Category: NSW News

Schools across NSW are throwing open their gates for the public to access outdoor facilities outside of school hours every day of the week, in a trial allowing families and communities greater access to green space.

This trial, conducted in 11 schools across the state, will open up school ovals, sports courts and playgrounds for the public to use for personal and recreational use, giving people access to space that has been locked up for no reason for many years.

Participating schools include:

• Kogarah High School
• Bardwell Park Infants School
• Delegate Public School
• Hernani Public School
• Kambora Public School
• Manly West Public School
• Menindee Central School
• Roseville Public School
• Seaforth Public School
• Strathfield Girls High School
• Teralba Public School

The NSW Government’s existing shared spaces program already opens up almost 200 schools’ outdoor facilities during school holidays for public use, however, it does not permit the opening of ovals outside of school holidays.

Unlocking this extra green space outside of school hours is especially important at a time when we are encouraging more young people to get off their devices and to get active, following the introduction of mobile phone bans in schools and social media restrictions championed by the Minns Labor Government.

The shared spaces trial will also provide more critical green space and outdoor recreation as we continue to build much needed new homes and apartments for young people and families across the state.

Kogarah High School is one of the schools opening its sports field for community access as part of this trial, following a recent upgrade.

The sports field, which had been shared between the school and the public outside of school hours for decades until this was ended under the former government, has been upgraded to provide students and the community with a safer environment to learn, play and exercise in.

Fencing has been replaced on several sides of the field to improve safety and access to residents, and two new stair entrances and an access ramp and gate have been installed to improved accessibility.

The sports field will be open to the public from 4pm to 8pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to 8pm on weekends. During school holidays, it will be open to the public from 8am-8pm every day.

Upgrades on nearby Kogarah Public School are also progressing. This upgrade will include the construction of 24 new classrooms in a three-storey building, a new multipurpose hall and the removal of 10 demountable classrooms.

The upgrades are part of the NSW Government’s plan to rebuild public education, with record education funding in the 2024-25 Budget including $8.9 billion for new and upgraded schools to ensure all children in NSW have access to a world-class public education.

A full list of schools taking part in the Share Our Space program, including the trial, can be accessed here.

NSW Premier and Member for Kogarah Chris Minns said:

“I’ve never been a fan of locking up school grounds to the public. I want kids and families to be able to use the grounds outside of school hours.”

“It seems like a waste to keep hundreds of school ovals locked up at night, over the weekends and during school holidays.

“It’s why we’re throwing the gates of this public land open – it means people who live in apartments have more space to enjoy the outdoors, and kids have more options to get off their devices and play outside.

“I’m really pleased that one of the schools taking part in this trial is Kogarah High School who are also getting to enjoy an upgraded oval, with new fences, gates, stairs and an access ramp, ensuring this space is accessible to all who wish to enjoy it.

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“The new trial of the Share Our Space program will give people across the state greater access to green spaces throughout the school term.

“The upgrade to nearby Kogarah Public School is part of the Minns Labor Government’s work to rebuild public education, which includes record funding for new and upgraded schools that ensure all children have access to a high-quality public education.”

Key workers, students, cleaners, and childcare workers are all a step closer to better access to affordable housing in central Wollongong with the approval of 145 new homes including 25 affordable units.

Since the introduction of the Minns Government’s Infill Affordable Housing Bonus in late 2023, where projects can receive up to a 30 per cent increase in height or Floor Space Ratio (FSR) if they maintain at a minimum 10 per cent for affordable housing for at least 15 years, there has been a strong pipeline of projects with recent approvals in North Sydney, Rhodes and Burwood.

But Wollongong is set for a housing boost with the first project approved under the pathway outside of Greater Sydney, providing greater access to private and affordable homes alongside shops, cafes and more parking.

The project, worth nearly $70 million, will provide 145 apartments, including 25 affordable housing units, within two 10-storey buildings above a shared podium.

The mixed-use development, led by The Smith Street Development Partnership, will be built at 106 and 120-122 Smith Street and 3A Charlotte Street in Wollongong.

The affordable units will be managed by community housing provider, Evolve Housing, to make sure they remain available to low and moderate income households for the next 15 years.

The development includes ground floor commercial and retail spaces as well as parking for 185 cars, and easy access to public transport, schools, and other essential services

The project is expected to create 305 jobs during construction, with 30 ongoing jobs as part of the new retail space, once completed.

During the public exhibition period the proposal received three submissions. The concerns outlined in these submissions have been addressed through conditions of consent relating to flood management and road upgrades to support the development.

Choice and diversity are at the centre of the Minns Government’s planning reforms, choice of where you want to live, when you want to live there and the variety of services and amenities you have access to.

The development has been approved as a State Significant Development (SSD) as part of the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to delivering well-located housing close to transport, shops, and job opportunities.

Under the Infill Affordable Housing pathway, there are currently 29 projects under assessment, which if approved would deliver approximately 8,000 homes, including 2,400 affordable homes.

There have been nine affordable housing projects determined since 1 July 2024, which once constructed will deliver 2,010 homes, including 536 affordable homes.

For more information visit Shoptop housing with in-fill affordable housing Smith Street, Wollongong | Planning Portal – Department of Planning and Environment

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and Member for Wollongong Paul Scully said:

“The need for affordable housing close to transport, jobs and amenities is not just something that needs to be delivered in Sydney, cities like Wollongong need this diversity of housing stock too.

“This will help health workers, teachers and other front-line workers or low to medium income families be able to work closer to home in a modern, purpose-built development with excellent new amenities.

“The infill affordable housing bonus scheme is generating strong interest with proposals for thousands of new homes being considered across the state.

“The centre of our cities need to provide homes for a mix of people across all income levels and the Minns Government’s approach allows the delivery of affordable housing, alongside market housing, in good locations.

“The Department reviewed the application closely, in consultation with Wollongong City Council, the community and other relevant stakeholders. The approved development will see the development of a vacant site close to the Wollongong city centre to provide much-needed housing.”

The Minns Labor Government’s handpicked education head wants to eliminate school choice and abolish private education in New South Wales.
 
In extraordinary comments provided online ahead of ABC’s Australian Story last night, NSW Education Secretary Murat Dizdar openly questioned whether private schools should exist. He flagged his desire for a national debate on scrapping all non-government schools and enforcing a one-size-fits-all model of public-only education.
 
Mr Dizdar tried to recover the situation by some later comments published on the Education Department website, but did not walk away from his earlier questioning whether private schools should exist at all.
 
This is an attack on every parent in NSW who dares to make a choice about their child’s education. It is an insult to every Catholic and independent school community. And it is a betrayal of every teacher, principal and staff member working outside the public system.
 
The NSW Opposition believes in school choice—public, Catholic or independent.
 
If the Minns Labor Government truly believes in the continuation of Catholic and other private schools, it’s untenable to have as its education boss someone who wants to abolish them. His views are not merely about, say, a particular curriculum or pedagogical issue, or even as to the appropriate share of funding, but goes to the heart of the structure of the NSW education system and whether two of the three sectors should exist at all.
 
Leader of the Opposition Mark Speakman said parents in NSW work hard, pay taxes and make sacrifices to send their children to the school that best suits their values, beliefs and needs.
 
“Labor’s Education Secretary wants to take that choice away from families. That’s unacceptable and untenable,” Mr Speakman said.
 
Acting Shadow Minister for Education Justin Clancy said we back our public schools and the teachers and support staff who working tirelessly to lift up the next generation.
 
“But we also back parents. School choice is not a privilege—it’s a right. Mr Dizdar’s comments are out of step and wildly inappropriate for someone in his position. The Premier and Education Minister have handed over the education department to someone who wants to abolish private schools altogether,” Mr Clancy said.
 
This is not about pitting sectors against one another. It’s about demanding leadership that respects the diverse fabric of our education system.
 
The Minns Labor Government must decide—do they stand with parents, or with a bureaucrat ideologue who wants to abolish their rights?

Another strike. Another crisis. Another day the Minns Labor Government fails to deliver the healthcare people in NSW deserve.
 
For the first time this century, doctors are walking off the job.
 
Surgeries are being cancelled. Emergency departments are under pressure. And the Premier can’t even be bothered to meet with doctors and negotiate an outcome.
 
This comes off the back of failed negotiations with nurses, midwives, and the mass resignation of public hospital psychiatrists.
 
NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said Chris Minns is running a government of excuses, not outcomes.
 
“Chris Minns leads the Do Nothing Government — they don’t do leadership, don’t do reform, and they certainly don’t do new delivery. NSW doesn’t need another press conference. We need a government that actually does something,” Mr Speakman said.
 
Shadow Health Minister Kellie Sloane said this week, patients in NSW hospitals will pay the price for the Minns Labor Government’s industrial chaos.
 
“They will pay for it in longer waits in our EDs and cancelled surgeries. The Government has admitted that patient safety may be compromised – this is an unacceptable outcome.
 
“Doctors, nurses and psychiatrists have all say the same thing – this government isn’t listening, and it isn’t negotiating in good faith,” Ms Sloane said.
 
After two years of Labor:

• Health is breaking.
• Trains are delayed.
• Housing has stalled.
• The budget is busted.

This isn’t a government. It’s a slogan factory with no follow-through.
 
The Do Nothing Government is running out of excuses, won’t take the blame and is out of its depth.

The Australian Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation (ASMOF) has advised it will proceed with planned strike action between Tuesday and Thursday this week – in breach of the orders of the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC).

ASMOF’s strike plans will disrupt our hospitals and health facilities across NSW – both to emergency departments as well as planned surgeries – contrary to the union’s claims patient care will not be impacted.

Preparations are now urgently underway to manage impact on our patients.

Patients with surgeries postponed will be contacted.

We remind the community that if you need advice, treatment or care and it is not a life-threatening emergency, HealthDirect should be your first call on 1800 022 222.

You can continue to phone Triple Zero (000) in the event of an emergency.

We do not want this. We reinstated the independent IRC for this very reason.

The IRC allows workers to advance their claims without the limits of the wages cap the previous government imposed, without endangering the welfare and safety of the community.

This is not something the government devised on our own – unions and workers fought for it too.

And we have always said our government would accept a determination of the IRC, whether it rules in our favour or not.

I share the community’s desire to see our healthcare workers paid more – it’s why we’ve offered a 10.5 per cent multi-year wage increases (on top of the 4.5 per cent already in pockets) and sat down with unions over many years to deliver those pay increases.

This is not a union without options – it is inexplicable ASMOF would actively choose to jeopardise patient safety over resolving its claim in the IRC.

I say to ASMOF, it is not too late to return to the IRC.

The Minns Labor Government today officially opened the first new Crown cemetery in 85 years at Varroville in Sydney’s South-West.  

This followed an independent report that found that years of indecision and infighting by the previous government increased the risk that Sydney would run out of cemetery space. 

The new $125 million Macarthur Memorial Park, will help ensure future burial supply for Sydney, covering 113 hectares and providing capacity for 136,000 burial plots and over 300,000 ash interments, catering for all religious and ethnic groups. 

Premier Chris Minns and Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper joined Crown cemetery operator Catholic Cemeteries and Crematoria Limited and religious leaders at Macarthur Memorial Park prior to its opening to the public on Wednesday. 

Macarthur Memorial Park has been designed as a contemporary cemetery with the local community at heart.  It includes 35 hectares of publicly accessible parklands including six lakes and eight kilometres of walking and bike tracks available to the public during daylight hours, as well as a cafe. 

For members of the public laying loved ones to rest, Macarthur Memorial Park is primarily a lawn cemetery with areas for natural burial, cremated remains and monumental lawns. There are 20 dedicated burial areas for specific religious and ethnic groups. 

The memorial park features three chapels, called The Sanctuary, with seating for up to 500 people, and a separate function centre for a variety of family and community events with seating for 250 people. 

Development has been restricted to protect the visual landscape. There will be no headstones visible from nearby roads and screen plantings will conceal burial plots.  There are no mausoleum, crypts or crematoria on site. 

Catholic Cemeteries and Crematoria Limited will manage Macarthur Memorial Park which will remain under the ownership of the NSW Government as a Crown land cemetery. 

Premier Chris Minns said: 

“Macarthur Memorial Park is a sustainable and multi-denominational cemetery that will provide burial space to Sydney families for generations to come while also providing the local community with much needed recreation space.  

“The new Crown cemetery will ensure thousands of people can continue to lay loved ones to rest, and that we can continue to offer burial space to meet the religious and cultural needs of those for which burial is the only option.” 

Minister for Lands and Property Steve Kamper said: 

“The cemeteries sector has been in a crisis. Macarthur Memorial Park is the first crown cemetery to open in nearly a century and ensures that people of all faiths will benefit from this facility.  

“It is imperative that the people of NSW have access to sustainable and affordable burial and cremation services that are respectful of culture and faith and provided in a compassionate and accountable way. 

“The Minns Labor government has prioritised addressing the serious challenges around cemeteries and crematoria inherited from the previous government.  

“We have reformed the Crown cemetery sector and are implementing our strategy with strong consumer protections, sustainable practices to encourage new burial supply, and certainty for operators. 

Member for Leppington, Nathan Hagarty said: 

“This new Macarthur Memorial Park is a welcome addition to South-West Sydney.  

“It ensures access to culturally appropriate burial options, meeting the needs of a growing and diverse community.  

“It’s a place where families can honour their loved ones, and where locals can enjoy peaceful, open space.  

“It reflects the values of respect, inclusion, and forward planning.” 

Catholic Cemeteries and Crematoria Chief Executive Officer Lauren Hardgrove said: 

“We are delighted to provide this park for the people of NSW and look forward to the community embracing this unique facility in the Scenic Hills.” 

Thousands of NSW households are enjoying lower energy bills thanks to the strong early adoption of the Minns Labor Government’s household battery incentive, which delivers thousands of dollars off the cost of installation.

Since the incentive was launched in November, more than 7,800 batteries have been installed in homes and businesses across NSW.

By using the incentive scheme, eligible homeowners and businesses get an upfront discount on the cost of battery installation through installers working with government-accredited suppliers.

The discount amount is related to the size of the battery, meaning larger batteries attract bigger discounts. For a typical household battery with 13.5 kilowatt-hours of capacity, this is a discount of more than $2000 on average and is available for both new and existing solar systems.

A typical household with an $1850 annual electricity bill can save around $1500 per year by installing solar and a battery.

More than half of the 7,800 installations have taken place outside the Sydney Region, including 23 in the City of Broken Hill. The scheme has reached more than 90% of all Local Government Areas in NSW, with more than 600 installers taking part across the state.

The top 15 Local Government Areas for installations so far are:

Northern Beaches	402
Central Coast	337
City of Blacktown	286
City of Shoalhaven	280
Sutherland Shire	270
City of Lake Macquarie	241
City of Penrith	236
City of Wollongong	214
The Hills	208
Ku-ring-gai	178
City of Parramatta	173
City of Blue Mountains	172
Camden	166
City of Campbelltown	166
Tweed	163

With more than one-third of NSW homes now equipped with rooftop solar systems, the ability to store this solar energy in batteries for later use offers significant benefits for household budgets and energy reliability.

Households will also be able to receive an extra discount and generate revenue by signing their new and existing batteries up to a Virtual Power Plant. This will allow excess energy that households have stored in batteries to be sold back into the grid.

The household battery incentive is part of the NSW Government’s Peak Demand Reduction Scheme, reducing peak electricity demand in NSW, maintaining grid stability during periods of high electricity demand and reducing the grid’s reliance on fossil fuels.

The Minns Labor Government is delivering cost of living relief through $435 million in annual energy bill rebates, $200 million to support the roll-out of public EV charging stations and $175 million to make energy savings upgrades for 24,000 social housing homes.

Find out more information about the NSW Government’s household battery incentive program.

Premier Chris Minns said:

“More than a third of NSW homes already have rooftop solar, and now we’re helping thousands of them connect a battery so they can store the energy produced when the sun is up, and use it around the clock.

“We know there is a lot more work to do to reduce cost of living pressures but schemes like this are putting money back in people’s pockets in a way that is good for energy reliability and good for the environment.”

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Penny Sharpe said:

“NSW has set a cracking pace for battery adoption across the country, and we only see this momentum picking up.

“These installations are providing cost of living relief through lower energy bills and are making a valuable contribution to a more sustainable and secure energy system.”

The Minister for Families and Communities, Kate Washington, will travel to New Zealand this morning for four days to meet with senior child protection officials and other stakeholders, as part of the NSW Government’s continuing efforts to reform our child protection and out-of-home care (OOHC) systems.

New Zealand’s child protection system has undergone significant reform and transformation since 2017, focussed on more effective and efficient early intervention supports, and building Māori service provider capacity within their service system. The New Zealand reform journey – including its successes and stumbles – offers unique insights into the challenging road ahead for NSW.

Across the four days, Minister Washington is scheduled to visit Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, and Dunedin. She will meet with New Zealand’s Minister for Children, as well as the Independent Children’s Monitor, the Chief Social Worker, the Principal Youth Court Judge, and various child protection stakeholders and service providers, including Maori services.

Oranga Tamariki – New Zealand’s Ministry for Children will host the Minister’s official visit.

While Minister Washington is overseas, the Attorney General will act as the Minister for Families and Communities, and Minister for Disability Inclusion.  

The Minns Labor Government is delivering a massive boost to Orange’s housing market after giving the green light for 330 new homes to be built through the new Redmond Place housing precinct.

It’s the first proposal to be finalised under the Minns Government’s Social and Affordable Housing Rezoning Pathway which seeks to accelerate rezoning proposals for NSW communities in need.

The precinct will dedicate up to 20 per cent of the homes as affordable housing to make sure there are more affordable places to live, so everyone has access to a safe and secure place to call home.

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has prioritised the Redmond Place rezoning so more homes can be delivered in a shortened timeframe for those who would otherwise not be able to afford to rent privately.

Landcom will work closely with Orange City Council to deliver this new neighbourhood which will feature a variety of open space areas, parks and shared community facilities in a safe and well-connected street network.

Construction is expected to begin in early 2026.

This follows other significant changes introduced by the Minns Labor Government to deliver more new homes including by making the largest ever investment in the delivery of social and affordable housing in NSW, and undertaking the largest rezoning in NSW history.

This is all part of the Minns Labor Government’s plan to build a better NSW with a greater choice of homes, so young people, families and workers have somewhere to live in the communities they choose.

For more information, please visit https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/ppr/redmond-place-orange

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Redmond Place precinct will deliver quality affordable housing in Orange for families, essential workers and vulnerable people.

“We’re not just building 330 new homes, we’re also building a community with parks and shared infrastructure to create a place people are proud to call home.

“As the first proposal finalised under the Social and Affordable Housing Pathway this precinct is evidence that the reforms being delivered by the Minns Government are working to get more roofs over heads faster.”

Minister for Regional New South Wales Tara Moriarty said:

“The regions are again leading the way with this resilient new neighbourhood in the heart of the Central West which improves housing supply and meets local needs.

“As Orange continues to grow, so too must its housing options. Redmond Place will offer a mix of homes including single dwellings, duplexes, town houses and low-rise apartments, delivering greater choice and affordability.”

Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:

“These new planning pathways will cut red tape to fast-track the delivery of social and affordable homes for the communities that need them most.

“Everyone deserves a secure, affordable place to call home, no matter where they live. Supporting our growing regional areas means making sure more people have access to housing they can afford.”

Member for Orange Philip Donato said:

“Orange is a growing community and projects like the Redmond Place Precinct will allow it to continue to thrive.

“These 330 homes are great news for Orange and will help to keep the great Australian dream of owning a home a reality in the Central West.”

Orange Mayor Tony Mileto said:

“Redmond Place Precinct is an investment in the future of our growing region.

“Now that the project has the green light, I look forward to seeing shovels in the ground to bring this vital development to life.”

The Minns Labor Government has invested $9.74 million to transform four aging cottages into eighteen social housing units at Bellambi. The units will provide a safe, secure and affordable home for residents in the Illawarra region.

The new two-storey development quadruples the social housing originally on the site, with eight one-bedroom and 10 two-bedroom units available, including 16 car and two motorbike parking spaces. 

The new complex is just a moments’ walk to local shops, cafes, health services and transport connections including Bellambi station.

Around 44 jobs were created during construction of the building, which sits on the land of the Dharawal people. The site includes extensive landscaping and mature tree planting throughout.

The project showcases the NSW Government’s commitment to deliver more and better social and affordable housing and homelessness services across the state, thanks to the $6.6 billion Building Homes for NSW package.

Meanwhile, a People and Place Plan is currently being developed by Homes NSW to help guide future renewal of the wider Bellambi estate, which is set to be shared with the community in mid-2025.

Homes NSW has identified Bellambi as a key site for renewal due to the age of the housing in the region and the changing needs of the community who live in the area.

The planned renewal is still in the early planning stage and no social housing residents living in the Bellambi Estate are currently being asked to move, and there are no changes to current tenancy arrangements.

Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast, and Member for Keira Ryan Park said:

“I’ve been privileged to attend some of the community engagement sessions in Bellambi, and I’m heartened to see how closely Homes NSW has been collaborating with residents, I’m excited for the future of this neighbourhood.

“There is a clear and urgent need for more and better social housing in Wollongong, particularly for people living with disability and the elderly.”

NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:

“The community have been calling for more homes that work for them – that is what we are delivering. These new, modern social homes are fit-for-purpose and built to meet the needs of residents.

“This area desperately needs more accessible one and two-bedroom homes that are safe and comfortable to ensure older tenants are able to age in place with dignity.

“This renewal isn’t just about bricks and mortar, it’s about building a community. We’re increasing the supply of social and affordable homes, but also delivering the infrastructure and support that locals in the Illawarra rely on.”