Category: NSW News

Major earthworks have commenced on the Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport, which will be at the centre of Sydney’s first 22^nd Century City, the Western Sydney Aerotropolis.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres together with Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack today marked the construction milestone in the $5.3 billion project.
“We know the construction of the Western Sydney International Airport will generate more than 28,000 direct and indirect jobs by the time it opens in 2026, but that is just the start,” Mr Ayres said.
“The nearby Aerotropolis will leverage the unique opportunities of Sydney’s first 24/7 international airport and drive the creation of 200,000 jobs across the Western Parkland City.
“The jobs will cover aerospace, defence, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, agribusiness and education, as well as tourism and hospitality”
The Western City & Aerotropolis Authority has already reached Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with 18 companies, including Hitachi, Siemens, GE Additive and DB Schenker.
Member for Mulgoa Tanya Davies said it is great to see how much global interest there is in the Western Parkland City.
“Half of Sydney’s population will live west of Parramatta by 2036, so it is important we make sure those people have the best employment opportunities available to them in Western Sydney,” Ms Davies said.
Member for Camden Peter Sidgreaves said it is clear the Western Sydney International Airport combined with the Aerotropolis will be a game-changer for the region.
“These major projects will help turn the Western Parkland City into a 30 minute city, bringing everything closer to residents so they can spend less time commuting and more time doing what they want,” Mr Sidgreaves said.

The NSW Government remains committed to establishing a Personal Injury Commission (PIC) this year, to simplify the dispute resolution system for injured road users and workers who make a compensation claim.
The PIC will consolidate the dispute resolution systems of the Workers Compensation Commission and Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance scheme.
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the PIC proposal aligns with the Standing Committee on Law and Justice’s recommendation to establish a one-stop-shop for CTP and workers compensation dispute resolution, which the Government supported in its response to the Committee’s 2018 report.
“The proposed PIC model has been developed in consultation with scheme providers and industry stakeholders over the past 12 months to ensure that it delivers the best possible claimant experience,” Mr Dominello said.
“CTP disputes are currently managed by the State Insurance Regulatory Authority, but will now be consolidated into a single tribunal by expanding the Workers Compensation Commission. Two divisions will be created, with an independent judicial head, enabling the retention of subject matter expertise and personnel in the new body.
“A single tribunal will deliver greater flexibility in the allocation of workloads and resources across different jurisdictions.”
It is expected legislation will be introduced into Parliament in coming months. It will propose no changes to the underlying schemes, so there is no impact to the benefits and rights of involved parties.
The PIC is committed to the digital and efficient delivery of dispute resolution to citizens across NSW, including regional areas.
The intent is to bring about a consolidated and modern tribunal, with minimal impact to insurance premiums and to ensure certainty with business continuity.

Communities in bushfire-affected areas will have access to fee-free training courses to support the clean-up and recovery operation following the recent bushfires across NSW.
The NSW and Commonwealth Governments have already committed to picking up the bill for the clean-up of residential and commercial properties destroyed by the recent bushfires at no cost to owners.
Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Disaster Recovery John Barilaro said the fee-free courses will be delivered by TAFE NSW and other providers and will provide immediate and much needed additional resources.
“The recent bushfires have had a devastating impact across NSW and our focus is on helping these communities clean-up and rebuild as soon as possible,” Mr Barilaro said.
“We know the task is enormous and that is why we are doing everything we can to equip these towns with the skills they need to recover.”
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education, Geoff Lee said the range of free short courses being delivered was determined following consultation with local government, businesses and the local community.
“The training will be delivered by TAFE NSW and other providers, and will include skills such as tree felling, rural fencing, asbestos awareness and forklift operations,” Mr Lee said.
“These courses will equip community members with the skills they need to rebuild and repair vital infrastructure such as homes and businesses, and employment opportunities.”
TAFE NSW Managing Director Steffen Faurby said that TAFE NSW is committed to ensuring local communities have access to quality customised training to meet their needs.
“TAFE NSW continually collaborates with local people, businesses and industry to ensure that they can access the courses and funding they need to build strong and vibrant communities,” Mr Faurby said.
For more information about the range of fee-free courses available to bushfire affected communities, visit www.training.nsw.gov.au  or call 13 28 11.

Seven regional energy projects will share in more than $15 million of funding to support energy affordability and innovation thanks to the NSW Government’s Regional Community Energy Fund.
Energy Minister Matt Kean said the funding will unlock almost 17.2 MW in electricity generation and up to 17.9 MW / 39.3 MWh of energy storage, leveraging $36 million in private funding.
“These grants will help regional communities right across NSW take control of their energy bills and benefit from the economic opportunities presented by changes in our energy system,” Mr Kean said.
“The projects range from a community owned dispatchable solar and battery system at Goulburn to the installation of a 1 MW solar garden at Grong Grong in the Riverina, enabling low-income households and renters to access renewable energy.
“At Ewingsdale near Byron Bay, a grant will enable the installation of 5 MW of solar power and 10 MWh battery energy storage system. The DC coupled battery is a relatively new technology for Australia and enables excess solar energy to be captured more efficiently.”
“In a NSW first, a hydrogen energy storage system will be installed at Manilla alongside a solar-battery system to store renewable energy.
“Hydrogen has the potential to transform our economy and energy mix. World leading green hydrogen initiatives like the Manilla Community Solar project will play a critical role in developing this technology.
“These innovative renewable energy projects will help to make electricity more reliable and affordable for our regional communities.”
The RCEF is funded under the NSW Climate Change Fund to support community energy projects across NSW, improving energy reliability and affordability for regional NSW.
A full list of the successful applicants and projects is available https://energy.nsw.gov.au/regional-community-energy.

Nepean Hospital patients will be among the first in Australia to access two next-generation MRI machines under a $6.5 million NSW Government project to improve imaging services.
Minister for Health and Medical Research Brad Hazzard, joined by Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres, today unveiled the state-of-the-art Ingenia Ambition 1.5T and even more powerful Ingenia EIition 3T magnetic resonance imaging machines.
Mr Hazzard said the two world-class MRI machines are 50 per cent faster, and together will enable clinicians to scan on average 10 more patients each day.
“These state-of-the-art MRI machines also provide images with up to 60 per cent higher resolution than previous models, which means more accurate diagnostics contributing to better outcomes for patients,” Mr Hazzard said.
“The new MRI machines not only directly benefit patients but will also be used by Nepean Hospital researchers to conduct clinical trials as part of their research projects.”
Mr Ayres said patients across the Nepean Blue Mountains region will reap the benefits of the NSW Government’s $6.5 million investment to expand medical imaging at Nepean, one of the state’s busiest hospitals.
“Providing first-class, accessible medical services close to home is a top priority for the NSW Government, which is exactly what we are delivering today to this community,” Mr Ayres said.
Patients have a more comfortable experience inside the machines, which are quieter and have wire-free and contactless monitoring. Fast positioning technology also makes it easier for technicians to align patients in the machines.
The NSW Government has invested $10 billion to deliver more than 130 new and enhanced health facilities statewide since 2011, including the $1 billion Nepean Hospital redevelopment. The NSW Government is also investing $10.1 billion more over the next four years, including more than $900 million for rural and regional areas in 2019-20.

The NSW Government is seeking community input on its ambitious plan to tackle the use of plastics, reduce waste and pollution and increase recycling across the State.
People will be able to give their feedback on the discussion paper until Friday, 8 May.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Environment Minister Matt Kean have empowered the community to help drive the comprehensive plan to better manage our resources and improve our environment.
“The community has high expectations and we need to make sure we put in place the best plans for the future. We know that we need to do a better job of dealing with our waste and delivering sustainable solutions,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The NSW Plastics Plan and 20 Year Waste Strategy will be key to ensuring that NSW is a leader when it comes to reducing waste, maximising recycling and protecting our environment.”
“We also want to make sure any businesses potentially affected by phase outs have enough time to adjust and source sustainable alternatives.”
Mr Kean said our waste industry needs to be sustainable, reliable and affordable, and we want to hear from as many parts of the community as possible, to ensure the strategies we put in place are practical and work for the people of NSW.
The NSW Plastics Plan discussion paper Cleaning Up Our Act: Redirecting the Future of Plastic in NSW outlines a clear pathway to reduce single-use, unnecessary and problematic plastics in NSW and help build our circular economy.
“It sets the stage for the phase-out of priority single-use plastics, tripling the proportion of plastic recycled by 2030, reducing plastic litter by a quarter and making our State a leader in plastics research and development,” Mr Kean said.
“Lightweight plastic bags are proposed to be phased out six months from the passage of legislation with other timelines to be determined after feedback from the public consultation process.”
The waste strategy canvasses options to reduce waste and increase recycling, outlines the opportunities and strategic direction for future waste and recycling infrastructure, and for growing sustainable end markets for recycled materials.
For more information on how to have your say visit yoursay.dpie.nsw.gov.au

Women are increasingly making their mark in decision making in NSW workplaces with females holding almost 40 per cent of managerial roles, compared to 35 per cent a decade ago.
Minister for Women Bronnie Taylor said it was great to see women having such an impact in the workforce in NSW.
“The new numbers show that we are making great strides towards equal participation in leadership roles – and it’s so fantastic that we are talking about this on International Women’s Day,” she said.
“Female talent brings with it a broad range of real-world experience and I am delighted to see the increased opportunities opening up for women in management and business ownership.”
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said less than one in four startups in NSW had been founded by women.
“Our State has brilliant women in the startup space and we need to continue to provide the right support for them  to flourish and inspire the next generation of businesswomen,” he said.
“The Sydney Startup Hub and its associated programs are an excellent example of the NSW Government’s commitment to help women in startups.”
Minister for Small Business Damien Tudehope said NSW had one of the highest proportions of women in small business in Australia.
“Women also account for almost two-thirds of NSW Government sector employees.
“They make a valuable contribution to the workforce and it’s great to see these successes being appropriately celebrated today,” he said.
The NSW Women’s Strategy 2018-2022 aims to encourage more women into small business and includes workshops in regional and rural areas and to deliver Tafe NSW’s online education program to women.
One business that has benefited from NSW Government support is Super-Rewards,
a shopping platform which helps women grow their super balance by directing a percentage of their purchases to their superannuation.
Founder Pascale Helyar-Moray said government investment was helping to grow the business.
“Women retire with only enough superannuation for six years, which translates to about half of what men retire with and we saw that as a real issue,” she said.
“Since we started, we’ve had thousands of users sign up to the platform and we’re seeing hundreds of thousands of sales processed through the platform.”
The initiative launched in October with 100 retailers on board and that number has grown to 170.
Super-Rewards is a finalist in the Australian Small Business Champion Awards 2020 and Pascale has been nominated as a finalist in the Empowered Woman Awards of The Leadership Institute (ANZ).

The NSW Government today announced it will boost the number of specialist mental health bushfire recovery clinicians recruited since the crisis by nine, taking the total to 30 across the state.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Bushfire Recovery John Barilaro said as our immediate response efforts now transition to the next stage of recovery, the ongoing effects of the bushfire crisis will also change the way people require mental health assistance.
“The bushfire clean-up and recovery is well underway across the state, but this is an emotional and trying journey for many,” Mr Barilaro said.
“As our immediate response efforts now transition to the next phase of recovery, the ongoing effects of the bushfire crisis will require mental health support now and for a long time into the future.”
Mental Health Minister Bronnie Taylor said the positions will be spread across all bushfire affected local health districts, as communities work towards stability.
“Nine new fulltime specialist mental health clinicians will now join the 21 currently being recruited to bushfire affected communities to make sure we are continuing to address those specific needs, now and into the future,” she said.
“We will not stop, as our attention now turns to targeting people and groups at risk, and those who need specialist care,” she said.
The total NSW Government investment for bushfire mental health stands at $15.3 million to support hard hit communities across the state.
People suffering from trauma or stress as a result of the State’s bushfire crisis should contact their local health service via the NSW Mental Health Line on 1 800 011 511
The Disaster Welfare Assistance Line is staffed with counseling support and can be accessed by phone on 1800 018 444

Local Schools Local Decisions will be improved with schools earning the autonomy to make decisions around the allocation of funds and learning programs by hitting a range of numeracy and literacy targets.
There will also be changes to alleviate the administrative burden for principals as a matter of priority. This will allow schools to focus on what they do best – educating children.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said there is room for improvement when it comes to our student’s performance across NSW.
“To ensure students receive the best education we must be able to enforce best teaching practice consistently across our schools,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Local Schools Local Decisions is a sound policy but we need to make sure it works as it was intended. Adjustments will make it easier for the NSW Government to provide support to schools that are underperforming.”
Schools will earn the autonomy to make funding, and educational decisions by hitting a range of targets, using criteria such as Bump It Up, HSC results and NAPLAN results.
Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said the NSW Government is investing a record amount in education and the improvements to Local Schools Local Decisions will strike the right balance between autonomy, accountability and support for schools.
“Improving Local Schools Local Decisions is unashamedly about lifting performance in NSW through supporting evidence based best practice teaching and learning, Ms Mitchell said.
“It is fantastic that many schools have been able to excel under Local Schools Local Decisions, but other schools need more attention when it comes to improving outcomes. These changes to the policy will enable us to provide the support that these principals and teachers need.
“We want to help principals by removing unnecessary administration burdens and allowing them to spend more time leading their schools and supporting their students.”
The NSW Government will consult with education stakeholders on the reforms and will agree on targets with schools by the end of Term 4 2020. The changes will be implemented on Day one Term 1 2021.

Communities and first responders will benefit from increased mission critical communications coverage during emergencies, with a $217 million boost to expand the Government Radio Network (GRN), and build a Public Safety Network for Emergency Services Organisations.
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello and Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said the investment will strengthen community safety and better protect first responders, by consolidating about 70 separate agency radio networks into one, allowing vital information to be shared more efficiently.
“The radio network played a critical role in protecting communities and supporting the Rural Fire Service, Police, Fire and Rescue, Ambulance and the State Emergency Service during the recent bushfires,” Mr Dominello said.
“During emergencies such as bushfires and floods, every second counts. We are making life easier for first responders by providing them with a first class communications infrastructure that will help keep people and places safe.”
Mr Elliott said first responders risk their lives to protect communities, and the funding will give them greater certainty and confidence when working on the frontline.
“In Northern NSW, the coverage will expand to Glen Innes, Inverell, Tenterfield and Ben Lomond and provide improved coverage for areas including Moree and Warialda,” Mr Elliott said.
“In Southern NSW, it is expanding across the Riverina to the Victorian border to provide greater coverage to the towns of Holbrook, Tarcutta, Gundagai and Albury.”
The funding will enable the NSW Telco Authority to accelerate the Critical Communications Enhancement Program to reach 96 per cent of populated areas.
This funding is in addition to the more than $401 million allocated to the upgrade of the GRN since 2016.

Regions Currently Covered by GRN	Regions to Benefit from Funding
Sydney metro including Blue Mountains	Communities along the Hume Highway to the Victorian border areas around Holbrook, Tarcutta, Gundagai and Albury
Central Coast and Hunter	Communities along the New England Highway to the Queensland border including Glen Innes, Inverell, Tenterfield, Ben Lomond, Moree and Warialda
Illawarra	Griffith
South Coast	Wagga Wagga
Central West including Bathurst, Orange and Dubbo	North Coast