Category: NSW News

Shoppers looking for the perfect last-minute present for their loved one this Valentine’s Day can find great gift ideas that will directly support businesses in towns impacted by bushfire or drought via the NSW Government’s Buy Regional webpage.
Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Disaster Recovery John Barilaro and Minister for Small Business Damien Tudehope encouraged shoppers to share the flavour of regional NSW with their loved one on the 14^th February this year.
Mr Barilaro said the Buy Regional webpage and campaign had significantly boosted trade for regional retailers doing it tough in the lead up to Christmas, however retailers in the bush still need the support of their city cousins to keep towns and local economies alive.
“We know the Buy Regional success stories, of the hundreds of thousands of dollars flowing directly to small businesses across towns like Uralla and Tamworth and I commend shoppers who backed these communities, but now is not the time to stop spending,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Valentine’s Day is a fantastic opportunity to discover last-minute gift ideas from the ever-expanding list of gourmet food retailers and experience providers listed with Buy Regional.
Last-minute Buy Regional gift ideas include;

• Chocolate on Purpose – gourmet chocolate varieties peppered with native Australian fruit and nuts, send with next day delivery or choose an online voucher
• Hunter Belle Dairy – delicious cheese hampers with delivery to Hunter and Sydney
• Terragong House 1858 – book a stay at the heritage property on the South Coast, receive an online gift certificate in time to give your loved one for Valentine’s Day.

Mr Tudehope said that regional NSW’s small businesses are brimming with high quality, unique products which are designed, handmade, carefully curated or prepared with love.
“So many of regional NSW’s small businesses are run by thoughtful teams who put a lot of time and effort into making sure customers have the best possible experience, from the second they click to purchase an item until well after it is received,” Mr Tudehope said.
“For those who can’t Go Regional and visit regional communities in the immediate future, a way to show your love is to purchase your next gift from Buy Regional, whether that’s for Valentine’s Day or an upcoming birthday.”
To buy a regional product or register your business, visit: www.nsw.gov.au/buyregional

War memorials across NSW have secured vital funding for restoration works ahead of this year’s 75^th anniversary of the end of World War Two.
Acting Minister for Veterans Geoff Lee said more than $120,000 in grants have been awarded for war memorial conservation projects, under the NSW Government’s Community War Memorials Fund.
“Our war memorials are precious monuments we need to cherish and protect as they give us a place to reflect and pay our respects to those brave soldiers who fought for the freedom we enjoy today,” said Mr Lee.
“World War Two memorials are significant in this round of grants because this year we will be remembering 75 years since Victory in the Pacific was declared, effectively ending the war.
“On August 15, communities across NSW will remember the courage and sacrifice of our World War Two soldiers and the NSW Government is ensuring local community memorials remain a true testament to the sacrifice made by our soldiers.”
Richmond Park War Memorial will receive $10,000 towards restoration of two 32 pound muzzle loaded cannons and their timber carriages. The cannons form an integral part of the war memorial and its connection to the local community, veterans and the Richmond RAAF base.
Sutton Public School will receive funds to preserve its memorial gates, in particular the Second World War plaque which records the names of 19 local veterans who served.
Other successful projects include the restoration of the Attunga War Memorial Gates and protective works to the Bathurst War Memorial Carillon, one of only three carillons in Australia.
The successful applicants for the Anzac Community Grants Program have also been announced with more than $50,000 to assist with projects which support activities and services, or promote appreciation and understanding, of military service personnel.
Round 2 of the Community War Memorials Fund is now open and closes 25 April 2020.
For more information, go to: www.veterans.nsw.gov.au/heritage/community-war-memorials-fund

Safety barriers, rumble strips and wide centrelines will be rolled out across NSW’s road network as part of a record $822 million investment into road safety infrastructure upgrades through the Safer Roads Program.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said round three of the program would see $258 million invested into 383 projects next financial year.
“These are projects designed to save lives. We are committed to reducing the state’s road toll and the measures we are investing in will prevent the loss of more than 1500 lives and serious injuries on our roads over 15 years,” Mr Toole said.
“We know targeted projects can make a real difference to local communities in both the city and the bush.
“This investment will see $217 million injected into 285 regional projects through Saving Lives on Country Roads, and $41 million into 98 projects through Liveable and Safe Urban Communities for metropolitan NSW.”
Round three of the Safer Roads Program will deliver:
o   More than 230 kilometres of safety barriers, which absorb impact forces and protect vehicle occupants, reducing the severity of head-on and run-off-road crashes by up to 95 per cent.
o   2,150 kilometres of rumble strips to alert motorists they are departing from their lane, reducing the likelihood of this crash type by up to 25 per cent.
o   Almost 1,000 kilometres of wide centreline providing a greater distance for drivers to recover from lane departure, reducing the likelihood of head-on crashes by up to 50 per cent and run-off-road crashes by up to 25 per cent.
o   Almost 1,500 high-risk rural curve improvements including shoulder sealing, safety barriers, rumble strips, signage upgrades and line-marking upgrades.
o   More than 100 urban intersection improvement projects including roundabouts and traffic signal upgrades.
Mr Toole said the Safer Roads Program was a five-year program, with more than $300 million already spent over the last two years to deliver 113 kilometres of barriers, 3,000 kilometres of rumble strips and 2,800 kilometres of wide centreline across the state.

More than half of the school maintenance backlog has been cleared, with local trades putting the finishing touches on school maintenance projects at NSW public schools.
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said the NSW Government is on track to deliver the $1.3 billion election commitment to wipe the school maintenance backlog to zero by July 2020.
“More than $200 million has been spent on 968 maintenance projects at public schools across metro and regional NSW during the summer holidays, leaving only 47 percent of the backlog left to clear,” Ms Mitchell said.
“The effort made by tradespeople, builders and department staff across the state has been incredible, handling both the task of bushfire recovery for day one and pushing on with our maintenance commitment.
“We have completed projects at NSW public schools across the state; sprucing classrooms, fixing rooves and tidying up grounds.
With more than 2200 schools in the NSW public education system, these maintenance works are vital to providing world-class facilities for students and staff across the State.
“We have used enough paint to fill nine backyard pools and laid enough floor to cover 40 football fields,” Ms Mitchell said.
“I want to reassure families that schools impacted by bushfires over the holiday period will not miss out, all planned maintenance work will still be carried out at these schools.”
The NSW Government has made the largest investment into public school infrastructure by any State government in Australian history. For more information about the NSW Government school maintenance commitment visit: https://www.schoolinfrastructure.nsw.gov.au/programs/planned-maintenance.html

NSW tourism will receive a welcome boost through a Tourism Recovery package to encourage visitation to NSW, fund new local events and assist tourism businesses to develop, promote and sell their tourism products.
The first phase of the plan launches with a new community-driven campaign – Now’s The Time To Love NSW – urging travellers to book a getaway which gives back.
Minister for Jobs, Investment and Tourism Stuart Ayres said the new campaign, developed by the state’s tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, taps into the outpouring of public support in the wake of the bushfires.
“The prolonged drought and unprecedented bushfires have broken our hearts and had a devastating impact on thousands of tourism operators in our beautiful state,” Mr Ayres said.
“That’s why now’s the time to love NSW – we need to show the world that our many spectacular sights and experiences are in great shape, and they’re welcoming visitors right now.”
To kickstart the campaign, people are being invited to take a #RecoveryWeekend in NSW, stay and spend locally, take photos showcasing NSW’s beauty featuring hands in the shape of a heart and share them on social media with the tag #LoveNSW generating authentic, real-time imagery of NSW’s many holiday destinations.
The recovery package was informed by input from the tourism industry, tourism associations and the Destination Networks and will target domestic and international markets.
“Recovery will take time and the NSW Government is here for the long haul. This $10 million will provide immediate help and set up long-term support for the industry to help businesses get back on their feet,” Minister Ayres said.
Federal Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said with one in 13 Australians relying on tourism and hospitality for their jobs, it was important to holiday here this year and help the industry get back on its feet.
“Australia’s tourism industry has taken a massive hit. Right across Australia tourism businesses, including in NSW are feeling the pressure as tourists delay or cancel their travel plans, even in many areas that haven’t been affected,” Minister Birmingham said.
“That’s why we’re backing this campaign through our $20 million domestic tourism commitment to get Aussies into fire-affected communities as they open up again, as well into unaffected tourism towns that are also feeling the pinch.
“I urge Australians to support our tourism businesses and save local jobs by booking a trip in NSW this year.”
In addition to Now’s The Time To Love NSW marketing campaign, the package includes trade partner conversion campaigns with Qantas Airways, Accor, Webjet, TripAdvisor and Tigerair and a $1 million regional events program to support flagship events and a new stream of micro events.
Now’s The Time To Love NSW builds on and complements Tourism Australia’s recently launched Holiday Here This Year domestic tourism campaign and is funded by both State and Federal investments.

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.
Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation Kevin Anderson said the reforms will improve transparency, accountability and quality of work within the industry.
“These reforms are a complete game changer for consumers, the government and the building industry as a whole,” Mr Anderson said.
“Simply put, customers need better built buildings, and our reforms will deliver that. Anyone who doesn’t want to get on board with that concept will get left behind.”
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.
NSW Building Commissioner, David Chandler said the old days of being reactionary to problems in the industry can’t continue.
“The government has a great deal of resources available, including inspectors, which is why we need to make sure we’re using those resources in the best way possible to protect consumers from major defects,” Mr Chandler said.
Mr Anderson said passing the Design and Building Practitioners Bill, which is currently held up in the NSW Upper House, is crucial to the progression of building reforms.
“We asking the opposition and the cross bench to put consumers ahead of politics and let us get on with the building reforms, every day these reforms are delayed is another day homeowners go without the necessary protections,” Mr Anderson said.
The NSW Upper House will resume debate on the Design and Building Practitioners Bill in the last week of February.

Small businesses and councils affected by the bushfires can apply for a suite of financial assistance packages thanks to the NSW and Commonwealth Governments.
The financial support includes grants of up to $50,000 for small businesses directly affected by bushfire, up to $250,000 to Local Government Areas, a Bushfire Working Capital Loan of up to $50,000 and low interest loans of up to $500,000 to eligible small businesses, primary producers and not-for-profits in bushfire impacted council areas.
Federal Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash said, thousands of small businesses have been impacted by the recent bushfires both in the disaster-declared areas and in surrounding areas.
“These financial support measures will provide much needed funds for affected small businesses in the early recovery phase to help them get back on their feet,” Minister Cash said.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Disaster Recovery John Barilaro said the bushfires had devastated entire communities.
“As we move into the recovery phase, communities are facing unprecedented challenges and there will be many difficult months ahead,” he said.
“These grants and loans will assist bushfire-affected communities to get back on their feet.”
Financial assistance includes:

• Grants of up to $50,000 are available for eligible small businesses and non-profit organisations with direct damage to their premises, equipment or stock from the bushfires and can help to pay for repairs, via Service NSW;
• Payments up to $250,000 to Local Government Areas impacted by bushfire for small scale local activities that will kick-start the social and economic recovery of their communities;
• Loans of up to $500,000 specifically designed to provide an immediate injection of money to help return and continue business operations by covering salaries or wages, rent, lease and rates, as well as purchase of goods and services, via NSW Rural Assistance Authority.

Funding is provided jointly from the NSW and Commonwealth Governments through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
Minister for Finance and Small Business Damien Tudehope said he encouraged small businesses to apply for the funding, which would assist in getting bushfire-affected communities up and running as soon as possible.
“Small enterprises are the lifeblood of their community and we want to do everything we can to support them during this time of recovery,” he said.
Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said the bushfire recovery phase is also about supporting communities to come together and heal.
“Local councils are the backbones to their communities and we’re committed to doing all we can to help them as they start to heal and rebuild their communities.”
Small Business Grants
The Commonwealth Government announced on Monday, 20 January, a Small Business Bushfire Recovery Package that included recovery grants, concessional loans, a Small Business Financial Support Line, Local Economic Recovery Plans and tax relief. Those small businesses who have already accessed up to $15,000 under the existing Small Business Grants scheme, can now apply for additional funds, bringing the total available to $50,000.
The assistance is being provided through the joint Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements between states and territories and the Commonwealth Government.
The grant is being administered through Service NSW and is available to eligible, fire-affected small businesses within Category C declared Local Government Areas (LGAs) since 31 August 2019.
For more information on eligibility criteria and to register to apply for the grant, visit
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/register-small-business-bushfire-recovery-grant
Bushfire Community Resilience and Economic Recovery Fund
Councils will be offered payments of a minimum $100,000 and up to $250,000 for small scale local activities that will kick-start the social and economic recovery of their communities. This quick and flexible funding will be made available to eligible councils from early February 2020.
Councils can use funding straight away for events or initiatives that support local business and industry recovery, as well as community resilience and wellbeing.
Examples could include:

• local recovery support services for impacted small businesses;
• local industry recovery events;
• neighbourhood and community strengthening activities that focus on building capacity, community strengthening and resilience.

These Community Resilience and Economic Recovery Grants have been previously announced and are being provided through the joint Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements between states and territories and the Commonwealth Government.
Bushfire Working Capital and Recovery Loans
The Bushfire Working Capital Loan is up to $50,000 and is specifically designed to provide an immediate injection of money to help return and continue business operations by covering salaries or wages, rebuilding infrastructure and purchase of goods and services. Its terms are up to five years, with a two year interest free and repayment free period.
And the larger Bushfire Recovery Loan of up to $500,000 is over 10 years, with a two-year interest free and payment free period. It is available for significantly larger investments where required.
The loans are jointly funded by the State and Federal Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. Applications and details are on-line, via the NSW Rural Assistance Authority www.raa.nsw.gov.au.

The NSW Government will help regional and rural patients impacted by bushfires with their travel and accommodation costs when attending specialist medical treatments.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the NSW Government is looking at ways to support bushfire-affected communities with practical solutions to make life a little easier during an incredibly tough time.
“People in bushfire-affected areas have enough to worry about at the moment without the additional stress of finding extra money to travel long distances to see a specialist.”
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the criteria for the Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme (IPTAAS) will be broadened so patients impacted by bushfires can access the subsidy to help cover out-of-pocket costs.
“Some patients in regional and rural areas will have to travel a longer route or extend their stay due to road closures or poor weatherconditions, so this scheme will help ease some of the financial pressure,” Mr Hazzard said.
The IPTAAS provides subsidies for transport and accommodation expenses incurred when travelling at least 100km, or a cumulative distance of at least 200km in a week for specialist medical treatment.
Cancer Council NSW’s Director of Information and Support Services Annie Miller said the scheme would assist cancer patients unable to return home between treatments.
“This will make a significant difference to patients and their families having regular cancer treatments who haven’t been able to return home due to road closures or poor air quality and have been forced to spend more on accommodation and travel,” Ms Miller said.
Patients are encouraged to include additional information such as extenuating circumstances and tax invoices within their applications.Anyone experiencing financial hardship should contact IPTAAS to discuss payment options.
Investment in IPTAAS has more than doubled over the past seven years, from $12.2 million in 2011-12 to $25.9 million in 2018-19, helping more than 30,000 patients.
For more information about the IPTAAS scheme, call 1800 478 227 or go to: http://www.iptaas.health.nsw.gov.au/home

The NSW Government has today announced six months of council rates relief to ease the burden for anyone who has lost their home or small business in the recent bush fires.
Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Disaster Recovery John Barilaro and Minister for Local Government Shelley Hancock said the funding is part of the NSW Government’s unwavering commitment to do all it can to help local communities recover and rebuild from the devastating bushfires.
“Bush fire affected communities will not have to pay rates on a home which has been lost in the fires,” Mr Barilaro said.
“The last thing our communities need right now is more financial stress, which is why the NSW Government is doing everything to ease the burden by funding council rates and picking up the bill for the clean-up, at no cost to owners.
“Regional communities, emergency services, volunteers and our farmers have been outstanding throughout the fires, and we need to be as vigilant in recovery as they are in the face of disaster,” he said.
Mrs Hancock said the NSW Government will cover the full cost of council rates for the third and fourth quarters of this financial year for residents and farmers who have lost their homes, and business owners whose properties have been destroyed beyond repair by bushfires.
“The impact of the bushfires is truly unprecedented with the tragic loss of more than 2,400 homes in NSW,” Mrs Hancock said.
“It is simply unfair to expect somebody to go through the heartbreak of losing their home and then expect them to pay rates on a property they can no longer live in.
“That’s why the Government will fund council rates relief for anyone who has lost their home or small business in the bushfire crisis.”
Affected residents that have lost their homes and small businesses will soon be able to take their council rates notice to a Service NSW centre and the Government will cover the cost. Anyone who has already paid their rates will receive a refund.
“The NSW Government is committed to cutting red tape and reducing the financial burden for individuals who have lost their homes,” Mrs Hancock said.
“We stand ready to do all we can to help bushfire-affected communities so they can recover and rebuild as quickly as possible.”

The NSW Government will move to suspend the ordinary business of Parliament for the week, when it returns on Tuesday, to pay tribute to the victims of the devastating bushfires.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian will move a Condolence Motion to allow each Member of Parliament to express their deepest sympathies to the families, loved ones and communities of those who have died and been directly impacted by the devastation.
“The scale of this bushfire season in NSW is unprecedented and the impact has been catastrophic with 2,400 homes destroyed, 10,000 buildings impacted and more than 5 million hectares burnt,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“But nothing is more tragic than the loss of life. We know the trauma is widespread as people come to terms with the extent of the devastation.
“This is the largest natural disaster in our State’s living memory so it is fitting that the NSW Parliament takes the time to reflect on this tragedy while also acknowledging the ongoing threat the fires pose.”
A State Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, 23 February at Qudos Bank Arena to acknowledge the tragic loss of life.
“We know members of the public from across NSW will also want to recognise the lives lost, the sacrifices made and to think of those directly impacted by the fires.
“There will be a separate opportunity for us to formally thank our volunteers and emergency services workers in the near future.”