16 News

Students across NSW are getting in on action to reduce waste and cut down reliance on single-use plastics as part of a new program educating students on sustainability.

Minister for Environment James Griffin said more than 1,000 students across 21 schools are conducting audits on their school bins as part of the NSW Government’s sustainability partnership with the Environmental Zoo and Education Centre (EZEC). 

“As NSW adjusts to the single-use plastic bans, schools are the perfect environment to drive important long-term behaviour change around reducing plastics and waste,” Mr Griffin said.

“We’re committed to reducing waste and cutting our reliance on problematic single-use plastics in NSW and, through this new program, we’re asking young people to help us on this mission.

“This next generation of leaders are inspiring their friends, family and school communities to take simple actions to help reduce waste and keep NSW free from plastic.”

As part of the voluntary program, under the supervision of an expert, students create a data set at the start of the term on the type of waste their school is producing before learning how to reduce waste over two terms. 
A final waste audit is conducted at the end of the program for the students to understand the impact of their actions on the volume of waste produced by the school. 

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said we are teaching students how to better look after the environment and be more sustainable.

“We know that many of our students are passionate about environmental issues and the lessons they learn at school go beyond the school grounds to create positive change for the entire community,” Ms Mitchell said. 
“It’s why the NSW Government has invested in our $10 million Sustainable Schools NSW Program. It supports our public schools to implement curriculum linked action to reduce waste and help raise awareness of the importance of looking after our environment.”

As part of the program students are identifying ways their school can reduce waste going to landfill and increase their schools resource recovery – a lesson in the power of the circular economy. 

Holsworthy High School Year 9 student Nicholas Scott recently took part in a waste audit and said it has motivated him to think about how he can have a positive impact on the environment. 

“It’s interesting to see what ends up in the bin at school, there are items in there that wouldn’t be if we all thought more carefully,” Nicholas said.

“It’s made me think about what I’m putting in the bin, both at home and school, and how I could do more to reduce waste.”

EZEC Georges River teacher Grant Oyston said a waste audit is a unique way for students and entire school communities to grow their awareness around waste. 

“We’re encouraging everyone involved to take what they learn outside the school gates and take action in their own lives,” Mr Oyston said.

“We ask students to talk to their parents about what’s in their lunchbox to avoid it ending up in the bin and encourage parents to use alternatives to soft plastics when preparing school lunches.”

The Environment Protection Authority is investing $900,000 to support 17 Sustainability Partners like EZEC to lead projects that help reduce reliance on single-use plastics across NSW. 

For more information on these partnerships, visit https://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/working-together/partnerships-with-the-epa

Construction workers, manufacturers and factory operators across a range of industries in NSW can now renew their High Risk Work Licence online, saving them time and money and allowing them to get back to work faster.
 
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said the more than 5,300 customers who renew a High Risk Work Licence every month could do so electronically via their MyServiceNSW Account on the Service NSW website.
 
“Customers can now log in using their MyServiceNSW Account to renew their licence online. As a result of the new online renewal process, customers will be able to re-use their existing licence photo and not require a new photo every time,” Mr Dominello said.
 
“This initiative will save customers 90 minutes per renewal application by removing the need for in-person lodgement at Australia Post. This could be worth almost 100,000 hours to the economy and save customers a collective $370,000 each month.
 
“By digitising renewals for High Risk Work Licence we are saving workers time and reducing unnecessary and duplicative processes through digital investment.”
 
High Risk Work Licence holders will receive email or SMS notifications advising them they can now renew through this new digital process. 
 
In person renewals are still available as a non-digital option and customers can contact SafeWork NSW on 13 10 50 to obtain a form.
 
A High Risk Work Licence is required to be renewed every five years by SafeWork NSW to operate some machinery, work with scaffolding and undertake rigging. 
 
Customers can also add the Digital High Risk Work Licence to their Service NSW app 
which is available for all current licence holders with a MyServiceNSW account. 
More than 49,000 customers have activated Digital High Risk Work Licences since going live in June 2022.

The NSW Government’s Licensing Program has already provided digital trade licences for more than 40 licence categories with the aim of improving customer service, providing convenience and making compliance with legislation easier.
 
For more information, please visit https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/renew-high-risk-work-licence

A vast property spanning nearly 34,000 hectares has officially become a new national park, protecting a vital refuge for rare and threatened species in perpetuity.
 
Minister for Environment James Griffin said the creation of Brindingabba National Park, 175 kilometres north-west of Bourke, is part of the 602,500 hectares of land since 2019 that has been secured for conservation as part of the NSW national parks estate.
 
“The addition of Brindingabba National Park is significant because its rich biodiversity will now be protected in perpetuity, and the people of NSW will be able to experience it for themselves for generations to come,” Mr Griffin said.
 
“The new Brindingabba National Park protects an important part of Lake Wombah and more than 7,000 hectares of Yantabulla Swamp, which are nationally important wetlands.
 
“The 33,903 hectare park supports 30 different ecosystems, protecting habitat for at least 12 endangered and 31 vulnerable species, including a small carnivorous marsupial called the kultarr, pied honeyeaters, hooded robins, pink cockatoos and fat-tailed dunnart.
 
“It also protects an endangered plant called Lancewood (Acacia petraea), which is only found in two other areas in NSW, and hasn’t been previously protected in our national parks estate.
 
“This new national park is a fantastic example of how partnerships can boost our efforts to conserve biodiversity, and we’re working towards more opportunities like this.”
 
The purchase of Brindingabba Station involved a ground-breaking partnership with The Nature Conservancy Australia (TNC), with the NSW Government supported in the acquisition with a valuable contribution from TNC, which brokered contributions from charitable foundations The Wyss Foundation and artist Haley Mellin’s Art into Acres initiative. 
 
TNC’s Director of Conservation and Science Dr James Fitzsimons said the acquisition of Brindingabba is an important milestone for the conservation of the State’s unique biodiversity.
 
“Brindingabba National Park protects unique landscapes that are nationally significant,” Dr Fitzsimons said.
 
“With neighbouring privately protected areas, it creates a conservation corridor of more than 65,000 hectares.”
 
The park adjoins the 31,200 hectare Naree and Yantabulla Stations, which are private reserves that the NSW Government protected in perpetuity through its Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT) in June.
 
Situated in the Mulga Lands bioregion, this park increases the protection of one of Australia’s most poorly protected bioregions, with less than five per cent reserved.
 
Brindingabba features a diversity of ecosystems, from gidgee country and stony mulga rises, through to Mitchell Grass grasslands, Blackbox and Coolibah lined creek systems and lignum swamps.
 
Wetlands are some of the most endangered ecosystems on the planet, and this NSW Government acquisition will forever protect vital wetlands in the Cuttaburra Basin, part of the Paroo and the Warrego floodplains.
 
Located in the traditional Paroo River country of the Budjiti and Barkandji People on the NSW-Queensland border, the property has extensive Aboriginal cultural heritage, with evidence of artefacts and other items of significance across the property.
 
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) looks forward to working with the local Aboriginal community to protect these important cultural sites.
 
The park will boost the outback economy, providing an important new visitor destination as part of a strategy to help diversify regional economies.
 
NSW national parks contribute almost $18 billion in economic output for the state, delivering significant economic benefits for the regions.
 
NPWS has commenced management on the property and plans to build facilities to support opportunities to camp and explore the area.
 
It is expected the new park will open to the public before the end of 2023. Visit https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/

People across New South Wales have flocked to the Art Gallery of NSW’s new building and celebrations.
 
This week has seen more than 86,000 visits to the gallery and more than 25,000 people celebrate art and music last night for the one-night-only Art for All concert in The Domain.
 
The free concert – headlined by Grammy-nominated pop star Ellie Goulding – celebrated Sydney’s newest landmark and was the culmination of an opening program of art, music, performance and talks to mark the opening of the Art Gallery’s expansion. Playing alongside Goulding was Australian singer Meg Mac and electronic duo Electric Fields.
 
Minister for the Arts and Tourism Ben Franklin said he was thrilled to see so many people from across New South Wales embrace the most significant cultural development since the Sydney Opera House.
 
“The popularity of the expanded Art Gallery and the free opening celebrations have exceeded expectations,” Mr Franklin said.
 
“As cost of living pressures rise across the country, the NSW Government is committed to ensuring everyone can access cultural institutions and enjoy experiences through our free entry program.
 
“The Art Gallery’s expansion and celebration events have been a major visitor drawcard for Sydney, with an estimated 33,000 people visiting the Harbour City to celebrate the Gallery’s opening, injecting more than $20 million into the NSW economy.
 
“The opening of the Art Gallery’s new building is the beginning of an unrivalled calendar of world-class cultural events lined up for Sydney over summer, including Carmen on Cockatoo Island, Noel Sydney, the Australian premiere of Madagascar the Musical, ELEVATE Sydney, Sydney Festival and Sydney WorldPride, reinforcing Sydney’s position as the cultural capital of Australia.”
 
The calendar of major events for 2022/23 alone is forecast to inject more than $500 million of visitor expenditure into the NSW economy supporting the recovery of local hotels, bars, restaurants, tourism operators and small businesses.
 
Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architects SANAA, the Art Gallery’s new building doubles the space for art and provides even more incredible creative and cultural experiences for everyone to enjoy, attracting the world’s best touring exhibitions.
 
The final event in the opening program will take place tonight at 8.30pm with a drone show created by Indigenous artist Reko Rennie.

Another 122 community and not-for-profit groups will be able to host cultural celebrations in their local communities next year thanks to more funding awarded by the NSW Government. 
 
Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure said the groups had received a share of more than $1 million through the Stronger Together Festival and Events Grants program to host the events and festivals.
 
“Local streets right across our state are set to become so much brighter next year, thanks to each of the 122 local events we are funding,” Mr Coure said. 
 
“These events are important for so many reasons; they celebrate our unique diversity, they bring people together and they break down barriers, which fosters greater understanding and respect between people.”
 
Each of the community groups received grants between $5,000 and $15,000 to host cultural events and festivals between 1 February and 30 June 2023. 
 
Mr Coure said the grants program had been boosted from $500,000 to $1 million thanks to the 2022-23 NSW Budget.
 
“This year, through the Stronger Together Festivals Grants program, the NSW Liberals and Nationals have funded 283 community organisations with $2,098,329 to host events and festivals in their local areas,” Mr Coure said. 
 
“Each of these events is a reflection of the rich diversity of our communities right across the state. 
 
“This is one of the great things about our diversity here in NSW—you don’t need to travel overseas to experience the colour and vibrancy of other cultures, you can do it right here at home.” 
 
For more information about the Stronger Together Festival and Events Grants program, visit www.multicultural.nsw.gov.au

Liberal Candidates for Coogee and Vaucluse, Dr Kylie von Muenster and Kellie Sloane, are encouraging Eastern Suburbs families to participate in the upcoming consultations on the future of local public secondary education.

In early 2023, the Perrottet Government will invite the local community to have their say on a range of options that will deliver more public education choices. An independent external agency will be engaged to conduct the consultation process and canvass local views on three options:

1. Retaining single-sex education at Randwick Boys High School and Randwick Girls High Schools.

2. Retaining single sex education at Randwick Boys High School and Randwick Girls High School and extending the intake areas of existing co-educational high schools to provide families with the option of single-sex or co-education.

3. Merging Randwick Boys High School and Randwick Girls High School to create a new co-educational campus.

Dr von Muenster welcomed this consultation as it will give local families an opportunity to guide the Government’s decisions on local schooling.

“I am very excited to be running as part of the Perrottet team, as this Government has shown a real commitment to taking local views and needs into account when making important decisions,” Dr von Muenster said. “Speaking to people across the local community it becomes clear that they really appreciate opportunities to guide these choices that will have a sizeable impact on future generations.”

Ms Sloane said that getting kids into a good local school is a high priority for all parents.

“Every parent wants to see their kids start off on the right foot, and getting a good education is a critical part of that. While a lot of families make their home here because of our unique character and beautiful setting, many also move here for our great schools,” Ms Sloane said. “This consultation will allow the community to put their views forward on the best way to accommodate the schooling needs of our kids.”

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the NSW Government wants to make sure that this consultation captures the views of the whole of the Eastern Suburbs community.

“We want to engage constructively with the local school communities to ensure that we identify and plan for the best option for public secondary education in the Eastern Suburbs,” Ms Mitchell said.

“Consultation will take place throughout Term 1 in 2023, with a report to be finalised for consideration by government in mid-2023.”

The independent consultation will focus on parents, students and the wider community, with a particular emphasis on families of potential future students. It will look at short, medium and long term options to ensure the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney have strong public education options for future generations.

Member for Vaucluse Gabrielle Upton said it’s important we start consultation with parents and have a plan moving forward with one of the three options.

“This process is about securing the future of public secondary education in the Eastern Suburbs and making sure that local families always have access to a high quality public education options.

“I look forward to working with our school communities during this process when consultation gets underway early next year.”

Based on the current population projections, local schools are able to accommodate current and future student demand through utilisation of existing schools. However, the Department will continue to explore opportunities to future-proof the provision of public secondary education in the Eastern Suburbs.