Category: NSW News

The NSW Government will fast-track the delivery of new fit-for-purpose social housing properties across the State through a pilot program aimed at getting high-quality affordable housing built quickly.
Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said about 100 new one and two storey homes will be constructed on around 50 suitable sites scattered across metropolitan and regional areas through the Fast-Tracked Social Housing Pilot Program.
“This initiative will deliver more well-designed homes and provide new social housing faster and more efficiently,” Mrs Pavey said.
“This pilot will deliver suitable housing that complies with rigorous design and building standards and Councils’ zoning rules three time faster than traditional processes – speeding up the delivery of new well-designed homes across NSW by up to a year.
Small scale dual occupancy homes and manor houses with backyards for families will be built on underutilised lots.
Mrs Pavey said these types of homes can provide attractive and affordable housing for our society’s most vulnerable across the State.
“The Government’s pilot program will not only provide well-designed quality homes for those in need, it will help stimulate the NSW economy and create much-needed construction jobs.”
Housing Industry Association NSW Executive Director David Bare said the pilot program is a great initiative by the NSW Government to showcase the type and quality of low-rise medium-density housing that the industry can deliver.
HomeWorld Chair Mike Scott said his organisation strongly supports the Pilot Program as another means of delivering more much-needed social housing, working with the NSW Government.
The Pilot Program forms part of the NSW Government’s Future Directions Policy for Social Housing – a 10-year plan to drive better outcomes for tenants by providing more and better social housing.
The NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) will work with project home builders to deliver ‘off-the-shelf’ designed properties at a reduced cost to taxpayers, through the Pilot Program.
The NSW Government is calling on project home builders with suitable expertise in designing and building dual occupancies and manor houses to lodge an Expression of Interest application.
For more information and to lodge an application visit here.

Patients at hospital emergency departments and COVID-19 clinics will benefit from an $8.6 million expansion of the NSW Government’s award-winning Patient Experience Program.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said an additional 86 staff will be recruited to 50 hospitals across NSW, with COVID-19 clinics a priority, as part of the Australian-first program.
“This valuable program has proven to be a huge help to patients and carers during what is often a very worrying time, ensuring they receive all the information and support they need from the minute they arrive in our care,” Mr Hazzard said.
“The additional full-time staff will welcome patients and their families and provide them with directions and information about what to expect at each stage of their care and treatment. The extra support will go a long way as we continue to combat COVID-19.”
The funding boost to the Patient Experience Program is part of the NSW Government’s $800 million investment to support the health system’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including significantly increasing capacity in NSW public hospitals, particularly in ICUs.
As part of the program patients receive:

• access to free Wi-Fi, mobile phone charging stations, additional power points, water and other refreshments
• information sent to their mobile device about what to expect during their stay
• fact sheets on their particular condition/ treatment options
• ongoing care instructions after discharge, available in multiple languages.

Advice in multiple languages will also be given on safety, hygiene and COVID-19 symptoms.
The Patient Experience Program was piloted for six months at Blacktown, Liverpool, Nepean and Lismore hospitals and won the 2019 NSW Premier’s Award for world-class customer service.
For more information visit: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Performance/Pages/experience.aspx
The new 86 positions will be based at the hospitals in the following Local Health Districts and Specialty Networks

Local Health District/Speciality Network	Emergency Departments and COVID Clinics
Sydney Local Health District	RPA, Concord, Canterbury
Northern Sydney Local Health District	RNS, Ryde, Hornsby
Western Sydney Local Health District	Blacktown, Westmead, Auburn, Mount Druitt
Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District	Nepean
St Vincent’s	St Vincent’s
Illawarra Local Health District	Shoalhaven, Shellharbour, Wollongong
Southern Local Health District	Bega, Goulburn
North Coast Local Health District	Lismore, Ballina, Grafton, Tweed
Mid North Coast Local Health District	Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie
Children’s Hospital Network	Sydney Children’s and Children’s Westmead
Murrumbidgee Local Health District	Wagga , Griffith
Hunter New England Local Health District	John Hunter, Taree, Moree, Cessnock, Maitland, Calvary Mater, Tamworth, Armidale Belmont
Western Local Health District	Orange, Bathurst, Dubbo
Central Coast Local Health District	Gosford, Wyong
Far West Local Health District	Broken Hill
South Eastern Local Health District	POW, St George, Sutherland, Sydney Hospital
South Western Local Health District	Liverpool, Fairfield, Bankstown, Campbelltown, Bowral

More than 1,200 people who were sleeping rough in NSW have been helped into temporary accommodation through the rapid expansion of assertive outreach to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said this presents an opportunity to help some of the community’s most vulnerable people break the cycle of disadvantage by assisting them into longer-term accommodation.
“Our intense work since the beginning of April has resulted in many people sleeping rough accepting the offer of temporary accommodation for the first time in their lives,” Mr Ward said.
“While this is a positive outcome, now that these people have a roof over their head and a safe place to stay, we want to work with them to plan for the future and, where we can, assist them to secure a safe and stable home.”
As part of the Government’s $10 million investment in charities, Neami National will receive an additional $3 million to extend support services for people in the Greater Sydney area living in temporary accommodation as part of the effort to find permanent housing solutions.
Neami National CEO Tom Dalton said the collective response during the pandemic builds on the existing networks within the community.
“These connections are critical in supporting people to move into longer-term housing. This commitment provides us with the opportunity to work with each person to understand their needs and help identify the right support for them,” Mr Dalton said.
“We can assist people to find longer term housing and the right services that provide support to improve health, wellbeing and independence.”
In addition, the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) is working intensively with Specialist Homelessness Services in regional and rural NSW to assist people in temporary accommodation into longer-term housing.
These initiatives align with the NSW Government’s commitment to halve street sleeping by 2025 as part of its Premier’s Priorities.

In the past 24 hours, one person has been issued with a Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN) under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) COVID-19.
Yesterday’s PINs:

• About 9.30pm yesterday (Friday 15 May 2020), Traffic and Highway Patrol officers were patrolling Emu Plains when they stopped and spoke to a 19-year-old man on Mitchell’s Pass. The man could not provide a reasonable excuse for leaving home and was issued a $1000 PIN.

A fleet of 89 new state-of-the-art ambulances will be rolled out to communities across NSW as part of a $17 million funding boost from the NSW Government.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the new fleet will bring provide additional capacity across the state and ensure the health system can deal with any potential surge in COVID-19 cases.
“This is another step we are taking to ensure our health system is prepared for any spike in COVID-19 cases, especially as we ease restrictions and head into winter,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The manufacture of the 89 extra ambulances is well underway and we expect to have them on road within weeks, in regional and metropolitan communities across the state.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the $17 million investment also delivers additional medical supplies including upgraded life-saving defibrillators.
“The package will provide extra defibrillators with features previously only available in acute care environments, as well as critical airway equipment such as Laryngoscopes used for the intubation of seriously ill patients,” Mr Hazzard said.
“This new fleet follows the graduation of 467 new paramedic recruits who will now join NSW Ambulance’s incredible frontline troops who come to our aid and save our lives when we need them the most.”
NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dr Dominic Morgan said the new fleet and additional paramedics will go a long way to helping us meet the demands of the community during these extraordinary times.
“We are one of the largest ambulance services in the world and this boost to our workforce gives us new strength and support to our very valuable frontline workforce,” Dr Morgan said.
The allocation of new ambulances is currently being finalised, with priority being given to areas experiencing a higher demand for services.
The $17 million is part of the NSW Government’s $800 million investment to boost ICU capacity and purchase additional services and medical equipment

The NSW Government today announced plans to transform a portion of Royal North Shore Hospital (RNSH), known as the Herbert Street Precinct, into a thriving community with additional health-related services, public open space, key worker housing and a new educational facility.
Minister for Water, Property and Housing, Melinda Pavey, said the Government’s vision for the Herbert Street Precinct will improve social, health and economic outcomes.
“This is a unique opportunity to improve health services, provide more open space and deliver up to 500 apartments within the site focusing on accommodation for key health-related workers, allowing hard working hospital staff and essential services workers to live close to their work,” Mrs Pavey said.
Member for North Shore, Felicity Wilson said the proposed redevelopment supports the growth of Royal North Shore Hospital as one of the State’s most important health, research and training facilities.
“The development of the Herbert Street Precinct provides the opportunity to improve facilities for key workers, clinicians, patients and allied health services,” Ms Wilson said.
Key features of the transformation include:

• Affordable key worker accommodation (to support the Northern Sydney Local Health District) and ‘build to rent’ apartments
• New commercial office space to support the broader health and education precinct (including office space, retail and short stay accommodation)
• A new educational facility
• 6,000m² additional public domain and open space
• Adaptive re-use of heritage buildings
• Improved connectivity and pedestrian access to public transport; and
• Additional car parking for commercial, retail and residential uses.

The Government will shortly undertake a detailed consultation program with the RNSH community, government agencies, Willoughby Council, local businesses and the general public. Details of the consultation activities and events will be made available shortly.
A planning submission for the rezoning of the Herbert Street Precinct and redevelopment proposal will follow this preliminary consultation period.
There will be no immediate change to the RNSH Campus and no disruption to clinicians, patients, staff or visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To view the Herbert Street Precinct transformation fly-through and images, visit: www.herbertstreetprecinct.com.au, https://virtualideas.sharefile.com/share/view/sc146ca066ba4e549

A woman has been charged after drugs and several weapons were seized from a property in the Hunter yesterday.
About 6am (Thursday 14 May 2020), officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police Target Action Group – with the assistance of Operation Utah officers – executed a firearms and weapons prohibition order at a home on Wattle Close, Metford.
During the search, police located and seized two long arm rifles, two ‘gel blaster’ style firearms, cannabis, amphetamines and stolen number plates.
A 35-year-old woman was arrested and taken to Maitland Police Station.
She was charged with 11 offences, including:

• Goods suspected stolen in/on premises (not m/v)
• Possess prohibited drug (x2)
• Acquire etc firearm – subject to prohibition order
• Possess unauthorised firearm (x2)
• Possess unauthorised prohibited firearm (x2)
• Not keep firearm safely-not prohibited firearm/pistol
• Not keep firearm safely-prohibited firearm
• Possess more than three unregistered firearms without licence/permit

The woman was refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court yesterday (Thursday 14 May 2020), where she was again refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court on Wednesday 27 May 2020.

In the past 24 hours, two people have been issued with Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) COVID-19.
Yesterday’s PINs:

• About 2.45pm yesterday (Thursday 14 May 2020), officers attached to Eastern Beaches Police Area Command were patrolling Maroubra, when they stopped and spoke to a man at the intersection of Anzac Parade and Maroubra Road, who was drinking a can of Jim Beam in an alcohol-free zone. The man had previously been issued with a PIN at the same location three days earlier. He was given another $1000 infringement.
• About 10am yesterday, officers from Leichhardt Traffic and Highway Patrol spoke with a man on The Crescent, Annandale. When it was determined the 38-year-old had already been warned three times in relation to breaches of the Public Health Act, he was issued with 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: 1800 333 000 or 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.

Additional police officers have been allocated to the Cybercrime Squad as COVID-19 restrictions see a rise in cybercrime reports.
Eight additional investigators have been added to the Cybercrime Squad following a noticeable increase in online scams, including vendors selling personal protective equipment for vastly elevated prices.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said these officers would join thousands of others across the state helping the community through the pandemic.
“We have more than 17,000 police officers in NSW, who have been working around the clock to protect the community, including enforcing COVID-19 restrictions, overseeing quarantine hotels and patrolling our roads,” Ms Berejiklian.
“NSW has some of the finest police officers in the world, and every one of them has had a role to play in the fight against this pandemic, adapting to a fast-changing and unprecedented environment, implementing new policies, procedures and legislation.
“The NSW Police Force has played, and continues to play an incredibly important role during the pandemic, and we are grateful for their efforts.”
Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said the new positions are part of the NSW Government’s $583 million investment in 1,500 additional police over four years.
“The Premier, the Health Minister and I have been working in lock-step with the Police Commissioner over the past weeks and months and the work of our police can’t be faulted,” Mr Elliott said.
“NSW Police have laid 187 charges and issued more than 1,200 Penalty Infringement Notices for non-compliance with COVID-19 restrictions, and have responded to around 17,000 calls to Crime Stoppers. As we start to ease restrictions across the state, the police will once again step up to ensure our citizens are safe.”
“On behalf of the NSW Government, I thank our Police Force for their unwavering service and commitment.”

Small businesses facing challenges amid COVID-19 can receive free advice on support options available from the NSW Government through a series of new webinars.
Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said the webinars would provide valuable information for businesses on the following topics:

• $10,000 small business COVID-19 support grant
• cash flow
• tax concessions
• workplace safety
• commercial leases and procurement opportunities.

“We know small businesses are doing it tough and the information in these webinars will help business owners make decisions about the steps they should take to get through this challenging time,” Mr Tudehope said.
“We are featuring speakers from Business Connect, Service NSW, Revenue NSW, SafeWork NSW, Training Services NSW, NSW Small Business Commission, Procurement NSW and the Industry Capability Network (ICN).”
“The webinars will feature a live question and answer session with participants able to direct questions to the various Government representatives.”
The NSW Government has also rolled out a series of eight short videos focusing on individual small businesses from across the metropolitan area and regional NSW.
Each video provides insights from small business owners on how they have successfully diversified their operations amid the current challenges.
“I know small business owners are looking for advice on a number of issues including how to transfer to online operation, and these videos will give you tips on how you can.
To book in for today’s COVID-19 Small Business Support Information webinar, go to https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/covid-19-small-business-support-webinar-tickets-104388027400
To book in for the COVID-19 Small Business Procurement Opportunities webinar on Thursday 21 May, go to https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/covid-19-small-business-procurement-opportunities-tickets-104625361272?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch