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$1 Billion To Unlock Thousands Of Infrastructure Jobs In NSW

The Federal and State Liberal and Nationals Governments will support nearly 5,500 jobs across New South Wales through a joint $1 billion investment in shovel-ready infrastructure projects and road safety upgrades.
The funding will be allocated to three key priorities:

$240 million to fix 11 congestion hotspots around Sydney, supporting 1,000 direct and indirect jobs;
$382 million to help local councils upgrade roads across regional NSW, supporting 3,500 direct and indirect jobs; and
$398 million for road safety projects in regional areas, supporting 950 direct and indirect jobs.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said further investment in infrastructure would play a critical role in the Commonwealth’s JobMaker plan and help the New South Wales economy as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Partnering with state and territory governments to invest in more major infrastructure projects across Australia is a key part of our JobMaker plan to rebuild our economy and create more jobs,” the Prime Minister said.
“This funding injection means we have brought forward or provided additional funding of more than $2.7 billion across New South Wales in the past eight months.
“This package builds on the fast tracking of $570 million for infrastructure in New South Wales which we announced last November, locking in priority upgrades that will bust congestion, increase productivity, improve safety, and boost jobs at a time we need it most.”
The jointly funded package is supported by investments from the Commonwealth ($451 million) and New South Wales Government ($569 million).
Premier of New South Wales Gladys Berejiklian said the stimulus package would drive thousands of jobs and improve the safety and travel times of journeys in both the city and the regions.
“This stimulus package builds on NSW’s record infrastructure investment of $100 billion over 4 years, including an extra $3 billion to accelerate projects and create jobs,” the Premier said.
“Projects equal jobs and fast-tracking these infrastructure projects are more important than ever as the economy recovers from the pandemic.
“Building infrastructure will be key to our economic recovery which is why we have already accelerated a number of infrastructure projects, creating thousands of jobs.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Government had worked closely with State, Territory and Local governments to identify shovel-ready projects to help reignite the economy and get money flowing into jobs and businesses as soon as possible.
“This funding will help turbocharge the NSW Government’s Fixing Local Roads program, jointly funding $382 million of projects on a 50:50 basis on the local roads that communities use every day,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“The Fixing Local Roads package will help to repair, maintain or seal priority council roads and see projects start construction in the next 12 months, creating thousands of jobs in the bush.”
NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the first round of jointly funded projects would deliver more than 258 projects across 83 Local Government Areas.
“This is money for small projects that make a big difference in people’s everyday lives in regional NSW,” Mr Toole said.
“It means communities right across the State will see work starting on the local roads in their area as soon as next month.”
Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said the funding injection would also deliver shovel-ready, urban projects.
“We’re investing $240 million to jointly fund on a 50:50 basis a Pinch Point Program that will bust congestion for freight and bus services across Sydney’s metropolitan road network,” Mr Tudge said.
“These small-scale road improvements will make all the difference for mums and dads doing the school drop off, and people on their way home from work.
NSW Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the program was saving Sydney drivers from millions of hours spent in traffic each year.
“Since coming into government we have completed 217 projects with huge benefits across the Sydney network. These include improving safety while busting congestion,” Mr Constance said.
“We’ve already spent $579 million on the Pinch Points program, but we have seen $1.37 billion in realised benefits. It’s these smaller scale, local projects that really help to deliver those massive time savings for drivers and make our road network more efficient.
The jointly funded package is supported by investments from the Commonwealth ($451 million) and New South Wales Government ($569 million).
Commonwealth funding for the package has been drawn from the recently announced $1.5 billion allocation for priority, shovel-ready projects and targeted road safety works.
The additional NSW funding is sourced from the $3 billion Project Acceleration Fund.
The Commonwealth Government has now committed more than $35.4 billion to transport infrastructure in New South Wales.
NSW INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE
Shovel-ready projects

Project

Federal funding

Total funding

Pinch Point Program – addressing congestion impacting freight and bus services on the Sydney metropolitan road network

Bus Priority Improvements – Macquarie Park – Lane Cove Road and Waterloo Road Intersection
Bus Priority Improvements – Macquarie Park – Epping Road and Herring Road
Intersection Improvements – Showground Road and Carrington Road Intersection Upgrades
Intersection Improvements – Pacific Highway and Finlay Road
Intersection Improvements – Devlin Street, Blaxland Road and Parkes Street
Intersection Improvements – Parramatta Road and Woodville Road
Intersection Improvements – Georges River Road and Milton Street
Intersection Improvements – King Georges Road and Canterbury Road
Install Traffic Signals – Wentworth Avenue and Baker Street
Corridor Upgrades – Oxford Street (Bondi Junction)
Corridor Optimisation and Cycleway – Centennial Park to Kingsford via Doncaster Avenue

$120 million

$240 million

Fixing Local Roads – repairing, maintaining or sealing priority council roads

$191 million

$382 million

Road safety upgrades

Project	Federal funding	Total funding
Safer Roads Program – including mass action rollout of rumble strips (audio-tactile line marking)	$140 million	$398 million

Total

$451 million

$1.02 billion

COVID 19: National Cabinet Statement

The National Cabinet met today to further discuss Australia’s current COVID-19 response, easing restrictions in the coming months, helping Australians prepare to go back to work in a COVID-safe environment and getting the economy moving again.
The Chief Medical Officer, Professor Brendan Murphy, provided an update on the measures underway, the latest data and medical advice in relation to COVID-19.
Treasury Secretary, Dr Stephen Kennedy, provided an update on the labour market and current economic conditions.
There have been over 7,500 confirmed cases in Australia and sadly 104 people have died. There are now around 500 active cases in Australia, and over the past week, daily infection rates have remained low. Testing remains high, with more than 2.2 million tests undertaken in Australia.
National Cabinet discussed the localised outbreaks in Victoria and the health response underway and committed to providing as much support as is necessary. Localised response plans are part of the Three-Step Framework for easing restrictions agreed by all jurisdictions. Victoria is responding well, including with testing and tracing, and the Commonwealth and other jurisdictions stand ready to assist where needed.
National Cabinet recommitted to the strategy of suppression of COVID-19 and to the Three-Step Framework to a COVID-safe Australia.
We need to continue to have the right controls in place to test more people, trace those who test positive and respond to local outbreaks when they occur. These are Precedent Conditions to enable Australia to relax baseline restrictions and enable Australians to live and work in a COVID-safe economy.
National Cabinet thanked Professor Murphy for his work on the COVID-19 response and wished him well in his new role as Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Health.
National Cabinet will meet again on 10 July 2020.
Localised Health Response
National Cabinet discussed the outbreaks in Victoria and how best to ensure a coordinated, cross-jurisdictional response to localised health outbreaks going forward.
The National Cabinet agreed to a new plan for Australia’s Public Health Capacity and COVID-19. Under the plan developed by the AHPPC, six actions for state, territory and Commonwealth governments will improve long term sustainability of the public health workforce for the remainder of COVID‑19 and beyond by:

strengthening a formal surge plan for the public health response workforce and review the ongoing structure of the public health units;
progressing the national interoperable notifiable disease surveillance system (NINDSS) project and prioritise appropriate interfaces;
establishing a national training program for surge workforce;
better support the Communicable Disease Network of Australia (CDNA), including shared costs;
prioritising enhancing the public health physician workforce capacity; and
considering options for developing a formal public health workforce training program.

Hotel Quarantine
National Cabinet confirmed that the current hotel quarantine arrangements remain in place. In addition, National Cabinet agreed that further testing will be conducted for all those in hotel quarantine, including within the first 48 hours in quarantine and then on day 10-12 of quarantine.
Roadmap for arts and entertainment venues
National Cabinet asked AHPPC to develop a roadmap for re-opening arts and entertainment venues, in particular to enable planning for productions to commence.
This will build on the AHPPC Statement on the safe return of crowds to stadiums, arenas and large theatres. Under this plan the AHPPC advises that in Step 3, seated and ticked events may take place with crowd limits for example, stadiums with a capacity of up to 40,000 people may operate at 25 per cent seating capacity and stadiums with a capacity of greater than 40,000 people may not have more than 10,000 people. In later steps, states and territories may allow all large venues to admit larger crowds provided there is no evidence of community transmission, the event is seated and ticketed, physical distancing and other public health measures are maintained, and all public health risks are managed.
Small venues and physical distancing
National Cabinet agreed that under Step 3 of the Framework for a COVID-safe Australia and based on AHPPC advice, states and territories can allow small premises to apply a one-person, per two square-metre rule with a COVID-safe plan in place.
Federation Reform
National Cabinet today agreed that former Director-General of the Western Australian Department of Premier and Cabinet and former Commonwealth Cabinet Secretary Mr Peter Conran AM will lead the review of the former COAG Councils and Ministerial Forums with a view to rationalise and reset their work. National Cabinet also agreed to Terms of Reference for the Review which set out avenues for consultation with Commonwealth and state and territory ministers and officials.
National Cabinet agreed that Review will make recommendations on a streamlined structure, scope and reporting arrangements and on focused regulatory and policy work programs. The review will provide recommendations to National Cabinet by September 2020.
Additional Papers
National Cabinet endorsed a number of papers to enable reopening under a 3 Step Framework for a COVID Safe Australia:

AHPPC Statement on the review of physical distancing and person density restrictions including for smaller venues;
AHPPC Statement on Hotel Quarantine;
AHPPC Statement on risk management for boarding schools and school‑based residential colleges;
AHPPC Statement to update residential aged care facilities about minimising the impact of COVID-19;
AHPPC Statement on preliminary media reports of the results of a randomised trial of the use of dexamethasone;
AHPPC Statement on recent outbreaks of COVID-19 in Victoria;
AHPPC Statement on the safe return of crowds to stadiums, arenas and large theatres; and
Australian aviation industry’s protocol.

History and humpbacks on offer as Fort Scratchley reopens to the public

Immerse yourself in Newcastle’s military history and check out one of the best whale watching vantage points when Fort Scratchley reopens to the public on weekends from 4 July.
Following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, visitors will once again be able to explore the grounds of the historic Fort, which has been standing sentry over Newcastle since 1882.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said she looked forward to the site reopening.
“It’s fantastic that both locals and visitors can once again explore one of Newcastle’s most iconic landmarks and learn more about the important role Fort Scratchley played in our city’s history,” she said.
“Visitors may also be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the humpbacks currently migrating north along the coastline, with the Fort headland offering one of the city’s most spectacular vantage points for whale watching.”
Access will be granted to the outdoor areas of Fort Scratchley, allowing self-guided tours around the barracks and above-ground defence structures, while visitors can witness the time-honoured tradition of the firing the gun at 1pm on weekends.
The large grassed headland is also ideal for those wanting to enjoy a picnic or take advantage of the panoramic views of the ocean and harbour.
Capacity limits will apply for those who want to visit the museum exhibition rooms, gift shop or onsite café, while guided tours of the historic tunnels and group bookings remain temporarily suspended.
Newcastle Councillor Peta Winney-Baartz said the staged reopening of the Fort will allow visitors to access many of its unique experiences whilst ensuring the health and safety of volunteers and the public.
“While it will be wonderful to visit the Fort, I remind visitors to continue to practise physical distancing and follow the signage, floor markers and direction of the dedicated volunteers from the Fort Scratchley Historical Society, who will be monitoring capacity to ensure it remains at a safe level, ” Cr Winney-Baartz said.
Fort Scratchley will reopen from 10am to 4pm on weekends only, from Saturday, 4 July. General admission entry is free and no bookings are required.
A range of enhanced hygiene measures are being implemented at the site, including touchfree hand sanitiser stations at entry points and increased cleaning regimes during operational hours.

NSW SHOWGROUNDS GET EXTRA $10.77 MILLION FUNDING

Hundreds more shovel-ready projects to repair and renew showgrounds across the State will be supported with an additional $10.77 million in funding from the NSW Government.
Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said the extra funding is supporting a further 129 projects at 71 showgrounds as part of the government’s COVID-19 Stimulus Package.
“Last month the NSW Government allocated $12.5 million to support 393 shovel-ready projects at 137 showgrounds across the State,” Minister Pavey said.
“Today we announce a further $10.77 million will be added to the showground stimulus program to fund another 129 projects at 71 showgrounds this financial year.
“A further $12.5 million be allocated to more showground upgrade projects next financial year bringing total spending to $35.77 million.
“These stimulus investments will provide a boost for communities and their economies by supporting tradies and building material suppliers with work while strengthening showground infrastructure for the future.”
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said the funding boost would support upgrades to 129 projects across the State.
“From Bega to Ballina and Barwon to Blacktown, these projects will help to revive these valuable community assets and provide an opportunity to support local businesses right across the State during construction,” Mr Stokes said.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said as the Government moved from the response to recovery phase of the COVID pandemic these vital works would help create jobs and support communities get back on their feet.
“As a Government everything we do right now is focused on job creation to keep more people in jobs and businesses in business,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Funding for projects like this will make a real difference in our regional communities by supporting local jobs and rejuvenating showgrounds which are vital community hubs for our regional communities.”

$1 BILLION TO UNLOCK THOUSANDS OF INFRASTRUCTURE JOBS IN NSW

$240 million to fix 11 congestion hotspots around Sydney, supporting 1,000 direct and indirect jobs;
$382 million to help local councils upgrade roads across regional NSW, supporting 3,500 direct and indirect jobs; and
$398 million for road safety projects in regional areas, supporting 950 direct and indirect jobs.

NSW INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE

Shovel-ready projects
Pinch Point Program – addressing congestion impacting freight and bus services on the Sydney metropolitan road network.Federal funding: $120 million, Total funding: $240 million

Bus Priority Improvements – Macquarie Park – Lane Cove Road and Waterloo Road Intersection
Bus Priority Improvements – Macquarie Park – Epping Road and Herring Road
Intersection Improvements – Showground Road and Carrington Road Intersection Upgrades
Intersection Improvements – Pacific Highway and Finlay Road
Intersection Improvements – Devlin Street, Blaxland Road and Parkes Street
Intersection Improvements – Parramatta Road and Woodville Road
Intersection Improvements – Georges River Road and Milton Street
Intersection Improvements – King Georges Road and Canterbury Road
Install Traffic Signals – Wentworth Avenue and Baker Street
Corridor Upgrades – Oxford Street (Bondi Junction)
Corridor Optimisation and Cycleway – Centennial Park to Kingsford via Doncaster Avenue

Fixing Local Roads – repairing, maintaining or sealing priority council roads. Federal funding: $191 million, Total funding: $382 million

Road safety upgrades

Safer Roads Program – including mass action rollout of rumble strips (audio-tactile line marking). Federal funding: $140 million, Total funding: $398 million
Total – Federal funding: $451 million, Total funding: $1.02 billion

LARGEST EVER PURCHASE FOR NATIONAL PARK ESTATE

The 153,415 hectare Narriearra Station in far north west NSW is the largest purchase of private land for national parks in the State’s history.
Environment Minister Matt Kean says the purchase will help protect threatened species, important habitat and wetlands.
“Narriearra Station stretches across the outback Channel Country and includes part of the Bulloo River floodplain, ephemeral wetlands and landscapes currently not found anywhere in NSW national parks,” Mr Kean said.
“Narriearra is an important refuge for threatened wildlife, with more than 25 threatened animal species, including nearly 90 per cent of NSW’s critical habitat and breeding areas for the nationally endangered Grey Grasswren.”
Mr Kean said the acquisition secures a key section of a nationally important wetland – the Caryapundy Swamp – which can host tens of thousands of waterbirds including pelicans, straw-necked ibis, egrets and whiskered terns during inland flood events.
“Narriearra along with the nearby Sturt National Park, will create a vast near-contiguous conservation area of almost half a million hectares, or twice the size of the ACT.
“Adjoining the Pindera Downs Aboriginal Area, Narriearra contains many significant and valuable stone artefacts, tools and stone arrangements.
“The property is also linked to the ill-fated Burke and Wills expedition, with two expedition campsites on the property.
“In August last year I stated my goal to add 200,000 hectares of land to the national parks estate. I am ecstatic that, on top of 64,860 hectares already reserved, this purchase puts us on track to exceed that.”
The Minister has invited the Tibooburra Local Aboriginal Land Council to suggest a name for the new national park.

JOINING FORCES TO STOP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Call the police if you see or hear domestic violence – that’s the clear message from the NSW Government, Crime Stoppers and the NSW Police as a new joint TV advertising campaign begins on commercial networks.
Attorney General and Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence Mark Speakman said the six-week campaign comes after five women were killed in domestic violence murders across NSW in the last eight weeks.
“The brutal killings of these innocent women are just another tragic reminder of this terrible scourge – the latest victim was only 18 years old,” Mr Speakman said.
“I’m calling on the community to be a lifeline for these victims. When you know there’s an emergency happening next door which requires an urgent police response, don’t hesitate.
“Your phone call could be the difference between that woman living and that woman dying.”
Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott said the dedicated men and women in blue need the community to be their eyes and ears across our neighbourhoods.
“Police do an incredible job responding to emergencies 24/7, and domestic violence call-outs can be some of the most violent and volatile scenes they confront,” Mr Elliott said.
“But they can’t respond if they don’t know what’s happening. That’s why we’ve joined Crime Stoppers and police to ensure domestic violence is reported so police can attend, arrest perpetrators and ultimately save lives.”
Crime Stoppers CEO Peter Price AM said home should be the safest place on the planet, offering solace to families – but sadly for some, it can instead become a living nightmare.
“Our mandate is for a safer NSW, which is why we continue to deploy our resources in the best way possible to make it safer for all, irrespective of age, race, or religion,” Mr Price said.
“Crime Stoppers promotes ‘good neighbourly behaviour’, so please look after your neighbour because you never know when they might be picking up the phone to help you one day.”
NSW Police Domestic Violence Corporate Spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Mark Jones, said police respond to thousands of domestic violence incidents each year.
“Officers are responding proactively to domestic violence more than ever, with Domestic Violence Liaison Officers in every command and High Risk Offender Teams in every region holding perpetrators to account and protecting victims,” Assistant Commissioner Jones said.
“But we need the public’s help. If you know that someone is in immediate danger, if their life is being threatened, then pick up the phone immediately and report to police.”
This ad campaign builds on the NSW Government’s ongoing commitment to reduce domestic and family violence, including the recent NSW and Commonwealth investment of more than $21 million to boost frontline services in response to COVID-19.
The ads can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/user/CrimeStoppersNSW and will run across all commercial networks and their catch-up counterparts from today, as well as SBS, social media and in doctors’ surgeries across the state.
For more information about Triple Zero (000) and other reporting pathways including Crime Stoppers NSW, visit https://www.triplezero.gov.au/triple-zero/home.

‘Magic mushrooms’ and cash seized; man charged – Hunter region

A man will face court today after police allegedly located a commercial quantity of ‘magic mushrooms’ during a vehicle stop in the Hunter last month.
About 10.25pm on Friday 1 May 2020, officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District were travelling along Raymond Terrace Road, Nelson Plains, when they noticed a grey Holden Cruze parked on the side of the road in darkness.
Officers stopped and spoke with the driver – a 19-year-old man – before conducting a search of the vehicle.
Police located and seized more than 120g of psilocybin, commonly known as ‘magic mushrooms’, as well as a small amount of cannabis, drug paraphernalia and cash.
He was arrested and taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station where he was charged with supply prohibited drug larger than commercial quantity, possess prohibited drug and deal with proceeds of crime.
He was refused bail to face Newcastle Local Court on Saturday 2 May, where he was granted conditional bail to appear at Raymond Terrace Local Court today (Monday 29 June 2020).

Man charged after refusing to leave tavern, throwing rocks at police – Lake Macquarie

A man has been charged after he allegedly refused to leave a licensed premises before throwing rocks at police in Lake Macquarie yesterday.
Just before 1am (Saturday 27 June 2020), officers from Lake Macquarie Police District were called to the tavern on the Pacific Highway, Gateshead, after a man was reportedly acting disorderly and refusing to leave.
Police have been told the man initially left the premises when asked by security but returned a short time later and refused to leave.
As officers arrived, the man walked outside and as they approached him, he began swearing and throwing rocks at them.
The man attempted to encourage bystanders to assault police before fleeing when further police arrived to assist. He was pursued and arrested following a short struggle.
The 26-year-old Windale man was taken to Belmont Police Station and charged with excluded person fail to leave premises when required, excluded person re-enter/attempt to re-enter premises, resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty, and affray.
He man was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Belmont Local Court on Wednesday 29 July 2020.

Heads should roll after scathing report into environment laws

Heads should roll over the ineptitude and failure of duty identified by the Auditor-General in a scathing report into Australia’s environment laws released this afternoon, the Greens say.
Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said:
“The Auditor-General’s assessment of the government’s management of the environment and our wildlife is scathing.
“The report shows the Environment Minister and the Federal Department have failed to protect the environment and are, simply put, incompetent.
“Heads should roll over this ineptitude and failure of duty. If this was the Health Minister who had overseen the botched implementation and enforcement of health and safety regulations, they and the head of their department would get the sack. The environment should be no different.
“The PM needs to abandon his so-called fast-track environmental approvals and Labor needs to get off the unity ticket with the government. There can be no argument for weakening environmental laws when the government is this inept.
“The laws have failed to protect Australia’s environment and wildlife for far too long. Things must change. We need stronger protection, not weaker laws.
“This report shows, it’s not just incompetency, it’s a lack of care and duty that has allowed the trashing of the environment. Putting the interests of miners and developers ahead of clean water, critical habitat and the survival of our native animals.
“The government cannot guarantee that not one more hectare of critical koala habitat will be lost under their plan. They cannot guarantee that not one more sacred Aboriginal site will be blown up.
“Enough is enough. There must be accountability, and it must be at the top. Not only do our environmental laws need an overhaul but clearly so does those who are in charge of administering them.
“The 10-year review into the EPBC Act, which the PM and Minister Ley haven’t even waited for before plotting a path to further environmental destruction, will be handed to the government next week and must be immediately released.
“Australians won’t accept anything less than a response that puts our environment first, and well ahead of vested interests that pollute and destroy our precious natural places.”