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Construction will begin on the upgrade or replacement of five playgrounds across Newcastle in the coming weeks as part of a $4 million investment into enhanced recreation spaces for the community.

This will include the creation of a new inclusive playspace at Hamilton’s historic Gregson Park, delivering a significant element of City of Newcastle’s (CN) adopted Masterplan for the much-loved precinct.

Work will also begin on the replacement of local playgrounds at Adamstown Park, Rawson Park in Stockton and Waratah’s Coolamin Road Reserve as part of CN’s annual playground renewal program, while Islington Park playground will have its softfall upgraded.

Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the projects would deliver enhanced and accessible playspaces for children across the city.

“City of Newcastle is committed to delivering quality playgrounds and green spaces across Newcastle for locals and visitors to enjoy,” Cr Nelmes said.

“The improvements to these playgrounds are designed to consider how users of all abilities can enjoy them.

“They’ll include more accessible features such as carousels, bridges and pathways, with various pieces of equipment that will be suitable for everyone, including those with limited mobility.

“At Gregson Park construction will take place with minimal disruption to the use of the rest of the park, and weather permitting the new playground will be open to the public by October, while the smaller local playgrounds are expected to be completed by the end of May.”

Councillor Carol Duncan, who is also the Chair of the Community and Culture Advisory Committee, said the new playspace at Gregson Park was identified as a high priority action in the Masterplan, which was adopted in 2021.

“This much-loved public asset plays an important role in providing open space and recreation opportunities in Hamilton, as well as respecting the heritage significance of the area,” Cr Duncan said.

“The inclusive playspace will have a native garden, nature play, trampolines, a balance obstacle course, sandpit with sand and water play, and importantly Maddie’s Bench will be retained.

“The existing toilet facilities at Gregson Park will also be upgraded and expanded and will include disabled access.”

The Adamstown Park playground is being relocated, upgraded and expanded as part of City of Newcastle’s staged implementation of the newly adopted Adamstown Park Masterplan.

An access path from Glebe Road and sheltered picnic tables next to the playground will be included in the finished project.

Rawson Park playground at Stockton and Coolamin Road Reserve playground at Waratah are both being replaced with a new design that complements the current site, with new additions to cater for younger and older children.

The softfall material at Islington Park playground will be replaced to ensure it’s safe for the community to use for years to come.

The NSW Government is today announcing seven new stations will receive upgrades as part of an $800 million election commitment to accelerate accessibility upgrades at stations across NSW.

Thousands of commuters will benefit from the rollout of the program designed to make public transport safer and more accessible, particularly for vulnerable members of the community.

The 136-year-old Macquarie Fields Station is one of seven new stations in line for an upgrade. The station has never been fully accessible, with the City-bound Platform 1 only accessible via stairs.

More than 10,000 passengers travel through the station every week and the community is home to 2,000 people aged over 60, many of whom have been campaigning for lifts for over 8 years. Their campaign was ignored by the previous NSW Liberal Government who invested in lesser-used stations like Hawkesbury River Station first, which sees only a quarter of the weekly passenger numbers.

Upgrades to Macquarie Fields Station will include a new footbridge with lifts, stairs, a covered walkway to the platforms, a new family accessible toilet, improved lighting and CCTV. There will be six accessible parking spaces, two new accessible drop-off spaces and a relocated bus stop on Railway Parade. Access to the station will be improved with a new pedestrian crossing and signage.

Having completed early stakeholder engagement with vulnerable members of the community, Transport for NSW will undertake targeted stakeholder engagement over the coming months. The community will be invited to have their say on the draft concept design toward the end of the year.

Major construction is expected to begin in late 2024, following the development of planning approval documentation, with work taking around 18 months to complete.

Other stations include:

• Moss Vale
• Lewisham
• Griffith
• Bardwell Park
• Chester Hill
• Queanbeyan

The $800.7 million program is a combination of the old Transport Accessibility Program, the Commuter Carpark Program, and the additional $300 million Labor committed at the 2023 election.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“In 2024, it’s not acceptable that a person in a wheelchair or a parent with a pram can’t access a station in NSW.

“We committed to upgrading train stations to make them more accessible, safe and secure for the people who need them the most, and that is what we are delivering.”

Transport Minister Jo Haylen said:

“Macquarie Fields Station dates back to 1888 and has long been in need of a facelift. I’m thrilled that the NSW Government is able to deliver this and give the local community the transport interchange they deserve.”

“We know the community has been advocating for these improvements for a long time and they will soon have the opportunity to have their say on this much-needed project.”

“Transport hubs should be safe and welcoming places for everyone. That’s why the NSW Government is committing $300 million to the new Safe Accessible

Transport Program, to make sure our public transport is as safe and inclusive as possible.”

Disability Inclusion Minister Kate Washington said:

“A big focus for our Government is investing in disability access improvements where they’re urgently needed. The Macquarie Fields community should not have been left with such an inaccessible station for so long. 

“The lifts, accessible parking and toilets will open up new opportunities for people with disability, parents with prams, and anyone with mobility issues.”

“It is fantastic that the majority of the T1 North Shore line is now fully accessible, however the previous Government’s investment should have been fairly spread across the State. 

“We’re now playing an important game of catch-up across the state, but everyone will be all the better for it. 

Member for Macquarie Fields, Anoulack Chanthivong MP said:

“We have a very diverse community, with many young families and carers with prams, people with disabilities, the elderly, women and girls – to whom this station upgrade is going to mean a world of difference.”

“There will be some disruption during the construction phase, however it’s short-term pain for long-term gain – as we know this upgrade will deliver a safer, more accessible and more inclusive station.”

NSW has become the latest jurisdiction to sign a state-based Closing the Gap partnership agreement to help improve Aboriginal health, education and social outcomes.

The agreement has been signed by NSW Premier Chris Minns, the NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (NSW CAPO) and Local Government NSW.

The partnership represents the next step following the Closing the Gap national agreement signed in 2020.

That deal was signed by then-prime minister Scott Morrison, then-premier Gladys Berejiklian, state and territory first ministers, the Australian Local Government Association and the Coalition of Peaks, representing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled service sector.

The 2020 national agreement shared responsibility and decision making with representatives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, following years of traditional government-led approaches not achieving the right results.

The NSW Partnership Agreement addresses the first reform priority in the Closing the Gap national agreement – the establishment of formal partnerships and shared decision-making.

The Productivity Commission’s Closing the Gap review, released last week, observes that progress on this commitment has largely been weak and has reflected a business-as-usual approach.

Today’s state-based agreement reaffirms the resolute commitment of NSW CAPO, the NSW Government and Local Government NSW to work together on Closing the Gap in full and genuine partnership to achieve better life outcomes for Aboriginal people.

Today’s Partnership Agreement builds on 2 NSW-specific Closing the Gap Implementation Plans.

NSW is the second jurisdiction after South Australia to formalise a state-based partnership under Closing the Gap, and the first to involve local government.

It reflects that local government can play an essential role in the concerted effort towards Closing the Gap in a range of areas including health, education, employment, and housing.

For more information on the NSW Government’s commitment, visit the Closing the Gap webpage.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“We know when Aboriginal people have a say on issues that affect them, we get better outcomes. 

“That’s why all governments have signed up to the Closing the Gap National Agreement.

“This signing today is significant. NSW Government is now the second jurisdiction to develop its own state-based partnership agreement on Closing the Gap, and the only jurisdiction to involve Local Government representation.

“The agreement is a key outcome of our Closing the Gap work and is a significant step forward in how our government will work with Aboriginal community organisations in NSW.

“There continue to be unacceptable disparities in outcomes and opportunities for Aboriginal people and communities in NSW.”

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said:

“NSW has signed up to the Closing the Gap targets because the status quo hasn’t been good enough for the 300,000-strong Aboriginal community in our state.

“This agreement demonstrates the NSW Government’s commitment to working in genuine partnership with Aboriginal communities to deliver on our Closing the Gap targets and improve the lives of Aboriginal people living in NSW.

“We recognise that Aboriginal communities and organisations know what works best for them.

“Closing the Gap policies have the best outcomes when they are co-designed and implemented with Aboriginal communities.

“The gap that we seek to close has been created over many decades, and the solutions will take time and concerted effort.

“We will continue to work together to drive change in health, education, family support, justice, housing, land and waters, languages and digital inclusion to enhance the strength and resilience of Aboriginal people and communities across NSW.”

John Leha, Co-Chair of CAPO NSW said:

“The NSW Partnership Agreement marks a significant step in reaffirming our commitment to working collaboratively with government to deliver better outcomes for and with community.

“We acknowledge that we still have a long way to go in implementing the principles of shared decision-making, partnership and transformation across the public service, broadly.

“Achieving this level of partnership requires a sustained commitment to overhauling government processes around decisions relating to First Nations Peoples. The progress made across the last 3 years is indicative of what we can achieve with legitimate and ongoing engagement from all parties, and I look forward to continuing to break ground in this space.”

Cr Anne Dennis, Co-Chair of CAPO NSW said:

“We welcome the signing of the NSW Partnership Agreement and the renewed commitment of all parties in delivering outcomes for community in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

“While this momentous occasion marks a positive step forward to effectively cultivate a partnership, the government must lead the transformation in driving the public service to overhaul processes and building genuine partnerships with First Nations Peoples and communities, on matters that affect them.

“This necessary shift in the balance of power will be crucial in ensuring that decision making processes are shared with and led by community.”

Cr Darriea Turley AM, President of Local Government NSW said:

“Local government has long been providing services and targeted opportunities for Aboriginal communities. Councils play an essential role in the concerted effort towards Closing the Gap in a range of areas including health, education, employment, housing, land and waters.

“The signing of this agreement will help councils work in partnership with other spheres of government and NSW CAPO, to support long lasting improvements in the lives of Aboriginal people in NSW.”

South Western Sydney will be home to a new state-of-the-art medical research facility, with the first sod turned on the Lang Walker AO Medical Research Building – Macarthur today.

The $55 million building will be home to the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research – Macarthur, delivering innovation in world leading research to improve patient outcomes.

The research will have national significance, focusing on five key areas including diabetes, mental health, indigenous health, paediatrics & child wellbeing and addiction medicine.

This will complement the NSW Government’s $632 million redevelopment of Campbelltown Hospital and the broader Campbelltown Health and Education Precinct.

Once completed, researchers and clinicians will have access to the latest research technologies, laboratories and collaboration spaces. This locally-based expertise will enhance community access to clinical trials, serve local health needs and lead research of national significance and global impact.

The cutting-edge facility will be a tribute to the late Lang Walker AO, whose legacy reflects his generosity, and his dedication to driving change through transformative building projects for the public and private sectors.

The facility will be developed in partnership with Western Sydney University, South Western Sydney Local Health District, the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research and UNSW Sydney – with the support of Walker Corporation.

Find out more about the Lang Walker AO Medical Research Building – Macarthur

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“I am proud that medical research done in NSW can help improve people’s lives in areas such as diabetes and paediatrics.

“This will not only translate into improved patient outcomes in NSW, but also across Australia and globally.”

Health Minister Ryan Park said:

“NSW has some of the brightest minds and it is facilities like these that ensure we retain and develop the skills of our highly trained clinicians.

“This facility will create fantastic opportunities to develop new treatments, therapies and look for innovative methods for treating patients in our healthcare system.”

Minister for Medical Research and Aboriginal Affairs, David Harris said:

“This is an incredible facility which will promote greater scientific, clinical and industry collaboration, deliver leading-edge diagnostics and bring the best in medical research to south western Sydney.

“Researchers in this facility will focus on complex health challenges, including mental illness, diabetes, paediatrics, and addiction medicine, as well as helping close the gap in health outcomes for our of our Aboriginal and culturally and linguistically diverse communities.”

Member for Campbelltown, Greg Warren said:

“The Macarthur region is home to some of the best and brightest in our state, so this new facility is a welcome addition to the community in Campbelltown.”

Western Sydney University’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Barney Glover AO said:

“This is an investment in the future of the fast-growing and diverse south western Sydney region, driving positive outcomes across health, research and the community.”

Walker Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer David Gallant said:

“Lang knew this facility would help hundreds of thousands of people for generations to come and he’d be incredibly proud to see his namesake, the Lang Walker AO Medical Research Building reach this significant milestone.”

Sobering analysis that has been released today by Homelessness NSW lays bare the extent of the rising homelessness crisis.

This data further underscores the importance of immediate interventions to increase the supply of more homes across NSW, including an uplift of social and affordable housing. Both key priorities of the NSW Government.

The analysis reveals that the top council areas that have seen increases in homelessness numbers are Inner West and Canterbury-Bankstown Council areas. These are also key areas that the NSW Government is focussed on in supporting increased access to housing.

The top council areas that have seen an increase include:

LGA	Receiving help in 2021-22	Receiving help in 2022-23	Increase
Inner West	1251	1496	245
Canterbury-Bankstown	1877	2063	186
Penrith	2074	2254	180
Sydney	2630	2777	147
Wollongong	2299	2438	139
Walgett	256	384	125
Parramatta	769	883	114
Griffith	749	855	106
Campbelltown	2168	2274	106
Central Coast	1910	1996	86

In the wake of these statistics the NSW Government reaffirms its commitment to drive down homelessness numbers by delivering more and better social housing and increasing access to comprehensive support services.

Action already taken by the NSW Government has included:

• The creation of Homes NSW, merging the housing and homelessness functions of the Department of Communities and Justice with the Land, Housing Corporation and the Aboriginal Housing Office to streamline support for residents and delivery pathway for more homes;
• Committed to 30 per cent social and affordable housing in all developments on government surplus public land;
• Undertaking a statewide land audit to identify state owned land to deliver more housing;
• Fast tracking the delivery of more social and affordable homes through the $610 Million Federal Government’s Social Housing Accelerator payment and Housing Australia Future Fund;
• Implemented planning reforms to expedite the delivery of more housing across the state;
• Investigating innovative solutions to deliver more homes with $10 million allocated to Modular Housing Trial to deliver faster quality social housing;
• The 2023-24 NSW Budget included a $224 million Essential Housing Package which allocated $70 million to accelerate the delivery of social, affordable homes in regional NSW;
• Extended temporary accommodation from an initial period of two days to seven days;
• Removed the 28-day cap ensuring vulnerable people are able to access support when they need it most;
• Increased the cash assets limit from $1,000 to $5,000 when assessing eligibility for Temporary Accommodation;
• Removed the cash asset limit assessment entirely for people escaping domestic and family violence;
• Extended Specialist Homelessness Services contracts for two years, to 30 June 2026;
• Deploying more assertive outreach services to engage people sleeping rough and support them into long term, stable accommodation;
• Appointed a Rental Commissioner to work with us in designing and implementing changes that rebalance the rental market, making it fairer and more modern; and
• Put a 12-month freeze on the requirement for people in temporary accommodation to complete a Rental Diary, while the scheme is reviewed.

The NSW Government is also undertaking once in a generation reforms to address this housing crisis and calls on the NSW Opposition and Councils across NSW to join them in tackling this crisis head on.

Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:

“This report from Homelessness NSW highlights the very real housing crisis that is playing out in our suburbs and cities across NSW.

“The NSW Government, from the very beginning, has acknowledged this crisis is real and we must do everything we can to end homelessness.

“The report paints a harrowing picture of women and children being forced to live in cars, working families living in tent’s and increasing rates of people sleeping rough especially in Western Sydney.

“The NSW Government is determined to confront this challenge. We know you can’t solve homelessness if you don’t have affordable homes for people to live in – that is the core work we are doing and we ask local councils and the community to walk with us on this journey.”

Today it has been revealed that Sydney is at risk of becoming a city with no grandchildren if we don’t meaningfully address the housing crisis.

The NSW Productivity Commission has fired the blunt warning in a new housing paper, which reveals Sydney is losing some 7,000 people aged 30 to 40 a year.

The paper found that between 2016 and 2021, Sydney lost twice as many people aged 30 to 40 as it gained. 35,000 came to Sydney, but 70,000 left.

It also found that while Sydney has among the highest average wages in Australia, over recent years it has consistently lost population to other states and regional NSW.

Approximately two out of every three departures are from the working-age population – that is, those aged between 25 and 64, it’s not only ‘grey nomads’ who leave Sydney.

Most concerningly, the Productivity Commissioner Peter Achterstraat found that “If we don’t act, we could become a city with no grandchildren.”

These are thousands of people who’d be starting and raising families, filling good jobs, starting businesses, employing people and contributing to communities. But the housing crisis is forcing them out.

The new paper ‘What we gain by building more homes in the right places’, supports the NSW Government’s rezoning and density plans, finding building up in inner-Sydney suburbs would boost productivity, boots wages, cut carbon emissions and preserve green space.

The NSW Government is focused on getting the balance right between building new homes and protecting the character of communities. It doesn’t have to be an either or choice.

Not only are thousands of people being pushed out or priced out of Sydney, but new homelessness data also released today, also shows the impact on many who don’t have the opportunity or mean to relocate.

Homelessness NSW has reported a sobering spike in the number of people sleeping rough.

The increases in numbers are across Sydney including the Inner West, Ku-ring-gai, Mosman and Canterbury-Bankstown Local Government Areas, where hundreds of new people have found themselves homeless.

This combined data paints a very clear picture of why the NSW Government is committed to confronting this housing crisis as its number one priority. 

The NSW Government, local councils and communities can strike a balance to ensure we unlock housing supply, continue the conversations around rezoning and work together to build a better Sydney that people can afford to live in now and into the future.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“The reality of rising housing prices and lack of available housing is making it harder for people to stay in the same suburbs as their families or live close to their jobs.

“The Opposition has a choice – they can get behind important reform that will help house the next generation or they can continue to oppose reform and turn their back on young kids trying to bed down roots in NSW.

“That’s why the Labor government has introduced the boldest housing reforms in 12 years, we’ve created new housing policies that are designed to get supply moving and overcome this problem.

“If there’s no supply, there’s no homes for the next generation. The NSW Government is not going to turn their back on housing, it’s a basic need.

Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:

“This report, together with the new data released today from Homelessness NSW highlights the very real housing crisis that is playing out in our suburbs and cities across the state.

“There are more than 55,000 people on the social housing waitlist, anxiously waiting for a safe place to call home.

“It’s a shameful backlog left by a decade of inaction by the former government that has left too many in NSW vulnerable.

“Affordability and availability are at their lowest levels in decades. The NSW Government remains committed to delivering more homes and strengthening support services as a priority.”