$260 million builds back more resilient assets

The Albanese and Minns governments are building infrastructure back better across areas of NSW impacted by natural disasters over the past 3 years.

A total of 136 projects across large parts of the state will repair or build back essential public and community assets to a more resilient standard, through 2 jointly funded programs under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

With more than $260 million awarded to local councils and NSW Government agencies, the funding will be delivered through the Infrastructure Betterment Fund and Community Local Infrastructure Recovery Package – Community Assets Program.

The Infrastructure Betterment Fund is focused on building back essential public assets, such as roads, bridges and drainage impacted by the storm and flood events in 2021 and 2022, as well as the 2019–2020 Black Summer bushfires. Funding will mean assets are repaired to a more resilient standard that can better withstand future natural disasters, while also delivering associated economic, social and productivity benefits.

The Community Assets Program is repairing and building back community assets, including parks, walkways, community buildings, and tourism and recreational facilities, impacted by the storm and flood events in February and June 2022.

The program’s key focus is on incorporating betterment principles into projects to make sure they are more resilient, while also focusing on accessibility and inclusion benefits of rebuilt assets.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said the funding will help local councils and NSW Government agencies to improve the resilience of essential assets damaged by natural disasters.

“This significant investment by the Albanese and Minns governments supports the massive reconstruction program that’s needed following 3 years of natural disasters across NSW,” Minister Watt said.

“By rebuilding our schools, roads and drainage systems back to a higher standard, we are better prepared for future disasters, and can keep communities connected, reduce the amount of hardship they experience, as well as avoid future reconstruction costs during and after a disaster event.

“Our partnership to also repair playgrounds, walkways and community facilities will enable councils to work towards greater disaster resilience and contribute to stronger community wellbeing.

“This is another example of both levels of government working together to change the way we spend recovery funding after disasters across NSW so communities are less exposed in the future, as disasters become increasingly frequent and intense.”

Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said by providing this assistance the NSW Government is helping disaster impacted communities work towards greater flood resilience and reclaiming their unique individual identities.

“High quality essential assets and community infrastructure are what drive local economies,” Ms Moriarty said.

“For example, we’re investing $10 million to combine, relocate and improve 2 of Tweed Shire council’s works depots to a single site outside of the high-risk flood zone. It’s projects like this that will allow services to stay open and operating so they can keep supporting their communities during future natural disasters.

“By rebuilding these facilities, we are ensuring communities have the amenities they need to entice visitors, encourage local businesses and residents to thrive and will allow services to keep supporting their communities during future natural disasters.”

NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said the projects align with the NSW Reconstruction Authority’s disaster mitigation and adaption work.

“Long term objectives have been set by the NSW Government to see our state better adapt to disaster and reconstructing these key assets in line with this vision is a step in the right direction,” Mr Scully said.

NSW Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said while natural disasters can’t be avoided, building resilience is one of most important ways of preparing communities and helping them recover quicker.

“The focus on betterment means we have an opportunity to build back better and stronger after vital infrastructure has been damaged in natural disasters.

“Whether it’s roads or buildings, we can take learnings from natural disasters and better prepare infrastructure and community assets for future challenges.”

For more information, including the full lists of successful projects, visit the:

Construction begins at new primary and high school in Sydney’s growing north-west

Works have officially started at 2 new schools in Sydney’s north-west growth area, as the Minns Labor government gets on with the job of fast-tracking schools.

Construction work is officially underway on the new Melonba Public School and Melonba High School, after approval of local and State Significant Development applications were granted.

Temporary facilities, built alongside the future permanent public and high schools, will open on Day 1 Term 1 of 2024, catering for students in this growing community, where the local population increased from 16,106 to 45,613 between 2016 and 2021.

Melonba High School and Melonba Public School are being built by the Minns Labor government to service north-west Sydney’s growing population, along with Tallawong Public School and Nirimba Fields Public School.

Once completed, the schools will be able to accommodate 4600 students across Sydney’s north-west growth area.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“I am so proud we are beginning construction on the future Melonba High School and Melonba Public School.

“This community were made promises by the Liberals and Nationals that were never delivered, and have had to fight to have local schools.

“This was a key reason why these fast-growing communities backed Labor at the state election this year – they are looking to this government to deliver, and we are getting on with the job. 

“Marsden Park and Melonba locals will be well served by finally having a new, public primary and high school to meet their educational needs of the community.”

Melonba High School Principal Leon Weatherstone said:

“I am excited for the opportunity to be working with the community of Melonba and Marsden Park to deliver a world class high school to the students in our community.

“I have been working hard connecting with local families and the broader community to ensure we have strong foundations on which to build the school.

“We are busy recruiting staff to join for this term, to ensure detailed planning is in place so we are ready to go for Year 7 and 8 students at the beginning of 2024.”

Epping passengers to have their say on buses

Bus passengers in Epping, Ryde and surrounding areas will have the chance to speak with the NSW Government on what they want from their bus services on Monday 16 October.

As part of the Minns Labor government’s Bus Industry Taskforce the face-to-face forum will provide a much-needed opportunity for bus passengers to have their feedback captured by Taskforce members and Transport for NSW planners.

The Bus Industry Taskforce was formed to make recommendations to improve the reliability, quality and effectiveness of bus services across NSW.

Commuters can discuss bus services, frequency, reliability, routes, bus stop set ups and accessibility and feedback received will be used by the taskforce and the Minister for Transport to inform further considerations and decisions on how to improve bus services in Wollongong.

The community is encouraged to register for 1 of 2 sessions.

WhereThe Epping Club, 45-47 Rawson Street Epping
WhenMonday 16 October 10am-10:45am and 11am-11:45am

For those unable to attend in person, feedback can be submitted at Have your say – Bus Industry Taskforce. Translation options are available and feedback can be submitted in a preferred language. 

Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Marjorie O’Neill said: 

“Hearing directly from our passengers and communities is a vital step in ensuring the government delivers a reliable public transport network.

“The current state of the bus service delivery is not good enough and we will keep working to bring bus services to where the should be.

“We have already put measures in place to entice more people to joining the industry, like slashed Bus Authority costs and free opal cards for drivers, but I also want to hear from the passengers on how bus services can improve in your area.

“Service reliability and connectivity have been a hot topic in this area and I know the community wants to see an improvement to their bus services.

“I am looking forward to hearing from community groups, passengers and business representatives and discussing their frustrations as we move towards a solution.”

NSW Government acts on initial bus safety recommendations

The NSW Government is working to improve safety on buses and coaches, accepting all 5 recommendations from the Bus Taskforce First Safety Report, that was ordered following the Hunter Valley tragedy.

The initial report addresses a number of key areas, including a new safety campaign to promote seatbelt usage and possible speed restriction mandates for school buses, as well as addressing risks for passengers standing on buses, travelling in speed zones over 80 km/h.

Transport for NSW has begun work to implement the recommendations, prioritising awareness around seatbelt compliance.

Immediately following the devastating bus incident in the Hunter Valley on 11 June 2023, the Transport Minister instructed the taskforce to expand its scope to examine the safety and regulatory arrangements of bus operations in NSW.

Transport for NSW will launch the new safety campaign from this week, aimed at educating passengers about the importance and legal requirements of wearing a seatbelt on a bus where one is available. Wearing a seatbelt doubles the chance of surviving a crash and reduces the risk of injury.

The campaign will initially appear on buses and coaches to ensure people buckle up when they travel. A second awareness campaign will appear later this year to coincide with peak holiday travel period.

The government looks forward to the findings of future reports, which will make further recommendations to address safety concerns that arose from the tragedy.

Recommendations from the First Safety Report of the Bus Industry Taskforce:

  1. That the NSW Government and Transport for NSW complete the current implementation of the NSW Rural and Regional Seatbelts Program as soon as possible.
  2. That a road safety campaign be implemented to promote compliance with seatbelt laws on buses, including by school children.
  3. That Transport for NSW consider how bus operators can be best assisted to comply with their obligation to inform passengers about the mandatory use of seatbelts. This could include additional guidance material, or regulatory or contractual amendments.
  4. That Transport for NSW conducts a thorough examination of the risks associated with standees on buses and explores potential risk mitigation approaches.
  5. That Transport for NSW consider whether the 80km/h rule for dedicated school bus services with standing passengers could be rolled out across all services and examine ways of reducing risks for standees on buses travelling over 80 km/h.

Read the full first safety reportlaunch on the Transport for NSW website.

Minister for Transport Jo Haylen said:

“There is still work to be done when it comes to bus safety in NSW, but the NSW Government is taking an important step by accepting all 5 recommendations from the first bus safety report.

“My heart is with the families and community devastated by this tragedy. I’ve spoken to them personally and will continue to let their voices be heard as we work towards a safer future on our roads and public transport.

“I have asked Transport for NSW to ramp up vital work in raising awareness of the importance of seatbelt laws on buses, especially on school buses.

“We want everyone to remember that seatbelts save lives. If there is a seatbelt available on the bus you’re travelling on, you must use it.

“I want to thank the Bus Taskforce for leading the first phase of this important ongoing work on examining safety in the bus and coach industry.”

Minister for Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison said:

“The tragic bus accident in the Hunter Valley which happened just 5 minutes from my electorate of Maitland and sadly took the lives of ten beloved members of our community touched the lives of people across our nation and triggered an outpouring of grief and trauma.

“Not since the Clybucca bus accident in 1989 have we seen such a loss of life on our roads in a single incident. It strengthened my resolve to do all I can to reduce road trauma.

“The initial Bus Industry Taskforce First Safety Report is just the first step towards this goal and I welcome the recommendation that Transport complete the implementation of the Rural and Regional Seatbelts Program as soon as possible.

“I have met with some of the members of those families who tragically lost their lives and given them my commitment to work with all the affected families to do our best to make sure an incident like this never happens again.

“The grief, trauma and regret caused by these tragedies lasts a lifetime.”

Road safety advocate John Gaffney said:

“As someone impacted by the tragic crash in the Hunter Valley and someone passionate about road safety, I welcome this safety report and support the campaign to raise awareness about seatbelt use on buses.

“Wearing a seatbelt doubles the chance of surviving a crash and reduces the risk of injury. In NSW, each year, on average, 29 drivers and passengers are killed and around 79 seriously injured in crashes when not wearing available seatbelts. Many of these deaths and injuries could have been prevented if seatbelts had been worn.

“I also welcome the work transport officials in NSW are doing with the bus and coach industry to ramp up activities already being done to roll out seat belts on school buses and support the community and the bus industry in complying with seat belt laws.”

Premier must sack Police and Counter-Terrorism Minister

The NSW Opposition has called on the Premier to sack the Police and Counter-terrorism Minister Yasmin Catley.
 
The latest accusations of misleading Parliament, plus her strange written statement tonight in response, confirm that she is not up to the vital task of leading the police and counter-terrorism portfolios at this critical time.
 
“Media reports tonight that the Minister may have misled Parliament are gravely concerning,” said Mr Speakman. “When asked, point blank, whether she had told any Jewish leaders that their community should stay away from the Sydney CBD –her unequivocal response was ‘No, I did not’.”
“The Minister should have apologised to the Jewish community for the way that she failed to heed their needs on Monday night for a vigil at the Opera House and to take any action to stop an ugly mob descending on the Opera House and engaging in despicable anti-Semitic acts.”
 
“The Minister’s claim in her written statement tonight that she ‘apologised ‘for the way this has been handled’ is false. Despite repeatedly being asked in Parliament for such an apology, the most that the Minister could muster was to say ’of course I apologise to anyone if they feel unsafe’ on Wednesday and ’Yesterday, I apologised to those in the Jewish community who ongoingly feel unsafe in New South Wales’ today, in contrast to the Premier’s genuine apology.”
 
“Her written statement tonight did not deny that she referred to the Jewish community as ‘you people’.”
 
“From Question Time today it appeared that the Minister was not even aware of her powers under the Police Act to direct the Commissioner.”
 
“The Minister has a catalogue of other failures – such as her failure in the wake of the tragic tasering of grandmother Clare Nowland; her failure to provide a timely response to escalating gang warfare in Sydney’s west, with children exposed to the horrific scene of a dead body in the street on the way to school; and her failure to take action on the LECC report dealing with police handling of domestic violence cases.”
 
“With rising community tension, fear and potential risk in the weeks and months ahead, the Premier must act now to install a new Police and Counter-terrorism Minister in whom the public can have confidence to lead efforts to keep them safe.”

Heading Top 10 Reasons to Vote Against the Indigenous Voice

  1. Alternative Solutions: there are other, more effective ways to address Indigenous issues without a constitutional change.
  2. National Unity Concerns: The Voice is divisive, leading to racial segregation rather than unifying Australians.
  3. Ambiguity: The actual function, role, and power of the Indigenous Voice remain unclear, leading to uncertainties about its implementation and ramifications.
  4. Expanded Commonwealth Power: There’s a potential for the Commonwealth to significantly broaden its legislative powers at the expense of the states.
  5. Judicial Complications: Matters concerning the Indigenous Voice will end up in the High Court, complicating governance and potentially leading to legal challenges.
  6. Economic Implications: There are economic costs to implementing race-based constitutional changes. The financial implications of the Voice will be significant.
  7. Representation Concerns: The Voice will not truly represent the diverse views and needs of all Indigenous communities across Australia.
  8. Overreach: The proposed change will empower the Commonwealth to make broad decisions, even on matters only tangentially related to the Voice.
  9. Accountability Issues: How will the Voice be held accountable, and how will it’s efficiency and effectiveness will be measured? Accountability has been lacking in the bodies in the past.
  10. Constitutional Division: The proposed Indigenous Voice will disrupt the delicate balance of power between the Commonwealth and the States.

In the end, as with any political issue, voters need to understand all perspectives before deciding. This breakdown offers insight into one side of the ongoing debate surrounding the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

Fatal crash in Ravensworth – Hunter Valley PD

A man has died after a two-vehicle crash in Hunter Valley region.

Just after 6.15am on Friday (13 October 2023), emergency services were called to the Bayswater Creek Bridge, on the New England Highway at Ravensworth, following reports of a two-vehicle crash.

On arrival, officers attached to Hunter Valley Police District found a truck and a ute had collided head-on.

The driver of the ute – a 22-year-old man – was assessed by NSW Ambulance paramedics; however, he died at the scene.

The driver of the truck – a 27-year-old man – was treated at the scene with injuries in his muscle and leg before being taken to Singleton Hospital for mandatory testing in a stable condition.

He is assisting police with their inquiries.

A crime scene has been established and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash has commenced.

A reported will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

Three charged after allegedly performing Nazi salute – Darlinghurst

Three men have been charged after being arrested in Darlinghurst this morning.

Officers from Kings Cross Police Area Command were called to Darlinghurst Road shortly before midday (Friday 13 October 2023), after three men allegedly performed a Nazi salute.

The men – aged 30, 31, and 40 – were arrested and taken to Kings Cross Police Station.

They have now each been charged with behave in offensive manner in/near public place/school, and knowingly display by public act Nazi symbol without excuse

All three were released on conditional bail to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on Tuesday 31 October 2023.

CANCELLED PARADE SIGNALS THE CLOCK IS TICKING FOR THE MELBOURNE CUP

Australian Greens Deputy Leader and spokesperson for Animal Welfare, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, has welcomed cancellation of this year’s Melbourne Cup Parade, following the success of the growing movement to shut down horse racing and the Greens #NupToTheCup campaign. 

Senator Mehreen Faruqi said:

“Days of the Melbourne Cup are numbered thanks to the tireless work of animal welfare activists and growing community concern over the animal cruelty of horse racing.

“We are winning the fight against the cruel and callous horse racing industry.

“Cancellation of the Melbourne Cup Parade means  the long, hard work of animal welfare activists and protesters is paying off. And we will not stop until this grotesque festival of cruelty is binned altogether. Now let’s cancel the race.

“Tragically, 168 horses have died on the track this year alone. How many more horses need to die before we realise that horse racing kills. Enough is enough.

“Public opinion is turning fast. The surge in support for #NupToTheCup has shown how much the community values animal welfare. Most people see horse racing as  a cruel, archaic industry that flourishes on the torture of beautiful horses.

“The social licence of the racing industry is fading fast. People are switching off because they clearly understand the cruelty and toxicity of gambling and racing.

“Independent polling shows that a whopping 64% of Australians believe racing animals like horses and greyhounds for gambling and entertainment is cruel. This figure has been going up each year, from 59% in 2022 and 55% in 2021. 

“Let’s move with the times and leave behind this barbaric industry. The Melbourne Cup thrives on gambling, consumerism and alcoholism, all fueled by animal cruelty. 

‘It’s time to shut down horse racing.”

COURT WIN FOR COAL & GAS SHOWS LABOR’S ENVIRONMENT LAWS BROKEN

Response to today’s legal decision on the Living Wonders case. Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young is spokesperson for the Environment and currently has a Climate Trigger Bill before the Senate.

“Our environment laws are broken so long as they fail to tackle climate change.

“It shouldn’t fall on a small community group to take on the might of the fossil fuel industry and their accomplices in the Federal Government in court.

“The Environment Minister should be on the side of the environment to protect our climate, our rivers, our reef and public safety instead of teaming up with coal and gas companies.

“If Minister Plibersek wants to protect nature and tackle climate change she should work  with the Greens and back our Climate Trigger Bill in the Senate as part of the environment law reform she has promised. My door is open for that conversation in good faith.

“Australians voted for climate action at the last election, but every time the Government fights to approve a coal or gas project they are putting Australia at risk of more frequent and extreme bushfires this summer.”