Category: NSW News

Construction will soon begin on the Western Sydney Metro, with seven station locations confirmed today – a project that will slash travel times between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD down to around 20 minutes.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said construction work will begin next year, commencing at the Bays Precinct, to prepare the site for major tunnelling works.
“The Western Sydney Metro will fundamentally change how we get around our city for generations to come, connecting Greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD with fast, safe and reliable metro rail,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We’ve successfully delivered the North West Metro Line early and $1 billion under budget, the next line from Chatswood to Sydnenham and Bankstown is on track to open in 2024, and now the next Metro project is underway.”
The first works in the Bays Precinct will include site surveys, investigations and early works such as road relocation.
The locations of seven proposed Metro stations have been confirmed at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock and the Bays Precinct.
The NSW Government will also fast-track work to investigate the feasibility of building a Metro station in Pyrmont, while also assessing a potential station at Rydalmere. Further work is also underway to determine the location of the new Metro station in the Sydney CBD.
The project team has today started informing affected property owners and tenants. The preference is always to reach a commercial agreement, with compulsory acquisition a last resort.
Minister for Transport Andrew Constance said the project team has been talking to communities along the alignment since 2016. Details of the exact station locations are now available on the Sydney Metro website.
“Western Sydney Metro will more than double the existing rail capacity between Greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD and slash travel times between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD to around 20 minutes,” Mr Constance said.
With the T1 Western Line and the T9 Northern Line expected to reach capacity within the next decade, the NSW Government’s commitment to fund this project ensures that tomorrow’s Sydney has the infrastructure it needs to keep moving.
“In addition to becoming the easiest and fastest way to travel between these two cities, the project is also anticipated to create approximately 10,000 direct and 70,000 indirect jobs,” Mr Constance said.
At Parramatta, the new Metro station will serve the commercial core of the Parramatta CBD to the north of the existing train station.
Sydney Olympic Park, which is visited by more than 10 million people each year, will also get a second railway station within walking distance of ANZ Stadium in the heart of the growing town centre, reinforcing its status as Australia’s premier events, sporting and entertainment precinct.
The NSW Government has today also announced that it is kicking off a global search for suppliers capable of building more than 50 kilometres of new Metro railway tunnels connecting the two centres – the longest railway tunnels ever built in Australia, in what is expected to be the biggest tunnelling contract awarded in Australian history.
The community will have the opportunity to provide further feedback as part of the statutory planning assessment process, which will be administered by the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.
Suppliers wishing to express their interest in the procurement of the tunnelling contract for Western Sydney Metro will be able to register their interest on the eTendering website from tomorrow.
Further detail on station locations: www.sydneymetro.info/west

Drivers in parts of Sydney can now pay for parking and top up using their phones, with the launch of the NSW Government’s Park’nPay app.
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello was joined by Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance today at The Rocks to announce the new technology, which goes live today in The Rocks, Liverpool Council and parts of Darling Harbour and Pyrmont.
“This app is a game changer for drivers, eliminating the need to search for loose coins and walking to the nearest meter to pay for parking,” Mr Dominello said.
“The technology is hassle free and makes life easier for drivers by putting more power in their hands.”
Mr Constance said the app will help drivers avoid parking fines because they will be notified when their meter is running low or their park is about to turn into a no stopping zone.
“Park’nPay will reduce the stress and pressures of getting a ticket from parking inspectors as you can check your meter in real-time,” Mr Constance said.
“When a meter is about to expire, users simply top up their account through the app so they don’t have to stop what they are doing to rush back to their car.”
The app is free and available on iPhone and Android phones. Drivers simply download the Park’nPay app, create an account with their licence plate and payment details. Users have the option of paying with Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Parking inspectors will check to see if a meter has been paid by searching licence plate details using an app on their phone. Parking meters will continue to accept coins and credit cards.
Drivers have a 10 minute grace period for not getting fined after paying for at least one hour of parking.
The Government will work with local Councils over the coming months to come on board. For more information visit www.parknpay.nsw.gov.au

The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is providing more annual funding to schools, with $1.25 billion going to more than 2000 public schools across the State next year – a $60 million increase on 2019.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the funding today, which is provided on top of a school’s base allocation, and can be used for more teachers, literacy and numeracy programs, and teacher training.
“We are unashamedly for lifting standards in our schools and this additional funding is making a real difference in the outcomes of students at the local level,” Ms Berejiklian said
“Schools will consult with the local community to develop a plan for the funding to cater for the specific academic and wellbeing needs of their individual students.”
The funding method, known as the Resource Allocation Model (RAM), recognises the needs of schools across NSW differ and takes into account the socio-economic profile of students, Aboriginal student numbers, disability and English language proficiency.
Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the funding reports are being delivered earlier than in previous years to allow schools to better plan how the funds will be used, improving outcomes for the over 800,000 NSW public school students.
“We have listened to feedback from Principals – and are releasing the School Budget Allocation Reports ahead of schedule. This will allow schools more time to plan their funding allocations for 2020 – helping them make smarter decisions focused on student outcomes,” Ms Mitchell said.
“We know that Government has an obligation to current and future generations to fund access to a quality education for every child according to a transparent and consistent assessment of their educational needs. That is what the RAM is all about.”
“As part of the 2020 RAM allocations, schools will see the benefit of $433 million to support students through the equity loading for socio-economic background and $201 million through the per capita loading.”
The NSW Government is working towards creating Australia’s best education system and providing students with world-class education no matter where they live.

Drivers in parts of Sydney can now pay for parking and top up using their phones, with the launch of the NSW Government’s Park’nPay app.
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello was joined by Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance today at The Rocks to announce the new technology, which goes live today in The Rocks, Liverpool Council and parts of Darling Harbour and Pyrmont.
“This app is a game changer for drivers, eliminating the need to search for loose coins and walking to the nearest meter to pay for parking,” Mr Dominello said.
“The technology is hassle free and makes life easier for drivers by putting more power in their hands.”
Mr Constance said the app will help drivers avoid parking fines because they will be notified when their meter is running low or their park is about to turn into a no stopping zone.
“Park’nPay will reduce the stress and pressures of getting a ticket from parking inspectors as you can check your meter in real-time,” Mr Constance said.
“When a meter is about to expire, users simply top up their account through the app so they don’t have to stop what they are doing to rush back to their car.”
The app is free and available on iPhone and Android phones. Drivers simply download the Park’nPay app, create an account with their licence plate and payment details. Users have the option of paying with Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Parking inspectors will check to see if a meter has been paid by searching licence plate details using an app on their phone. Parking meters will continue to accept coins and credit cards.
Drivers have a 10 minute grace period for not getting fined after paying for at least one hour of parking.
The Government will work with local Councils over the coming months to come on board. For more information visit www.parknpay.nsw.gov.au

Legislation to reinstate a festival safety system that was overturned by an alliance of Labor, Greens and Shooters’ MPs will be introduced to Parliament today.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the legislation would restore the requirement for high-risk music festivals to prepare a safety management plan.
“Labor, the Greens and the Shooters took away these regulations and left nothing in their place. This legislation will rectify that,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“The situation is clear – music festivals identified as high risk under the former licensing system will continue to be high risk under this law.
“These laws provide absolute certainty for the festival industry. They impose the same requirements on high-risk music festivals that were in place under the regulations that were disallowed by Labor, the Greens and the Shooters.
“My position on illicit drugs is very well-known – I went to the election with this position and I won’t be changing it. There is no such thing as a safe illegal drug.”
The legislation will reinstate the requirement to develop safety management plans in consultation with NSW Health, NSW Police and the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority. This applied to only 11 of more than 90 festivals in NSW.
“I now call on Labor, the Greens and the Shooters to do the right thing – put aside politics and work with the Government to safeguard the health of young people. The festival season is upon us, so urgent action is required,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said some events present a higher risk than others, and this legislation imposes more stringent conditions on these events.
“Music festivals are an important part of NSW’s entertainment scene and economy, and we want them to thrive,” Mr Dominello said.
“The vast majority of festivals are managed responsibly and are safe, however the death and serious illnesses that have occurred compels the Government to act.”

The M12 Motorway is a step closer with the community invited to provide feedback on plans for the connection across Western Sydney.
Minister for Roads Andrew Constance said an Environmental Impact Statement for the new 16 kilometre motorway is on exhibition from today allowing locals to have their say on the project.
“The M12 will provide direct access to the new Western Sydney International Airport and connect to Sydney’s motorway network,” Mr Constance said.
“The M12 project will be delivered as part of both governments’ $4.1 billion Western Sydney Infrastructure Plan.”
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said the project demonstrates the NSW Government’s commitment to creating well-connected communities.
“The new airport will boost investment and growth opportunities by better connecting Western Sydney to international businesses, students and tourists across the globe,” Mr Stokes said.
“We are working with the Federal Government to ensure that road and transport infrastructure is in place, to better connect the region to the rest of Sydney before the first plane takes off.”
The M12 will provide a new motorway between the M7 and The Northern Road with two lanes in each direction and three major interchanges. A new off-road shared user path will provide better safety and connectivity for cyclists and pedestrians.
A number of drop-in sessions will be held from Saturday 19 October until mid-November for the community to learn more about the proposed upgrades and provide feedback.

From next January, south-west train customers will benefit from a new direct morning peak service from Leppington to Schofields via Parramatta, boosting capacity and making journeys more comfortable on the popular T5 Cumberland Line.
Minister for Transport Andrew Constance said demand for T5 Cumberland Line services has surged, with 30 per cent more south-west customers catching trains towards Parramatta this year.
“By boosting capacity on an increasingly busy part of the network, customers across the south-west region including Glenfield, Liverpool and Cabramatta will enjoy a more comfortable and convenient morning commute,” Mr Constance said.
“Customers from the T8 South Line between Macarthur and Macquarie Fields will also benefit from the new service as it provides an extra connection at Glenfield to T5 services headed towards Parramatta and further west.”
The T5 Cumberland Line has become more popular since it was extended to start at Leppington in November 2017.
“With modern air-conditioned trains, direct links from Leppington to Parramatta and Blacktown, as well as late night and weekend services, demand on this part of the network continues to grow. That’s why we’ve been working hard behind the scenes to do everything we can to improve your daily commute.”
The new direct all-stops morning peak service departs Leppington at 7.07am, arriving at key stations such as Parramatta at 7.49am, Blacktown at 8.07am and Schofields at 8.17am.
The existing 7.21am all stops Leppington to Schofields service will instead depart at 7.37am, arriving at key stations such as Parramatta at 8.19am, Blacktown at 8.37am and Schofields at 8.47am.
“By giving customers an extra direct morning peak train and adjusting other services, the gap between trains will reduce to every 30 minutes during the peak period, and in some cases, the wait will be just 16 minutes,” Mr Constance said.
These improvements will take effect from Monday 6 January.

The NSW Government is providing stronger protection for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in police custody by implementing reforms following the inquest into the tragic death of Rebecca Maher.
Attorney General Mark Speakman and Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Don Harwin said the Government has moved swiftly to expand the Custody Notification Service (CNS), an initiative run by the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited (ALS) to provide 24-hour legal advice and an R U OK phone line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people taken into police custody.
“NSW Police are obliged to notify the ALS after taking an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person into custody in connection with an offence to ensure they get appropriate support. This reform expands the CNS, so police must now also call the service if an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person is taken into protective custody for intoxication,” Mr Speakman said.
“The NSW Government is grateful for the ALS’s ongoing delivery of the CNS and to the Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt for providing the necessary funding to support this important expansion.”
Mr Wyatt said the Morrison Government was proud to support this critical service.
“We are investing $1 million to support the delivery of the CNS in 2019-20 – almost twice as much funding compared with 2018-19 levels,” Mr Wyatt said.
Mr Harwin said this is a necessary reform in response to the findings of State Coroner Magistrate Teresa O’Sullivan in July this year.
“The 2016 death of Aboriginal woman Rebecca Maher at Maitland Police Station is a terrible tragedy. We don’t want to see these horrific circumstances repeated, which is why we are acting to provide better protection for First Nations people,” Mr Harwin said.
The CNS was formally established in 2000 in response to recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. Ms Maher was the first Aboriginal death in a NSW police cell since the introduction of the CNS. Under the system, trained lawyers carefully respond to welfare concerns including threats of self-harm, access to medication, notification of injuries and ensuring police provide a duty of care.
CEO of the ALS Karly Warner said the CNS provides a critical health and legal lifeline for more than 18 000 Aboriginal people every year.
“Aboriginal men, women and children in custody trust the ALS because they know our lawyers will advocate strongly for their legal, health and family welfare. We welcome the NSW Government’s reforms in this area, and the Federal Government’s support to expand the CNS.” Ms Warner said.

Australia’s solar industry is set for a major boost thanks to research involving a startup company and UNSW Sydney, supported by the NSW Government to embed solar panels into building materials.
Minister for Energy Matt Kean said the project with startup Solspan Pty Ltd – supported through the NSW Government’s Boosting Business Innovation Program, aimed to integrate solar panels into sheet metal for use on building roofs and walls.
“It’s fantastic to see more grants going to innovative renewable energy technology.
“I encourage our entrepreneurs, engineers and scientists to think big about our future energy needs. It’s innovation like this, that will make energy more affordable, reliable and clean and will shape our 21^st century grid,” Mr Kean said.
Small Business Minister Damien Tudehope said the $18 million Innovation Program was all about helping businesses tap into the top-notch research of the State’s universities and the CSIRO to develop new products and services.
“Bringing together great business and academic minds gives our entrepreneurs confidence to invest in their ideas and support to help them succeed.”
Solspan managing director Wade Blazley, a builder for 40 years, said a matching $15,000 TechVoucher grant under the Boost program helped him work with UNSW to integrate solar photovoltaic cells into his ‘Solspan’ sheet metal building panel.
“Our integrated solar building panels would be used to construct roofs and even walls on buildings, making the separate installation of solar panels unnecessary.”
Associate Professor Anita Ho-Bailllie from UNSW’s School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering said researchers had successfully integrated thin film silicon solar cells into Solspan’s sheet metal panels.
“Now we need to make the solar building panels weatherproof by putting a transparent and flexible protective layer on top, and ensuring they are structurally sound to get building approval to Australian standards.”

BILLION-DOLLAR INVESTMENT IN NSW DAMS

• The Morrison and Berejiklian Governments will deliver a $1 billion water infrastructure package for rural and regional communities impacted by the devastating drought in NSW.
• In partnership with the Commonwealth, we will build the first new dam in NSW for more than 30 years.
• This builds on the NSW Government’s record $3 billion in drought support and water security announced since 2017, including funding for 60 bores across 23 communities and 14 pipelines
• The NSW Government has already committed close to $3 billion to drought relief and water security since 2017.
• The NSW Government has been getting on with building critical water infrastructure projects but this was a significant turning point to future-proof the state.

METRO TUNNELS HIT HISTORIC MILESTONE

• Sydney’s new twin metro railway tunnels are now 70 per cent complete as tunnelling reaches the heart of the city deep under Martin Place, with work under the CBD about to head to Barangaroo.
• This historic milestone means 22 kilometres of the Sydney Metro tunnels are now finished in just 11 months.

NSW RECORDS $400 MILLION BOOST TO BOTTOM LINE

• The NSW Government has continued to deliver sound financial management and secure the State’s economic future with Treasurer Dominic Perrottet releasing the Total State Sector Accounts (TSSA) detailing the actual financial result for 2018-19.
• The TSSA show a surplus of $1.2 billion was achieved in 2018-19, a $417 million improvement from the $802 million result forecast in the NSW Budget delivered in June.
• Mr Perrottet said that due to the improved budget result, almost $300 million extra would now be directed into the NSW Generations Fund (NGF) – a sovereign wealth fund set-up in 2018 to enable debt retirement and benefit the State for the long-term.

MINING APPROVAL SECURES ALMOST 300 REGIONAL JOBS

• The NSW Government has today welcomed the Independent Planning Commission’s decision to allow Rix’s Creek South Mine to continue operating through to 2040, securing almost 300 jobs in the Upper Hunter.
• “In just six months, we have approved six mining applications, which has provided almost 2,000 jobs and generated more than $1 billion in investment across NSW.
• “We know our regions are doing it tough in the drought and the continuation of the Rix’s Creek South Mine will secure almost 300 jobs for the community.”

SPEED CAMERA REVIEW PROVES THEY SAVE LIVES

• Fixed speed cameras across the state have reduced fatalities by 80 per cent, according to the latest annual performance review.
• “Last year we lost 347 lives on our state’s roads, and this year’s toll is already at 292. Speeding is the biggest killer. We know speed cameras in the right locations slow drivers down and save lives,” Mr Constance said.
• The review found at the 110 fixed speed camera locations in NSW injuries also fell by more than a third.
• At the 171 intersections where red-light speed cameras are installed, fatalities fell by 74 per cent, serious injuries dropped by 40 per cent and pedestrian casualties almost halved.

NSW GOVERNMENT SWITCHES ON $12.85M MALPAS TO GUYRA PIPELINE

• The $12.85 million Malpas Dam to Guyra pipeline was officially switched on delivering water security for the community of Guyra.
• Mr Barilaro said the project will ensure water for the 2000 people in Guyra who have been doing it tough during this unprecedented drought.
• We made sure this project progressed quickly providing $820,000 in additional emergency funding to get water pumping through the pipeline earlier than planned

PYRMONT TO BE THE NEW GATEWAY TO SYDNEY CBD

• Pyrmont and the Western Harbour precinct will be transformed into the next jobs hub and economic driver of Sydney under a NSW Government plan to revitalise the key inner-city precinct.
• Premier Gladys Berejiklian made the announcement following the release of the Greater Sydney Commission’s (GSC) review into the area’s planning rules.
• Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said the NSW Government would immediately move to amend the planning controls with a focus on jobs and economic activity to better support proposals to develop the area.

MORE THAN 5,500 STUDENTS ACROSS NSW TO BENEFIT FROM SCHOOL UPGRADES

• Seven schools across NSW have been upgraded benefitting more than 5,500 students, thanks to the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government.
• The NSW Government is investing $6.7 billion over the next four years to deliver 190 new and upgraded schools to support communities across NSW. In addition, a record $1.3 billion is being spent on school maintenance over five years.
• This is the largest investment in public education infrastructure in the history of NSW.

LIGHT RAIL COUNTDOWN HITS HOME STRAIGHT

• Tram testing is ramping up in the CBD – and will soon begin for the first time in Kingsford and Kensington – as Sydney counts down for the commencement of commuter services in December.
• Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Minister for Transport Andrew Constance, NSW Police and the NRMA today reminded road users to be alert around the new light rail corridor as testing steps up.
• Sydneysiders will see more trams every day. Driver training extends into the CBD this week and there will be up to 12 trams out testing day and night, seven days a week
• Trams will soon start testing in Kingsford and Kensington.

$28 MILLION TO REALLY FLOAT YOUR BOATS

•  $28 million will be spent on improving maritime facilities across the state.
• The funding is the third round in the government’s Boating Now Program, which has already delivered over 200 projects.
• The investment builds on the original $70 million program which began in 2015.