16 News

Four popular Western Sydney locations have been selected to welcome the first of several shared e-scooter trials to roll out across NSW.
 
The first shared trials will begin on Saturday at three locations in Western Sydney Parklands’ Bungarribee Park, Lizard Log and Shale Hills, as well as The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan.
 
The trial parameters have been carefully considered, taking lessons from e-scooter use around the world and across the country to ensure the safest, most practical and effective measures are in place.
 
Minister for Active Transport Rob Stokes said the Government was committed to cautiously trialling the use of e-scooters in safe environments. 
 
“Like any new technology, e-scooters present us with enormous opportunities and several challenges to address before we can permanently permit them on our streets,” Mr Stokes said.
 
“This is why the NSW Government is committed to trialling them and why our parklands are the perfect location to start ahead of trials across multiple council areas.
 
“Councils can now formally apply to hold a 12-month trial with selected e-scooter shared scheme providers in their area. The trial is restricted to shared scheme e-scooters, so we can guarantee the safety parameters of each device.”
Council areas can now apply to be part of the trial and once approved can begin 12-month trials with e-scooter shared scheme providers in their area.
 
The trial will limit shared scheme e-scooters to riders 16 years old and over, limited to a maximum of 20km/h on bicycle paths, or roads with a speed limit up to 50 km/h, and a speed limit of 10km/h for shared paths.
 
E-scooters will not be permitted on footpaths and the use of privately owned e-scooters will remain prohibited.
 
“We’ve taken our time to get this trial right, which is why we’re not rushing into rolling this trial out to interested council areas immediately,” Mr Stokes said.
 
“Each shortlisted council will have to meet the requirements of the trial and undergo a safety assessment before being approved.”
 
Visitors to Western Sydney Parklands and The Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan will be able to hire an e-scooter through the provider’s app. The app will provide visitors with a map that shows where the scooters are located to pick up and ride.
 
Applications to be part of the e-scooter shared scheme trial are open until September 30 this year. You can find out more about e-scooter trials here.

More than one million people will be supported to reach their goal of being skilled and employed, as part of TAFE NSW’s ambitious new three-year plan that will help strengthen the economy’s skills base and secure a brighter future for NSW.
 
Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said the TAFE NSW Strategic Plan 2022-25 provides an industry-aligned roadmap for Australia’s largest and best training provider, to ensure it continues to deliver a skilled and agile workforce, now and into the future.
 
“This plan sets out a clear path to deliver future-focused, responsive and flexible training which is geared towards both traditional as well as new and emerging industries,” Mr Henskens said.  
 
“The plan is backed by our record $2 billion recurrent and $319 million capital investment in TAFE NSW as part of the 2022-23 NSW Budget, which will fast-track training in priority areas, including those linked to the NSW 2040 Economic Blueprint.
 
“TAFE NSW is critically important to the future of our State and the NSW Government will continue to support its teachers and staff, so that we can continue helping people get the skills they need for the jobs they want.”
 
The key elements of the plan include delivering better learner experiences, forming innovative partnerships with industry, empowering TAFE’s workforce and adopting digital technologies to improve services. 
 
TAFE NSW Managing Director Stephen Brady said the plan will help fulfil the vision for TAFE NSW as a vibrant, nation-leading training provider which delivers quality and accessible vocational education and training.
 
“The rapidly changing nature of work, our expanding digital economy and the growing demand for flexible education pathways, presents TAFE NSW with an enormous opportunity to help shape and grow the NSW economy,” Mr Brady said.
 
“The plan also highlights TAFE NSW’s critical role in alleviating social inequality for those experiencing disadvantage, including delivering on the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.”
 
More information about the TAFE NSW Strategic Plan 2022-25 can be found online.

More than ten hectares of public land near one of Sydney’s best-connected train stations will be transformed, creating a residential, entertainment and technology hub on the doorstep of the Sydney CBD.
 
Minister for Cities Rob Stokes said the draft master plan for Redfern-North Eveleigh sets a vision for affordable and diverse housing, a start-up hub and entertainment precinct within walking distance of Redfern Station.
 
“The Redfern-North Eveleigh precinct is a ten hectare parcel of inner city public land that has been off limits to the general public for more than a century and provides the perfect place for a new city-shaping precinct,” Mr Stokes said.
 
“We’re transforming the old rail yards by restoring and protecting their heritage value, building new homes and offices while creating more than 14,000 square metres of public space, including a new town square and public parkland.
 
“Just as we’ve seen at Carriageworks, this plan will celebrate Redfern’s deep indigenous connection and industrial past while creating a new precinct that accommodates people to live and work in the inner city.
 
“We’ve set a historic target of 30 per cent diverse housing, half of which must be social and affordable housing, which is triple the Greater Cities Commission’s baseline target.”
 
The draft masterplan is focused on the Paint Shop sub-precinct, named after the 135-year-old red brick Victorian workshop where trains were overhauled up until 1988.
 
Key features of the draft masterplan include:

• Adaptive reuse of the 6,000 square metre Paint Shop building.
• New public square fronting Wilson Street.
• New public parkland near Chief Mechanical Engineer’s building.
• New public square near Carriageworks and the Paint Shop.
• Plans for up to 450 new homes, around 8,000 jobs during construction and up to 16,000 jobs once activated. 
• At 30 percent diverse housing, at least half of which must be social and affordable housing.
• Building heights ranging from three to 28 storeys.

 
“The Paint Shop building provides an incredible canvas to re-imagine Redfern-North Eveleigh into a thriving place in the heart of the inner city,” Mr Stokes said.
 
“The revitalisation of the area around Redfern Station will be complemented by the upcoming plans to redevelop the area around Central Station, bookending Tech Central with two world-class precincts and transport hubs.”
 
“There will be dedicated spaces for startup businesses and better active transport connections between Redfern Station, North Eveleigh and to the bike network.”
 
The NSW Government has prepared a State Significant Precinct study and indicative masterplan for the Paint Shop Sub-Precinct which proposes to change the planning controls to guide future revitalisation. Transport for NSW is working closely with the Transport Asset Holding Entity, the site owner to deliver this transformational renewal.
 
The proposed masterplan for the Paint Shop sub-precinct is on public exhibition until Thursday 25 August. The community is encouraged to provide feedback on the proposal by visiting the Virtual Engagement Room at bit.ly/RNE-virtual-room
 
You can read more about the project here: www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/paintshop

The NSW Government has mobilised its team of veterinarians and specialist biosecurity staff, ramping up efforts to ensure farmers are in the best position to manage a possible incursion of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).  
  
Expert staff from Local Land Services (LLS) will connect with farmers through a series of targeted workshops, webinars, and visits to saleyards and field days to help farmers identify and report the early signs of both FMD and Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD).
  
Acting Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said while the focus remains on keeping these diseases out of NSW, it’s crucial to prepare for a worst-case scenario.  
  
“Our top priority is ensuring FMD and LSD never reach our shores – and we’ve been pushing hard for stronger biosecurity measures to keep our industry safe. But we do need to be prepared for the worst and that’s why we’re arming farmers with the information they need now,” Mr Toole said.
  
“Farmers can play their part by being alert for warning signs, regularly monitoring livestock and quickly reporting any suspect cases.
 
“We also have hundreds of LLS biosecurity signs available across the state for farmers to utilise and to warn people of the risks of bringing unwanted pests onto your property.”
 
Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders said with FMD and LSD on our doorstep, it’s a timely reminder for livestock producers to ensure their farm biosecurity plans are up to date.  
  
“Farm biosecurity plans are the foundation of our State’s preparedness when it comes to new animal and plant diseases,” Mr Saunders said.  
  
“These can be simple measures built into day-to-day operations that will help protect your farm and ultimately, our State.
 
“I am encouraging farmers to be overly cautious with people who come onto their properties and monitor livestock closely for blisters in and around the mouth area, drooling and limping.
 
“If livestock do exhibit any of these unusual signs, they must be reported immediately to the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888 or their Local Land Services district veterinarian.”
 
Farmers interested in learning more about FMD or LSD, or in attending an upcoming event are encouraged to visit https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/help-and-advice/pests,-weeds-and-diseases/biosecurity-alerts/foot-and-mouth-disease-and-lumpy-skin-disease for more information. 
 
These events will support ongoing surveillance by LLS district veterinarians, who regularly carry out animal disease investigations across the State. 

The NSW Productivity Commission has found keeping beneficial COVID-19 regulatory reforms would see a $3.1 billion boost to the NSW economy over the next decade.
 
Economic benefits come from increased employment flexibility, business flexibility and increased use of digital platforms.
 
Specific measures include:

• $1.9 billion from long service flexibility allowing an employer and a worker to agree to take long service leave in smaller blocks
• $450 million from electronic meetings and voting for strata schemes, community land associations and incorporated associations
• $250 million from a range of planning measures, including 24-hour retail supply chain operations, and allowing home businesses to run 24 hours a day and to employ two to five staff
• $197 million from changes to the sale of takeaway alcohol and home delivery alcohol by licensed venues
• $195 million from digital execution and certification of conveyancing documents and remote witnessing of signatures

NSW Treasurer Matt Kean said the Lessons from COVID-19 Regulatory Relaxations paper released today outlines the ongoing benefits of these reforms for the economy and will help inform future regulations.
 
“The Productivity Commission paper has confirmed that most of the temporary regulations that supported communities and businesses during the pandemic delivered valuable and immediate support and will boost the State’s productivity by $3.1 billion over the next decade,” Mr Kean said.
“Measures such as supporting businesses with more flexible retail operating hours and improving how people access long service leave have provided much needed support during the darkest days of the pandemic.
 
“I look forward to hearing from regulators, the community and business representatives about future reform opportunities.”
 
NSW Productivity Commissioner Peter Achterstraat AM said the analysis highlighted the value of trialling and testing new approaches when responding to an evolving crisis.
 
“The reforms increased flexibility such as digital execution and certification of conveyancing documents, business flexibility that allowed restaurants to prepare food for delivery, and employment flexibility that offered employees greater choice in accessing benefits,” Mr Achterstraat said.
 
“Our research found that the reforms driven by the pandemic provided significant direct benefits to the community and an ongoing boost to the economy. As we transition to living with COVID-19, our paper highlights the need for governments to continue to experiment with regulatory changes that promote new ways of working and living.”
 
The Lessons from COVID-19 Regulatory Relaxations paper can be read here: https://www.productivity.nsw.gov.au/lessons-from-covid19-regulatory-relaxations