A multi-million dollar project to deliver the new Green Square Public School and community spaces is officially under construction as the Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell and City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore celebrated this milestone with the turning of the sod.
The new $76 million primary school co-funded by the NSW Government and City of Sydney will deliver 24 fit-for-purpose learning spaces to cater up to 600 students along with a library, canteen, and staff and administration space. It will also include a covered outdoor learning area and new out of school hours care facilities.
The project will also deliver additional community facilities and shared spaces designed for both school and community use.
Ms Mitchell said she was delighted to be at the site to celebrate the NSW Government has continued investment in public school infrastructure.
“The new Green Square Public School will meet the local demand in one of Australia’s fastest growing neighbourhoods,” Ms Mitchell said.
“I’m proud the NSW Government is delivering on our commitment to provide the best facilities to support local students in the Green Square community.
“The new primary school is an exciting project for the community and I look forward to watching as the school takes shape in the coming months.”
Ms Moore said that the school will sit at the heart of the growing Green Square community and set a new benchmark for urban development.
“This revolutionary design will provide much-needed community facilities that will be activated day and night for the whole community to use. It is an important addition to the area’s educational, social and cultural life,” the Lord Mayor said.
“By 2030, more than 60,000 people will call Green Square home. The school will serve as a lynchpin that connects our award-winning library and civic plaza, and the Gunyama Park Aquatic and Recreation Centre. By planning for the community’s needs alongside residential development, we are transforming Sydney’s oldest industrial heartland into a lively, connected and well-serviced community.”
The NSW Government is investing $8.6 billion in school infrastructure over the next four years, continuing its program to deliver 160 new and upgraded schools to support communities across NSW. This builds on the more than $9.1 billion invested in projects delivered since 2017, a program of $17.7 billion in public education infrastructure.
Hundreds of projects worth $7.8 billion in the running for WestInvest funding
Hundreds of local organisations in West and South West Sydney are now competing for a share of $1.6 billion under the WestInvest Community Project Grants – Competitive Round.
Treasurer Matt Kean said organisations from Burwood to the Blue Mountains, and Wollondilly to the Hawkesbury stepped up in numbers with ideas for city-shaping infrastructure projects.
“We’ve received an overwhelming response with almost 680 projects worth $7.8 billion submitted for assessment,” Mr Kean said.
“The majority of projects sought funding to make local communities in West and South West Sydney even better places to live with open and green spaces.”
WestInvest funding was available to Aboriginal groups, sporting groups, multicultural groups, volunteer groups and many more based in 15 eligible local council areas.
A breakdown of the applications in the WestInvest Community Project Grants – Competitive Round shows:
- Almost 680 projects have been submitted for assessment
- 325 applications related to green and open space projects
- 270 applications related to community infrastructure projects
- 180 groups applied for projects worth $1 million and under
- 296 groups applied for projects worth over $1 million and under $10 million
- 201 groups applied for projects worth over $10 million
The 15 eligible local councils also submitted 71 projects under the WestInvest Community Project Grants – Local Government Allocation, which awarded each council a share of $400 million in funding, based on population size.
Minister for Local Government Wendy Tuckerman said councils are at the heart of every community.
“WestInvest is a once-in-a-generation opportunity that will celebrate and improve local communities for generations to come,” Mrs Tuckerman said.
“The 15 local councils of Western Sydney have submitted some fantastic ideas for consideration, and I’m really looking forward to seeing some of these projects come to life, to invigorate their local precincts and facilities for their residents.”
All applications will now go through a comprehensive assessment process, with the successful projects expected to be announced in the Local Government Allocation from September and the Competitive Round later this year.
The project proposals include:
- Transforming city centres and precincts to celebrate community, food and culture;
- Creating safer cycling paths, pedestrian links and walking tracks to promote healthier lifestyles and allow more families to walk to school;
- Upgrading and modernising community facilities and libraries; and
- Building new pools, sports fields, playgrounds, youth centers, multicultural centres and leisure and fitness centres.
The $5 billion WestInvest program also includes $3 billion to deliver transformational projects that will benefit local communities, led by NSW Government agencies.
The Budget committed $478.2 million from the $3 billion fund to modernise and upgrade nine public schools. Further projects funded under the WestInvest NSW Government allocation will be announced later this year.
To find out more about WestInvest visit www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/westinvest
ABC 90TH ANNIVERSARY
It is a true honour and pleasure to come here as Prime Minister and congratulate you on your 90th anniversary.
Through nine decades, the ABC has brought us closer together as a nation.
You’ve added to our identity. You’ve added to our voice.
You’ve brought us laughter and tears.
You’ve exposed hard truths and celebrated triumphs.
You’ve brought sunshine into dark corners.
You’ve sought out the bright moments in order to share the light.
As one of the mainstays of Australian life, the ABC has woven so many great strands into the fabric of our nation.
And no one should ever diminish the sheer scale of your achievement in cementing a pair of talking bananas in our national consciousness.
Trust and truth
As the ABC has added to Australia’s collective voice, you’ve done it in part with voices we knew instinctively we could trust. Among them:
James Dibble. Geraldine Doogue. Mark Colvin. Andrew Olle. Caroline Jones. Kerry O’Brien. Liz Jackson. Chris Masters. Norman May. Alan McGilvray. Bill Peach. Richard Morecroft. Leigh Sales. Laura Tingle. Tony Jones. Fran Kelly.
I could list them all night. They have slotted perfectly into the ABC, because the ABC has never been afraid to treat issues with the seriousness they deserve.
Even the briefest rollcall of programs over the years is testament to that: Four Corners. PM. This Day Tonight. Foreign Correspondent. 7.30. And of course Lateline – which I still miss, by the way.
What they have all offered is journalism worthy of the fourth estate. Quality analysis and real reporting. Investigation determined to uncover facts and extract hard truths.
Anyone can skim a quick opinion off the top of their head in a beautifully lit echo chamber.
Not everyone can shine a light so brightly that it burns away the darkness.
Not everyone can report a truth that changes the course of events.
And certainly not everyone is still willing to devote the time and the resources that make such an essential public service possible.
The ABC does. Why? Because it matters. Truth matters. Accountability matters.
If they ever cease to matter, we’ll be left with very little that does.
Confidence in our democratic system is underpinned by strong public organisations contributing accurate information and well-informed, carefully reasoned analysis.
That has to be delivered in an atmosphere of independence, without any form of intimidation – no matter how subtly applied.
And one of those public organisations has to be the ABC.
Democracy is not something we can afford to take for granted.
As we look around the world, we see democracy under sustained attack – either through direct assault or a more insidious erosion.
A strong ABC is an insurance policy against the misinformation and disinformation chipping away at what we hold dear.
Amid the rising tide of social media, the ABC is a beacon of trust. Trust takes a long time to establish – and it takes energy to maintain.
A lifeline in disaster
It is in no small part due to that trust that the ABC has been invaluable during the pandemic. So many Australians turned to you, safe in the knowledge they could rely on the COVID-19 information you made available online.
And you were absolutely crucial during the bushfires and the floods. Commercial broadcasters and community radio have played an important role, but times of disaster have seen our treasured national institution really shine.
When mobile phone towers have been knocked out, or Telstra exchanges submerged, when the power’s gone and people are down to a handful of batteries in a radio …
… you’ve been there, ready with critical information in some very fast-moving, often desperate situations.
There have been moments when you’ve been the difference between life and death. Ponder that. There are people still alive right now because of the ABC.
Keeping the nation connected
As I crisscrossed the country during the election campaign, I was reminded again just how vast our continent is.
There’s something especially comforting about knowing that this great space is humming with voices thanks to the ABC – whether it’s TV, the internet or, especially important, local radio.
If the ABC doesn’t entirely defeat the tyranny of distance, it certainly softens it.
Just as the ABC keeps regional Australia in touch with metropolitan areas and other parts of the country, it also provides important insights from regional and remote Australia to those in the suburbs and inner cities.
There’s nothing quite like sharing our stories to stop us becoming strangers to each other.
We’ve all heard the mantras about the ABC as a haven of inner city elites, repeated with straight faces by critics based … in our inner cities.
I hope those commentators take note of the 48 regional ABC bureaus spread in a great constellation across the country, and the continued existence of Landline.
Likewise your announcement in December of 50 new journalist roles and a trial of five new mini-bureaus across regional Australia.
The ABC has one of the largest dedicated rural reporting workforces in the world. It’s all part of your commitment to being a truly national broadcaster.
Comedy and beyond
As part of our great national conversation, the ABC has also provided a great haven for comedians and satirists and purveyors of absurdity.
Sometimes it’s laughter wrapped around a great truth. Sometimes it’s just laughter.
And sometimes it feels mainly like an exercise to keep the members of the complaints unit in gainful employment.
The Gillies Report. Wendy Harmer. The Doug Anthony Allstars. Elle McFeast. The Late Show. Mad as Hell. Roy and HG. John Clarke and Bryan Dawe. The perfection of Frontline. The confronting accuracy of Utopia.
And I’ll mention my friend Andrew Denton, because he has my phone number.
The thing about the ABC is just how ubiquitous a presence it is in our memories, whether it is drama so compelling it becomes part of our dialogue, or the massive earworm that is the Majestic Fanfare. Or memories of Backchat.
Or Richard Glover’s and Peter FitzSimons’s world-record, 24-hour, one-on-one radio interview – congratulations, Richard, on getting a few words in.
The sheer electricity of Phoenix and Redfern Now.
Richard Roxburgh creating menace in a cardigan in Blue Murder.
Every minute we spent in the garden with Peter Cundall and Costas Georgiadis.
Every back road Heather Ewart has ever taken us down.
The great Energiser Bunny that is Australian Story.
Aunty Jack bringing colour to Australian TV a couple of minutes before any of the commercial stations.
Tony Armstrong reacting to the Socceroos qualifying for the World Cup.
And more reruns of Doctor Who and The Goodies than we ever really knew what to do with – except to just keep watching.
Fire up the amps
Then there’s the ABC’s many years building our national soundtrack.
I believe the fact I am a Triple J fan has been detected along the way. Even before I got into Parliament, I was campaigning for it to become a national station. A truly righteous cause.
Look at what Triple J’s Unearthed alone has achieved in discovering fresh Australian talent. You could put together a pretty solid playlist from the galaxy of Unearthed artists, from Montaigne to Thelma Plum to Gang of Youths.
Imagine the great Australian jukebox without all those voices.
Think of every time Molly Meldrum implored us all to do ourselves a favour.
Think of the night TISM hosted Rage. And for that matter, the night I hosted Rage – an absolute career highlight.
Then of course there’s your role in the birth of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. You’ve made classical music accessible to a bigger audience and strengthened its place in our nation’s cultural life.
The kids are all right
I don’t want to get on Jemima and Big Ted’s bad side, so I’d also like to talk about the powerhouse of your children’s programming.
As ABC Kids has grown into one of the nation’s most trusted babysitters, you have been capturing hearts across the globe, whether it’s Bananas in Pyjamas, the juggernaut that is the Wiggles, and, of course, Bluey.
There’s an ABC story for you. A family of dogs, one of them voiced by the lead singer from Custard, going out and conquering the world.
Bluey has the second-highest rated TV episode on the International Movie Database, beaten only by Breaking Bad.
Imagine a crossover episode. Things would have turned out better for Walter White if Bandit and Chilli had got involved.
It’s fun, but it’s also important. Without it, an important aspect of the development of cultural identity in young Australians’ formative years would be lost to a tide of imported programming.
Just as in drama, we need other voices and all the perspectives they bring, but not at the expense of our own.
It’s also important that our notion of ourselves has become broader and more inclusive – with the ABC as a driving force.
One example is Little J & Big Cuz, a great SBS and NITV-initiated kids’ show available in a host of Indigenous languages, including Warlpiri and Noongar.
A voice in region
You also help us to share our voice in the region. That was undervalued by the previous government, even trivialised. That was a mistake.
If we don’t have our voice out there – if we cut programming or drop out of shortwave frequencies – others are only too ready to fill the gap.
The ABC is a crucial part of our ongoing conversation with our regional neighbours.
That is why my Government is committed to delivering an Indo-Pacific Broadcasting Strategy that includes increased funding to the ABC to boost Australian content and to project Australian identity, values and interests to the Indo-Pacific region.
On top of every other consideration, it is a prudent investment in our security and national interest.
Amid it all, the ABC has been powered by a spirit of innovation. You were the home of some of the earliest podcasts. You jumped into social media when it was still a novelty. And where would we be without iView?
Pillar of democracy
The health of our democracy is underpinned by truth, and by the strength of our cultural identity – how we see ourselves as a people and what unifies us in all the splendour of our diversity.
A government that chooses to attack a public broadcaster does so motivated by either ideology or fear – or a toxic cocktail of the two.
No government should fear the ABC – unless it fears the truth.
A government of integrity and transparency should welcome the accountability that a strong, properly resourced public broadcaster brings.
There is little that is so at odds with who we are than an ideology that demands a tame public broadcaster, debased to the status of government mouthpiece.
The ABC must always be a public broadcaster, never a state broadcaster.
A government confident of its own ideas and principles should embrace independent questioning as crucial to the democracy it purports to uphold.
But just as the Government should welcome scrutiny from the ABC, so the ABC should welcome scrutiny from the Government. Accountability is a two-way street.
However strong our affection for the ABC, it cannot be blind. No organisation is infallible, and we can all freely admit that Aunty is no exception.
National government and national broadcaster can both share the goals of transparency, accuracy, effectiveness, diversity, and value for money.
When it comes to your money, which of course is from the taxpayers we all serve, the only condition that should be attached is accountability.
I want to take this opportunity to reiterate my Government’s vow to provide the ABC with 5-year funding terms …
… restore $83.7 million in funding to the ABC …
… and review options for delivering greater financial sustainability to safeguard against political interference.
Conclusion
I want us to be a country at home with our own identity. And a part of that is cherishing the ABC and respecting the ABC.
Our ABC.
Our celebration of your nine decades is a celebration of Australian voices, Australian culture.
Our drama. Our music.
Our struggles. Our triumphs.
Our lives. Our society. Our truth.
And just as you help us see ourselves, you let us see the rest of the world through a lens of our own making.
Put it together and it’s something we can all take pride in.
Thank you for having me. It’s always good to come to Ultimo.
I look forward to celebrating your 100th anniversary – as Prime Minister – up the road in Parramatta.
Cross-Strait tensions Taiwan
Australia is deeply concerned about the launch of ballistic missiles by China into waters around Taiwan’s coastline.
These exercises are disproportionate and destabilising.
This is a serious matter for the region, including for our close strategic partner, Japan.
Australia shares the region’s concerns about this escalating military activity, especially the risks of miscalculation.
We urge restraint and de-escalation.
It is in all our interests to have a region at peace and not in conflict. Australia does not want to see any unilateral change to the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. There is no change to Australia’s bipartisan one-China policy.
We are continuing to monitor the situation very closely, and we are talking to allies and partners.
Today I have expressed Australia’s concerns to my Chinese counterpart along with other regional foreign ministers in the East Asia Summit in Phnom Penh, and officials from my department have reiterated our concerns with the Chinese Government.
Racing to a better future
Increased prizemoney, improved job prospects, and infrastructure upgrades to bolster the racing industry will flow from renewed investment by the NSW Government.
Minister for Racing Kevin Anderson said approximately $260 million in additional funding over the next four years is being committed to the NSW racing industry as part of the 2022-23 State Budget.
“Today’s announcement is yet another example of how the NSW Government is growing the economy. There are more than 30,000 people employed in the NSW thoroughbred racing industry, and this announcement will benefit every single one of them through the flow-on effects of increased prizemoney and infrastructure upgrades,” Mr Anderson said.
“From Australia’s leading tracks like Royal Randwick and Rosehill through to regional racing centres like Muswellbrook and the Braidwood Picnic Races, every trainer, strapper, owner and connection will reap the rewards of this funding.
“This is particularly good news for our hardworking regional trainers as increased prizemoney and infrastructure upgrades means more funding to grow the industry in regional NSW.
In July 2012 Racing NSW introduced the 1.5 per cent strappers’ bonus, being the first State in Australia to do so. This bonus provides a significant reward for the industry’s lowest paid workers, letting them share in the success of their stables.
As part of today’s announcement, Racing NSW will be increasing the strappers’ bonus from 1.5 per cent to 2 per cent of prizemoney. This will see a total of $7 million in prizemoney allocated to strappers each year, providing a further incentive for trainers when recruiting staff.
The Equine Welfare Fund share of prizemoney will also increase to 1.5 per cent, totalling $5.3 million per annum to care for, retrain and rehome NSW thoroughbred racehorses.
“The benefits of this announcement will be felt right through the industry. In an Australian first, an additional share of prizemoney will be allocated for equine safety, strappers and stable staff,” Mr Anderson said.
“This is a win for the industry, a win for the animals, a win for punters, and a win for racegoers.”
Racing NSW Chairman Russell Balding AO said Racing NSW is committed to seeing the sector grow right across NSW.
“NSW country racing is the bedrock of our industry. It is important therefore that we ensure the ongoing viability of country racing and the sustainability of our country trainers,” Mr Balding AO said.
“Total prizemoney for Everest Day will now be a staggering $21.8 million dollars which far exceeds any other race meeting in Australia and cements Everest Day’s place on the International Stage of premier racing.”
The funding will be made available after increasing the point of consumption tax (POCT) to 15 per cent for all corporate betting service providers as part of the 2022-23 State Budget.
Prizemoney increases and changes in the distribution of prizemoney will come into effect from 1 September 2022.
$20 million funding boost to help victim-survivors of domestic and sexual violence
More victim-survivors of domestic and sexual violence will receive critical support thanks to a $20 million funding boost announced by the NSW Government today.
The package announced today is part of the joint $140 million commitment from the NSW Government and Commonwealth under the National Partnership on Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Responses 2021-23.
Minister for Women’s Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence Natalie Ward said this new funding will provide additional support to specialist front-line services across NSW, as well as trialling some innovative new programs.
“Over half of the funding is for services that directly assist victim-survivors, giving them the help they need to recover from their traumatic experiences and start a new chapter in their lives,” Mrs Ward said.
“One of the projects being funded is a trial to provide women with support and services so that they feel safe during court proceedings, which will ensure that more domestic and family violence matters proceed.
“A number of projects are focused on improving outcomes for Aboriginal women, either through expanding existing programs and ensuring these communities have a seat at the table in the development of future policy.”
Federal Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth thanked service providers for the work they do in supporting victim-survivors and said more will be done to boost the frontline workforce and improve access to family, domestic and sexual violence services.
“In addition to the National Partnership with states and territories, the Australian Government will generate 500 new jobs for frontline and community sector organisations to address staffing shortages in shelters and crisis support services,” Minister Rishworth said.
“This will mean better access to critical support services for victim-survivors, including in regional, rural and remote areas.
“One woman dies every ten days at the hands of her former or current partner. This is unacceptable and I’m committed to working with states and territories to end violence against women and children.”
Minister for Families and Communities Natasha Maclaren-Jones said the funding will support a range of services to help those who need it most.
“This funding will not only support providers, it will enhance early intervention programs, provide access to vital services and improve workplace training,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
The NSW Government has a strong record of supporting victim-survivors of domestic violence, committing $687 million in the 2021/22 Budget and a further $100 million in the 2022/23 Budget, towards the prevention of domestic, sexual and family violence and improving women’s safety across the community.
The initiatives funded under tranche two of the National Partnership Agreement are available here.
Rental payments and Back Home grants now open
Residents impacted by the June-July floods can now apply for rental support payments to help meet the cost of temporary accommodation, and Back Home grants to help with household repair costs.
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said the support payments can be accessed by residents in 17 local government areas (LGAs) across Greater Sydney, the Central Coast, the Hunter and the Illawarra.
“For some residents this is the fourth flood in 18 months and as a Government we have moved quickly to put these additional financial assistance programs in place,” Mr Dominello said.
“From today, impacted residents can apply on the Service NSW website or via the app, over the phone on 13 77 88 or in-person at a Recovery Centre.”
The Rental Support Scheme provides flood-impacted households with payments which cover up to 16 weeks’ rent.
The Back Home grants provide one-off payments of up to $20,000 for owner-occupiers, $15,000 for landlords and $5,000 for renters towards the cost of replacing appliances, reconnecting utilities, fixing roofs, connecting electricity and making other necessary repairs.
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the support will help people get back to their homes as quickly as possible.
“It’s vital people have a roof over their head as they recover from this devastating flooding,” Ms Cooke said.
“The June-July flood event caused damage to more than 10,700 homes across the State, with more than 1,500 assessed as uninhabitable.”
Rental support payments and Back Home grants are available in the 17 severely flood-impacted LGAs of Blacktown, Camden, Canterbury-Bankstown, Central Coast, Cessnock, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, Hornsby, Liverpool, Maitland, Mid Coast, Penrith, Port Stephens, Singleton, Sutherland, The Hills and Wollongong.
The Rental Support Scheme and Back Home grants are in addition to a series of clean-up and funding programs underway, jointly funded by the NSW and Commonwealth governments.
For eligibility information and to apply, visit: www.service.nsw.gov.au/floods/financial-assistance.
More affordable housing for the Illawarra
More than 50 new affordable housing units for the Illawarra are a big step closer to being constructed with the concrete pour taking place in Dapto this week.
Dapto’s housing project is funded through the NSW Government’s $1.1 billion Social and Affordable Housing Fund (SAHF).
In a partnership with Anglicare, the new development provides both affordable housing and wraparound supports for residents.
Minister for Families and Communities and Disability Services Natasha Maclaren-Jones said integrating new affordable housing with services ensures residents will be supported both financially and sustainably.
“Not only is the Illawarra getting a needed injection of affordable housing, we are focused on ensuring that the services are there at the same time. That means tenancies are more sustainable and people are receiving support where and when they need it,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
Minister for Finance and Employee Relations Damien Tudehope said delivering affordable housing is central to the NSW Government’s commitment to securing a brighter future for the people of NSW.
“We will continue to prioritise investment in the delivery of safe and affordable housing for people across the state,” Mr Tudehope said.
51 of the 60 single-bed units under construction will be specifically set aside for social and affordable housing.
“This new development in Dapto will ensure those who need it most will have a safe and stable place to call home,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
“This project is the perfect example of the NSW Government working hand-in-hand with a non-government organisation to deliver real outcomes for the people of our state.”
Anglicare CEO Simon Miller said the project would be integrated into an existing retirement village and support people aged over 55, and 45 for Aboriginal people.
“We all know there is a housing crisis and projects like this will help us solve it,” Mr Miller said.
“This is exactly what communities like Dapto need and we are grateful to the Government for helping us to deliver it.”
The development, due for completion in June 2023, will comprise two residential buildings along with a community building that includes a café and hairdresser.
The SAHF is a key initiative of Future Directions of Social Housing in NSW and is on track to deliver 3,486 homes across NSW.
$40 million to Get NSW Active
A greenway from Iron Cove to the Cooks River, designs for the Pippita Rail Trail connecting Lidcombe to Sydney Olympic Park and a key section of Wollongong’s 60km coastal Grand Pacific Walk are among $40 million of new projects funded though the State Government’s Get NSW Active program.
Minister for Active Transport Rob Stokes said Tranches 1 and 2 of the $110m Get NSW Active Program would deliver 55 projects right across the six cities.
“From designs to convert an unused abattoir’s rail line from 1911 into an active transport link, through to a new bike link between Randwick and Coogee Beach, the Get NSW Active program is all about funding a strong pipeline of active transport infrastructure for all of the community to enjoy,” Mr Stokes said.
“More than $40 million in funding for projects right across NSW will provide families with choice on how they’re going to get to school or work, their local park or shops or even the beach, giving them the chance to leave the car at home and leave more money in hip-pockets.
“The evidence is clear that investing in Active Transport infrastructure makes local communities happier, healthier and more productive.”
Key projects to be delivered across the six cities include:
- $600,000 to build a 2.5m wide pedestrian pathway in Clifton, delivering a key missing link of the 60km Grand Pacific walk that will increase tourism and economic growth in the Illawarra region.
- $1.14 million to construct of a new shared path along the western side of Cawdor Road between Sheathers Lane and Camden High School supporting kids to ride or walk to school safely.
- $770,000 for detailed designs of the Pippita Rail Trail project to convert an unused freight link into a 2km share cycling and walking route connecting Lidcombe Station to Sydney Olympic Park.
- $3.1 million for George Street East Pedestrian and Cyclist paths, connecting to the $19 million Alfred Street pedestrian and cyclist to the Parramatta CBD.
- $9.8 million to deliver the southern portion of the Cooks River to Iron Cove Greenway that will connect communities in Canterbury, through the inner west to the Bay Run.
From Camden to Canterbury and Hawkesbury to Haberfield, communities right across the six cities will all benefit from new pathways, cycleways and connections that encourage active transport.
Get NSW Active received 474 applications from councils across the state with the first and second of four tranches allocating funding for 55 Greater Sydney projects and a range of regional projects which will be announced in the coming weeks.
More than $200 million has already been allocated to more than 400 projects over the past five years, including Parramatta Escarpment Boardwalk, Inner West Greenway and Newcastle Light Rail Shared Path Stages 2 & 3.
A full list of the successful metropolitan applicants is available here.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEW SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INDUSTRY, SCIENCE AND RESOURCES
I am pleased to announce I have recommended the Governor-General appoint Ms Meghan Quinn PSM as the new Secretary of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources.
Ms Quinn has had a distinguished career in both the public and private sector.
In the public sector, Ms Quinn has been focussed on the Commonwealth Treasury portfolio, undertaking a number of senior roles, including as Deputy Secretary of the Markets Group, and the Macroeconomic Group. She was also central to the preparation of the Australia in the Asian Century White Paper in 2012.
She has also worked for BHP and the Bank of England.
In 2009, Ms Quinn was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service in the development of climate change policy.
Ms Quinn’s five-year appointment will commence on 22 August 2022. I congratulate her on the appointment and look forward to working with her.
APS Departments and Secretaries as at 5 August 2022
| Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet | Prof Glyn Davis AC |
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | Mr Andrew Metcalfe AO |
| Attorney-General’s Department | Ms Katherine Jones PSM |
| Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water | Mr David Fredericks PSM |
| Department of Defence | Mr Greg Moriarty |
| Department of Education | Dr Michele Bruniges AM |
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | Ms Natalie James |
| Department of Finance | Ms Jenny Wilkinson PSM |
| Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade | Ms Jan Adams AO PSM |
| Department of Health and Aged Care | Prof Brendan Murphy AC |
| Department of Home Affairs | Mr Michael Pezzullo AO |
| Department of Industry, Science and Resources | Ms Meghan Quinn PSM [from 22 August 2022] |
| Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts | Mr Jim Betts |
| Department of Social Services | Mr Ray Griggs AO CSC |
| Department of the Treasury | Dr Steven Kennedy PSM |
| Department of Veterans’ Affairs |