Category: NSW News

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.

A man will face court today charged with allegedly attempting to enter NSW from Victoria on numerous occasions without a valid permit.
About 1am today (Monday 7 September 2020), a 27-year-old man attempted to enter NSW at the Saddle Flaps Road border checkpoint at Rockton.
The man, who did not possess a valid permit, was denied entry and returned to Victoria.
About 2.45am the same day, the man allegedly attempted to enter NSW via the Princess Highway at Timbillica, south of Eden.
Inquiries revealed the man’s permit was invalid and he was directed to return to Victoria.
It’s alleged the man failed to comply and began verbally abusing officers at the checkpoint, before exiting his vehicle.
As police attempted to arrest him, he allegedly assaulted a male senior constable. The senior constable did not sustain any physical injuries.
The Western Australian man was arrested and taken to Eden Police Station, where he was charged with not comply with noticed direction re section 7/8/9 COVID, offensive language, assault officer in execution of duty and resist officer in execution of duty.
The man was refused bail and is due to appear in Batemans Bay Local Court today (Monday 7 September 2020).
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 disqualified driver has been charged after allegedly attempting to travel across the NSW/Victorian border with a passenger hiding in the car boot.
About 8.45am yesterday (Saturday 5 September 2020), police stopped a Mitsubishi Magna at a checkpoint on the Hume Highway, Albury.
The driver, a 34-year-old man, produced a valid permit but was unable to produce identification, and further checks revealed he was disqualified from driving.
He was arrested and a search of the vehicle was conducted.
During the search, police found a 41-year-old woman hiding in the boot of the Mitsubishi. She was unable to produce a permit and directed to return to Victoria.
The woman left in the Mitsubishi and allegedly travelled through a red light.
She was issued with two Traffic Infringement Notices for not stop at stop line at red light, passenger not occupy seat with seatbelt and a $1000 Penalty Infringement Notice for fail to comply requirement public health order – COVID-19.
The West Wodonga man was taken to Albury Police Station and charged with not comply with noticed direction re section 7/8/9 -COVID-19, driver motor vehicle during disqualified period, and drive with passenger in/on part of vehicle no seatbelt.
He was refused bail and appeared at Wagga Wagga Bail Court today (Sunday 6 September 2020) where he was formally refused bail to reappear at Albury Local Court tomorrow (Monday 7 September 2020).
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 further six people have been charged following yesterday’s unauthorised protest activity in Sydney and Byron Bay.
High-visibility policing operations were launched in response to protests yesterday (Saturday 5 September 2020), to ensure the safety of participants, as well as the community and local businesses.
At Sydney Olympic Park, general duties from Auburn Police Area Command, assisted by specialist resources, were deployed the ensure peaceful and lawful demonstrations.
Two men – aged 45 and 34 – were arrested at a park at Sydney Olympic Park, Homebush.
The older man was charged with assault officer in execution of duty assault officer in execution of duty, resist officer in execution of duty and not comply with noticed direction.
The younger man was charged with fail to comply with direction and not comply with noticed direction.
They were both granted conditional bail to appear at Burwood Local Court on Thursday 24 September 2020.
In Byron Bay, four men have been charged following yesterday’s protests at parks on Jonsons Street and Bay Street.
A 34-year-old man was charged with assault officer in execution of duty and resist officer in execution of duty.
He was granted conditional bail will appear at Byron Bay Local Court on Monday 21 September 2020
A 36-year-old man was charged with resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty, wilfully obstruct officer in execution of duty and resist officer in execution of duty.
A 21-year-old man was charged with wilfully obstruct officer in execution of duty and resist officer in execution of duty.
A 42-year-old man was charged with resist officer in execution of duty.
They were granted conditional bail will appear at Byron Bay Local Court on Monday 28 September 2020
In total, police charged nine people and issued 81 Penalty Infringement Notices of $1000 were issued for alleged breaches of the current NSW Public Health Orders.
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.
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.