Category: NSW News

The NSW Government is getting on with the job of transforming the Western Sydney road network with over 40 projects worth in total more than $1 billion currently in progress or planning across the region.
Throughout Western Sydney an army of workers are building, widening, extending, and duplicating roads to future proof one of the state’s fastest growing regions.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said currently more than 845,000 journeys to work start and end in Western Sydney and 64 per cent of those are by car.
“Western Sydney is one of the fastest-growing regions in NSW and the NSW Government is building roads to cater for future generations and address the expected increase in congestion,” Mr Perrottet said.
“More than 2 million people are living in Western Sydney with the population expected to grow to 3 million over the next 20 years, which is why the NSW Government is planning now.”
The NSW Budget 2019-20 has secured more than $1 billion in funding for critical road projects across Western Sydney to help the region get ahead of the game including:
•   $631 million for the NSW Government and Federal Government funded road upgrades to support new Western Sydney Airport.
•   $107.4 million on the M4 Smart Motorway between Parramatta and Penrith to increase trip reliability and improve road safety.
“The Budget is not only delivering the roads people need to move around Western Sydney faster but is also creating jobs with more than 2000 people currently working on road projects across the region and will only grow as more work is carried out,” Mr Perrottet said.
Minister for Roads Andrew Constance said much of the work was supporting the new Western Sydney Aerotropolis, which is estimated to provide around 200,000 new jobs alone.
“We have more than 40 projects in planning across Western Sydney, which will feature new and upgraded roads providing safer and more reliable journeys for the thousands of drivers,” Mr Constance said.
“Work is in full swing on the Windsor Bridge replacement project and shovels are in the ground along Mulgoa and Castlereagh road. We’re also seeing great progress on the upgrade between Union Road and Museum Drive.”

The public had its first glimpse of the State’s new Herbarium today, with the NSW Government unveiling concept designs for the building which will house more than 1.4 million plant specimens.
The precinct where the Herbarium will be built at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan will be known as the Australian Institute of Botanic Science, bringing a world-class science hub to South-West Sydney.
Inspiration for the Herbarium has been drawn from the seed pod of NSW’s floral emblem, the iconic waratah.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the Government had allocated $27 million in the 2019-20 NSW Budget, to allow work to begin on the $60 million project early in 2020.
“The Herbarium houses one of the most important and significant collections of plant specimens in the world, and this purpose-built facility will ensure Australia is at the forefront of conservation and management for generations to come,” he said.
“This is a lot more than just seed funding for this project, we are ensuring the NSW Government delivers a world class facility for Western Sydney.”
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said the Herbarium, which is being relocated from its current home at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, includes specimens include those collected by Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander on Captain Cook’s first voyage to the Pacific in 1770.
“The Australian Institute of Botanic Science will include the new National Herbarium of NSW, to be built next to the award-winning Australian Plantbank,” Mr Stokes said.
“The Australian Botanic Garden in Mount Annan was once a cow paddock, but has gradually been transformed into one of Sydney’s most-loved public spaces.”

The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government is turbocharging the customer experience, with the 100^th Service NSW Centre officially opening in Nyngan today.
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello joined staff and stakeholders at the Centre to announce the milestone.
“Service NSW has transformed how the customer interacts with Government, by creating a one-stop shop for registrations, licences and cost of living savings,” Mr Dominello said.
“Gone are the bad old days of waiting in long queues and rushing all over town to get things done. The customer is now front and centre of service delivery and we have more to do. Watch this space.
“Today we’ve hit a century, and there are more centres on the way across NSW.”
Hundreds of government services are accessible through Service NSW, including driver’s licences, NSW Seniors Cards and birth certificates.
Customers can also make an appointment with a Cost of Living specialist and potentially save hundreds of dollars. Two Service NSW buses (with two more to come) also service remote areas that don’t have access to a centre.
Since the first centre opened in 2013, Service NSW has assisted more than 174 million customers in store, by phone and online and there have been 4.3 million MyServiceNSW Accounts created. The following table highlights how Service NSW is making life easier for people.

Before	After
900+ websites	One website
180 Motor Registry transactions	Hundreds of transactions under the one roof in partnership with almost 40 NSW Government agencies, 70+ per cent of which can be accessed online
Customer satisfaction was 69 per cent	Customer satisfaction is 97 per cent

Further information on Service NSW is available at www.service.nsw.gov.au

Sydney Metro’s third mega tunnel boring machine (TBM) has broken through a wall of rock at the new Crows Nest Station, marking a major milestone in the project which will link the North West Metro to the CBD and onto Bankstown.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet today joined workers at Crows Nest to welcome the arrival of Wendy, less than five months after the TBM was launched from Chatswood.
“TBM Wendy only started digging in January and has now arrived at Crows Nest after completing three kilometres of tunnelling,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“This is incredible progress on the next stage of Sydney Metro, which will take the recently opened North West Metro from Chatswood, under the Harbour, through the CBD and onto Bankstown.
“Once the next stage of this gamechanging project opens there will be turn-up-and-go Metro train services to 31 stations along a new 66 kilometre railway.”
Mr Perrottet said the NSW Government strong economic management has made mega infrastructure projects like Sydney Metro possible.
“A strong budget allows us to get on with the job and deliver our record infrastructure program, building a better future for everyone in NSW no matter where they live,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Sydney’s North West is already seeing the benefits of a turn-up-and-go Metro service and now we are a step closer to taking the service to more NSW communities and families.”
TBM Wendy will now spend several weeks undergoing maintenance before being re-launched at Crows Nest and tunnelling towards the next future Sydney Metro station at North Sydney.
So far four TBMs are in the ground tunnelling the 15.5 kilometre twin railway tunnels from Chatswood and Marrickville.

The NSW Government is fast-tracking $30 million in important safety work on the M4 following a fatal crash near the Church Street exit in May.
Minister for Roads Andrew Constance said work has started at the eastbound off ramp at Church Street near Parramatta to improve safety and help alleviate congestion with additional turning lanes.
The Centre for Road Safety conducted a review of safety on the M4 and its surrounds following the May crash.
The review examined a wide range of data including crash statistics, road user behavior and existing road safety mechanisms.
“As a result the Centre for Road Safety has recommended 12 actions for implementation by November 2019,” Mr Constance said.
“One of the first priorities is fast-tracking work on the exit ramp to ensure drivers can experience safer and smoother journeys as soon as possible,” Mr Constance said.
“The existing turning lanes on the ramp become congested quickly in peak times with a high number of vehicles using it to access Church Street and Parramatta Road, as well as Woodville Road towards Milperra and Liverpool.
“This congestion can create queues on the M4 Motorway, stretching back beyond the Burnett Street on ramp exit.
“This upgrade will provide a third right turn lane at the bottom of the exit ramp and extend the length of the existing left turn lane, to help keep traffic moving more quickly.”
Transport for NSW has also been monitoring traffic flow at the exit ramp, where drivers have been reported attempting to merge at high speed.
A traffic barrier installed between the ramp and city-bound lanes last July has significantly reduced crashes, and further upgrades are being considered.
Work will be carried out six days a week for the next six months, between 7am and 6pm on weekdays, from 8am to 1pm on Saturdays, and between 6pm and 7am from Sunday to Friday.
Traffic control and a reduced speed limit will be in place for the safety of workers and drivers.
For the latest traffic updates download the Live Traffic NSW App, visit livetraffic.com or call 132 701.

The NSW Government is continuing to support regional communities, businesses and workers experiencing the flow-on effects of the drought through a new regional economic stimulus package.
During a visit to Coolamon in the State’s southwest today, Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the upcoming State Budget would include $355 million to extend emergency drought support for farmers and funding to fast track investment in regional infrastructure.
The funding brings the NSW Government’s investment in drought support to more than $1.8 billion.
Ms Berejiklian said the package will fund many critical town water projects as well as other shovel-ready infrastructure projects that will stimulate local economies.
“The impact of this drought has spread quickly off farm and is now being felt by businesses and households in towns and cities across regional NSW,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“When farmers can’t contract tradies and other workers, there is a flow on effect felt throughout local businesses such as cafes and local stores. This funding package will support these rural communities in their time of need.”
Examples of shovel ready projects that could be funded by the stimulus package include regional airport upgrades, activation of industrial lands and CBD revitalisation projects.
Ms Berejiklian was joined in Coolamon by Deputy Premier John Barilaro, Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall.
Mr Barilaro said the NSW Government was continuing to stand shoulder to shoulder with farmers and their communities battling the drought.
“The lack of rain on farm is having a devastating flow on effect in regional businesses,” Mr Barilaro said.
“Every dollar spent by farmers at their local store helps keep someone employed in that business and a family in town. We recognise that in order to keep businesses open and jobs in town, the Government needs to fast track our investment in local infrastructure.”
Mr Perrottet said the package would boost water security for local communities and provide support for farmers and their local communities.
“The best drought package for regional NSW is rain, but until the skies open we will stand by communities that are doing it tough,” Mr Perrottet said.
“We will always back our farmers and rural communities as they continue to deal with this terrible drought.”
Mr Marshall said the assistance would allow farmers to cut the cost of farming fees and charges, continue to use transport subsidies and would provide funding for emergency water carting.
“Our farmers are doing it incredibly tough and that’s why we’re directing additional funds to help reduce cost of living pressures, drought-proof properties and transport stock and fodder,” Mr Marshall said.
“While what is needed most is simply more rainfall I’m confident this package will help alleviate the burden associated with one of the worst droughts in living memory.”
Under today’s announcement, $170 million has been reserved for a special purpose Drought Infrastructure Package, including:

• Up to $120 million to fast track identified major infrastructure projects;
• $30 million on new groundwater supply for Dubbo;
• $8.2 million construction of second water storage at Nyngan
• $2.2 million to augment bore water supply at Coonabarabran;
• $2 million for Albert Priest Channel critical maintenance (Nyngan and Cobar); and
• $1.97 million towards the Coolamon Industrial Estate development.

An additional $185 million in Budget funding will go towards on-farm drought support measures, including:

• $70 million for transport subsidies (stock, fodder and water);
• $50 million to waive Local Land Services rates;
• $30 million to waive fixed charges for NSW Water Licences;
• $15 million for emergency water carting; and
• $10 million to waive interest charges for Farm Innovation Fund loans.

For further information about NSW Government drought support measures, visit www.droughthub.nsw.gov.au

The 2019 HART Senior State Titles drew to a close after three fantastic days of action at the Campbelltown and Camden & District Netball Associations for Saturday to Monday, 8-10 June .
Formerly known as the Netball NSW State Championships, the Senior State Titles saw 180 teams from 89 Associations take part over the long weekend.
Three sets of State Champions were crowned with the Division 1 winners in each respective age-group (Opens, 17/U and 15/U) taking the titles – Newcastle, Penrith and Liverpool.
Campbelltown Netball Association hosted Divisions 1 and 2 of the Opens, 17s, and 15s age-groups, while the Camden & District Netball Association staged games in Divisions 3 and 4 of the 17s and 15s categories.
There was further success for Newcastle, who won the Weston OAM Country Championship Trophy, awarded to the highest ranked regional team in the top Opens division.
Netball NSW would like to congratulate all the winners and runners up listed below, as well at everyone who participated in another wonderful advertisement for the strength of grassroots netball.
Opens Division 1
Winners: Newcastle
Runners up: Manly Warringah
Opens Division 2
Winners: Ulladulla & Districts
Runners up: Maitland
Pat Weston OAM Country Championship Trophy
Winners: Newcastle
17/U Division 1
Winners: Penrith District
Runners up: Ku-ring-gai
17/U Division 2
Winners: Barellan & District
Runners up: Inner Western Suburbs
17/U Division 3
Winners: Brunswick Byron
Runners up: Coffs Harbour
17/U Division 4
Winners: West Wyalong
Runners up: Narranderra
15/U Division 1
Winners: Liverpool City
Runners up: Penrith District
15/U Division 2
Winners: Ballina
Runners up: Illawarra District
15/U Division 3
Winners: Shoalhaven
Runners up: Nelson Bay
15/U Division 4
Winners: West Wyalong
Runners up: Kurri Kurri

Residents across Sydney will soon have access to new playgrounds, walking trails, and cycleways as part of a $19 million transformation of government-owned land.
The upgrades are the next phase of the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government’s $50 million commitment in the 2019-20 Budget to create new and improved open spaces.
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said communities in Beaumont Hills, Kogarah and Frenchs Forest are next in line to benefit from the investment.
“We want everyone in Greater Sydney to have better access to high-quality open space, given the significant benefits it brings to health and wellbeing,” Mr Stokes said.
Improvements will include $9 million for walking tracks and bike trails in Frenchs Forest; $6 million for a new running track or playground at Kempt Field in Kogarah; and $4 million to add nature trails to open space at Withers Road in Beaumont Hills, as well as pathways between Smalls Creek and Caddies Creek.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the remaining $31 million will be used to upgrade open space in Appin, Ermington, Hurstville, Leppington and Penrith.
“We are also investing $100 million to buy land across the State that will be transformed into parks and playgrounds for communities to enjoy,” Mr Perrottet said.
The announcement of park upgrades coincides with the release of the Greater Sydney Outdoor Survey, which found residents want open spaces that are free, inclusive, and able to be used for activities including walking, picnics, and barbeques.
Mr Stokes said the findings of the survey would help inform how money under the Strategic Open Spaces program will be spent.
“Sydneysiders love the outdoors – whether it be running, hiking, cycling or relaxing at the park with family and friends, so this funding will go a long way to maintaining and improving that lifestyle,” Mr Stokes said.

Every student across NSW will have the opportunity to accelerate their learning and study at higher levels, under a NSW Government plan to lift academic performance at all public schools.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Education Minister Sarah Mitchell unveiled the plan today at Alexandria Park Community School where they also announced a new selective school will be built in southwest Sydney.
Ms Berejiklian said the plan was part of the Government’s ambition for more opportunities, for more students.
“I was a product of a quality public education and would not be where I am today if it weren’t for the excellent teachers who inspired me,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“I want to ensure every child in NSW has the opportunities to be best they can be, no matter where they live or what their circumstances may be.”
Ms Berejiklian said the new selective school in southwest Sydney will provide another option for families in the key growth area.
“We know many students are travelling long distances to attend selective schools,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“There is strong demand for selective schools, with around 15,000 applications for only 4200 places. This new school will provide another convenient local option for these students and their families.”
Ms Berejiklian and Ms Mitchell also outlined two performance-lifting initiatives that will be rolled out in every public school across the State.
The new High Potential and Gifted program will identify students who will benefit from being challenged in areas where they show talent. Under the program, students will have access to a personalised learning approach depending on their ability, and will give them the chance to learn above their age.
In addition to this, the NSW Government’s Bump It Up program will be expanded statewide, providing every school in NSW with tailored targets for improving performance.
Bump It Up is currently in place in 137 schools that have the greatest potential for lifting literacy and numeracy and has been an important part of the Premier’s Priorities to raise academic performance.
The program has already lifted academic performance significantly, with more than a quarter of the first 137 schools achieving their targets in the first year alone.
Under today’s announcement, Bump it Up will be offered in every school and its targets will be expanded to focus on five key areas – literacy, numeracy, wellbeing, equity and attendance.
Ms Mitchell said all students should have equitable access to the support they may need to reach their academic potential.
“These programs not only will help lift academic results, they will help prepare young people for rewarding careers and ventures in the future,” Ms Mitchell said.
“NSW is the largest provider of public education in Australia, and we are committed to ensure that every student – from Gunnedah to Gordon – has access to a top quality education.”
The High Potential and Gifted program will be operating in all public schools in NSW by Day 1, Term 1 2021, and Bump it Up by 2020.

A new state of the art headquarters for the NSW Police Force’s Aviation Support Branch will deliver brand new infrastructure to reduce crime and strengthen community safety.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Police and Emergency Services David Elliott joined Commissioner Mick Fuller and Sydney Metro Airports CEO Lee de Winton to turn the first sod on the 2.5-hectare purpose-built facility at Bankstown Airport today.
NSW Police Force (NSWPF) will be the $35 million centre’s primary tenant, which will be funded by Sydney Metro Airports and will house five PolAir helicopters and three fixed wing aircraft.
Mr Perrottet said the NSW Government is investing $34.7 million this year towards the upgrade of the Pol Air fleet.
“The NSW Liberals and Nationals will continue to assist police in keeping the community safe by supporting search and rescues, operations targeting crime, reconnaissance missions and counter terrorism operations,” he said.
Mr Elliott welcomed the Sydney Metro Airports investment and said the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government would deliver the new helicopters to support police investigations.
“It is vital our police work with the best technologies to keep our communities safe. This centre will be state of the art and the Government will deliver new helicopters to operate out of the facility,” he said.
Ms de Winton said Sydney Metro Airport Bankstown is the proud home to the majority of the region’s emergency air services.
“In an ongoing commitment to this we are pleased to start the construction of this new facility to support the service provided by Police Aviation Support Branch”.
The centre is due to open in July 2020, and the first of three new helicopters will arrive in late 2020