Water restrictions in Greater Sydney are expected to be relaxed to Level 1 on the 1st of March as Sydney Dam levels reach 80 per cent following recent rainfall.
Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said Level 2 water restrictions will remain in place for two more weeks to reduce the demand on the water supply network and ensure water quality remains high.
“We recently experienced the biggest rain event in 20 years, which has impacted the quality of raw water in Greater Sydney’s bushfire affected catchment,” Mrs Pavey said.
“A number of initiatives are in place to ensure the water is safe for use, including extensive testing, filtration and nets to catch debris, but we are allowing an extra two weeks purely as a precautionary measure.”
“It will also give the system time to recover and on the 1st of March we expect Greater Sydney will revert back to Level 1 water restrictions, subject to water quality assessment by Water NSW and Sydney Water.”
Under Level 1 water restrictions, residents and businesses are not able to leave hoses running unattended, wash vehicles and buildings with a hose that isn’t fitted with a trigger nozzle, or use standard sprinklers and watering systems at any time.
Mrs Pavey acknowledged people have been patient and applauded their efforts to reduce the amount of water being used annually – from 200L per person per day in 2017, to 180L today.
“Despite a 26 per cent increase in population, the total demand for drinking water remains lower than it did before mandatory restrictions were introduced in late 2003,” Mrs Pavey said.
Fines will still apply for breaches of water restrictions – $220 for residential breaches and $550 for businesses. Exemptions will be available for non-residential customers with outdoor water use as their core business.
For a full list of requirements for Level 1 and 2 water restrictions visit: lovewater.sydney
Author: admin
E-PLANNING MAKING LIFE EASIER FOR HOMEOWNERS
Homeowners across the State are the biggest winners from the NSW Government’s ePlanning initiative, with new figures released today showing increased transparency and reduced DA assessment times.
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello and Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the results of the initiative reinforce the Government’s plan to mandate ePlanning this year across 42 councils in metropolitan Sydney, Illawarra, Newcastle and Central Coast.
“The initiative with 26 councils has been an overwhelming success – there’s been a 20-day reduction in assessment times where advice is needed from State agencies, 23 per cent of online DAs have been submitted outside office hours, and 1779 hours’ have been saved for councils and local residents,” Mr Dominello said.
“Councils in metropolitan Sydney, Illawarra, Newcastle and Central Coast determine more than two-thirds of all DAs lodged in NSW, accounting for approximately $39 billion in investment value for the State’s economy.”
Mr Stokes said mandating ePlanning in these councils is a key part of the Government’s program to reform the NSW planning system to improve its transparency, certainty and timeliness.
“We’re transforming the planning system by replacing an old paper-based system with a digital platform. Providing customers and councils with real-time information boosts transparency, avoids delays and provides greater visibility of development proposals,” Mr Stokes said.
The mandate will require councils to complete the following via the NSW Planning Portal:
- Commence use of all relevant digital services, including the lodgement of DAs, Complying Development Certificates (CDCs), and post-consent certificates;
- Process 100 per cent of all planning applications (DAs, CDCs and post-consent certificates);
- Appointment of principle certifying authorities and issue certificates; and
- All new digital services with go-live dates to be determined in consultation with industry and councils.
An industry reference group will be established to allow stakeholders to provide feedback on implementing the roll-out of mandatory ePlanning.
ePlanning will be mandated in the following councils:
| Blacktown | Blue Mountains | Burwood | Camden | Campbelltown | Canada Bay | |||
| Canterbury-Bankstown | Central Coast | Cessnock | City of Sydney | Cumberland | Fairfield | |||
| Georges River | Hawkesbury | Hornsby | Hunters Hill | Inner West | Kiama | |||
| Ku-ring-gai | Lake Macquarie | Lane Cove | Liverpool | Mosman | Newcastle | |||
| North Sydney | Northern Beaches | Parramatta | Penrith | Randwick | Ryde | |||
| Shellharbour | Shoalhaven | Strathfield | Sutherland | The Hills | Waverley | |||
| Willoughby |
|
Wollondilly | Wollongong | Woollahra | Bayside |
ROUGH SLEEPER STREET COUNT UNDERWAY
For the first time, the NSW Government and non-government organisations are joining forces to conduct street counts of people sleeping rough in almost 300 locations across the state.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said staff from the Department of Communities and Justice were working with homelessness services, community housing providers and local councils to undertake the counts.
“Our Government has committed to halving street sleeping by 2025 and this street count is an important step as we work towards this ambitious target,” Mr Ward said.
“We are putting together the most complete and up-to-date picture possible of the number of people sleeping rough and where we can have the greatest impact.
“These street counts will help foster local collaboration to end street sleeping and inform local approaches to prevention, housing options and post-crisis support.”
The first phase of street counts in February 2020 will provide data for most of the state, with a second phase in April 2020 in the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and Southern NSW.
CEO of Mission Australia James Toomey said the street count would provide Government and non-government organisations with important data that will help them tackle rough sleeping.
“We need to focus on the things we know work that have an evidence base behind them and by doing that in collaboration we can end street homelessness,” Mr Toomey said.
The Liberals & Nationals Government is committed to halving street sleeping across NSW by 2025 as part of its Premier’s Priorities.
NSW is part of a global movement to end street sleeping, with the Premier signing the Act to End Street Sleeping Agreement in February 2019 with the Institute of Global Homelessness, the City of Sydney and several non-government organisations.
2020 NSW 17/U Team for Nationals named
Netball NSW is delighted to announce the 12 athletes selected to represent the state at the 2020 17/U National Netball Championships in April.
This year the Nationals will take place in Hobart, Tasmania from the 18-23 April, at the city’s Netball and Sports Centre.
Teams from each state and territory will contest championships in the 17/U and 19/U age groups. Gold medal matches will be played on Thursday 23 April to decide the 2020 National Netball Champions in both divisions.
Last year NSW took home silver medals in both age groups and will be looking to go one better in 2020.
Netball NSW Head of Netball Nikki Horton said it was a very important milestone for every athlete selected.
“Nationals are one of the big benchmarks on along the Netball NSW pathway and to be selected for a state team is a huge achievement,” she said.
“Last year NSW was very competitive in reaching both the 19/U and 17/U Grand Finals and in 2020 we’ll be hoping to take the next step and bring silverware back to the state.
“I would like to commend every athlete who took part in what was a very long, and rigorous selection process, especially the athletes who have made it to the end.
“We now look forward to working with them and the coaching team as we get ready for Tasmania.”
2020 NSW 17/U Team
Amelia Kirgan (Bankstown City)
Audrey Little (Manly Warringah)
Charli Fidler (Manly Warringah)
Charlotte Smith (Sutherland Shire)
Ella Johnson (Ku-ring-gai)
Erin O’Brien (Northern Suburbs)
Jamie Podmore Taylor (Northern Suburbs)
Kyah Vaeila (Penrith District)
Millie Roach (Ku-ring-gai)
Papi Alaalatoa (Liverpool City)
Skye Gosby (Sutherland Shire)
Sophie Fawns (Wagga Wagga)
Coaches
Head Coach: Amber Cross (Wyong District)
Assistant Coach: Kath Tetley (Baulkham-Hills Shire)
Apprentice Coach: Kirstie Fuller (Gunnedah)
Manager: Jenny Gage-Traill (Northern Suburbs)
Strike Force Farview investigators appeal over 2018 death of Hunter Valley man
Police are appealing for information as they continue to investigate the suspicious death of a Hunter Valley man just over a year ago.
About 8pm on Saturday 1 December 2018, emergency services were called to a rural property in
Denman, following reports of a concern for welfare.
On arrival, officers from Hunter Valley Police District found a 71-year-old man had died. He was later formally identified as Douglas Thrift.
A post-mortem examination revealed Mr Thrift had a fatal concentration of the highly-toxic strychnine in his system. Strychnine is a restricted substance.
Detectives from Hunter Valley Police District established Strike Force Farview to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death.
Hunter Valley Police District Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Matthew Zimmer, said detectives would leave no stone unturned in this investigation.
“From all accounts, Douglas Thrift was a loving father, grandfather and husband, who really enjoyed playing sports – especially rugby union, cricket and golf – and was happiest working on his farm,” Det Insp Zimmer said.
“Strike Force Farview investigators are trying to piece together how a fatal amount of this substance came to be in his system.
“Our detectives are keen to speak with those who saw or spoke with Mr Thrift in the days leading up to his death in early December 2018.
“We’re also interested in speaking to any farmers, or other members of the public, who have found strychnine missing from their properties.”
Environment restoration rorts to be referred to Auditor General
The Greens will refer the Environment Restoration Fund and the Communities Environment Program to the Auditor General for investigation, after The Saturday Paper reported today the $100m grants were used by the Coalition for pork-barrelling.
Greens Environment Spokesperson Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said the Government’s use of the funding looks and stinks like ‘sports rorts’.
“A $100m grants program for environment restoration projects has reportedly been restricted to 25 preselected projects, most of them in key seats for the Coalition,” she said.
“Much like with sports rorts there’s been no transparency, no criteria to meet and surprise funding for grantees who didn’t even apply for a grant.
“If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck – or in this case, a rort.
“This is why I’m referring the Environment Restoration Fund and the Communities Environment program to the Auditor General for investigation.
“We need the same scrutiny from the Auditor General on this program, as he gave to the billions of taxpayer dollars handed out under the Community Sport Infrastructure grants program, exposing the rorting and bringing down a Government Minister.
“We need to hold this government accountable for their rorting of taxpayer money to keep themselves in power, but we also need to stand up for our environment which also bears the brunt of the Coalition’s incompetency.
“More money is desperately needed for environmental restoration but it needs to be going to projects that need it the most, not where the LNP is trying to hold seats at election time.”
Holden Cuts Demand Manufacturing Renaissance, Green New Deal: Greens
Australian Greens Industry Spokesperson, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, has reacted to news that General Motors will axe the Holden brand and 600 workers with it.
Senator Faruqi said:
“This should be a wakeup call to the Morrison Government. We need to urgently deliver a coherent, forward-looking clean and green industry policy, where value-adding in manufacturing takes centre stage. Hundreds of workers are set to lose their jobs within weeks.
“Workers deserve decent jobs and a just transition from old industries to the work of the future. Without well-planned support and investment from Government workers will continue to be left high and dry by corporations.
“We must foster a manufacturing renaissance in Australia with big investment from the government in green and renewable industries of the future.
“Now is the time to ensure Australia is on the path to be a renewables powerhouse, that we have a just transition from polluting fossil fuels to long term, sustainable and life-making work. A resurgence of Australian industry and manufacturing is fundamental to this new future.
“As we face the twin crises of climate emergency and economic inequality, a Green New Deal can transform our society and build a more just future for all.”
Response to Federal Court dismissal of ABC case – Govt must rule out charging journalists
Greens Spokesperson for Media and Chair of the Senate Inquiry into Press Freedoms Senator Sarah Hanson-Young responded to the Federal Court’s dismissal of the ABC’s legal challenge against the validity of police warrants used to raid its Ultimo headquarters last year:
“Today’s court ruling over the ABC raids shows our press freedom laws are broken. We need proper protection for whistleblowers and journalists so the public know what’s really happening in our names and with our taxes. We have a right to know what the Government is up to.
“The Government should come out today and rule out charging the ABC journalists, and the News Corp journalists involved in other raids. The Attorney-General should stop playing games and tell the public what’s going on and explain why they are spending taxpayers money chasing whistleblowers who simply tell the truth.
“From the Afghan Files to the Sports Rorts, it’s clear the Morrison Government is more worried about their own embarrassment than they are about our security.
“Journalism is not a crime. And speaking up when the Government is engaged in covering up wrongdoing should not make whistleblowers criminals.
“If the law won’t protect journalists then we must have legislated safeguards to guarantee the freedom of the press and whistleblower protections. These protections must be independent of the government.”
Newcastle leads the State in business confidence
The Newcastle and Lake Macquarie region has recorded the highest level of business confidence of any region in the state according to NSW Business Chamber’s quarterly snapshot of business conditions.
“The level of local business confidence in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie is trending upwards and has improved significantly since the September quarter,” Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“While Newcastle experienced a steady quarter, the Chamber recorded weakened confidence across the state, and the broader Hunter region due to ongoing drought and bushfires. Diminished household demand has weighed heavily on sentiment in both regional and metro areas.
“It’s wonderful our business community has fared well, but we do also recognise the underlying challenges that must be addressed in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie economy.
“These challenges include high levels of youth unemployment, increasing operating costs and concerns about the future profitability of businesses.”
City of Newcastle is developing a new Economic Development Strategy which will consider these challenges and propose new programs and initiatives to make our economy more resilient and competitive. Stakeholder and community input will soon to be sought for the development of the strategy.
“Newcastle has strategic economic advantages that create opportunities for our continued transformation and ongoing growth,” Cr Nelmes said.
“While the recent Business Chamber results bode well for our local economy in the year to come, we stand in support of regions across the state and Australia which have been devastatingly impacted by drought and bushfires resulting in significant decreases in economic activity and consumer confidence.”
The latest Business Chamber survey was sent to all business chambers canvassing 20,000 members across all regions of NSW and various business sizes. Respondents were asked to rate their performance across a range of indicators including profits, sales, capital spending and employment levels.
Respondents were also asked to rate the performance of the NSW economy and had an opportunity to comment on any other factors affecting the performance of their business.
COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER FOR BUSHFIRE STATE MEMORIAL
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and NSW RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons are encouraging members of the public to attend this Sunday’s NSW State Memorial for the recent bushfires.
Ms Berejiklian said the Memorial will recognise the lives lost and the sacrifices made, and show support for those directly impacted by the fires.
“This Memorial will allow the community to come together to reflect on the bushfire season, recognise the incredible efforts of all our volunteers and emergency services personnel and remember our fallen heroes, as we begin the rebuilding process,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Delta Goodrem will perform “Let It Rain”, which she penned after watching the devastation from the bushfires across Australia. All proceeds of the song are going to aid the bushfire crisis & relief efforts.
“I am honoured to be asked to perform at the State Memorial. “Let It Rain” is a message of gratitude to all the fire fighters, volunteers and everyone affected by the bushfires,” Ms Goodrem said.
The Sydney Children’s Choir and Aboriginal cultural group, Koomurri will also perform.
The State Memorial will pay tribute to the three NSW RFS firefighters, the three American firefighting aircrew, and community members who lost their lives in NSW as a result of the recent bushfires.
It will also recognise the valued contribution of firefighters from all Australian states and territories, as well as the United States, Canada and New Zealand.
“This memorial will give everyone an opportunity to reflect on one of the most devastating bushfire seasons this state has seen,” Commissioner Fitzsimmons said.
“It is a chance to reflect on the impact on the community, the lives lost and recognise the resilience of the many towns and villages that are now starting the recovery process.”
The State Memorial is open to all members of the public and will take place on Sunday, 23 February, at Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park starting at 11.30am.
Travel on public transport services to and from Olympic Park will be free for emergency services personnel in uniform as well as accompanying family members or friends. For more information visit the Memorial website.