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A re-elected NSW Liberal and Nationals Government will inject $23 million in to Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) to deliver vital new rescue equipment to help keep people safe along our coastline.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the funding would deliver additional rescue vehicles, jet skis, Emergency Response Beacons and communications upgrades right across the state.

“Our volunteer surf lifesavers are the lifeblood of our coastal communities, working tirelessly to protect people right up and down our state’s coastline,” Mr Perrottet said.

“This is the biggest investment that any state government has committed to SLSNSW in its 116-year history and will equip our volunteers with the equipment they need to continue to keep people as safe as possible.

“Importantly, these new rescue vehicles and jet skis can also be used during other natural disasters like floods, providing greater protections to communities right across the state.”

Minister for Sport Alister Henskens said the funding includes an additional $5 million for an expansion of the successful Surf Club Facilities Program.

“Surf clubs are community hubs for our coastal towns and we are doubling the size of this program so that dozens more facilities can undergo renovations and improvements,” Mr Henskens said.

Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke said the funding commitment for SLSNSW comes at a critical time.

“This summer is not over yet but we’ve already experienced record numbers of rescues and sadly drownings. This extra funding will go a long way towards ensuring our volunteers are better supported to keep our communities safer and stronger,” Ms Cooke said,

SLSNSW President George Shales said an investment in lifesavers is an investment in community safety.

I welcome today’s announcement, which is a significant increase on previous SW Government support for our thousands of volunteers and hundreds of staff. Every single dollar will make a difference to the equipment and resources our volunteers rely on, helping us to save more lives,” Mr Shales said

The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s $23 million funding commitment consists of:

• 22 new rescue vehicles and 68 new jet skis, which can also be deployed during other natural disasters like floods;
• 40 additional Emergency Response Beacons, enabling lifesavers to remotely monitor unpatrolled sections of the SW coastline;
• Additional emergency management staff permanently based in Regional NSW;
• Radio communications upgrades along the south and north coasts; and
• An additional $5 million for the Surf Club Facility Program (taking it to $15 million in total), which is administered by the Office of Sport to develop facilities that increase participation in surf life saving for all people, increase usage and improve safety.

There are 76,000 SLSNSW members, of which 21,000 are frontline volunteers who patrol 129 coastal locations every weekend and public holiday between the October long weekend and Anzac Day long weekend.

Two football fields at South Nowra will receive a major lighting boost through the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s $25 million Female Friendly Sport Facilities and Lighting Upgrades Program.

Liberal candidate for South Coast, Luke Sikora, attended the announcement which will make these fields safer and more welcoming to female athletes.

“Everyone should feel safe when they are playing sport in the community and this funding for lighting will be going to good use at South Nowra,” Mr Sikora said.

“Women’s sport is very popular and we want to encourage more participation with an investment like this into community sport.”

Minister for Sport Alister Henskens said the $339,075 boost would help Shoalhaven City Council deliver high quality floodlighting for Fields 4 and 5 at South Nowra.

“Women’s sport is booming in NSW and this program will deliver the facilities women and girls need and deserve,” Mr Henskens said.

“This groundbreaking program will level the playing field by improving facilities that for decades have been predominately used by men, but now cater for a growing number of women’s and girls’ sporting teams.”

Since 2017 the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government has committed more than $1 billion to deliver new and upgraded community sport facilities.

Member for South Coast Shelley Hancock said the facility is used by the football community throughout the year and this investment would help to boost female participation by providing a safer environment for women and girls.

“Community sport is a vital part of our social fabric and some of the biggest barriers faced by women and girls are the lack of female change rooms and amenities, as well as adequate lighting,” Mrs Hancock said.

“South Nowra Football Fields are not only heavily used throughout winter, they’re also used during summer for local football competitions. This funding boost to upgrade lighting will mean more women can play football safely at South Nowra.”

More information about the program is available online.

The historic Fernhill Estate will be transformed into one of Sydney’s great public parklands making it a central part of the NSW Government’s Western Parkland City vision.

A landmark $65 million investment, made possible by the NSW Liberals and Nationals Government’s $5 billion WestInvest Program, will transform the former private Fernhill Estate in Mulgoa into a 423 hectare public park.

The new expansive parklands will support the growth of the new Western Sydney Aerotropolis and will feature a network of paths and walking trails that will connect to the wider Mulgoa Valley, Penrith region and Blue Mountains National Park.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said this investment will secure, protect and enhance critical green space establishing a major new parkland for the people of Western Sydney – one of the youngest, fastest-growing and most diverse populations in the nation.

“We launched WestInvest to secure the best quality of life for families and make West and South West Sydney even better places to live and that is exactly what this project will do,” Mr Perrottet said.

“Parks and public spaces like this are Western Sydney’s answer to Centennial Park and Hyde Park in the east, a generational investment to leave a legacy of beautiful public spaces.

“Investments like this are only possible because of the NSW Liberal and Nationals economic plan for the future.”

The Greater Sydney Parklands will transform the former private property into an accessible public park showcasing the area’s great natural and cultural beauty. This will include:

· New and upgraded park entries for safe vehicle access into the Estate;

· A new estate drive and pedestrian promenade to allow people to walk to Fernhill House from key recreational areas;

· A network of pedestrian paths and walking trails connecting to the wider Mulgoa Valley, Penrith region and Blue Mountains National Park;

· 300m boardwalk around the Northern Dam and access for kayaks and small non-motorised watercraft;

· 1km arc of Indigenous planting in the shape of a lyrebird feather;

· A new nature-based playground and drop-off/pick-up zone for neighbouring Mulgoa Public School;

· Bush revegetation and new interpretative and wayfinding signage.

Treasurer Matt Kean said WestInvest is creating world-class public spaces for the growing Western Sydney population to enjoy now and into the future for exercise, excitement and relaxation.

“When we launched WestInvest, we asked Western Sydney residents what infrastructure projects would change their local areas for the better,” Mr Kean said. 

“The huge majority of responses said they wanted new and improved open and green space and the opportunity to explore nature through walking and cycling tracks. 

“Our WestInvest projects provide something for everyone from adventurers, to young families, to those who simply want to sit back and enjoy nature.”

Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport Rob Stokes said the funding would ensure the Western Parkland City lives up to its name.

“We’re putting the park in the heart of the parkland city. Eastern Sydney has its harbour and beaches, Parramatta has its rivers and creeks, and Western Sydney will be defined by freshwater lakes and verdant parklands,” Mr Stokes said.

“WestInvest quite literally uses a motorway to fund a greenway, delivering a legacy of parks, paths and playgrounds for Western Sydney families to enjoy.

“It wasn’t that long ago that the public were almost locked out of Fernhill Estate forever and now it’s going to be completely transformed into one of Sydney’s most-cherished public spaces.”

Fernhill Estate was purchased by the NSW Government in 2018. The upgrades and improvements as part of this investment will take place over the next five years as part of The Foundation Plan of Management to 2026.

To find out more about WestInvest, visit www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/westinvest