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The NSW Government is committing $115 million to properly resource the NSW Reconstruction Authority and better ensure NSW communities are prepared for natural disasters and can recover faster.

The NSW Reconstruction Authority was established with bipartisan support in November 2022 after Resilience NSW was dissolved.

It was established in line with recommendations from the independent 2022 NSW Flood Inquiry, led by Professor Mary O’Kane and Mick Fuller.

Despite the expanded responsibilities to include adaption, mitigation and preparedness for natural disasters, the former government left the NSW Reconstruction Authority as a shell – failing to fully fund and resource this vital agency.

This $115 million commitment will see the NSW Reconstruction Authority become the first entity of its kind in NSW with the resources needed to proactively reduce the impact of future disasters before they happen, as well as respond effectively after. 

The investment will take the NSW Reconstruction Authority budget to $321.3 million over 4 years.

It means the agency can also start on a State Disaster Mitigation Plan and Disaster Adaptation Plans.

Other projects include:

• supporting clean-ups and damage assessments
• organising safe temporary housing
• coordinating the repair and reestablishment of critical infrastructure such as schools and healthcare services
• supporting councils and state agencies in rebuilding essential assets and infrastructure such as roads and bridges
• public education and awareness campaigns
• distributing state and Commonwealth disaster recovery funding.

The authority currently facilitates more than $6.8 billion in state and Commonwealth grant programs offering support and practical help to those who need it most.

Natural disasters are becoming more frequent and more severe as we deal with the impacts of climate change.

Since 2019, NSW has seen more than 60 declared disasters, costing the state $5 billion, with 20,000 homes damaged in 2022 alone.

The financial costs of responding to natural disasters is only increasing. That is why we are properly funding and resourcing the NSW Reconstruction Authority.

The NSW Government has made the careful and necessary decisions to address the holes left in the budget by the former government, including reprioritising funding to ensure the NSW Reconstruction Authority is properly resourced.

We are setting out a long-term plan to repair the budget in a sustainable way, to rebuild the essential services we all rely on – and funding disaster preparedness and recovery is an essential service.

Premier Chris Minns said:  

“We’ve all seen the devastating impacts of floods and fires across NSW, I am determined to take the action needed to save lives and ensure NSW has resilience in preparedness and response to natural disasters. 

“We know future natural disasters aren’t just a remote possibility – more are coming. It’s why we need to invest now to reduce the risk to communities, and then be ready and prepared to respond when disaster strikes.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully said:

“Being prepared doesn’t seem important or urgent until a disaster strikes, and then its value becomes very clear, very quickly. 

“This investment will allow the NSW Reconstruction Authority to be there for communities long before a disaster strikes and long after the disaster has passed.”

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“We know we can’t stop natural disasters from occurring, but we can do more to prepare and prevent the worst of impacts.

“We’re lucky enough to have some of the country’s best and most experienced emergency service workers and this funding will make their jobs safer by reducing risks and better planning for the future.

“This is a smart, staged investment to make sure communities are better prepared for disasters, and so we can deliver cost-effective reconstruction programs and responsibly manage billions in state and Commonwealth disaster funding.”

Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery Janelle Saffin said:

“Preparedness in all its forms at all levels of community and government is key and with the NSWRA we now have the opportunity do this. 

“The NSW Reconstruction Authority was needed to be the overarching agency that could take a whole-of- government planning approach to the preparation, response and recovery to disasters, so that recovery plans and packages are in place before the disaster and the work on local adaptation plans and state mitigation actions scales up.

“In the Northern Rivers there was a scramble to prepare the response and the recovery in the midst of the largest humanitarian and most costly natural disaster Australia has seen. The painful lessons learned are all being utilised in the consolidation of the NSWRA, as is the now 12-year successful experience of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority.

“Such groundwork ensures that agencies are ready to do the response and recovery work and that local communities who drive recovery can work in close collaboration with state and regional agencies.”

The importance of physical activity for culturally and linguistically diverse communities (CALD) is the focus of this year’s Multicultural Health Week.

Launching Multicultural Health Week at Parliament House today, NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the NSW Government was proud of its partnerships with communities to help people live healthier and more active lives, as he announced this year’s theme, Celebrate Culture Through Movement: Every Move Counts.

“Multicultural Health Week is a great opportunity to celebrate the immense contributions from our culturally and linguistically diverse communities while recognising ways we can all improve our health and wellbeing,” Mr Park said.

“We must also work to address health issues increasingly faced by multicultural communities, including the importance of being healthy and well, and prioritising physical activity to prevent illnesses.

“This week is an important reminder to everyone that physical activity with friends and family is not only a benefit to overall wellbeing, but also an opportunity to help celebrate and strengthen connection to culture.”

NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce AM said as part of this year’s Multicultural Health Week, a range of in-language resources have been developed to encourage people to be physically active together with their family and friends.

“The NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service, the NSW Ministry of Health and the Cancer Institute NSW have worked together to develop a host of great new resources to encourage more people to get physically active,” Ms Pearce said.

“Not only is it fun, but it can also help prevent chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease.”

Evidence shows that people from CALD backgrounds typically have lower levels of physical activity or exercise than the general population. A range of factors influence participation rates including settlement issues.

The NSW Population Health Survey data from 2021 reports that rates of insufficient physical activity for adults are higher in those born in mainly non-English speaking countries (42%) than those born in Australia (36.3%).

Professor Tracey O’Brien, NSW Chief Cancer Officer and Cancer Institute NSW CEO, said physical inactivity is one of the top 4 causes of cancer.

“Maintaining a healthy weight is important for overall health and wellbeing, and for preventing cancer,” Prof O’Brien said.

“We are proud to partner with the NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service to help deliver this important message, to celebrate culture through movement, and to highlight that even small amounts of exercise can help to reduce risk of cancer.”

This year’s theme is further supported by the Multicultural Health Week 2023 Small Grants program.

Grants of up to $2000 each have been provided to 15 organisations for community engagement activities across NSW.

Director of the NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service, Lisa Woodland, said a range of multilingual resourceslaunch have been produced to encourage CALD communities to engage in physical activity as part of Multicultural Health Week 2023. 

“Our aim was to create resources that bring people from all communities together in a joyful, upbeat manner. We want to celebrate culture through movement, taking a family-centred approach that is inclusive of all generations,” Ms Woodland said.

The resources include:

• A 1-minute video to promote Multicultural Health Week 2023
• Multiple testimonial videos highlighting culture and movement
• Factsheet available in English and 19 other languages (Arabic, Bangla, Burmese, Cantonese, Dari, Farsi, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Korean, Kurdish Kurmanji, Mandarin, Nepali, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, Tamil, Ukrainian and Vietnamese)
• A Multicultural Health Week poster and social media assets in English and 19 other languages.

These multilingual resources are available to download for free by visiting the Multicultural Health Weeklaunch webpage, YouTube and social media platforms.

A new BreastScreen NSW campaign is urging women to book in for a lifesaving mammogram before it’s too late, with more than 50% of NSW women aged 50 to 74 behind on their breast cancer screening.

Voiced by Australian entertainers Kat Stewart and Amanda Keller, the new campaign warns women that while you’re living life, ‘Breast Cancer Doesn’t Wait’.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said while a record number of women have returned to the BreastScreen NSW service over the past few months, there are still more than 625,000 women who haven’t booked in for their breast screen.

“We know life gets busy and reminder letters to get a breast screen often get lost under a mountain of paperwork and endless to do lists,” Mr Park said.

“The message is simple, breast screening needs to be a priority – an appointment only takes 20 minutes every 2 years and could save your life.”

Minister for Women, Jodie Harrison, urged women to book in for their mammogram as soon as possible.

“Putting off something like a mammogram can seem all too easy, but you shouldn’t,” Ms Harrison said.

“It’s 20 minutes out of your day that could save your life.

“The message of this new campaign is clear – put yourself, and your health, first.”

NSW Chief Cancer Officer and Cancer Institute NSW CEO, Professor Tracey O’Brien, said the campaign aims to encourage women to put themselves first and was developed after research found many women were not having regular breast screens because they were too busy.

“For women aged 50 to 74, a breast screen every 2 years is still the best way to detect and treat breast cancer early – before it can be seen or felt,” Professor O’Brien said.

“Unfortunately, breast cancer is expected to take the lives of close to 1000 women in NSW this year and we need to do everything we can to detect and treat breast cancer as early as possible.

“As a working mum and professional, I know how hard it can be to block out time for yourself.

“A breast screen is quick and easy and if the cancer is detected early, it can significantly increase your chance of survival.”

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, with 1 in 7 women set to be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

Age and being female are the biggest risk factors – not family history. 

BreastScreen NSW services are recommended for women aged 50 to 74 years, with no breast symptoms.

The service is available for women from 40 years. Any woman who has noticed a change in their breasts, like a lump, should see their doctor without delay.

Get more information and to make an appointment, call 13 20 50launch from anywhere in Australia or book online at BreastScreenlaunch.

If you need help from a translator to book a screening appointment, call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 13 14 50launch.

To watch the new campaign commercial and for more information, visit BreastScreenlaunch.

The Minns Labor Government has slashed in half the planned and fully funded $500M redevelopment of the Powerhouse Museum at Ultimo.

Shadow Treasurer Damien Tudehope said the Minns Government is prioritising its deal with union bosses over funding for infrastructure and transport projects, supporting the arts and helping people across the community.

“Before the election Chris Minns promised to roll over Active Kids, deliver Metro West, and continue to deliver important community projects – now with funding for Powerhouse Utlimo slashed in half, just like with Active Kids, Labor cannot be trusted to deliver for the people of NSW.”

Shadow Minister for Arts Kevin Anderson said the former Coalition government had backed this project and the arts sector, committing to a $500m refurbishment after extensive planning and community consultation.

“This is huge blow for the Arts sector who will now have to settle for less. The Government is walking away from an opportunity to build a new purpose-built museum on the site,” Mr Anderson said. “This will be a blow not only to the arts and tourism sectors, but also to the education and training sector that was anticipating subsidised studios and workspaces, including more than 5000 dedicated design and fashion study spots for regional and remote NSW students.”

“Many new features could end up in the dust bin, including a more user-friendly Haymarket street entrance, 30 percent more exhibition space and a promised four-story building with street level access. I’m calling on the Minns Labor Government not to waste this opportunity, and guarantee that the main entrance will be from the Haymarket side to remove the longstanding problems with the Harris Street entrance that create a barrier to entry.”

“The Liberals and Nationals left a proud legacy in the arts – the greatest investment since the Opera House – delivering investment of more than $1B for world class institutions, including the Parramatta Powerhouse, Castle Hill world class storage facility and the planned redevelopment of the Powerhouse at Ultimo.”

Damien Tudehope said the former Coalition Government was able to deliver record investment in health and education, as well as funding new transport and infrastructure and projects like the Powerhouse redevelopment, because of its strong Budget management.

“Our economic management earned the state two Triple A credit ratings and had our budget on the path to surplus in 2024-25, despite having to manage a once-in-a-century crisis in the  COVID pandemic,” Mr Tudehope said. “Chris Minns promised billions of taxpayer funds to his union bosses, and now we’re finding out what has to be cut to pay for them.”

The NSW Government has today confirmed that NSW government owned sites around the Sydney Harbour foreshore will be free for the public this New Year’s Eve, fulfilling an election commitment.

The announcement comes as six thousand front row positions for the world-famous fireworks atop the Cahill Expressway go up for grabs from Tuesday with the launch of a free ticket ballot.

The move will allow more than 60,000 Sydneysiders and visitors to once again access some of the harbour’s best vantage points free of charge.

The Government is making fireworks viewing free again across Barangaroo Reserve, West Circular Quay (including First Fleet Park), Campbells Cove, Hickson Road Reserve and locations in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and The Domain, including the renowned Mrs Macquarie’s Point. Tickets at these locations last year ranged in price from $12.50 to $520.

Most of these vantage points will operate on a first-come, first-served basis, with monitored capacity limits in place. Each vantage point will be closed once capacity is reached.

Further NSW Government public domain venues within Sydney Harbour will also be free, with access managed through a ticket system. This includes NSW National Parks and Wildlife’s Bradleys Head, Strickland Estate, and the idyllic Clark Island, Me-Mel (Goat Island) and Shark Island.

Tickets at these NSW National Parks and Wildlife venues last year cost between $24 and $286. Instead, people who secure tickets this year will only pay a modest fee covering their return ferry voyage.

The Transport for NSW ‘NYE on the Cahill Expressway’ will remain the same as 2022, with free access managed through a ticket system. The family-friendly, alcohol and smoke-free celebration boasts live music, entertainment and an amazing view.

People can nominate their preference to attend either the 9pm or midnight session, with a maximum of five tickets available per ballot entry. Around 3,000 can take in the fireworks display at each session, with a dedicated accessibility viewing area available to up to 200 people.

The ballot for tickets to NYE on the Cahill Expressway 2023 opens at 9:00am Tuesday 5 September and will close on Friday 6 October at 11:59pm, with people invited to enter the draw to attend one of two sessions. 

Successful applicants will be informed by email between Monday, 16 October and Friday, 8 December 2023.

Enter the ballotlaunch

The Government has provided limited exemptions to two charities, the Taronga Conservation Society of Australia and the Royal Botanic Gardens Foundation, allowing their annual New Year’s Eve fundraisers to continue. The not-for-profit events underpin the conservation and scientific work of the two important NSW public institutions.

The Royal Botanic Gardens’ limited exemption allows its Foundation and Friends Picnic, established in 1996, to take place once again on the Mare and Foal Lawn. The picnic also serves as the Royal Botanic Gardens’ designated accessible viewing area, with complimentary tickets issued via a public ballot to people with a disability.

Planning in all precincts is now underway. Access arrangements, including free tickets, will be made available over time via the City of Sydney’s website.

City of Sydney will continue to put on the world-famous firework display on December 31, ensuring Sydney maintains its globally recognised reputation as the New Year’s capital of the world.

Sydney Harbour will once again be the focal point with two fireworks shows, the 9pm fireworks followed by the dazzling midnight show.

NSW Government agencies including the NSW Police are already working together to ensure appropriate safety and security measures will be in place across the city to ensure revellers can welcome in 2024 safely.

This Child Protection Week, the NSW Government is recognising and celebrating the unsung heroes of our child protection system – the dedicated caseworkers and frontline staff who keep children safe.

Child Protection Week begins today and serves as an important reminder that safeguarding our children requires collective effort, urging every Australian to recognise their role in nurturing a safe environment for the younger generation.

At the heart of the NSW child safety system are more than 2,300 specialised caseworkers and frontline personnel who respond to the hundreds of child safety reports received by the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) every day.

DCJ’s Child Protection Helpline is the first touch point of the NSW child protection system. Helpline staff assess reports and work swiftly to ensure children are kept safe and families are supported.

The Helpline:

• operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• answers more than 140,000 calls each year
• answered more than 10,000 calls in July this year alone
• completed more than 16,500 assessments in July this year (including assessments in response to e-reports).

The NSW Government is committed to supporting and celebrating the thousands of dedicated frontline staff who keep children safe across NSW.

Child Protection Weeklaunch runs from 3 to 9 September.

Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington said:

“Child Protection Week is an opportunity to recognise the vital work caseworkers and frontline staff do every day to support children.”

“Caseworkers offer invaluable support to at-risk children and families, work that is often extremely complex and incredibly challenging.”

“Protecting our state’s most vulnerable children is not possible without the efforts of these workers.”

“I’ve been so impressed by the caseworkers I’ve met right across the state, including the team at the Child Protection Helpline in South West Sydney. They approach their difficult work with big hearts, driven by the desire to see children and families receive the support they need.”

“Thank you to our incredible Helpline staff at Liverpool and the tireless efforts of all child protection workers across DCJ and NSW.”

Western Sydney residents are one step closer to catching fast metro rail services, with TBM Peggy smashing through at the future Airport Terminal station in a major milestone for the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project.

The 1,066-tonne mega-machine completed the first leg of its 5.5-kilometre journey to the Aerotropolis, following TBM Eileen, who made her historic first breakthrough last month.

Peggy has worked around the clock at an average speed of 120 metres per week to build the fully lined 1.26-kilometre tunnel from the Airport Business Park, excavating around 112,000 tonnes of rock – enough to fill about 18 Olympic swimming pools.

In preparation for Peggy’s arrival, approximately 293,000 tonnes of rock (about 48 Olympic swimming pools) have been excavated from the 25-metre-deep Airport Terminal station box.

The enormous machine will now traverse the station box before being relaunched, to tunnel under the future Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport, with the TBM expected to arrive at the Aerotropolis metro station site in 2024.

TBM Peggy is named after Peggy Kelman OAM, an Australian aviation pioneer and adventurer.

Peggy Kelman was a friend of Nancy-Bird Walton, the namesake of the new international airport.

A total of four TBMs will build the 9.8-kilometre-long twin tunnels for the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport railway line between St Marys and the Aerotropolis.

TBM Eileen is carving the metro tunnel alongside TBM Peggy from Airport Business Park to the Aerotropolis. TBM Catherine and TBM Marlene have begun their 4.3-kilometre journey from Orchard Hills to St Marys.

A joint venture between CPB Contractors and Ghella was awarded the $1.8 billion Station Boxes and Tunnelling contract in 2021 to deliver 9.8 kilometres of twin metro tunnels, five station boxes and two services facilities shafts for the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport project.

The line will be operational when Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport opens for passenger services in 2026, with an expected travel time of 15 minutes from St Marys metro station to the Airport Terminal Station and a further five minutes to the Aerotropolis Station.

Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said:

“The spectacular arrival of TBM Peggy marks the fantastic progress underway on this vital 23-kilometre transport link, which will not only benefit Greater Western Sydney residents, but for those visiting from around the globe.

“We are thrilled to be shaping the future of this vibrant and growing region with reliable and fully accessible metro services, ready for when planes start taking off at the new Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport.”

NSW Transport Minister Jo Haylen said:

“This city-shaping project is supporting the local economy with more than 14,000 jobs generated during construction, including 250 new apprentices and at least 20 per cent of the contract workforce coming from Greater Western Sydney.

“This project is making Western Sydney the doorway to the rest of the world, and we can’t wait to see it continue to take shape.”

Member for Werriwa Anne Stanley said:

“The community benefit, as the Western Sydney (Nancy – Bird Walton) International Airport continues toward completion, are immense.

Our residents are looking forward to the opportunities, jobs for the future, as well as the construction jobs which support families and the economy in Western Sydney.”