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The Minns Labor Government has awarded $5.45 million to NSW Surf Life Saving Clubs through the Surf Club Facility Program.

Grants up to $1 million were available across three categories for projects that upgrade, restore or construct surf life saving facilities to ensure they stay modern, inclusive and accessible.

This year’s program included grants for design and planning, ensuring surf club projects are supported from concept to completion.

Projects that encourage participation by women and girls, people with disability, First Nations peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and LGBTQIA+ are a priority of the Program.

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper joined surf life savers at Wanda Surf Life Saving Club to announce the club was among 61 projects to receive funding through the Program.

The club received $782,588 towards its $1.18 million redevelopment project which includes upgrades to amenities, gym, kitchen and multipurpose areas.

Other clubs to receive funding include North Narrabeen which received $600,000 for upgrades to the club hall, café, storage and training areas, and Salt Surf Life Saving Club which received $345,345 for upgrades to the club’s kitchen, deck and bar.

For further information and the list if recipients visit: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/grants/surf-club-facility-program

Minister for Sport Steve Kamper said:

“The Surf Club Facility Program provides critical funding to our surf life saving clubs to enable them to better protect beachgoers.

“The awarding of $5.45 million for 61 projects is part of our four-year $21.6 million commitment to ensure our Surf Life Saving Clubs are modern, safe and inclusive.

“Wanda Surf Life Saving Club’s redevelopment project will support lifesaving, unite members and strengthen community connections.

“Once completed, these 61 projects will ensure our surf life saving clubs can continue to deliver a world-class service and keep our beaches safe.

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“Surf Life Saving volunteers play a vital role in keeping people safe right along the NSW coastline, and the NSW Government is backing them with record investment.

“This $5.4 million in upgrades will ensure surf life savers have the resources they need to protect beachgoers when the next patrol season begins.

“Combined with new and upgraded equipment, including Emergency Response Beacons, this investment means our volunteers are better equipped than ever with modern, reliable and safe gear to continue their incredible work.”

Chief Operating Officer of Surf Life Saving NSW Phil Ayres said:

“Across NSW there are 129 surf clubs that are pillars of safety within their communities, sustained by a growing volunteer membership of over 85,000.

“The NSW Government’s support through the Surf Club Facilities Program will assist more than a third of our clubs, through 61 individual projects in 2026, to remain fit for purpose and give our volunteer lifesavers the facilities they need to ensure they can be rescue ready should the worst happen on our coastline.

“Not only this, but the funding from this Program delivers safe, secure, and accessible facilities for members and the communities that they protect.”

Sydney is a step closer to being the best walking city in the world, with new funding allocated for missing links of the  91km Parramatta to Sydney Foreshore Link, and the start of consultation on a NSW Walking Strategy.  

The 91km long route will connect Parramatta Park to the Opera House and Botanical Gardens. 68km of the walk is already accessible via shared pathways, while 23 km of missing links require planning and construction.  

The Minns Labor Government is investing $4.5 million to complete four missing links in the Canada Bay local government area:  

• New and upgraded shared paths, lighting, and raised crossings connecting Allison Park, Campbell Park and Lysaght Park in Chiswick.
• Upgraded path, lighting and a new raised crossing at Wire Mill Reserve in Chiswick.
• New shared pathways and lighting at Shadrack Shaw Reserve, Concord will improve the link between Majors Bay Reserve and the Mortlake and Breakfast Point peninsulas.
• Improved access to the Bay Run with one raised shared crossing with upgraded street lighting at Timbrell Drive and two extra raised pedestrian crossings and street lighting on Henley Marine Drive near Millar Street and Nield Park.   

The 3.5 metre wide shared pathways will be delivered by the City of Canada Bay Council who will deliver the projects, with a construction tender to be released in the coming months.  

$2.36 million of work on missing links in the City of Parramatta has already commenced, with improved lighting and a raised pedestrian and cyclist crossing on Brodie Street in Rydalmere and construction nearing completion for a new shared pathway along George Street East in Parramatta, through Queens Wharf. The Bennelong Parkway Bridge and Connecting Paths will start construction in mid-2026.  

$8.23 million has been invested in planning and design along the foreshore which has informed current projects and future stages of foreshore upgrades.

The Parramatta to Sydney Foreshore Link will build on an increasing number of dedicated walks throughout Sydney including the 80km Bondi to Manly walk that was opened in 2019 and the recent opening of the 6km GreenWay which connects the Cooks River Trail, Earlwood with the Bay Run in Haberfield.

To improve the way government and councils plan, fund and design public spaces to encourage walking, the Minns Labor Government is releasing the Walkable NSW Issues Paper, launching a consultation that will inform the development of NSW’s first ever Walking Strategy.  

Further updates on the Parramatta to Sydney Foreshore Link will be shared soon, as Transport for NSW continues to work closely with local councils, to inform the design and delivery of the next priority connections.  

Click here to see the Walkable NSW Discussion Paper.  
 
Minister for Transport John Graham said:  

“The success of the GreenWay and the Bondi to Manly walks, gives you a sense of what’s possible given our incredible geography and exercise culture.  

“Walking is the most popular form of transport in NSW, so it makes sense that we take a strategic approach to maximise our potential as a walking city.  

“The walking strategy will help state government and local councils do a better job of planning, funding and designing our streets and places in a way that encourages walking. We’re starting by asking the community what’s most important.”  

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:  

“This 91km connection will link a number of Sydney’s world class public spaces and encourage more people to get active and explore parts of the city on foot.  

“The new connections across the Inner West will complement plans for a new swim spot along the Bay Run and add to the work we’re already doing at Blackwattle Bay to complete the missing link in the 15-kilometre foreshore walk from Rozelle Bay to Woolloomooloo.”  

Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Dr Marjorie O’Neill said:  

“Whether its locals getting some exercise or international tourists in awe of our city, we have some of the most stunning urban walks in the world, we just need to connect them better.  

“These vital links in Canada Bay are crucial to the ongoing work of connecting this incredible walk.  

“We thank the Canada Bay Council for their work in delivering these projects to connect the existing walking paths along their part of the foreshore walk.”  

Mayor of the City of Canada Bay Michael Megna said:

“We are looking forward to delivering the first new connections of the 91km Parramatta to Sydney Foreshore Link following close consultation with our community.

“This project will bring to life our commitment to a fully-connected, accessible foreshore, as well as open up more opportunities for active transport across the City.”

The Minns Labor Government continues to turbocharge the state’s visitor economy, announcing today that it has partnered with the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) of Australia to secure the historic return of the Australian PGA Championship to NSW for the first time since 1998.

The 2026 BMW Australian PGA Championship will tee off from 26-29 November at The Lakes Golf Club in Sydney, which last hosted the tournament in 1987, becoming the latest major international sporting event to find a home in NSW.

The Lakes Golf Club has a proud history of hosting Australian golf majors, including the 1964 Australian Open won by the legendary Jack Nicklaus and most recently the 2023 Australian Open, demonstrating its capability to deliver a major international golf tournament.

This year’s Australian PGA Championship promises to be another outstanding display of golf that will not only attract the world’s best golfers, but also golf fans from across the nation and around the globe, highlighting Sydney’s reputation as one of the world’s great stages for major international sporting events and providing a significant boost to the NSW visitor economy.

Hosting the Australian PGA Championship in Sydney is estimated will attract around 15,000 visitors to the city, injecting more than $10 million into the state’s visitor economy. This adds to a growing list of 35 major sporting events secured for NSW in 2026 that are projected to attract around 295,000 visitors and inject more than $285 million into the NSW visitor economy.

Sports tourism is booming, with the World Economic Forum recently highlighting it as the fastest-growing segment of the global tourism industry.  

In 2025, sports tourism accounted for 10 per cent of global travel expenditure, with revenues growing at a compound annual rate of 28 per cent since 2020, above the 22 per cent growth seen across all tourism.

The Australian PGA Championship joins an unrivalled list of major sporting events for NSW in 2026, including Men’s and Women’s State of Origin, Tottenham versus Chelsea in the Sydney Super Cup, NRL & NRLW Grand Finals, Bledisloe Cup, Bathurst 1000, Rugby League World Cup, and TCS Sydney Marathon World Major, showcasing NSW as the nation’s home of major sporting event experiences.

Minister for Sport and Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said:

“The Minns Labor Government is thrilled to be partnering with the PGA of Australia to bring the nation’s most prestigious golf tournament back to Sydney for the first time in almost three decades.

“We can’t wait to welcome some of the best golfers on the planet for the Australian PGA Championship in November at The Lakes, one of our country’s most iconic golf courses.  

“This is a fantastic coup for our local golf-loving community. But most importantly it will provide a significant boost to the NSW visitor economy, attracting thousands of visiting fans, players and officials.

CEO of the PGA of Australia and the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia Gavin Kirkman said:  

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to partner with the NSW Government in bringing the BMW Australian PGA Championship back to Sydney.

“The city is synonymous with world-class sporting events and we are thrilled that we are able to return to The Lakes Golf Club. The venue has a rich history in hosting Challenger

PGA Tour of Australasia events, so we know we are in for a warm welcome in November.” 

The Southern Tablelands is set to benefit from a boost to frontline emergency care, with an additional six paramedics starting work in the community from tomorrow.

These additional paramedics will be based at Yass Ambulance Station and will deliver emergency and out-of-hospital care across the Southern Tablelands as part of NSW Ambulance’s highly mobile workforce.

This increase in clinical staffing forms part of the NSW Government’s commitment to deliver 500 additional paramedics to rural, regional and remote areas.

The cohort is part of the third intake of 125 paramedics working across regional NSW as part of the regional 500 initiative. They join 125 paramedics who commenced across the state last year, and another 125 who began work in 2024. Under this initiative, an additional 41 paramedics are now working across the southern NSW region.

The Minns Labor Government will continue to roll out the additional 500 paramedics for regional NSW next year, with future locations determined through NSW Ambulance’s evidence-based, best practice service and workforce planning, as well as consultation with staff and the Health Services Union.

Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park: 

“The Minns Labor Government is continuing to strengthen emergency health services in regional communities by delivering more paramedics for the frontline.

“These extra six paramedics in Yass will provide much-needed support and help ensure the local community receives optimal care when they need it most.

“The Coalition criticised the Government for hiring too many health workers, but we know that recruiting additional paramedics will allow the local community to continue benefitting from timely, high‑quality care.”

Labor Spokesperson for Goulburn, Bob Nanva, MLC:

“Six additional paramedics at Yass will strengthen frontline healthcare for patients throughout the Southern Tablelands.”

“Growing the ambulance workforce is improving access to emergency care across regional and rural NSW.”

NSW Ambulance Interim Chief Executive Clare Beech:  

“Boosting the paramedic workforce at Yass will strengthen our ability to respond to emergencies and provide enhanced support to teams across regional NSW.

“As demand for ambulance services continues to increase, these extra resources will help ensure we maintain a high standard of care for the community.”

Minister for Police and Counter Terrorism, Yasmin Catley, has been caught out misleading the public as part of a political stoush with Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone over policing in the Fairfield Local Area Command. 
 
On Monday, Minister Catley told 702 ABC Sydney Breakfast that local police were not aware of, or involved in, a decision to fence off Fairfield’s Crescent Plaza in response to ongoing violence and anti-social behaviour. 
 
The Minister also called the Mayor’s claim that police in Fairfield were under resourced “absolute garbage” and pointed to 64 recruits being allocated to the Fairfield area on her watch. 
 
However, this morning on 2GB, Mayor Carbone called out the Minister, pointing to multiple emails showing local police were engaged with council and were aware of the decision to fence off Crescent Plaza well in advance. 
 
Mayor Carbone also pointed to analysis which shows police numbers in the Fairfield Local Area Command have fallen from 290 officers in 2021 to just 221 in 2025, a loss of 69 officers while the local population has only grown. 
 
Shadow Minister for Police and Counter-Terrorism, Anthony Roberts, said the Minister must come clean and owes both Mayor Carbone and the Fairfield community an apology. 
 
“Minister Catley has been caught out here and needs to front up and apologise for misleading the public,” Mr Roberts said. 
 
“The reality is police numbers are going backwards in Fairfield and across Western Sydney, and the Minister needs to stop pretending otherwise.” 
 
“This is about community safety. You cannot have fewer officers, a growing population, and claim everything is fine when people’s real experience is that crime is only getting worse.” 
 
Mr Roberts also pointed to broader concerns about police resourcing in the area. 
 
“Under this Minister, key local resources have been scaled back, including the reduction of operating hours at Weatherill Park Police Station from 24 hours to 12 hours.” 
 
“The people of Fairfield deserve honesty, accountability, and proper police resourcing, not blame games from an underperforming Minister.” 

Shadow Roads Minister, Mark Coure, has called for urgent action to address the state’s worsening road toll, following a tragic Easter period where 10 lives were lost on NSW roads. 
  
Mr Coure said the latest official figures reveal a crisis that is escalating, not improving. 
  
“103 people have tragically lost their lives on NSW roads in 2026 alone, up from 97 at the same time last year,” Mr Coure said. 
  
“Even more alarming, the 12-month road toll has surged to 362 lives lost, compared to 328 the previous year, which is a massive increase that shows we are going backwards.” 
  
“These are not just numbers, they are sons, daughters, parents and friends. Entire families are being torn apart.” 
  
Mr Coure said the shocking Easter toll highlights the urgent need for a stronger, more effective road safety strategy. 
  
“Ten deaths over Easter is a devastating toll. It should be a wake-up call to the Government that what they’re doing right now simply isn’t working,” Mr Coure said. 
  
“Year after year, we’re seeing more lives lost and more people seriously injured on our roads.” 
  
The latest data also shows serious injuries are rising sharply, with 11,667 people hospitalised in 2025, up from 11,120 the year before. 
  
Mr Coure said enforcement alone is not enough to reduce the road toll. 
  
“We need safer roads, more investment in blackspot programs, better signage, and strong education campaigns that actually change behaviour,” Mr Coure said. 
  
“You cannot fine your way to safer roads, you have to build safer roads.”