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NSW BUSHFIRE RELATED UPDATES
NEW ONE-STOP SHOP CUSTOMER CARE SPECIALISTS FOR BUSH FIRE AFFECTED COMMUNITIES

• Bush fire affected families and businesses can now access all available assistance being offered by local councils, the State Government and Federal Government, through the NSW Government’s new Bush fire Customer Care program.
• The one-stop shop service, administered by Service NSW, connects affected people with a Customer Care specialist, who can check their eligibility for assistance and help them access it.
• The Customer Care specialists will operate like case managers and connect bush fire affected customers with services and support information including:
  • Accommodation advice;
  • Relevant charitable services;
  • Mental health and wellbeing services;
  • Support for businesses;
  • Clean-up services;
  • Financial assistance;
  • Insurance and legal support;
  • Replacing lost ID; and
  • Volunteer RFS and SES payments.
• To connect with a Customer Care specialist call Service NSW between 7am and 7pm on 13 77 88. The Contact Centre hours have been extended to include weekends while communities recover.

DOORS OPEN FOR $75,000 PRIMARY PRODUCER GRANT

• Primary producers affected by bush fires can now apply for a Special Disaster Grant of up to $75,000 to help pay for recovery costs.
• The Special Disaster Grant is administered through the NSW Rural Assistance Authority (RAA) and available to eligible, fire-affected primary producers within Category C declared Local Government Areas (LGAs) since 31 August 2019.
• To apply for the Special Disaster Grant visit www.raa.nsw.gov.au or call 1800 678 593 to speak to the RAA. Service NSW Service Centres are able to assist producers with information.

PROTECTING BUSHFIRE VICTIMS FROM UNLICENSED BUILDERS

• The NSW Government is taking action to protect bushfire victims from unlicensed builders performing illegal work.
• In NSW, tradespeople need a licence for any residential building work valued at more than $5,000, and all specialist work regardless of the value.
• The Government has made it easy to know whether someone is qualified or not by developing an online licence check tool, so be vigilant, verify their licence, ask for references and request a written contract for any work over $1,000.
• To check the licence of a NSW tradesperson, please visit http://bit.ly/NSWLicenceCheck.

NSW GOVERNMENT BUY REGIONAL CAMPAIGN EXPANDED TO HELP BUSH FIRE AFFECTED BUSINESSES

• Shoppers wanting to directly support businesses in towns impacted by bushfire or drought can connect with sellers via the NSW Government’s Buy Regional webpage, which is now taking new business listings after delivering substantial sales in the lead up to Christmas.
• Business owners in both bushfire and drought affected areas across regional NSW can register for free by visitingwww.nsw.gov.au/buyregional, which currently has more than 350 businesses listed and 435,000 page views.
• Buy Regional features links to charity organisations and advocate partners such as Buy from the Bush, Thankful4Farmers and One Day Closer To Rain.

BUSHFIRE DISASTER STATE MEMORIAL

• A State Memorial for those impacted by the recent bushfires to be held on Sunday, 23 February at Qudos Bank Arena at Sydney Olympic Park.
• The event will give members of the public from across NSW an opportunity to come together to recognise the lives lost, the sacrifices made and to think of those directly impacted by the fires.
• There will be a separate opportunity to formally thank volunteers and emergency services workers in the near future.

FUTURE OF SOUTH WEST SLOPES FORESTRY INDUSTRY STRONG WITH BUSH FIRE RECOVERY OPERATIONS UNDERWAY

• The SW Slopes forestry industry has begun salvage operations in burnt softwood plantations, with most of the merchantable burnt timber expected to be recoverable over the coming year.
• Salvageable pine trees need to be harvested within around 12 months, however finished product can be stored for years under the correct conditions.
• For more information please visit www.forestrycorporation.com.au.

OTHER NSW GOVERNMENT UPDATES
NSW GOVERNMENT INVESTS $42 MILLION TO LOWER IVF COSTS

• Women seeking fertility treatment can now apply for a $500 rebate under the NSW Government’s $42 million election commitment to cut costs for IVF services.
• The NSW Government is also expanding publicly supported IVF services in three public hospitals, making fertility treatment much more affordable for up to 6,000 women.
• For more information go to www.health.nsw.gov.au/affordable-ivf.

PLANS UNVEILED FOR THE FUTURE OF BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION

• Dodgy developments will be a thing of the past under NSW Government plans that will see the implementation of ratings systems for professionals in the building industry and strong new powers to prevent occupation certificates from being issued on suspect developments.
• The new rating system will help the building regulator determine who the risky players are in the industry and prevent dodgy apartments from being sold to unexpecting buyers
• The changes form part of the NSW Building Commissioner’s work plan which, for the first time, outlines publicly how the government plans to overhaul the building and construction industry in NSW under Six Reform Pillars.
• The six reform pillars cover legislation and regulations changes, ratings systems, improving skills within the industry, ensuring contracts help meet standards, digitising the industry and establishing NSW as a leader in modern construction methods.

EXPERT PANEL ANNOUNCED FOR REGIONAL ROADS RECLASSIFICATION

• The NSW Government has established an expert panel to identify up to 15,000 kilometres of council-managed roads in rural and regional areas to hand back to the state, easing the burden on local ratepayers.
• The Panel will conduct a review of the road classification framework and recommend roads for transfer to the State Government.
• The Panel is expected to meet this month and will prepare a discussion paper and consultation strategy for public release shortly afterwards.
• The draft Terms of Reference will be distributed directly to councils for their consideration and feedback.

MORE ENROLMENTS THAN EVER BEFORE IN 2020

• Public schools across the State will open their doors to the largest cohort of students ever recorded on Day 1, Term 1 this year
• Approximately 497,000 primary school students and 318,000 high school students are enrolled so far for 2020, with 71,000 alone starting kindergarten.
• The NSW Government is rolling out the largest ever investment in public education in the history of NSW, with $6.7 billion over four years to deliver 190 new and upgraded schools, $1.3 billion on school maintenance over five years and $500 million to provide schools across the State with new air conditioning.
• The Government will continue preparing for growing enrolments over the coming years, with more than 130,000 extra students expected to be in NSW public schools by 2036.

Police are continuing to see risky-driver behaviour on Day 3 of Operation Safe Return with one woman stopped twice by police and charged with successive high-range PCAs and another allegedly caught drink-driving with a child in the car.
The high-visibility policing operation began on Friday (24 January 2020) and concludes at 11.59pm tonight (Monday 27 January 2020) and is targeting drink-and-drug-driving among other poor driving behaviour.
About 6.50am (Sunday 26 January 2020), police stopped a black Toyota Aurion on James Street, Redfern and subjected the 26-year-old female driver to a roadside breath test, that returned a positive result.
The woman allegedly returned a breath analysis reading of 0.163. Police also observed three young adult passengers inside the vehicle, despite the woman holding a P1 licence.
Her licence was suspended, and she was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for high-range PCA and an infringement notice for not display P-plates.
Just before 7.30am on the same morning, police observed the 26-year-old woman driving southbound on Regent Street, Redfern. She was stopped and participated in a second roadside breath test that allegedly returned a positive result.
She was arrested and taken to Mascot Police Station where a subsequent breath analysis allegedly returned a reading of 0.153.
The woman was charged with drive with high-range PCA (second offence) and drive motor vehicle while licence suspended.
She was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on Monday 2 March 2020 for all charges.
Later in the day at 11.25am, officers attached to Traffic and Highway Patrol Command were conducting stationary road side breath testing on New South Head Road, Bellevue Hill when they stopped a 49-year-old woman driving a Range Rover SUV with a 5-year-old passenger inside.
The woman, from Potts Point, was after returning a positive result to roadside breath test. She was taken to Waverley Police Station where she underwent a breath analysis which allegedly returned a reading of 0.086.
She was issued with a Future Court Attendance Notice for mid-range PCA to appear at Waverley Local Court on Tuesday 18 February 2020.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy, reminds the public that this type of driving behaviour will not be tolerated by police.
“It is alarming to see the number of people getting behind the wheel while under the influence of alcohol, endangering not only themselves but their passengers and other people on the road.
“Do not make the mistake of pushing yourself while driving over the weekend. Know your limit, take your time, take a break and look after people around you.”
Other items of interest on day three (Sunday 26 January 2020) of Operation Safe Return include;

• Around 3.30am, police stopped a 41-year-old woman on Parkes Street in Wellington, near Dubbo, where she participated in a roadside breath test, returning a positive reading. She was arrested and taken to Wellington Police Station where a breath analysis returned a reading of 0.214. She will be issued a Court Attendance Notice and appear at Dubbo Local Court on a later date.

• At 5.30pm, a 37-year-old man was observed failing to stop at a stationary roadside breath test on Henry Lawson Drive, Georges Hall. He was stopped by police nearby on Haig Avenue and submitted to a roadside breath test that returned a positive reading. He was arrested and taken to Bankstown Police Station where a breath analysis allegedly returned a reading of 0.210. He was issued a Future Court Attendance Notice to appear at Bankstown Local Court on Thursday 27 February 2020.

• At 5.30pm, a 21-year-old man with a UK driver’s licence was stopped for a roadside breath test on Bessemer Street, Mittagong where he allegedly returned a positive result. He was taken to Southern Highlands Police Station where he allegedly returned a breath analysis reading of 0.253. He was issued a Field Court Attendance Notice for drive with high-range PCA and will appear at Moss Vale Local Court on Tuesday 3 March 2020.

Key statistics (progressive total):
Speed infringements: 3,164
Breath tests: 141,974
PCA charges: 214
Major crashes: 217
Fatalities: 2

Millions of commuters are taking advantage of contactless payments when taking trains, trams, buses and ferries across the Opal network.
Acting Minister for Transport and Roads Paul Toole said a major milestone had been reached with more than 30 million journeys taken using debit or credit cards, or linked devices, since the first trial on the Manly Ferry in 2017.
“The NSW Government is powering ahead with more innovative payment options for those using our Opal network as people continue to move away from cash, and even more recently cards,” Mr Toole said.
“We know digital wallets are becoming more common, so being able to pay a fare with a mobile phone or smart watch is just another added convenience for commuters.
“Rolling out contactless payments is an Australian-first innovation and is one of the biggest advancements in ticketing technology in generations, with around 1.5 million journeys paid for without an Opal card in an average week.”
Mr Toole said while new payment options were growing in popularity among commuters, there was still demand for pre-loaded Opal cards.
“It’s easier than ever to pay for public transport and through our innovative payment platforms we’re aiming to create more digital products including the digital Opal card which we plan to roll out in a trial phase in 2020,” Mr Toole said.
“This follows the activation of contactless payments on all public transport modes on the Opal network, and introducing the same fare and travel benefits of an Adult Opal card last year. Transport for NSW continues to offer Opal cards.”

Premier Gladys Berejiklian and NSW Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons today announced a State Memorial for those impacted by the recent bushfires to be held on Sunday, 23 February at Qudos Bank Arena at Sydney Olympic Park.
Ms Berejiklian said the event will give members of the public from across NSW an opportunity to come together to recognise the lives lost, the sacrifices made and to think of those directly impacted by the fires.
“We will pay tribute to the brave firefighters who lost their own lives protecting the lives and properties of others,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“I know that many members of the public, the RFS, and emergency services personnel will want to come together as families and communities work their way through this unbelievable loss.
“There will be a separate opportunity for us to formally thank our volunteers and emergency services workers in the near future.
“In the first instance it is important for us to acknowledge the ultimate sacrifices made and to move forward together on the path to healing and rebuilding.”
Commissioner Fitzsimmons said the service will pay special tribute to those firefighters and emergency services personnel who lost their lives.
“NSW has, and continues to face, the most difficult and dangerous bushfire season in history,” Mr Fitzsimmons said.
“While we have seen tragedy, we have also seen the best of the community, working together to help each other when it matters most.
“This is especially true for those firefighters who have worked so hard to protect communities.”
Further details about the memorial and how to attend will be available shortly.