Category: NSW News

More than 3,000 new homes, a new primary school and town plaza in Sydney’s North West have been given the green light today, with the NSW Government approving the concept plans for Ivanhoe Estate.
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said the approval paved the way for construction to begin on the project, which will transform an 8.2-hectare site on the corner of Herring Road and Epping Road.
“Ivanhoe Estate is one of the first projects to have its assessment fast-tracked through the Planning System Acceleration Program, which is creating jobs and driving investment right across NSW,” Mr Stokes said.
“By supercharging the planning system and getting Ivanhoe Estate out the door, we are injecting $303 million into the State’s economy and providing 572 jobs.
“This approval paves the way for construction to begin on the first two residential buildings, which will deliver 740 new homes, with about one-third for social housing.”
Once complete, Ivanhoe Estate in Macquarie Park will include:

• 3,300 new homes, including 950 for social housing, 128 affordable housing, and 273 seniors living homes;
• 2.8 hectares of open space including new parks, a skatepark and a playground;
• A new primary school for 400 children and two childcare centres;
• A town plaza, new shops, cafes and restaurants; and
• A new road connecting Herring Road with Lyonpark Road, including a new bridge over Shrimptons Creek.

Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said Ivanhoe Estate will be the first major project to be delivered through the NSW Government’s $22 billion Communities Plus Program.
“The program will deliver up to 23,500 new and replacement social and affordable homes and up to 40,000 private homes over the next 10 years across NSW,” Mrs Pavey said.
“Now more than ever it is important to put a roof over the heads of the most vulnerable members of our communities – to create vibrant communities, not just buildings.”
Construction of Ivanhoe Estate will begin in October.

The NSW property market will roll out the welcome mat from next weekend with agents and vendors able to hold traditional property inspections and on-site auctions after a six-week limited shutdown due to COVID-19.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Health Brad Hazzard said the relaxing of restrictions was a sign of the ongoing success in limiting the spread of COVID-19, but warned there was no place for complacency, with community safety and social distancing to remain an ongoing priority.
“Choosing a home is one of the biggest decisions anybody makes, and easing the restrictions to ensure people can more easily inspect, buy or rent a property is an important step for NSW,” Mr Perrottet said.
“The real estate industry has been adaptable in transitioning to online auctions, property inspections by appointment or online, and now as we make the move back to a more normal mode of operation we must ensure safety measures such as social distancing remain a key part of the process.”
Minister Hazzard said these measures were vital to ensure the safety of customers, property owners and real estate staff as a more traditional face-to-face way of inspections and auctions re-commenced.
“The community has done an outstanding job in limiting the spread of COVID-19 and we need to make sure we continue to exercise vigilance and care,” Mr Hazzard said.
“Real estate agents should limit the number of people viewing a property and attending an auction, follow stringent cleaning and safety guidelines, ensure clients do not touch surfaces and always have hand sanitiser available.”
Mr Perrottet urged a common-sense approach across the industry.
“If we want to keep as many people in jobs as possible and businesses in business it is important to follow the safety advice and not put others at risk,” Mr Perrottet said.
“If people are not genuinely in the market for a new home, now is not the time to be having a look through their neighbour’s house.”
Key health guidelines include:

• Ensure physical distancing of greater than 1.5m is maintained;
• Promote good hygiene on premises and at auctions including hand sanitiser;
• Use digital platforms where possible to discourage physical contact;
• Keep detailed contact records of people attending open homes and auctions;
• Ensure people with any symptoms of illness do not attend a property;
• Manage the number of people entering small spaces;
• Consider extended times for open house viewings and inspections;
• Use outdoor venues for auctions wherever possible;
• If auctions are held indoors, use large venues where physical distancing between household groups of one person per four square metres is possible.

Two men have been charged after an affray in Surry Hills overnight – with one man allegedly resisting arrest and spitting on an officer.
About 9.30pm (Sunday 3 May 2020), police saw two men involved in a physical altercation on Flinders Street, near Short Street.
As the officers approached the two men, OC spray was deployed, and one man, aged 30, was arrested and taken to Surry Hills Police Station.
The second man fled and was pursued by other police and he allegedly resisted officers as they attempted to restrain him, causing one officer fell to the ground.
The 27-year-old was arrested and escorted to the police vehicle where he allegedly spat on a constable.
He was taken to Surry Hills Police Station where he allegedly spat on the constable a second time.
The older man, from Ultimo, was charged with affray and not comply with noticed direction re S7/8/9 – COVID-19.
The younger man, from Kingsgrove, was charged with affray, resist officer in execution of duty, two counts of assault officer in execution of duty, and not comply with noticed direction re S7/8/9 – COVID-19.
Both men were refused bail to appear at Central Local Court today (Monday 4 May 2020).

A teenager will appear in court today charged with assault after allegedly spitting on a train guard in Canley Vale yesterday.
Around 6.45pm (Sunday 3 May 2020), a Sydney Trains guard was working on a south bound train when it stopped at Canley Vale Railway Station.
As the train was due to depart, a young male standing on the platform is alleged to have spat into the face of the 49-year-old train guard before running from the scene, over the train tracks and in the direction of Canley Vale Road.
Officers attached to Fairfield City Police Area Command attended and commenced an investigation into the incident.
Shortly after, police stopped and spoke to a teenage boy on Canley Vale road, near the intersection of Sackville Street.
The 16-year-old boy was arrested and taken to Fairfield Police Station where he was charged with common assault.
He was refused bail and is due to appear in a children’s court today (Monday 4 May 2020).

Police have charged five people under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) and issued four COVID-19-related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for offences within the past 24 hours.
Yesterday’s charges:

• About 9.30pm yesterday (Sunday 3 May 2020), police observed two men in a physical fight on Flinders Street, near Short Street, Darlinghurst. Members of the public attempted to intervene and as officers from Surry Hills Police Area Command approached the men, OC spray was deployed. A 30-year-old man was arrested and taken to Surry Hills Police Station. The second man allegedly ran from the scene and was pursued by police on foot. A short time later, the 27-year-old man was arrested and as he was being placed in the caged truck, it’s alleged he spat on a male constable. He was taken to Surry Hills Police Station where he allegedly spat on the constable again. The Kingsgrove man was charged with affray, resist officer in execution of duty, two counts of assault officer in execution of duty, and not comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9 – COVID-19. The 30-year-old Ultimo man was charged with affray and not comply with noticed direction re s 7/8/9 – COVID-19. Both men were refused bail to appear at Central Local Court today (Monday 4 May 2020).

• About 4.30am yesterday, police were called to a home on George Street, Liverpool, following reports three people had arrived uninvited and were threatening a resident. A short time later, officers from Liverpool City Police Area Command stopped and spoke with two women – both aged 48 – and a 44-year-old man near the home. The trio, who were known to the occupant, were arrested and taken to Liverpool Police Station. They were each charged with stalk/intimidate, malicious damage, and fail to comply requirement public health order – COVID-19. They were granted conditional bail to appear at Liverpool Local Court on Tuesday 30 June 2020.

Yesterday’s PINs included:

• Just before 1am yesterday, officers attached to Sydney City Police Area Command stopped a Mitsubishi Lancer on George Street, Haymarket. Police will allege the driver, a 42-year-old Warwick Farm man, could not provide a reasonable excuse for being away from home. Checks revealed he had given a previous warning about breaching Ministerial Directions and was issued a $1000 PIN.

• About 10.15am yesterday, officers from Sutherland Shire Police Area Command spoke to two men – aged 35 and 45 – at a public toilet in Kirrawee. The pair allegedly told police they were at the location taking illicit drugs and were each issued a $1000 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.

Police have charged three people under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) and issued two COVID-19-related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for offences within the past 24 hours.
Yesterday’s CANs and PINs included:

• About 12.55am on Saturday (2 May 2020), officers from Lake Macquarie Police District were called to Motherwell Street, Edgeworth where they spoke to 15 and 16- year-old juveniles. The boys were arrested and taken to Toronto Police Station, where they were charged with 12 offences including property theft, trespass, assault police and not comply with noticed direction COVID-19. The teens were refused bail.
• About 1.20pm yesterday (Saturday 2 May 2020), officers from South Sydney Police Area Command were patrolling James Street Reserve, Redfern, when they noticed a man allegedly drinking alcohol in an alcohol-free zone. He could not provide police with a reasonable excuse for being at the location. Subsequent checks revealed the man had previously been issued two warnings and a $1000 PIN for breaching Ministerial Directions. The 63-year-old man was arrested and taken to Mascot Police Station and charged with not comply with noticed direction (COVID-19) and refused bail to appear before Parramatta Bail Court today (Sunday 3 May 2020).
• About 1am on Saturday (2 May 2020), police patrolling Old Canterbury Road, Dulwich Hill, noticed a vehicle driving erratically. Police stopped and spoke with the 37-year-old female driver who could not provide a reasonable excuse for being outside. A search of the woman’s vehicle revealed a small amount of illicit drugs. They were seized for examination and the woman was arrested and taken to Newtown Police Station where she was issued with a PIN for not complying with noticed direction (COVID-19).

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.

Organisations with projects that empower women and promote their wellbeing can now apply for a share of $400,000 from the NSW Government.
Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor today invited organisations across the state to apply for funding under the latest round of the Investing in Women grants.
“Making sure women from all ages and backgrounds have equal access to opportunities benefits the entire community,” Mrs Taylor said.
“From finding ways to improve women’s financial wellbeing and security to promoting health and wellness, we are looking for projects which can really change women’s lives and shape a better future.”
Since 2013, the Investing in Women funding program has provided more than $1.8 million to projects that support women from employment and training to leadership development.
The program is aligned with the NSW Women’s Strategy 2018-2022, which fosters:

• Economic opportunity and advancement;
• Health and wellbeing; and,
• Participation and empowerment.

Past projects include a coffee cart that provides valuable skills training opportunities for vulnerable Aboriginal women, a business leadership program and mental health first aid training for women in regional and remote NSW.
“These are just a few examples of successful projects which have helped women and their communities thrive,” Mrs Taylor said.
There are three funding tiers for projects depending on their stage of development.
Funding applications open at 9am (AEST) on Monday, 4 May 2020 and close at 11:59pm (AEST) on Sunday 31 May 2020.
For more information on the program and details on how to apply, visit: www.women.nsw.gov.au/commissioning/investing-in-women-funding-program

NSW communities are being encouraged to apply for funding grants of up to $10,000 to restore and protect their war memorials.
Acting Minister for Veterans Geoff Lee said public commemorations at community war memorials didn’t happen on Anzac Day this year because of COVID-19 but it only highlighted their importance.
“A lot of people missed the special connection you get from attending your local war memorial with your community on Anzac Day,” said Mr Lee
“That just reinforces the need to make sure these precious monuments are protected not just for this generation but for many more to come.
“Our war memorials give us a place to reflect and pay our respects to those brave soldiers who fought for the freedom we enjoy today.”
The Community War Memorials Fund grants help protect, conserve and repair war memorials in NSW.
Funds can be requested for specialist heritage advice or physical conservation work on halls, honour rolls, avenues of trees and stone monuments.
One of the previous sites to benefit from the grants program was the Ronald Jack Cooper Memorial Gates at Eurongilly. They commemorate local resident Jack Cooper who was killed in action in 1941 when his plane went missing off the coast of Libya.
The gates were erected in 1955 and feature plaques with the names of members of the local community who served in the Second World War and Vietnam War.
Applications close on 27 July 2020.
For more information: www.veterans.nsw.gov.au/heritage/community-war-memorials-fund/

Police have charged seven people under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) and issued 14 COVID-19-related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for offences within the past 24 hours.
Yesterday’s charges:

• About 12.20pm yesterday (Thursday 30 April 2020), police were called to a shopping centre on Gavenlock Road, Tuggerah, following reports a man verbally abused and spat on a woman. Before police arrived, security staff approached the man; however, he fled and boarded a train at Gosford Railway Station. Officers from Police Transport Command located the 34-year-old man and he was arrested and to Woy Woy Police Station. He was charged with seven offences including shoplifting, common assault, intimidate police officer in execution of duty and not comply noticed direction re spitting/coughing. He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Friday 1 May 2020).

• About 6.15pm yesterday, officers from Mt Druitt Police Area Command spoke to a group of four people on the ground level of a car park on Mount Street, Mt Druitt. Police will allege they could not provide a reasonable excuse for being at the location. Three of them were issued warnings and moved on from the area. Checks revealed a 22-year-old woman had been issued three $1000 PINs on previous occasions for breaching Ministerial Directions. She was issued a Future Court Attendance Notice for not comply with noticed direction (COVID-19). The woman is due to appear at Mt Druitt Local Court on Wednesday 2 September 2020.

• Just after midday yesterday, officers from Cumberland Police Area Command attended a unit on Lane Street, Wentworthville, to speak to a 49-year-old woman about medical treatment. Upon arrival, she allegedly became aggressive and yelled at officers. It’s further alleged she assaulted and spat at a constable. She was arrested and taken to Granville Police Station where she was charged with resist officer in execution of duty, assault officer in execution of duty and not comply noticed direction re spitting/coughing – COVID-19. The woman was refused bail to appear at Liverpool Local Court today.

• About 10.45am yesterday, officers from Inner West Police Area Command noticed a woman standing inside the front yard of an apartment block on Pyrmont Bridge Road, Camperdown. Checks revealed the 27-year-old Newtown woman did not live there and had previously been issued a warning. She could not provide a reasonable excuse as to why she was there and during a subsequent search, police located a small bag containing a substance believed to be methylamphetamine. The woman was arrested and taken to Newtown Police Station where she was charged with not comply with noticed direction (COVID-19), possess prohibited drug, and trespass. She was refused bail to appear at Central Local Court today.

• About 10.45am yesterday, officers from Kings Cross Police Area Command stopped and spoke with a 35-year-old man on Darlinghurst Road, Potts Point. It’s alleged he could not provide police with a reasonable excuse for being out of home and was issued a $1000 PIN after already being warned on two previous occasions. About 1.40pm the same day, police noticed the man on Bayswater Road, Potts Point, and spoke to him. He was arrested and taken to Kings Cross Police Station where he was charged with not comply with noticed direction re section 7/8/9 – COVID-19 and other unrelated offences including shoplifting and trespass. The Waterloo man was refused bail to appear at Central Local Court today.

• About 1.45pm yesterday, officers from Liverpool City Police Area Command stopped a Toyota Corolla on Sadlier Avenue, Heckenberg, for the purpose of a random breath test. Police spoke to the four occupants, before searching the car. During the search, police seized cannabis, methylamphetamine, and prescription medication. During a search of one of the occupants, a 42-year-old woman, police located methylamphetamine and heroin. She was arrested and taken to Liverpool Police Station where she was charged with not comply with noticed direction re section 7/8/9 – COVID-19 and 12 drug related offences. The Bonnyrigg woman was refused bail to appear at Liverpool Local Court today.

• About 8.30pm yesterday, officers from Central North Police District stopped a Holden Commodore on Waratah Street, Brewarrina. The driver, a 33-year-old man, underwent a roadside breath test and allegedly returned a positive result. He was arrested and taken to Brewarrina Police Station where a subsequent breath analysis allegedly returned a reading of 0.061. Further checks revealed the vehicle had not been registered since June 2019 and the man had been given a previous warning about Ministerial Directions. He was issued a Court Attendance Notice for drive with low range PCA, use unregistered registrable Class A motor vehicle, use uninsured motor vehicle and not comply with noticed direction re section 7/8/9 – COVID-19. He is due to appear at Brewarrina Local Court on Tuesday 21 July 2020.

Yesterday’s PINs include:

• About 2pm, officers from Inner West Police Area Command were patrolling Lyons Road, Camperdown, when they stopped and spoke to a 53-year-old man who was not able to provide police with a reasonable excuse for being out. The man had previously been given warnings on three separate occasions last month. He was issued a $1000 PIN.

• About 4.45pm, officers from Northern Beaches Police Area Command were called to Raglan Street, Manly. Police attended and spoke to an 18-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy. It’s alleged they could not provide a reasonable excuse for being away from home. The pair had been given a warning on Saturday 11 April 2020. They were each issued a $1000 PIN. The man was also issued a cannabis caution and the teen was given a caution under the Young Offenders Act.

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.
 

A man is due in Parramatta Bail Court today charged after allegedly abusing members of the public, assaulting police and spitting.
Officers from Kings Cross Police Area Command were called to Crown Street, Woolloomooloo, about 9.10pm (Friday 1 May 2020), responding to reports a man was running through traffic hitting cars, then abusing shoppers at a nearby supermarket.
Police approached the man on Suttor Street and arrested him after a short struggle during which the man allegedly spat near police.
Police will allege the 27-year-old man then spat on another man while at Kings Cross Police Station.
The Potts Point man was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital about 11.30pm where he allegedly spat on a police officer and a NSW Ambulance paramedic. He also allegedly kicked an officer in the chest twice.
He remained under police guard in hospital until 5.45am (Saturday 2 May 2020), when he was released and taken to Kings Cross Police Station where he was charged with 10 offences:
• Not comply noticed direction re spitting/coughing – COVID-19 (three counts)
• Behave in an offensive manner in/near public place
• Affray
• Common assault (two counts)
• Assault police officer in execution of duty (two counts), and
• Resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty.
He has been refused bail to appear in Parramatta Bail Court today (Saturday 2 May 2020).