Category: NSW News

A range of new intelligent transport systems will be put to the test along the M4 Motorway from next week.
Drivers will see new technologies in action from Wednesday ahead of the M4 Smart Motorway project’s completion in 2020.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the systems will help to control the flow of traffic between Mays Hill and Penrith.
“These new signals have been installed on a number of on-ramps, including at Reservoir Road. They will help to regulate traffic entering the motorway, as well as vehicles trying to merge at the same time.
“This technology will ensure less stop-start traffic and sudden braking at some of the most congested points along the motorway.”
Mr Constance said crews are also hard at work installing electronic message signs, traffic sensors and lane use signs along a 35 kilometre stretch of the motorway.
“When the project is complete, these systems will talk to each other and automatically adjust to incidents and congestion without a manual operator intervening,” Mr Constance said.
“This testing will measure driver behaviour and reaction to the technology ahead of the project opening to traffic.”
Mr Constance said planning is continuing for technology upgrades to other major motorways, including the M1 Motorway between Gosford and Sydney.
“By introducing these cutting-edge improvements we ensure drivers are spending less time in their vehicles and more time doing what they enjoy most.”

Empowering students to speak up and be their best will be the focus of Education Week 2019, launched today by Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell.
Ms Berejiklian attended the St Marys North Public School Education Week launch in Penrith and Mrs Mitchell attended the Dubbo College launch with proceedings streamed to both schools via a webcast.
“The focus of the 2019 Education Week, ‘Every Student, Every Voice,’ is about ensuring children across the State feel informed, empowered and supported in their ambitions,” Ms Berejiklian said. “We are unashamedly for lifting standards in our schools and unlocking the massive potential of our young people.
“The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is investing a record amount into education to provide students with state of the art learning facilities, lifting academic standards, as well as ensuring every student is valued and cared for at school.”
The NSW Government is rolling out a number of unprecedented initiatives, including:

• Delivering 190 new and upgraded schools through a $6.7 billion investment
• An expanded Bump it Up program, which is providing all schools in NSW with expanded targets in attendance, wellbeing, equity, numeracy and literacy
• A $120 million program to ensure parent in NSW has access to Before and After School Care for their child

Mrs Mitchell reiterated the Government’s support of regional schools at the event in Dubbo.
“Times are so tough in our regional areas at the moment, so it’s more important than ever to ensure children are still getting the best education possible. Normality and consistency is key even though our communities are struggling,” Mrs Mitchell said.
“This Government is investing an unprecedented amount in Education at the moment, and I am thrilled we are providing more pathways and opportunities for families and students in areas like Dubbo and across the State.”
Education Week, now in its 65^th year, is an annual event to celebrate NSW public education and communicate the achievements of schools, their students, staff and families.
Today’s launch will kick off a week of celebration of the achievements of public schools, their students, staff and communities. Among the events planned are open days, special assemblies, performances and principals swapping schools.
For more information, visit: https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/education-week/about-education-wee

Home owners will be better protected following the appointment of building and construction expert David Chandler OAM as NSW Building Commissioner.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the appointment of Mr Chandler was part of the NSW Government’s commitment to implementing the biggest overhaul to building laws in the State’s history.
“David has more than 40 years’ industry experience, which will be invaluable as we move to restore confidence in the building and construction industry,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We know there are national challenges affecting the industry, but this new appointment will play a key role in protecting NSW homeowners and driving critical reforms.”
The Building Commissioner will be responsible for the investigation and disciplinary action for misconduct in the building industry while overseeing the end to end licensing and auditing across the building industry.
The Commissioner will also drive legislative reforms of the building industry, including consultation with industry.
This will include legislation to be introduced later this year requiring building practitioners to be registered, a new duty of care to make it easier for home owners to seek compensation against negligent building practitioners, and ensuring all buildings are designed and constructed to plans that comply with the Building Code of Australia.
Minister for Better Regulation Kevin Anderson said the Building Commissioner’s priority will be to continue the extensive work that has already been started by the NSW Government to reform the building and construction industry.
“David will lead the implementation of this reform and will advise the Government on additional reforms that may be needed to ensure better protections for homeowners and purchasers, and lift building standards across NSW,” Mr Anderson said.
Mr Chandler has welcomed the opportunity to work with the Government to strengthen the building and construction industry.
“Recent events have reduced community confidence in how buildings are designed and constructed and how they perform, but I welcome the leadership and commitment being shown by the Government to implement change that will strengthen the construction industry foundations in NSW,” Mr Chandler said.
Mr Chandler will start in the position on 14 August 2019

Individuals and organisations can help shape the future of volunteering in New South Wales by having their say in developing the third NSW Volunteering Strategy.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward today urged anyone interested in volunteering to take part in a public consultation survey aimed towards boosting volunteerism in our State.
“The NSW Government is committed to supporting our State’s valuable volunteers and the organisations to which they freely dedicate their time,” Mr Ward said.
“In developing this important Volunteer Strategy, we want to hear what’s working well and what can be improved, to ensure we maintain a vibrant volunteering sector.”
The NSW Volunteering Strategy will support the 2.1 million volunteers across the state and will be guided by the views and ideas expressed through the online consultation.
It will build on the work of the previous strategy and provide the blueprint for work in the sector over the next decade.
“Volunteers in NSW contribute a combined 240 million hours of their time each year. This contribution needs to be recognised and supported in the best way possible.” Mr Ward said.
“Responses to the surveys will directly help us to develop the next strategy, and influence how we invest in and support volunteers.”
“The new strategy will help reduce barriers to volunteering, improve volunteer recognition and make volunteering attractive to a greater number of people.”
The survey will be open to members of the public and another available to organisations today. The online surveys will close at 5pm on Friday 6 September 2019.
To complete the surveys or to find out more information about the current NSW Volunteering Strategy, visit www.volunteering.nsw.gov.a

In a major milestone for the Light Rail project, trams have travelled along the length of George Street from Central Station to Circular Quay.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Transport Andrew Constance today inspected the first light rail vehicle to reach the end of the line at Circular Quay.
“It was an historic moment last night with light rail travelling along the wire-free section on George Street for the first time,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The vehicle will now spend the day at Circular Quay, giving hundreds of thousands of ferry, train and bus commuters the chance to have a look.
“By the end of the year this exciting project will be open and those customers will be able to jump on the light rail as part of their daily commute.”
Mr Constance said trams are going to be a common sight in the CBD from now on.
“Today’s milestone means there will be regular testing on George Street from Town Hall to Circular Quay at night, before daytime testing begins in the CBD within weeks,” Mr Constance said.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Michael Corby reminded people to keep their heads up and be aware around the new light rail corridor.
“We have had a few near misses during the tram testing as people get used to having trams around. Mobile phone distraction and people crossing in front of trams are particular dangers,” Mr Corby said.
“The message for all road users is the same; ditch the distraction, follow the road rules and pay attention.”
Transport for NSW’s “Heads Up, Play it Safe around Light Rail” safety campaign will continue to be rolled out as tram day testing expands to Circular Quay.

The first of thousands of kids are today getting their teeth checked for free in new mobile clinics that will visit primary schools, setting them up for a lifetime of good dental health.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Minister for Health and Medical Research Brad Hazzard and Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell officially launched the NSW Health Primary School Mobile Dental Program at Penrith South Public School.
Ms Berejiklian said 35 mobile dental clinics will provide checks and basic dental care to up to 136,000 primary school children, made possible by an investment of $70 million over four years.
“The mobile dental program builds on existing NSW public dental services that make  dental care available to all Medicare eligible children for free,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“This program will bring NSW Health dental practitioners into NSW primary schools, to make it easier for children to access vital services.”
Mr Hazzard said thousands of children are admitted to NSW hospitals every year with potentially preventable dental conditions and this program could reduce presentations.
“Children’s oral health can influence their general health,” Mr Hazzard said.
“A healthy mouth ensures kids can eat, speak and socialise without discomfort and embarrassment, so it’s important that we treat and teach them about oral health early.”
Ms Mitchell said dental problems can make it very hard for school children to stay focused in class and complete their homework, and it can also lead to school absences.
“Dental problems can disrupt a child’s sleep, so they arrive at school tired making it difficult to concentrate. It can also affect their chewing and swallowing,” Ms Mitchell said.
“Children are like sponges in primary school; so educating them on the importance of regular health check-ups when they’re young will hopefully transpire to later in life as well.”
Primary school children will be offered a dental check-up, teeth clean and x-rays to look for dental decay under the program, which will initially focus on Western Sydney, the Mid North Coast and the Central Coast.
For more information on the NSW Primary School Mobile Dental Program click here.

Bus customers will be able to tap their credit cards on Opal readers as a simple new way to pay under the NSW Government’s latest Australian-first innovation in transport payments.
Minister for Transport Andrew Constance today announced contactless transport payments will be rolled out on Opal-enabled buses from August.
“Launching this technology on buses marks the final piece in the contactless payments puzzle and we expect all buses on the Opal network to be able to accept credit and debit cards by the end of September,” Mr Constance said.
There will also be more savings for existing customers who choose to tap on with their credit or debit card, with full fare parity with Adult Opal cards.
“A credit card will now qualify for the same fare and travel benefits of an Adult Opal card on trains, light rail, ferries and buses once fully-implemented.
“From tomorrow, the weekly travel reward, the transfer discount and off-peak pricing, will be available for all contactless transport payments. This is a huge win for regular commuters who now have another convenient payment option with all the benefits of Opal,” Mr Constance said.
Customers wanting to pay for their trip using contactless will continue to have the option to tap on and off using mobile wallets on smartphones, tablets and wearable devices that are linked to their American Express, Mastercard or Visa card.
“Opal remains the foundation for customers to access the transport network in a digital world and contactless transport payments are just another piece of our expansive Opal network,” Mr Constance said.
“For the NSW Government, the drive towards technology and digital products is part of turning Sydney into a smart city.
“In 2017, we became the first state to accept contactless transport payments and today only a handful of transport networks around the world offer similar options in this space.”
To date, 6.5 million contactless transport payments have been recorded across the Opal network – which is an average of one million a month, or roughly 250,000 per week.
ROLL OUT OF CONTACTLESS TRANSPORT PAYMENTS ON BUSES
(in order of location)

LOCATION	NUMBER OF BUSES
Outer Metro – Wollongong	16
Seven Hills	672
Blacktown Further areas of Wollongong	513
Central Coast Terrey Hills Western Sydney Inner West	1,378
Hunter Valley Newcastle Leppington Punchbowl Burwood	1,046
Campbelltown Blue Mountains Northshore, Eastern Suburbs & Inner west	1,648

NSW residents are being encouraged to check whether they are owed any of the millions of dollars waiting to be claimed with Revenue NSW.
Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said more than $146 million in “forgotten money” was sitting with Revenue NSW, including money from share dividends, trust accounts, deceased estates, overpayments and a range of other sources.
“The value ranges from $20 in share dividends to a trust fund worth more than $1 million, Mr Tudehope said.
“Cost of living is a major issue facing families and households across the State, which is why we want people to check their eligibility. It only takes a few minutes and you could walk away with extra money in your pocket.”
Revenue NSW holds more than 414,000 unclaimed items from private companies, State Trustees, local councils and government agencies that can’t be returned to owners because their contact details are out of date and they cannot be tracked down.
“Finding out if you are eligible is quick and simple. If you enter your name into the free search tool on the Revenue NSW website you can see if you have an eligible claim. If you do have a claim, notify Revenue NSW and collect your money,” Mr Tudehope said.
“You can also make an appointment at a Service NSW centre with a cost of living specialist and they can help you check your eligibility for any unclaimed money, as well as other rebates and incentives including Active Kids vouchers, CTP refunds, and free registration for regular toll users.”
The NSW Government will hold the money indefinitely until it is claimed.
To find out if you are eligible for any unclaimed money, click here.

The NSW Liberals & Nationals in Government have today delivered on their election commitment to address attacks on farming families, such as those carried out by Aussie Farms, with the introduction of tougher penalties for activists who illegally enter farmers’ properties from next month.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall today announced a major shakeup of the State’s Biosecuity Act.
A new offence has been created that will see illegal trespassers on farms, creating biosecurity risks, handed an immediate on-the-spot fine of $1,000 and further fines of up to $220,000 per person and $440,000 for corporations.
The new penalties will kick in from 1 August 2019 and are the first stage of a broader suite of measures being developed by the Liberals & Nationals in Government to protect NSW farmers’ right to farm.
“Vigilantes who are entering our farmers’ property illegally are nothing short of domestic terrorists – our farmers have had a gutful. They don’t deserve, nor have time, to be dealing with illegal trespass and vile harassment from a bunch of virtue-signalling thugs,” Mr Barilaro said.
“The NSW Liberals & Nationals in Government are putting in place the harshest penalties in the country and sending a strong warning to those who think it’s okay to illegally invade farms and harass our hard-working farmers.
“But we aren’t stopping there. We are also looking at ways we can further deter this kind of behaviour, including introducing legislation and potential gaol time for offenders.”
Mr Marshall said the government was determined to clamp down on illegal farm invasions and was working on additional changes with further penalties, including gaol time, for those committing criminal acts associated with farm trespass.
“Today we are putting these vigilantes and thugs on notice – your time threatening our primary producers by illegally trespassing and creating biosecurity risks is done,” Mr Marshall said.
“The agricultural industry and community have had a gutful of this vile behaviour. These thugs are not only harassing and traumatising hard-working farmers and their families, they’re also posing serious biosecurity risks by potentially bringing contaminants and diseases onto properties that could wipe out an entire farming operation.
“Today’s announcement complements the work the Commonwealth Government is doing in targeting the online incitement of farm trespass.”
Member for Albury Justin Clancy said: “I welcome today’s announcement and look forward to further work from the NSW Government to protect farmers’ right to farm in the Albury electorate.”
Under the changes to the Biosecurity Regulation 2017 it will become mandatory for site visitors to comply with a Biosecurity Management Plan.
Anyone who enters a designated biosecurity area without permission and without complying with the plan’s requirements may be guilty of an offence under the Biosecurity Act 2015, and subject to the new, harsher penalties.
To access the new offence, farmers will need to have a biosecurity plan in place and appropriate signage. Farmers are encouraged to contact the Department of Primary Industries or their Local Land Services office for more information.

A group of North West primary producers are a step closer to unlocking their full business potential by expanding into farm-based tourism, thanks to an innovative NSW Government pilot program.
NSW Minister for Small Business Damien Tudehope today joined 10 farmers at a property in Premer for the last of six workshops under the Agritourism pilot program, which has been underway in the Liverpool Plains Shire Council area since March.
“This program is all about mentoring and up-skilling farmers so they can innovate and diversify, with a particular focus on tourism expansion,” Mr Tudehope said.
“The farmers here today are in the final stage of developing their chosen venture, which includes everything from farm stays, Indigenous cultural tours, roadside stalls, on farm camping and wedding receptions.”
Mr Tudehope said farmers were doing it tough with the ongoing drought crippling the state, with those in the North West particularly hard hit.
“Initiatives such as the Agritourism pilot can help keep primary producers on the land while boosting regional jobs and economies. Agritourism is a growing sector. Between 2015 and 2018 an average of around four million tourists visited a farm in Australia each year – that’s an increase of more than 50 per cent in just over a decade.”
Minister for Jobs, Investment and Tourism Stuart Ayres said pilot programmes like these boost visitors and expenditure in regional communities when they need it most.
“Regional tourism in NSW directly employs more than 90,000 people, and we are committed to continuing to help grow opportunities for those who have helped generate record numbers of visitors to NSW this year.”
The Agritourism pilot – a joint partnership between the NSW Small Business Commission and Service NSW – will soon expand to include the Wollondilly Shire Council and Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council Local Government Areas.