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The NSW Government will accept all 15 recommendations put forward by the Regional Housing Taskforce to help deliver improved housing supply and affordability in regional NSW.
 
The comprehensive suite of measures includes more homes for key workers, accelerating development assessments, and identifying options to use Government land for more social and affordable housing.
 
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the acceptance of all 15 recommendations, as well as investing $2.8 billion in housing as part of the NSW Budget, demonstrates the State Government’s commitment to addressing housing challenges.
 
“We are getting on with the job of easing housing pressures in the regions, both now and for the future,” Mr Toole said.
 
“We’ve listened to the recommendations of the Regional Housing Taskforce and put together a comprehensive, multi-pronged plan to unlock land and drive the supply of new and affordable homes. 
 
“It builds on the investment we’ve made through the NSW Budget to improve housing supply and ensure locals and key workers moving to the regions have a place to call home.”
 
Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts said regional councils will benefit from a share of $12 million to help them plan for housing that is affordable, diverse, and resilient to natural hazards.
 
“The councils can apply for up to $250,000 each through the Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund, to help them undertake the up-front planning work needed to speed up housing delivery,” Mr Roberts said.
 
“The grants will help councils deliver strategic plans, housing policies and technical studies that pave the way for new homes needed to support growing communities.
 
“Our initial $30 million Regional Housing Fund is already helping 21 regional councils in high-growth areas deliver 25 new projects to provide services, open space and connections to fast-track a pipeline of new homes.”
 
The Government’s response also includes:

• Delivering around 270 more homes for key frontline workers in the regions;
• Expanding the Urban Development Program to more high-growth regional areas, to improve infrastructure coordination and delivery;
• Improving data by auditing residential land, identifying infrastructure gaps and environmental constraints, to establish a clearer housing supply pipeline;
• Identifying opportunities to use suitable Crown land for social and affordable housing development;
• Working with local government to improve assessment timeframes for new housing through the Faster Local Assessment Grant program;
• Investigating the introduction of standardised planning pathways for certain types of temporary accommodation, to address spikes in housing demand; and
• Preparing Regional Housing Delivery Plans in targeted economic areas.

 
Councils have until 30 September 2022 to submit their applications for the Regional Housing Strategic Planning Fund.
 
For more information on the fund and to view the Government’s response to the Regional Housing Taskforce, visit https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/regional-housin

Revised guidelines to make the assessment of large-scale solar energy projects clearer have been released today by the NSW Government.
 
Treasurer and Minister for Energy Matt Kean said solar farms will play a critical role in the modern electricity system the NSW Government is building.
 
“NSW has some of the best renewable energy resources anywhere in the world,” Mr Kean said.
 
“Harnessing their power will help us deliver cleaner and cheaper electricity to households and businesses across the State, slashing energy bills and boosting industry.
 
“These guidelines will provide investors with the certainty they need to mobilise private capital and deliver the energy infrastructure of the 21^st century.”
 
Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts said the revised Large-Scale Solar Energy Guidelines would ensure solar farms are built in the right areas to benefit the community.
 
“There are 83 projects that have been approved or are in the planning pipeline, with a combined capacity to power 7 million homes,” Mr Roberts said.
 
“That’s on top of the 18 large-scale solar energy farms, worth more than $30 million, which are operational.
 
“As solar energy becomes more and more common, it’s becoming increasingly important that solar farms are well-designed and in appropriate locations.
 
“Our revised guidelines help deal with emerging concerns and issues, and assist applicants and the community to better understand the planning and engagement process – from choosing a site, to decommissioning a project and rehabilitating the land.”
 
The guidelines have been updated to include guidance on key issues, including visual impacts, the use of agricultural land and community benefit sharing. This follows changes to planning rules late last year, aimed at protecting the character and future growth potential of regional cities from renewable projects

Support and education has been delivered to more than 23,000 businesses and retailers around the state ahead of the upcoming 1 November single use plastic bans in NSW, with information delivered in 15 different languages.
 
Minister for Environment James Griffin said to ensure small businesses are primed for more changes this year, the NSW Government engaged the National Retail Association (NRA) to deliver a massive retailer education campaign.
 
“Single-use plastic is an environmental disaster, which is why we’re banning some of the most problematic plastics such as bags and straws in NSW,” Mr Griffin said.
 
“Single-use plastic items and packaging make up 60 per cent of all litter in NSW, and the bans will prevent almost 2.7 billion items of plastic litter from entering the environment in NSW over the next 20 years.
 
“These bans require businesses, many of which are in hospitality and retail, to change their supply chains, and I’m pleased to see so many have already moved away from plastic items well before the additional bans come into place in November.
 
“These single-use plastic bans are just the beginning of a major move away from plastic in NSW, and we’re making sure businesses have the information they need to stop using plastics and start using environmentally friendly options.”
 
From November, the NSW Government is banning single-use items including:

• plastic straws, stirrers, cutlery, plates, bowls and cotton buds
• food ware and cups made from expanded polystyrene
• rinse-off personal care products containing plastic microbeads.

 
This comes after lightweight single-use plastic bags were banned in NSW from 1 June.
 
On behalf of the NSW Government, the NRA has already delivered support about the single-use plastic bans to more than half of the 40,000 target businesses, and visited more than 560 retail precincts of the 650 target around the state since February.
 
Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure said the NSW Government is ensuring everyone, especially small business owners in diverse communities, are ready when the change comes into effect.
 
“Small businesses are the backbone of our state’s economy, and we want to ensure everyone knows what they need to do so they are set up for success,” Mr Coure said.
 
“We also know that many business owners in diverse areas play an integral role in helping inform their broader community about what is happening and what actions they need to take.
 
“That’s why we’re assisting business owners with in-language services about the single-use plastic bans in 15 different languages, so they know what to do and can also support their communities through this important change.”
 
Of the 15 languages materials will be available in, include Arabic, Mandarin and Punjabi.
 
The NRA has launched a free hotline (1800 844 946) to offer businesses and community organisations advice on the single-use plastic bans.
 
For more information, visit http://www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/plastics-ban

Free solar and energy upgrades will help hundreds of Aboriginal households in regional NSW communities cut bills by up to $1,300 a year.

Minister for Energy Matt Kean said the NSW Government partnered with Murdi Paaki Services and Origin Energy on two separate projects to help ease cost of living pressures for 757 Aboriginal households in the bush.

“These projects are cutting electricity bills to help Aboriginal residents from the far west to the Victoria and Queensland borders who are facing increasingly hot summers,” Mr Kean said.

“We’ve installed energy efficient upgrades including rooftop solar, air conditioning and LED lighting for people living in social housing who are vulnerable to energy bill stress.

“It’ll deliver nearly $1 million in total savings while reducing energy usage by about 4.4 gigawatt hours a year.”     

The Government invested 40 per cent of the $7.4 million cost of upgrades in the Murdi Paaki region, with Murdi Paaki Services contributing the balance.

“This will make life in these communities easier and more affordable, with households expected to save $1,300 on average per year on bills,” Mr Kean said.

Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Ben Franklin said the NSW Government will continue to reduce energy bills across the Western region. 

“These important energy efficient upgrades will significantly alleviate cost of living pressures for Aboriginal families, slashing their energy bills for years to come,” Mr Franklin said.

Murdi Paaki chief executive Ken Clarke said the project will make a real difference to the lives of Aboriginal people in 636 homes across 23 communities in western NSW.

“The benefits to our mob will include more comfortable homes with financial benefits through bill savings,” Mr Clarke said.

The State Government’s rooftop solar partnership with Origin Energy will save 121 households in remote NSW facing energy hardship an average of $1,170 a year.

It includes solar upgrades for 48 homes in Dareton and 73 in Toomelah and will deliver total estimated bill savings of more than $140,000 a year.

The Government and Origin Energy contributed $652,000 towards the cost of the systems.

The projects are the final part of the Energy Affordability Package announced in 2017 to help households save on their electricity bills through energy efficient upgrades.

Frontline services in NSW will receive a share of $6.55 million to fund specialist workers to support children and teenagers living in women’s refuges.
 
This funding forms part of the $20 million Commonwealth Government contribution toward the Domestic and Family Violence National Partnership Agreement. Through this financial boost, more than 180 specialist services will be delivered across the state.
 
Federal Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said funding services that would assist those experiencing family and domestic violence, particularly children and young people, was crucial.
 
“It is important to recognise that children and young people are victims and survivors of gender-based violence in their own right and this funding will provide direct support those children and young people,” Mrs Rishworth said.
 
“Enabling children and young people who have been impacted by family violence to maintain connections with their social supports and communities is a key focus of the Albanese Government.”
 
Minister Rishworth said recent research from ANROWS found children who have witnessed family and domestic violence are more likely to be diagnosed with a range of mental health issues, including a twofold increase in substance abuse.
 
“We know that children as victims or witnesses of intimate partner violence can be twice as likely to have a psychiatric diagnosis, emotional and behavioural difficulties, and impaired language skills at age 10 compared to children who are not exposed to this unacceptable behaviour,” Mrs Rishworth said.
 
“The Albanese Labor Government, along with our state and territory counterparts, will explore ways to reduce the impact of family and domestic violence on children.”
 
Minister for Women’s Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence Natalie Ward said this will play a pivotal role in providing services directly to children and young people who have been impacted by domestic and family violence.
 
“Our plan to help break the cycle of family violence is in action,” Mrs Ward said.
 
“This funding will enhance an important support network for children and teenagers who have experienced abuse or have themselves been victims.
 
“Specialists will provide essential crisis response and case management to those who need to navigate life’s most complicated challenges throughout their formative years.
 
“Our Government is committed to preventing abusive behaviour for this generation and the next.”
 
Minister for Families and Communities Natasha Maclaren-Jones said it is important to provide services to support young people in these refuges to give them a chance at a brighter future.
 
“When children and young people leave violent homes and relationships, we know that it is vital to intervene early, providing wrap-around services and support that give them the best opportunity to build a future where they can succeed,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
 
Around 20 service providers were awarded funding to employ specialist workers for children and young people in 2022/23.
 
Services may include, but are not limited to, assessment of needs and case management, educational support, individual and/or family counselling and social support.
 
DV West CEO Catherine Gander said the funding would help to fill a significant gap – made larger by ever increasing demands on their services.
 
“This funding means we can employ two specialist workers who are experienced in working with children who have experienced trauma,” Ms Gander said.
 
“Each child and young person who requires support will have access to a dedicated support worker who will design a tailored case plan for them. This alleviates the ongoing pressure we face daily in needing to triage our services with limited resources.
 
“DV West is committed to reducing risk to children and increasing the protective factors that support them to thrive. This funding will make an enormous difference for us, and we are both excited and relieved to see it come to fruition.”
 
For confidential advice, support and referrals, contact: 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), the NSW Domestic Violence Line (1800 65 64 63) or Men’s Referral Service (1300 766 491).