Category: NSW News

More than 550 former rough sleepers have been housed in safe and stable accommodation across the state thanks to the NSW Government’s expansion assertive outreach services.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said World Homeless Day is an opportunity to highlight the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government’s nation-leading work in line with its ambitious homelessness targets.
“Our Government is not only putting a roof over the heads of vulnerable people, but helping them on a pathway to independence,” Mr Ward said.
“The Premier’s Priority, aligned with the global Vanguard Agreement, aims to halve street sleeping across NSW by 2025.
“We have taken some significant steps towards achieving that target, but we know there is much more to do and we’re committed to building on the strong foundations we have set.”
New outreach services in Tweed Heads and Newcastle are underway in collaboration with the non-government sector, building on the success of the program in Sydney.
“More than 90 per cent of people that we have housed in Sydney have sustained their tenancies and are turning their lives around,” Mr Ward said.
“By providing housing and wrap around support services for people at risk of homelessness, we are helping them break the cycle.”
Trial street counts have recently been conducted in regional areas ahead of the first comprehensive, coordinated statewide count planned for early next year.
The NSW Government is investing $1 billion to support people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, including women and children experiencing domestic and family violence, Aboriginal people, young people and rough sleepers.

Visitation to NSW is at a record high with international and domestic tourists streaming to Sydney and the regions, latest data shows.
Latest Tourism Research Australia figures released today show NSW remains Australia’s number one destination for visitors from home and abroad, with steady increases in the number of visitors, visitor nights and visitor related expenditure generated for the State.
In the year ending June 2019, NSW received 37.2 million domestic overnight visitors and 4.4 million international visitors – the highest volume ever from both markets.
Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the NSW Government, through tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, was making solid progress on the 2030 visitor economy target.
“These latest surveys show unprecedented growth for NSW, with domestic overnight visitors spending $22.6 billion in the state – an increase of 13 per cent year on year,” Minister Ayres said.
“International visitors also contribute significantly to the NSW economy with $11.3 billion generated through overseas traveler spend, which is up eight per cent.
“There have been significant gains in the high-yield markets of the United States and Japan which is the result of fantastic airline partnerships and trade initiatives in these countries. NSW welcomed 522,000 US visitors in the year ending June 2019 who generated $853 million in tourism spend (up 18 per cent) and 205,000 Japanese visitors who generated $402 million for the State.”
Japan has now surpassed Korea in the State’s top five source markets, joining China, US, New Zealand and United Kingdom.
On the home front, New South Wales leads Victoria and Queensland in attracting domestic overnight visitors, visitor nights and tourism related expenditure.
“In the latest survey NSW has reached its highest ever lead over Victoria and Queensland in terms of domestic overnight expenditure, proving that Australians love the Harbour City and the many unique experiences and landscapes of regional NSW,” Minister Ayres said.
NSW achieved its highest growth in domestic visitor nights on record, with 37.2 million visitors staying 116.1 million nights – 11 per cent more than the previous year.
Regional NSW specifically welcomed almost 27 million international and domestic overnight visitors.

Fraud fighting measures, graffiti-busting art projects and twilight sports to help young people kick life goals are just some of the initiatives funded from the latest round of the NSW Government’s $10 million crime prevention grants program.
Attorney General Mark Speakman and Police Minister David Elliott today announced six new projects worth almost $300,000 designed to drive down crime.
“The Government’s crime prevention grants inspire local councils in NSW to think outside the box and deliver innovative ideas to tackle problems like graffiti, theft and assaults,” Mr Speakman said.
“Everyone deserves to feel safe in and around their home and this program is all about empowering local communities to help tackle the issues they face.”
Mr Elliott said a one-size-fits-all approach isn’t always the best way to go and this approach draws on local, grassroots knowledge to build tailored projects.
“From Camden to Canterbury, we’re supporting practical projects to safeguard communities, including security bollards for crowd safety and better lighting to make people safer when they’re out and about at night,” Mr Elliott said.
“Police Area Commands also play a vital role, working closely with councils and residents to support these programs so locals feel more secure on their streets.”
The six local communities that have received grants are:

• $50,000 Northern Beaches Council – cut youth crime such as graffiti
• $32,000 Strathfield Council – improve street lighting at petty crime hot spots
• $48,000 Camden Council – install security bollards to protect public places
• $50,000 Fairfield City Council – teach older people and migrants about fraud
• $50,000 Canterbury-Bankstown Council – twilight youth sports program
• $50,000 City of Parramatta – improved street lighting in the CBD

More information about the grant program is available here.

More jobs and less waste will be the key outcomes of a new Circular Economy Innovation Network launched today by the NSW Government.
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said the Network, known as NSW Circular, will help boost manufacturing jobs in regional NSW as the State moves away from the traditional ‘take, make and dispose’ model.
“With China no longer accepting our recycled waste, our manufacturing industry must evolve. This is our chance to bring more jobs back to our own backyard, particularly in the Special Activation Precincts in regional NSW,” Mr Stokes said.
“This isn’t just the right thing to do for the environment; it makes good economic sense – there are significant jobs and growth opportunities for existing and new businesses across NSW.
“Three pilot projects are already underway through the Network that aim to create new supply chains, turn trash into valuable products and materials for manufacturing and divert waste from landfill.”
The Network, funded through the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer, brings together industry, government, local councils, researchers and the community, and will be led by Scientia Professor Veena Sahajwalla, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT) at UNSW Australia.
Environment Minister Matt Kean said NSW Circular will complement other important initiatives already in development, including the Government’s 20-Year Waste Strategy and Plastics Plan.
“There is a lot of activity in this space, but to date it has lacked a degree of coordination and connectivity,” Mr Kean said.
“This new network will help us develop the programs we need to increase recycling and create a circular economy.”

People with disability who come into contact with the justice system will be better supported back into the community under a landmark agreement struck at the COAG Disability Reform Council today.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said the decision to introduce Justice Liaison Officers (JLOs) will contribute to achieving the Premier’s priority of reducing recidivism in the prison population.
“We know that a significant number of offenders in both adult prison and juvenile detention have disabilities and don’t necessarily get the support they need when exiting the justice system,” Mr Ward said.
“As part of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, JLOs will provide a coordinated approach to supporting people with disability, to help them transition to a life free of crime.”
An interstate working group will produce an implementation plan for the roll out and report to the Council in December. At today’s meeting the Council also agreed to:

• Improve the Information, Linkage and Capability Building (ILC) component of the NDIS to better target all people with disability, their families and carers
• Develop an approach to improve the access and experience for participants with psychosocial disability in the NDIS
• Continue work to provide greater transparency and accountability around how the NSW Government’s contribution to the NDIS is spent

“The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will continue to lead national reform when it comes to the disability sector,” Mr Ward said.
“As a partner with the Commonwealth, we are committed to helping improve the NDIS so it delivered great outcomes for people across our state.”
The NSW Government contributed $3.3 billion to the NDIS in the 2019-20 NSW Budget.
More than 100,000 people are benefitting from the scheme across the state. Close to 40,000 of them are receiving services for the first time.

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.
“As we get ready for services to start in December, 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,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“I’m also pleased to confirm that trams will soon start testing in Kingsford and Kensington.
“It’s an exciting time for Sydney as the countdown begins to the first passenger services from Randwick to Circular Quay, but it’s also a timely reminder for pedestrians and drivers to be vigilant.”
Mr Constance said new safety videos, launched today by Transport for NSW, will remind drivers to be aware around the light rail as part of the “Heads Up, Play It Safe around Light Rail” campaign.
“We have a number of busy intersections along the light rail route, particularly in the CBD, such as George and Bathurst streets. We remind drivers not to queue across these intersections and always follow traffic signals,” Mr Constance said.
Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians have mistakenly entered the tram corridor at busy intersections, including those around Pitt Street and Eddy Avenue at Central, and at Devonshire and Bourke streets in Surry Hills.
“We know people are getting used to having trams around, but we really need everyone to be mindful of the tram corridor when turning at intersections, and if you end up on the tracks, drive or ride carefully to the next cross street and exit safety,” Mr Constance said.
NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy reminded drivers they must stay off the cement tram corridor and stick to the asphalt roads.
“Drivers and operators of heavy vehicles must follow the new traffic signals and always stop on the red. Never turn in front of a tram and do not queue across intersections. Food delivery operators and couriers are also reminded to not ride in the tram corridor,” Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.
“The message for all road users is the same; ditch the distraction, follow the road rules and pay attention.”
NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury said pedestrians also need to change their behaviour.
“The NRMA report released in July, Look Up, found over one third of pedestrians crossed busy intersections while distracted by their smartphones or wearing earphones,” Mr Khoury said.
“Taking this sort of risk around the new Light Rail can have devastating consequences. Trams are quiet and too many pedestrians have yet to adjust their behavior around this new mode of transport in the heart of Sydney – this needs to change now.”

Environment Minister Matt Kean was pleased to release the annual State of the Beaches report which has returned great results for beaches across the NSW.
Minister Kean said 2019 is one of the cleanest years of recreational water quality on record since monitoring began in 1989.
“Clean beaches are great news for the community and encourage more people to get out and about as we head into the start of the swimming season,” Mr Kean said.
“This year, 86 per cent of the State’s swimming sites are rated ‘very good’ or ‘good’ which is a significant achievement and great news as we head into beach season.
“Estuarine swimming sites have never been this clean, with a record breaking 82 per cent listed as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.
“This is in addition to the 98 per cent of ocean beaches shown to be clean and safe, as were four of the five ocean baths.”
Mr Kean said that while these figures are welcome, they also show there is still work to do.
According to the report, coastal lakes, lagoons and estuarine swimming spots were adversely affected by heavy rain, with the number of clean lake and lagoon swimming sites declining.
Lower levels of flushing in coastal lakes, lagoons and estuaries means these swimming sites take longer to recover from stormwater events.
The NSW Government committed $500,000 to address water quality at Terrigal Beach and surrounding lagoons, and $200,000 to establish an expert panel to determine the best way to improve water quality in Tuggerah Lakes.
“Terrigal Beach has already shown signs of improvement, having been upgraded to good, from a poor grade last year, which clearly demonstrates the NSW Government’s commitment to improving the environment,” Mr Kean said.

Environment Minister Matt Kean was pleased to release the annual State of the Beaches report which has returned great results for beaches across the NSW.
Minister Kean said 2019 is one of the cleanest years of recreational water quality on record since monitoring began in 1989.
“Clean beaches are great news for the community and encourage more people to get out and about as we head into the start of the swimming season,” Mr Kean said.
“This year, 86 per cent of the State’s swimming sites are rated ‘very good’ or ‘good’ which is a significant achievement and great news as we head into beach season.
“Estuarine swimming sites have never been this clean, with a record breaking 82 per cent listed as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.
“This is in addition to the 98 per cent of ocean beaches shown to be clean and safe, as were four of the five ocean baths.”
Mr Kean said that while these figures are welcome, they also show there is still work to do.
According to the report, coastal lakes, lagoons and estuarine swimming spots were adversely affected by heavy rain, with the number of clean lake and lagoon swimming sites declining.
Lower levels of flushing in coastal lakes, lagoons and estuaries means these swimming sites take longer to recover from stormwater events.
The NSW Government committed $500,000 to address water quality at Terrigal Beach and surrounding lagoons, and $200,000 to establish an expert panel to determine the best way to improve water quality in Tuggerah Lakes.
“Terrigal Beach has already shown signs of improvement, having been upgraded to good, from a poor grade last year, which clearly demonstrates the NSW Government’s commitment to improving the environment,” Mr Kean said.

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.
“Today we are sending a clear message that Pyrmont is open for business and ready to be taken to the next level,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We are, for the first time, treating Pyrmont and the Western Harbour precinct as the gateway to the CBD.
“For our city and State to continue to be the jobs capital of the nation, we need this area to be revitalised. We have successfully transformed Barangaroo into a spectacular waterfront precinct and are in the midst of revitalising Central.
“Pyrmont is the next frontier.”
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.
“We can support larger-scale development and maintain the unique heritage nature of Pyrmont – it’s not an ‘either/or’ choice,” Mr Stokes said.
“However, we must plan for the precinct strategically, rather than on a site-by-site basis, to ensure the long-term liveabilty and sustainability of the area.”
The NSW Government will fast-track work to investigate the feasibility of building a Metro station in Pyrmont to support greater density and jobs in the area.
Mr Stokes said the Government would also ensure there is greater coordination of large scale developments in Pyrmont, including the Powerhouse, Bays Precinct, Harbourside Shopping Centre, University of Technology Sydney expansion, the Star casino and the existing and future Fish Market sites.
“This is our opportunity to work together to develop a vision and collaboratively plan for the future of Pyrmont, which hasn’t been done in more than 20 years,” Mr Stokes said.
“This is a prime jobs and tourism precinct on the fringe of the CBD which will become increasingly important as our city grows.”
The NSW Government has accepted the three key recommendations of the GSC report, which can be found here: www.greater.sydney/project/pyrmont-planning-review

A 30 tonne beam has been craned into place completing the final bridge on the new M5 project – the Super-T girder is the finishing touch on the new Gardeners Road bridge across the Alexandra Canal.
Minister for Roads Andrew Constance said the bridge would provide drivers with a direct link between Gardeners Road, Mascot and the St Peters Interchange.
“After more than 80 years, the community around St Peters and Mascot will soon have access to two new connections across the Alexandra Canal,” Mr Constance said.
“The Gardeners Road bridges are an important connection and will help alleviate congestion on local roads. They’ll also allow drivers to directly connect to the New M5 and M4-M5 Link Tunnels from Mascot via the St Peters Interchange.”
Mr Constance said the completion of the ten bridge structures was a significant milestone for the project and had also provided an economic boost to regional communities.
“The bridge pieces, including the 17 metre-long T-shaped ‘Super T’s’, were made at the Hunter and Coffs Harbour precast yards and all materials were locally supplied,” Mr Constance said.
“Production of these segments helped to create around 200 jobs over the past two years in regional communities stretching all the way to the mid-coast.
“Work on site has now turned to the construction of a major retaining wall within St Peters Interchange to help create the six hectares of new open space being delivered as part of the New M5.”
Drivers will be able to test out the bridges when the New M5 opens in 2020.
WestConnex is being delivered in four major stages, including the New M4 (now open), the New M5, opening in 2020 and the M4-M5 Link, opening in 2023.
When complete, WestConnex will provide drivers with a 33km, traffic-light free network.