internet of Things and Smart Infrastructure.
The digital suite is secured by the record $240 million State-wide investment in cyber security, announced in June.
For more detail on the NSW Artificial Intelligence Strategy go to https://www.digital.nsw.gov.au/policy/artificial-intelligence-ai

Further to the updates sent over the weekend, NSW Police have issued five individuals with Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for not complying with Public Health Orders.

• Just before midnight on Friday (4 September 2020), officers from Bankstown Police Area Command were conducting proactive compliance checks when they attended the home of a 22-year-old man that had been instructed to self-isolate for 14 days. Police will allege the man was not self-isolating when they visited and was subsequently issued a $1000 PIN.

• About 8.20am on Saturday (5 September 2020), officers from Murray River Police District stopped a taxi at a border checkpoint in South Albury and spoke with the passengers, a 23-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman. They presented permits to police, and subsequent checks revealed they were not valid for the reasons they provided. The pair were escorted back to Victoria; however, a short time later they returned to the checkpoint and claimed they obtained the correct permits, which they had not. They were each issued $1000 PINs for give false details on request – COVID-19.

• About 11.30pm on Saturday, officers from Murray River Police District stopped a Toyota Corolla with Victorian registration that was travelling through Deniliquin. The driver, a 34-year-old woman, presented police with a permit, which subsequent checks revealed she was allegedly in breach of. She was issued a $1000 PIN for fail to comply with notice direction in relation to s 7/8/9 and instructed to return to Victoria.

• A 36-year-old man was issued a $1000 PIN on Saturday for failing to comply with a noticed direction after allegedly exiting NSW and attempting to re-enter at several border crossing checkpoints.

Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.