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The Minns Labor Government has released the state’s most advanced Biosecurity Action Plan to protect landscapes, livestock and crops from pests, weeds and biosecurity threats to ensure our $20 billion per annum primary industries sector can increase its economic growth.

Australia and NSW are under pressure from complex and costly biosecurity threats, and it is critical that the state’s biosecurity system is strong, effective and responsive now and into the future.

The Minns Government has made it clear that strengthening the state’s resilience and protection against biosecurity threats is a priority. This has been demonstrated by establishing NSW’s first Independent Biosecurity Commissioner and $1.05 billion funding in this year’s budget.

To ensure that NSW has the best biosecurity system available the Minns Government has commissioned a comprehensive review of biosecurity programs, governance and performance.

In a two-pronged approach the Natural Resources Commission reviewed invasive species management, and the Independent Biosecurity Commissioner examined compliance, enforcement and governance performance to recommend improvements for pest and weed management.

In response to these reviews, the Minns Government has designed a system wide improvement that will be guided through the new Biosecurity Action Plan over 2025 and 2026 to enable swift and effective work that includes the following:

• Establish a State Biosecurity Committee to enable a more rapid and better coordinated cross-government approach to biosecurity, and response to outbreaks and emergencies. The Committee will also produce a State Biosecurity Strategy that all government agencies will play a role in implementing.
• Strengthen surveillance, diagnostics and emergency responses by training 200 additional staff to respond to biosecurity emergencies, increase research efforts and upgrade the state’s primary biosecurity research centre.
• Improve biosecurity compliance across industries and landholders by enhancing the Government’s efforts in inspections, audits, investigations and enforcement.
• Implement a new statewide invasive species plan delivering multi-year resourcing, better coordination of agencies’ programs, and prioritise reduction of biosecurity risks at a landscape scale.
• Transition to a $40.7 million four-year Weeds Action Program that provides greater certainty for Local Control Authorities and improves weed management outcomes.
• Increase education and awareness for businesses, land managers and producers so they better understand their biosecurity responsibilities with clear regulatory guidelines.

The Biosecurity Action Plan NSW can be found here.

The NSW Government’s response to the NRC’s report is available on the NRC’s website and the Independent Biosecurity Commissioner’s reports and the Government’s responses can be found at the Commissioner’s website.

Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:

“Biosecurity is a Minns Government priority and we are now releasing this Biosecurity Action Plan to further evolve the state’s system to become the best available and leading the way not just in Australia but globally.

“While we have already delivered the state’s first independent Biosecurity Commissioner, the first feral pig coordinator, a historic $1.05 billion in funding and $40.7 million, four-year funding for the Weeds Action Program, we know there is more work to do.

“The former Government left our biosecurity system in a terrible mess and underfunded, and the Minns Government has stepped up to increase funding and brought in expert advice to reform this critical area of endeavour.

“This highly practical and measurable plan demonstrates our commitment to protecting our primary industries from biosecurity threats, by strengthening our surveillance and compliance, boosting research, and increasing support for farmers and landholders.

“Biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility, and this Action Plan frames how government agencies, businesses and private landholders can better comply with their biosecurity duties and build the most effective biosecurity system possible.

“While we have been developing this plan, the Minns Government has got on with the job of cracking down on non-compliant businesses, eradicating feral pigs and giving regional councils the funding they need to combat noxious weeds plaguing paddocks and riverbanks.”

Darren Cleary will be the new Chief Executive of Sydney Water, ushering in a new era of strategic planning and delivery for the organisation.

The Minns Labor Government is committed to building the sustainable future of our water systems and keeping Sydney Water in public hands.

As one of the state’s most important publicly owned utilities, Sydney Water will continue to deliver essential services from every household and business across Greater Sydney and the Illawarra.

With proven success in operational excellence and environmental stewardship, Mr Cleary emerged as the clear candidate to lead Sydney Water.

Mr Cleary brings decades of experiences in the water utility sector, including more than ten years in executive leadership.

As Chief Executive of Hunter Water since 2020, Mr Cleary successfully improved water security for the region through investment in the Belmont Desalination plant, creation of the Lower Hunter Water Security Plan and delivery of a $1 billion capital program.

Mr Cleary will begin in the role from 17 November. 

Minister for Water Rose Jackson said:

“I’m thrilled to announce the appointment of Darren Cleary and look forward to watching Sydney Water thrive under his leadership.

“As a trusted public face with a wealth of experience, the future of Sydney Water as a reliable, sustainable, customer-focused organisation is in good hands with Darren.

“I’d also like to thank Paul Plowman who has been Acting Chief Executive since March for his service.”

Chair of the Sydney Water Board, the Hon. Niall Blair said:

“After a comprehensive recruitment process, the board was excited to recommend Darren Cleary to Minister Jackson for appointment as CEO.  He was stand out candidate amongst a very high calibre field of applicants.

“As a former employee of Sydney Water, Darren is no stranger to our organisation and we warmly welcome him back. With a decade of executive leadership in the Water sector in NSW, he joins us at a critical time as we embark on our extensive capital infrastructure program and continue to deliver on the needs of our 5.4 million customers who rely on our water services every day.

“The board also appreciates and thanks Paul Plowman for his dedication and efforts as acting CEO.”

The Albanese and Minns Governments are forging ahead with one of the Hunter’s most significant infrastructure projects, with the final girders now in place on the new northbound bridge over Ironbark Creek (Toohrnbing) on the Hexham Straight Widening.

A total of 65 girders have been lifted into place by a 400-tonne crane. Each girder weighs around 20 tonnes – equivalent to the weight of 10 family cars – and forms the foundation of the new threelane northbound bridge.

The Hexham Straight upgrade is a key part of the $2.2 billion M1 Pacific Motorway Extension to Raymond Terrace, jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments.

With around 50,000 vehicles using this stretch of road each day, the project aims to relieve congestion, improve safety and provide more reliable travel for both commuters and freight operators.

Transport for NSW and its delivery partners – an alliance of Georgiou, Daracon Contractors and SMEC – are now focused on completing the bridge deck, installing barriers and progressing final road surfacing.

The new northbound bridge is expected to open to traffic by early 2026, weather permitting.

This six-kilometre upgrade between the Newcastle Inner City Bypass and Hexham Bridge will see the current two-lane dual carriageway widened to three lanes in each direction, removing a wellknown bottleneck and helping to future-proof the region’s road network.

Motorists are already seeing the transformation take shape, and more changes will become visible as construction continues. Some temporary lane closures and speed reductions will be required at times, with updates available through Live Traffic NSW.

The M1 Pacific Motorway Extension to Raymond Terrace includes the Hexham Straight Widening and is being delivered with $1.8 billion from the Australian Government and $448 million from the NSW Government. The entire upgrade is expected to open to traffic in 2026.

Minister for Roads Jenny Aitchison:

“There will be no sub-par work on this project. This is one of the most important road corridors in the Hunter, and we are building infrastructure that will last – not just for today, but for decades to come.

“In the 1870’s, the first timber truss bridge was opened over Ironbark Creek, connecting Newcastle to Maitland.

“Now we’re seeing the final girder placed on a brand new, modern bridge that will carry this connection forward for generations.”

Member for Newcastle Sharon Claydon:

“This is an exciting step forward on one of Newcastle and the Hunter’s most critical road projects.

“Once complete, this upgrade will make trips faster, safer, and more reliable for the more than 50,000 motorists who use this stretch every day.

“We’re delivering real progress on this long-awaited project, and this milestone brings us another step closer to the finish line.”

Member for Paterson Meryl Swanson:

“The final girder lift is a major step forward for the Hexham Straight upgrade – a project that will ease congestion, improve safety, and support local jobs right here in our region.

“I’m proud to see this progress delivered thanks to a strong collaboration between the Australian and NSW Governments. With $1.8 billion in federal funding, the M1 Pacific Motorway Extension to Raymond Terrace project is a major investment in our region’s future – and the Hexham Straight Widening is a critical step towards its completion.

“A big thank you to all the commuters for your patience during construction, and to the incredible roadworkers and project teams for their hard work in making the Hexham Straight Widening a reality.”

Member for Newcastle Tim Crakanthorp:

“It’s fantastic to see the Hexham Straight Widening project ticking off another significant milestone.

“Motorists will be able to see the bridge come together before their very eyes over the next few months as our teams continue carrying out this important upgrade.”

Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery:

“A big well done to the Hexham Straight Widening team who have worked tirelessly on upgrading this important stretch of the Pacific Highway.

“Once complete, this project will improve traffic flow for motorists and freight which mean safer journeys and more reliable travel times.”

Regional NSW disaster response and recovery operations will be strengthened as the Minns Labor Government delivers new high clearance vehicles and light flood rescues to across the state. 

vehicles are part of the NSW Government’s fleet replacement program, ensuring NSW State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers have the latest, purpose-built equipment to keep communities safe.

Included in this year’s flood rescue fleet upgrades are 10 new High Clearance Vehicles with cranes and specialised equipment worth $800,000 each and 11 light flood rescue Land Cruisers valued at $270,000 each. This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to deliver on the things that matter, supporting community resilience and safety.

The addition of these vehicles to the NSW SES fleet across regional parts of the state will increase volunteers ability to access isolated communities and perform critical rescues during flooding. 

Built at Alexander Perrie & Co at Port Kembla in the Illawarra, the new 4WD flood rescue vehicles are designed with enhanced offroad capability, and have a custom-built body for flood rescue equipment, as well as integrated stowage for inflatable flood rescue rafts. These vehicles are now being delivered to SES units in Wyong, Kiama, Tamworth, Ballina, Yamba, Orange, Forbes and Sydney.

Further, the high clearance vehicles are designed to operate in extreme off-road conditions and through floodwaters up to 1.2 metres deep, enabling SES crews to deliver essential supplies, complete rescues, and support other emergency services in remote and hard-to-reach locations.

The delivery of the new vehicles comes as SES crews responded to more than 59,000 incidents in the past 12 months, an 24,500 increase from the previous 12-month period, in what has been the busiest year since 2022.

The NSW Government thanked communities for following emergency service advice to prepare, with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting wetter than average weather will continue until the end of the year.

September to April is typically the time when the frequency of storms, strong winds and heavy rain increases, but August has already been wet for much of the state.

High clearance vehicles will be delivered across the state, including to areas recently impacted by flooding, such as Murwillumbah, Coffs Harbour and Taree. Others will be operational throughout Ku-ring-gai, Broken Hill, Goulburn, Moruya, Forbes and Dubbo. 

The fleet rollout follows extensive consultation with SES volunteers, trainers, and manufacturers to ensure each vehicle meets the operational challenges of the State’s diverse landscapes.

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said: 

“I would like to thank our hardworking SES volunteers who have been out in force this year and who are a reassuring sight for communities in times of need.” 

“These new vehicles ensure we are giving our frontline emergency services the equipment they need to respond faster, reach more people in isolated areas and carry out rescues in some of the most challenging conditions.”

“Our investment in these vehicles is about making sure the people who run towards danger to help others have the tools they need to do it safely.” 

“We know we can count on SES crews to help communities, and I would encourage anyone who wants to join to sign up.”

NSW SES Deputy Commissioner Damien Johnson said:  

“These vehicles represent a significant step forward in our flood and disaster response capability.”

“We’ve worked closely with our volunteers and technical experts to ensure these designs meet the realities of field operations — whether that’s wading through more than a metre of floodwater, navigating fire trails, or delivering supplies to communities cut off by floodwaters.”

“This investment brings our total number of high clearance vehicles to 20 and means our dedicated members will be able to work more safely and effectively when the next emergency comes.” 

The Minns Labor Labor Government’s $14.65 million Open Streets 2025-28 Program is helping support councils to temporarily create places for people to enjoy free community events with Canterbury-Bankstown Council staging the new Love Earlwood – Meet You at the Plateia Festival today in a rich display of culture, cuisine and music.

From 11am-4pm, a free festival will see Clarke Street and Earlwood Avenue in the town centre transformed into a vibrant celebration of all things Mediterranean.

At a time when cost of living pressures are being felt across the state, councils across NSW are being supported to hold more free community events, with help from the NSW Government’s Open Streets program.

Too often our main streets are something we drive through, rather than enjoy time with family and friends around.

However, activating streets is expensive. Under the previous government, councils and organisers could face costs of up to $122,000 to open a street for an event. That burden stopped communities from being able to use their streets and public spaces.

With the Open Streets program, the Minns Labor Government is fixing this. From Tweed Shire to Bega Valley Shire to out west in Broken Hill, 46 councils have secured funding under the NSW Government’s renewed initiative.

Following a competitive grants process, Canterbury Bankstown Council received $350,000 in funding to deliver the festival over three years.

More than 30 stallholders will take part, including those showcasing tasty dishes inspired by Greek, Italian, Turkish and Lebanese cuisines.

George Kapiniaris – the popular star of Acropolis Now and Housos – is set to keep crowds entertained in his role as festival MC, presiding over a main stage program that includes:

• Balkan Boogie and Dusha Balkana performers
• Pepa Molina’s Flamenco Ensemble “Las Flamenkas”
• An all-female Lebanese drumming group
• Latin American singer Lily Guerrero
• The Greek Orthodox Community of NSW dance group
• The George Nikolopoulos and friends band
• Earlwood Public School students dance ensemble
• All Saints Grammar students’ musical performance
• Sousaphonics brass band

The eclectic line-up comes in addition to a host of fun-filled activities for kids, including a FREE glamour day spa and rides. 

For more information about the Open Streets Program, visit: www.transport.nsw.gov.au/openstreets

For full festival details and performance times, visit: wih.city/LoveEarlwood

Minister for Transport, John Graham said:

“It is exciting to support Earlwood’s newest festival.  We’re thrilled to support Love Earlwood – Meet You at the Plateia Festival in Canterbury-Bankstown. 

“Too often our main streets are something we drive through, rather than drive to. Our main streets are a critical part of our social infrastructure, and this program demonstrates how we can use our streets to bring communities together and drive revenue for local businesses.

“The Open Streets program temporarily transforms our main streets into thriving, vibrant public event spaces. 

“The colour and diversity of these 240 events across NSW, celebrates the unique personality of each town or suburb. This is what our vibrancy agenda is all about, backing locals to create events and entertainment that works for their local community.”

Member for Canterbury Sophie Cotsis said:

“I’m absolutely thrilled that the NSW Government recognises the value of our local events, and that the Earlwood Festival is back where it belongs – at the heart of our community.

“This ongoing funding over the next three years will ensure the festival continues to grow as a much-loved annual event that brings people together and celebrates everything that makes Earlwood special.

“I’ve been campaigning for this for a long time, and it’s a real win for the whole community. I especially want to acknowledge the local residents and community advocates, including Councillor Clare Raffan who’ve worked tirelessly to help bring the festival back. I would also like to thank the President of the Earlwood Business Chamber George Massouridis. 

“We live in the best state in the world, and people deserve to enjoy their neighbourhoods in a cost-friendly, inclusive way whilst also supporting local jobs, boosting small businesses, and bringing our streets to life.

“I can’t wait to see Earlwood transformed into a vibrant, public space where the community can come together and celebrate.”

City of Canterbury Bankstown Mayor Bilal El-Hayek said:

“Whether you like to don your dancing shoes, sing along to great tunes or tempt your tastebuds with Mediterranean flavours, there will be something on offer for everyone at this festival.

“Come along, join in the fun and celebrate Earlwood with us.”