Category: Uncategorised

Work to conserve 20 war memorials across the state will soon be undertaken following grants provided from the NSW Government’s $125,000 Community War Memorials Fund.
 
Minister for Transport, Veterans and Western Sydney David Elliott said the money, made available under Round 1 of the Community War Memorials Fund 2022/23, would be invested in the protection and repair of local war memorials.
 
“Thirty-nine applications were received from a range of organisations including RSL sub-Branches, local councils, and community committees to help support war memorials in communities across NSW,” Mr Elliott said.
 
“War memorials help local communities commemorate the sacrifice of service men and women and reflect more than 100 years of service and sacrifices made by our veterans.
 
“Grants up to $10,000 will provide a significant boost to community organisations to help ensure the presence of local war memorials in the community is secured for future generations.
 
“On Anzac Day communities gather at their local war memorials to pay respect and honour our diggers – it is vitally important these memorials are protected to ensure all generations understand and remember the sacrifices made during the war,” Mr Elliott said.
 
“Funding is being provided to assist with a range of conservation projects including condition assessments, specialist cleaning and repairs, which are all important aspects of how we manage the places of commemoration that help us acknowledge our military history.”
 
City of Wollongong RSL sub-Branch President, John Sperring, said the $10,000 received would be a significant help in the restoration work of the Wollongong Cenotaph including cleaning, repairs to sandstone and marble features, and repainting of lettering.
 
“I would like to thank the NSW Government for this funding, which will now enable the restoration to be completed ahead of the 100th anniversary of the memorial in June 2023,” Mr Sperring said.
 
Round 2 of the Community War Memorials Fund will open on Remembrance Day, 11 November, 2022 and close on 13 February 2023. Further information available here.

A woman has been charged with high range PCA near Nowra today. 

About 11.30am (Thursday 29 September 2022), officers attached to Nowra Highway Patrol received calls regarding an Audi Q5 allegedly being driven dangerously along the Princes Highway, Falls Creek.

The car was driven across a roundabout, causing all four tyres to deflate.

Three children were in the vehicle, including a three-month-old baby; they were unharmed.

The 33-year-old woman allegedly returned a positive roadside breath test. She was arrested and taken to Nowra Police Station where she subjected to a secondary breath analysis which returned an alleged reading of 0.249, almost five times the legal limit.

The Gymea Bay woman was charged with high-range PCA and suspended from driving.

She is due to appear in Nowra Local Court on Tuesday 1 November 2022.

A Minns Labor Government will boost access for mental health services for young people in New South Wales by committing $17 million to the Kids Helpline over four years to increase their capacity to respond to a rising number of calls.
 
For more than 31 years, the Kids Helpline has been at the forefront of providing digital mental health and wellbeing services for children and young people in Australia and New South Wales, and it stands apart as the publicly recognised national helpline for children and young people aged 5-25.
 
Increasing levels of demand, and increasing counselling contacts means that alternative funding has been required to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in New South Wales. In fact, there has been a 25 per cent jump in the number of people seeking mental health services compared to pre-pandemic levels.
 
Approximately 31 per cent (or 147,368) of all attempted contacts to the Kids Helpline came from children and young people based in New South Wales – approximately 404 contacts per day, or one contact every 4 minutes.
 
In 2021, counsellors provided 27,984 counselling sessions to young people based in New South Wales which was a 12 per cent increase on the number of sessions in 2020.
 
2021 also saw a 111 per cent increase (1,588 responses) in the number of emergency referrals made to ambulance, police, or child safety services in New South Wales. 44 per cent of the concerns were related to alleged child abuse, 26 per cent to suicide attempts, and 11 per cent to allegations of sexual assault.

The increased demand and counselling contacts, coupled with rising costs means that alternative funding has been required to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in New South Wales.

NSW Labor’s funding will:

• Further increase the Kids Helpline’s capacity to respond to more children and young people in New South Wales and support more young people in deeper and more meaningful ways;
• Help more children and young people across the whole of New South Wales to get help when they need it by ensuring ongoing access to Kids Helpline services, 24/7, no matter where they live;
• Strengthen the integration of Kids Helpline with local, area and state-wide services across mental health, child protection, education, employment, and other social systems in New South Wales;
• Assist appropriately qualified counsellors to obtain practical skills and capabilities needed to deliver quality mental health service by recruiting up to 28 FTE additional counsellors to respond to children and young people; and
• Build the New South Wales mental health service system’s capability to respond more rapidly to the impacts of crises on children and young people.

 
Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader said:

This R U OK day we are reminded that while it is important to check in on the mental health on those in our lives, it is also important the necessary support systems are in place and are adequately funded.
 
‘I’m really concerned about the rising mental health crisis facing children and young people in New South Wales, which has been exacerbated by COVID-19, by social media, and the constant pressures of growing up in a digital age.
 
‘The services provided by yourtown’s Kids Helpline provides New South Wales kids with invaluable support at any time of the day, when they need it most. I want to make sure they have the resources to continue to provide that essential support.’

Ryan Park, Shadow Minister for Mental Health said:
 
‘The work done by yourtown is foundational in keeping our children safe and supporting their mental health whenever they may need it.
 
‘When a child reaches out for help, we want to ensure there are always adequate services available to support them.
 
‘This R U OK day, NSW Labor are committing to putting our money where our mouth is when it comes to the mental health of children in NSW.

Better connecting communities, new targets for affordable housing and creating more jobs are front and centre in the NSW Government’s ambitious plan for the Six Cities.
 
The Six Cities Discussion Paper released today further takes forward our plan to build Australia’s only truly global city region: Lower Hunter and Greater Newcastle City, Central Coast City, Illawarra-Shoalhaven City, Western Parkland City, Central River City and Eastern Harbour City.
 
Premier Dominic Perrottet said this vision was key to building a brighter future for the people of NSW.
 
“This is a blueprint to better connect and create more liveable cities across NSW as well as providing more access to services and opening new doors for businesses to thrive,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
“This is the next step in establishing a globally competitive city region with more jobs, housing, education opportunities and lifestyle benefits, bettering the lives of everyone in the Six Cities.
 
“Our ambitious vision includes unlocking new opportunities for businesses across the Six Cities in traditional industries and also in the industries of the future such as defence technology, aerospace, medtech and renewable energy.
 
“This vision also lays the groundwork to supercharge the development of more modern and advanced manufacturing in the Six Cities which will be key to boosting economic activity and creating more skilled jobs.”
 
Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport Rob Stokes said the Sandstone City region can become a global exemplar of sustainable urban development.
 
“Housing targets need to be more ambitious to address supply challenges and I want to ensure that all new residential development on Government land includes 30 per cent social, affordable and diverse housing,” Mr Stokes said.
 
“With more migrants set to settle in the Six Cities – our plans will include targets to achieve the housing we need.
“We also have to reduce our dependence on cars and provide more safe options for people to walk or cycle. In order to achieve that we need to continue to plan and invest in the right active transport infrastructure.”
 
The Greater Cities Commission’s Discussion Paper is a starting point for a deep engagement period throughout the Six Cities, both online and in-person.
 
Following engagement on this vision, work to develop and finalise the Six Cities Region Plan will be undertaken in 2023. 
 
To read the paper and join the conversation, visit: greatercities.au.  

More than 50,000 people will flock to the brand-new Allianz Stadium for the very first time today with a free community day and night, before the biggest names in sport and entertainment kick off a spectacular opening series of events.
 
Premier Dominic Perrottet declared the state-of-the-art Stadium open with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque before the first fans made their way through the turnstiles.
 
“Today is a once-in-a-generation occasion as we open Sydney’s Allianz Stadium, a game changer for our state and another major infrastructure project delivered by our government,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
“This world-class stadium is befitting of the nation’s only truly global city and will ensure  NSW continues to attract the biggest stars in sport, music and entertainment.”
 
The Community Open Day will feature live entertainment, stadium tours and a sports zone with players from the Sydney Roosters, NSW Waratahs and Sydney FC, while the night event will include an official opening ceremony with large-scale projections, light shows and live performances from Guy Sebastian and Baker Boy.
 
Minister for Sport Alister Henskens said the Stadium will be the envy of sporting fans across the country, giving rugby league, football and rugby fans a phenomenal viewing experience.
 
“On Friday, 2 September our female athletes will create Australian sporting history, with the NRL Telstra Women’s Premiership marking the first official sporting event at the new stadium between the Sydney Roosters and St George Illawarra Dragons, before the Sydney Roosters face their oldest and fiercest rivalry, the South Sydney Rabbitohs,” Mr Henskens said.
 
“With the final piece of turf now laid and the last seats in place, the stadium has the best community and player facilities in the country, and I can’t wait for everyone to enjoy it.”
 
The 42,500 seat stadium has a 360-degree open concourse inside and outside the venue, steep seating angles providing unrivalled views of the field, and the very best Merivale food and beverage offering.
 
Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin said the new stadium will drive growth in the visitor economy and promote a strong cultural and sporting sector.
 
“Allianz Stadium will become the stage for some of the music world’s biggest stars, including pop sensation Bruno Mars, Justin Bieber and the legendary Sir Elton John,” Mr Franklin said.
 
“We’re expecting sellout after sellout in the opening months which will provide a significant boost to the NSW visitor economy.” 
 
Allianz Australia Managing Director Richard Feledy added: “As we mark ten years since Allianz’s commitment to the original Allianz Stadium, we are very proud to bring communities together again through this new world-class precinct. Now open to the public, Allianz Stadium Sydney joins the Allianz family of stadiums around the world.
 
“Allianz has been supporting Australians for over 100 years and we are thrilled to officially welcome visitors to the new Allianz Stadium to witness history, share in the electricity and create lifelong memories.”
 
More information about the new Allianz Stadium can be found online.

This week I will travel to Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste, to renew and strengthen Australia’s ties with two of our nearest neighbours.

Our relationship with Papua New Guinea is profoundly important to Australia, as a close partner and regional leader.

I will meet with Prime Minister the Hon. James Marape MP following his re-election earlier this month, as well as my counterpart, the Hon. Justin Tkatchenko MP, and other members of PNG’s new Cabinet.

I will also meet the two women newly elected to PNG’s Parliament, Central Province Governor, the Hon. Rufina Peter MP and Member for Rai Coast Open, the Hon. Kessy Sawang MP.

I look forward to hearing views from PNG’s leaders and my priority will be to ensure we are pursuing our shared ambitions on the basis of trust, open communication and mutual support.  

On Wednesday, I will travel to Timor-Leste, where I will meet President José Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister, His Excellency Taur Matan Ruak. 

I will also meet with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Her Excellency Adaljiza Magno, and Minister of Finance, His Excellency Dr Rui Augusto Gomes.

Australia and Timor-Leste are close neighbours, with a shared history and strong people-to-people links. 

As always, my approach will be to listen, and I look forward to discussing how Australia can continue to support Timor-Leste’s economic development, ASEAN and WTO bids, and labour mobility priorities.

Australia is committed to working together with both Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste in the interests of a stable, resilient and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

The Australian Government is deeply disappointed that the tenth Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) did not reach a consensus outcome, despite the urgency of the international security environment.

After four weeks of negotiations in New York, all State Parties except Russia were ready to agree to a meaningful and balanced outcome across the treaty’s three pillars: disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

Russia has deliberately obstructed progress. Its actions directly challenge core tenets of the NPT.

We condemn Russia’s ongoing unprovoked and unjustifiable war of aggression and call on Russia to immediately withdraw its forces from Ukrainian territory.

At the heart of the NPT is the goal of a world without nuclear weapons, a goal to which Australia remains deeply committed.

Australia is steadfast in our support of the NPT as the cornerstone of the global nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament regime. Irrespective of this outcome, the treaty continues to deliver tangible security benefits to us all.

We must redouble our efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons. Australia will continue to make constructive contributions and work with others to strengthen the NPT.

I thank Assistant Minister for Trade Tim Ayres for leading Australia’s delegation to the Conference earlier this month and delivering our National Statement.

Commercial fishing vessels, tourist operators and local boaters will have safer and improved access to the Tweed River following construction of a new $7.5 million boat maintenance facility.
 
Minister for Transport, Veterans and Western Sydney David Elliott said work on the new Tweed Heads facility would start later this month and once completed would be a significant boost for maritime operations as well as local and visiting boaters at the popular holiday spot.
 
“Better services, facilities and equipment will improve safety for all users while the installation of a commercial wastewater system will help protect the Tweed marine environment.
 
“The new upgrades will increase local use of the boat maintenance facility and improve community access to the river,” Mr Elliott said.
 
Member for Tweed Geoff Provest said the old slipway, which had been in operation since the 1960s, was deteriorating, had reduced lifting capacity and could only cater for a small number and range of vessels.
 
“The new facilities will be a great boost for the local community,” Mr Provest said.
 
“The boat travel lift will include a new hard stand area and an upgrade of the slipway to accommodate a 75-tonne boat travel lift, over-water lift platforms, service pontoons and an access gangway while the boat travel lift is custom-built to have an internal width of 8.4 metres.
 
“The works will involve demolishing the existing boat maintenance facility, including the slipway rails, winch and cradle and workshop before replacing them with a new office building and storage container.”
 
The upgraded boat maintenance facility is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2023. More information about the project can be found here.

Plans for a new 1.85 hectare harbourside park and a stunning new design for the Cutaway have been unveiled as part of the next stage in the NSW Government’s transformation of Barangaroo.   

Minister for Cities Rob Stokes said the park would complement the future mixed-use precinct of Central Barangaroo, and create a new public space on the edge of Sydney’s harbour.   

“What was a vacant container terminal is now a thriving residential, commercial and entertainment hub, soon to be linked to a world-class Metro line,” Mr Perrottet said.  

“The world’s best cities aren’t just liveable and workable, they’re also beautiful. The new harbour park and revamped Cutaway will be the type of public spaces that locals are proud of and visitors are drawn to. 

“To ensure this park is a unique reflection of our city, we’ve appointed a design jury chaired by Paul Keating to help us deliver Sydney’s next great public space.” 

Mr Stokes said the new harbour park and revamped Cutaway would build on the more than eight hectares of public open space and exciting programs of art and events at Barangaroo.  

“The new park will be linked to Barangaroo Reserve and make one of the world’s great harbour walks even more attractive,” Mr Stokes said.  

“Although design and construction will take time some time, we plan on using the space dedicated to the park for temporary activations and pop-ups later this year. 

“New designs for the Cutaway will elevate the venue to become one of Sydney’s premier cultural and event facilities, spanning three levels and creating a space for events, education, art and entertainment.” 

Paul Keating said the new harbour park and the updated Cutaway are opportunities to not only maintain but to enhance the value of the already thriving Barangaroo precinct. 

“In our modern world of city landscapes of redeveloped and ever changing private spaces, the key component that remains at the heart of the city’s function and beauty is the importance of our public spaces,” Mr Keating said. 

FJMT Studio have been appointed as the architects for the design of the Cutaway. 

Waitlists at 18 early childhood education services in remote, regional and metropolitan areas will be reduced, with the NSW Government committing more than $15.5 million in capital works funding.  
 
Minister for Education and Early Learning, Sarah Mitchell, said this round of Start Strong Capital Works grants will create more than 600 additional community preschool places for children to attend a preschool program at least two days per week.
  
“We want every child in NSW to have access to a quality preschool education, no matter their background or location,” Ms Mitchell said.  
  
“This funding will support a range of improvements, including new builds, extensions and renovations of centre-based community preschools.”  
  
Since 2018, the NSW Government has allocated more than $62m to deliver additional community preschool places in areas of need and demand across NSW, creating more than 1,800 additional places.
 
This is in addition to more than $15 billion in early childhood commitments announced by the NSW Government as part of the 2022-23 budget to deliver a brighter future for every child in NSW through a revolutionary transformation of early childhood education, child development and women’s economic participation over the next decade. Through the introduction of a universal pre-Kindergarten year, the Brighter Beginnings initiative, workforce package and affordable preschools  the Liberals & Nationals Government are ensuring NSW is the best state to live, work and raise a family.
 
More information about the Start Strong Capital Works grants program can be found on the Department of Education website.   
 
Successful applicants:   

1. Wycliffe Christian School  
2. Albury Preschool  
3. Tooleybuc Preschool Association  
4. CatholicCare Diocese Broken Bay (Wyoming Preschool)
5. CatholicCare Diocese Broken Bay (Noraville Preschool)
6. Bungendore Pre School  
7. Tomaree Community College  
8. Tumbarumba Start Strong Preschool  
9. IDFS – Bush Preschool  
10. Blinky Bill Early Learning Centre  
11. Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation  
12. Wollondilly Shire Council  
13. Presbyterian Social Services  
14. Shoalhaven Community Preschool  
15. Bundgeam Preschool  
16. Ross Circuit Preschool  
17. North Ryde Community Preschool  
18. Denman Children’s Centre.