Category: NSW News

Construction on the new Metro West rail line will be accelerated to begin next year – slashing travel times between Parramatta and the city to just 20 minutes.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the decision to bring forward construction is only possible because of the strong economic management of the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government.
“We always said we would build Metro West as fast as possible and today’s announcement shows we mean business,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We have worked our guts out to get the budget in a strong position and now we are able to deliver crucial rail projects like Metro West quicker than anyone thought was possible.
“Metro West will more than double the existing rail capacity between Parramatta and the Sydney CBD and only the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government can be trusted to make it a reality.
“This crucial project will reduce the journey between Parramatta and the city to around 20 minutes, with trains running every two minutes.”
Under the Liberals & Nationals Government there will be stations at Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock, The Bays Precinct and the City. Investigations are continuing into possible stations between Olympic Park and Parramatta such as Rydalmere, and at Pyrmont.
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said Labor can’t be trusted to deliver major infrastructure projects.
“During its time in office Labor promised to build 12 rail lines, but did not deliver a single one in full,” Mr Constance said.
“In fact Labor has promised a Metro to Western Sydney three times since the mid-90s and cancelled it every time. In 2010 they were so incompetent they handed $81 million back to the Federal Government after cancelling it once again.
“We already have the runs on the board. Metro North West will open in May and construction is underway on Sydney Metro City & South West.”
The NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will provide $6.4 billion for Metro West over the four year forward estimates.
“This is more than Labor is providing. Our funding is locked in. Labor is relying on billions of dollars of imaginary federal funding,” Mr Constance said.
Metro West is expected to take around eight years to complete from the start of construction. The final schedule for the project will be confirmed on completion of the final business case.

More than 14,000 extra weekly bus services will be delivered under a NSW Liberals & Nationals Government over the next four years to improve services across Sydney, the Illawarra, Hunter and Central Coast.
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said the NSW Liberals & Nationals have worked hard to improve bus services across the State and this commitment would take the total number of services added since we were elected to 50,000.
“We will continue our record investment in public transport by adding thousands of extra weekly bus services to boost service frequency and the hours buses operate,” Mr Constance said.
“More people than ever before are using the bus network. Patronage has risen by almost 55 per cent over the past eight years, from 214 million trips a year to 332 million trips.
“By putting on more bus services we are making it easier for commuters to leave their cars at home easing congestion on our roads.”
Suburbs that will benefit from the extra bus services include Riverstone, Schofields, Leppington, Macquarie Park, The Entrance, Raymond Terrace, and Shellharbour.
Member for Holsworthy Melanie Gibbons said the new bus services will be better aligned to connect with local train stations, including those along the new Sydney Metro line.
“The NSW Liberals & Nationals are building a better public transport network having already added more than 32,000 weekly bus services across the State,” Mr Constance said.
“In contrast, when Labor was last in Government they cancelled 1,500 weekly bus services.”
Liberal Candidate for Liverpool Paul Zadro welcomed the commitment to improve services in Liverpool.
“We have seen substantial growth in Liverpool so I want to see a focus on boosting service frequency and the hours buses operate in our community,” Mr Zadro said.

A further 68 train stations will receive upgrades such as new lifts, ramps and footbridges to make them more accessible under a NSW Liberals & Nationals Government.
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government’s strong economic management has made it possible for the total investment in the Transport Access Program (TAP).
“We are committed to making public transport accessible for all customers, including those with a disability, the less mobile and parents with prams,” Mr Constance said.
“Currently more than 90 per cent of customer journeys are accessible but we want to make sure everyone can access public transport easily and with dignity.
“When we came to Government accessible public transport had been neglected. Labor was only doing two access upgrades a year and it would have taken them 90 years to upgrade all stations on the network.”
The funding to be delivered by the NSW Liberals & Nationals will supercharge the station upgrade program and include upgrades at Dapto, Faulconbridge, Tuggerah, East Hills, Point Clare, Moss Vale, Goulburn, Griffith, Dubbo and Queanbeyan.
Five stations between Sydenham and Bankstown will also become accessible for the first time as part of Sydney Metro, upgrades Labor has vowed to cancel.
“We have delivered 52 wheelchair accessible train stations since 2011 and we will deliver dozens more as we keep cutting through Labor’s backlog,” Mr Constance said.
“Our Government listened to communities across the state and we know accessible transport is key to good quality of life so we made these upgrades a top priority.”
Member for Penrith Stuart Ayres welcomed the commitment to improve access at Kingswood station.
“This is a big issue for my community, which I have been campaigning for and I am so pleased we can make this station accessible,” Mr Ayres said.
The NSW Government is working to deliver safe, modern and accessible public transport infrastructure statewide. The program provides new lifts, ramps and footbridges across the network to achieve this.

Previously announced station upgrades
Rooty Hill Edgecliff Millthorpe North Strathfield Kingswood Hazelbrook Wyee Blayney Mittagong Clarendon Hawkesbury River	Wahroonga Taree Roseville Glenbrook Beecroft Como Bexley North Fairy Meadow Petersham Waratah
Additional station upgrades
Warrawee Canley Vale Birrong Dapto Wollstonecraft St Peters Blackheath Yagoona Banksia Ourimbah Lisarow Niagara Park Narara Lapstone Waitara Faulconbridge Towradgi Erskineville Pymble Stanmore Point Clare Tuggerah	East Hills Denistone Goulburn Normanhurst Thornleigh Bellambi Dubbo Armidale Griffith Moree Queanbeyan Grafton Narrabri Parkes Gunnedah Casino Wauchope Redfern Moss Vale Unanderra
Currently non-accessible stations being upgraded by Sydney Metro
Dulwich Hill Hurlstone Park Canterbury	Wiley Park Punchbowl

Kids sick with cancer or needing emergency care are set to benefit from Australia’s first Comprehensive Children’s Cancer Centre and a rebuild of the Children’s Hospital at Randwick.
The $608 million investment overseen by the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will transform cancer care, and add more than 50 per cent to the size of the Sydney Children’s Hospital at Randwick, with a new Emergency Department among the additions.
A funding commitment of $428 million from the NSW Liberals and Nationals Government, $100 million from the Commonwealth Government, $30 million from the University of New South Wales, $25 million from Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation and $25 million from the Children’s Cancer Institute are contributing to the historic establishment of the Comprehensive Children’s Cancer Centre and redevelopment of the hospital.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said this significant investment was possible only because of the strong economic management of the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government.
“The Comprehensive Children’s Cancer Centre brings clinical care, research and teaching together in the one place.  Importantly, that means better outcomes for kids and for NSW it cements our position as a world leader in care for children with cancer”, Mr Hazzard said.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said today’s announcement will give children for the first time the same level of integrated cancer care experienced by adults.
“If your child is battling cancer, you want to know that the latest research is translating into effective treatment as fast as possible.  This Centre will ensure kids have that next level care with many experts working together on the same campus,” Mr Hunt said.
The investment in both the CCCC and the redevelopment of the Children’s Hospital is projected to create more than 6080 direct and indirect jobs.
“All of those jobs will be great for the area and for the economy and they build on the Liberals & Nationals’ strong track record when it comes to delivering health infrastructure.  Our government has already built or upgraded more than 100 hospitals and other health facilities across the State,” Mr Hazzard said.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the Federal Government is investing significant funding into medical research and this collaborative model is the exciting model of the future.
“Children will receive the finest possible care in both general medicine and specialist cancer treatment and research,” Mr Hunt said.
The project will be built over two levels.  On the ground floor will be a brand new Emergency Department as well as new short stay units while above it will be the Comprehensive Children’s Cancer Centre, bringing the very latest in research from the laboratory bench to the bedside.
“For staff too, they will have all of the opportunities that come with having state of the art facilities so they can continue the wonderful work they already do looking after our kids,” Mr Hazzard said.
Today’s announcement is on top of the $720 million investment already announced for the redevelopment Prince of Wales Hospital also at Randwick, bringing the total value of the site works to $1.3 billion.
The Member for Coogee, Bruce Notley-Smith, said when completed, the expanded Children’s Hospital would be integrated with a new Acute Services Building and the recently announced $250 million University of NSW Health Translational Hub.
“Randwick will host a Health and Education Precinct that will be the envy of the world.  When you combine these substantial investments and the calibre of our health clinicians and academics, you can expect an incredible result,” Mr Notley-Smith said.
“Our community can have peace of mind that we have the very best healthcare available in the world, close to home.”

A former police officer has been charged following investigations into an alleged sexual assault.
Between July and August 2013, it’s alleged a woman was sexually assaulted by a police officer in southern Sydney.
The senior constable was on-duty at the time.
Following inquiries by the Professional Standards Command, a 43-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday (27 February 2019).
He was charged with sexual assault without consent and was given bail to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on 20 March 2019.
The man is no longer a member of the NSW Police Force.

Sydney’s new underground CBD metro railway stations are taking shape about 25 metres under the centre of the city where new platform caverns and pedestrian tunnels are being excavated.
The gamechanging Sydney Metro City & Southwest project is the first new rail line through Sydney since the 1970s and will massively cut travel times for commuters across the whole system.
The Sydney Metro projects in the Northwest, City & Southwest have also created more than 20,000 jobs, while the NSW Government’s record infrastructure program has created more than 100,000 jobs.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance today met some of the Sydney Metro workers and had the first look at major construction work at the Martin Place Metro Station.
“It’s incredible to see the progress that’s been made by machines and workers underground with thousands of pedestrians moving aboveground,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Two roadheader tunnelling machines are working 24-7 to excavate the new Martin Place station, which stretches underground between Hunter Street and Martin Place.
“This project is really taking shape and when it opens, customers in the heart of Sydney’s CBD will be more connected than ever before.”
Mr Constance said the Martin Place metro platform caverns will be about 220 metres long, 16 metres high and 14 metres wide when fully lined with concrete.
“Roadheaders and about 95 workers have already excavated more than 166,620 tonnes of crushed rock at Martin Place – enough to fill about 26 Olympic swimming pools,” Mr Constance said.
“They are also digging underground pedestrian connections to the existing Eastern Suburbs Line, making it easier to get around our great city.
“This once again shows that only the NSW Liberals & Nationals Government will deliver Metro rail across Sydney.
“When Labor was last in office they announced 12 rail projects. They did not deliver a single one in full and they are already promising to cancel the Sydenham to Bankstown Metro upgrade.”
Sydney Metro will deliver a turn-up-and-go train service up to every two minutes to the four train stations being built in the Sydney CBD – Martin Place, Pitt Street, Barangaroo and Central.
Sydney Metro Northwest is on track to open in the coming months and is at least half a billion dollars under budget. It includes 13 Metro stations and 4000 commuter car parking spaces.
Metro rail is being extended from the north west, into the CBD and beyond to Bankstown in 2024, delivering Sydney 31 metro stations and a 66km standalone metro railway line.

Ferry customers are set to receive new vessels, more frequent services and a trial of On Demand journeys after the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government today announced Transdev has been awarded the contract to continue the operation of Sydney Ferry services for the next nine years.
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said the significant improvements across the ferry network will also save the state’s taxpayers $40 million over the life of the contract.
“We know Sydneysiders and tourists love the ferries, they are a wonderful way to get around this city. This new contract is all about delivering better services to make travelling on the harbour and Parramatta River even more attractive,” Mr Constance said.
“Customers are really going to be the big winners. We are already delivering around 3,400 weekly services and there are now plans to create more than 400 additional weekly services across the network over the next two years.
“This includes almost 280 extra weekly trips on the growing F3 Parramatta River route. That’ll mean wharves like Sydney Olympic Park, Meadowbank and Cabarita receive a service every 10 minutes during the busiest peak hour and every 20 minutes during the day and on weekends.”
To service this route at least ten new Parramatta River Class ferries will be ordered to provide additional capacity.
“We’ll also order three more of the popular Emerald Class ferries to support the growing demand across the harbour,” Mr Constance said.
Other improvements will include:

• Improved frequency by merging the F2 Taronga and F6 Mosman routes for services every 20 minutes, compared to the current 30 minutes.
• Rose Bay and Watsons Bay will see more services in the evenings on weekends, as well as expanded service hours on weeknights and;
• Improved frequency in the off peak and on weekend nights for customers at McMahons Point and Milsons Point.

In great news for customers in the inner west, a trial of a new On Demand ferry in the Bays Precinct will start later this year using a new MiniCat vessel.
“The On Demand ferry trial will connect wharves like Rozelle Bay and Blackwattle Bay to larger transport interchanges like Pyrmont and Barangaroo where they can join either a main ferry route, or jump on to a bus,” Mr Constance.
The learnings from the On Demand ferry trial will then be used to refine the service and potentially introduce additional On Demand zones.
Transdev Sydney Ferries, formerly operating as Harbour City Ferries, was awarded the contract to continue operating Sydney ferry services following a competitive tender process.
“Since Transdev took over running Sydney Ferries in 2012, On Time Running and customer satisfaction are the highest they have ever been and I’m certain the popularity of ferries will only grow.”
Since 2011, the NSW Government has created almost 400 additional weekly services across the Sydney ferry network. The new contract commences on 28 July 2019.

The NSW Liberals investment in ICC Sydney has delivered a significant boost to the NSW economy and cemented the State’s reputation as a world class events destination, with new figures released today showing the venue has created more than 5000 jobs (directly and indirectly) since its opening in December 2016.
According to a Deloitte Access Economics study, visitors who attended events at the venue in 2018, generated $820 million in direct expenditure for the State, up from the $785 million generated in 2017. The venue also welcomed more than 1.3 million visitors across 700 events in 2018.
Minister for Finance, Services and Property Victor Dominello said the results demonstrated the remarkable success of the ICC Sydney since its opening a little over two years ago.
“The venue has enriched Darling Harbour, transforming it into an economic powerhouse, and put Sydney on the map as Australia’s number one destination for events and exhibitions,” Mr Dominello said.
“The figures speak for themselves – ICC Sydney is a big win for Sydney, providing visitors with world class events, and boosting the economy and creating jobs.”
Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said the 2018 results build on an impressive first year for the venue, with plenty more exciting events planned for 2019 and beyond.
“72 per cent of the generated expenditure in 2018 was derived from international and interstate visitors, resulting in over 1.57 million overnight stays in Sydney,” Mr Marshall said.
“The venue has already secured a further 1,300 leading major national and international events across sectors to 2030. This is great news and will create a huge economic stimulus for NSW into the future, with hotels, restaurants, cafes, shops, bars, tour and transport operators all set to benefit.”
The $1.5 billion development, which comprises an industry leading convention centre, exhibition centre and major entertainment theatre, is a key component of the NSW Government’s recent suite of infrastructure projects.
The ICC Sydney has been key to boosting international visitors to NSW. Since 2011 this boost in international visitors has helped NSW to add 611,300 jobs, more jobs than any other state. The NSW unemployment rate is now 3.9 per cent, the lowest rate since records began in 1978, and the lowest of any state. By comparison, the unemployment rate in the rest of Australia is 5.5 per cent.

The NSW Liberals & Nationals will deliver an additional 100,000 free TAFE and VET courses over the next four years and build a new $80 million state of the art TAFE campus for Western Sydney to train the next generation of tradies in carpentry, construction, electrical and plumbing.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the 100,000 additional places and new TAFE campus would help young job seekers launch careers and also benefit those looking to retrain, upskill or return to the workforce.
“There is an unprecedented demand for more skilled workers in NSW thanks to our booming economy, record low unemployment rate of 3.9 percent, and unprecedented $90 billion investment in new infrastructure,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“This brings the total number of free TAFE and VET courses we are offering over the next four years to nearly 700,000 places.
“We know the costs associated with further education and training can be prohibitive, so these additional free courses will ensure people who wish to access training to start their career or secure another job have the best opportunity.”
The 100,000 additional courses will be made up of 70,000 new fee-free courses for young job-seekers taking on traineeships and 30,000 free TAFE places for matureaged workers seeking to retrain or re-enter the workforce.
The new Western Sydney TAFE will produce 700 new tradies each year and deliver specialised training in construction trades with key skills shortages, such as carpentry, construction, electrical and plumbing.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Skills John Barilaro said the new places were on top of the almost 150,000 free apprenticeship, TAFE and VET courses already offered each year.
“As a former tradie I know first-hand just how rewarding a career in a trade can be, and how important it is to give people a chance to get a start in life,” Mr Barilaro said.
“These courses will help the next generation of job seekers to join the workforce. “We are going to deliver around 700,000 free TAFE and VET courses over the next four years to people right across NSW with a focus on those who need it most.”
Minister responsible for TAFE NSW Adam Marshall said the new TAFE campus in Western Sydney would boost TAFE’s ability to train the State’s future tradies. “Already we’re seeing soaring demand for construction trade enrolments at TAFE thanks to our infrastructure boom and with these additional free courses you can be assured we’ll see even more demand,” Mr Marshall said.
“This commitment to TAFE and VET will ensure there is a pipeline of skilled workers to keep driving the NSW economy forward and get the job done.” Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said being able to invest in more fee-free training and better TAFE facilities was a direct result of a strong NSW economy with near record low unemployment.
“The NSW economy is booming, we have added more than 420,000 jobs in the past four years, and set an ambitious target of 250,000 new jobs,” Mr Perrottet said. “Many of those jobs will be working on projects which result directly from our infrastructure projects right across NSW.
“It’s only through our strong financial management that we are able to not only deliver free courses for hundreds of thousands of people, but ensure there are jobs for people when they complete their training.” The location of the new Western Sydney TAFE is yet to be determined.

Home-grown IT giant Atlassian is set to become an anchor tenant at Sydney’s Sydney Innovation and Technology Precinct located at Central-Eveleigh with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian today announcing initiatives across four employment precincts.
Ms Berejiklian and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet joined Atlassian Co-CEO Scott Farquhar to announce Atlassian and the NSW Government have reached an agreement in principle for the tech leader to create a new home for their Sydney headquarters near Central Station.
“The Sydney Innovation and Technology Precinct will become the digital destination for all of Australia with thousands of people working and learning, and I am delighted Atlassian will be part of this future,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We have a record low unemployment rate of 3.9 percent in NSW but we will not rest on our laurels. We will create 250,000 new jobs across the next four years, and these employment precincts will play an important role contributing to that total.”
Ms Berejiklian revealed key initiatives in three other precincts:

• A statement of intent has been signed with three universities to create the Liverpool Health and Innovation Precinct based around the $740 million redeveloped Liverpool Hospital. This precinct will be a partnership between the South Western Sydney Local Health District, University of New South Wales, University of Wollongong and Western Sydney University and the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Science.
• $12.5 million in funding to develop a Nuclear Medicine and Technology Hub in partnership with the Australian Nuclear Science Technology Organisation in Lucas Heights in Sydney’s south which will create up to 5000 jobs.
• The creation of an integrated Central Coast Education and Employment Precinct around a revitalised Gosford CBD with increased education and job opportunities.

“These precincts will bring together universities, major hospitals, industry leaders and startups to deliver more job opportunities across Sydney and the Central Coast,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We want Western and South Western Sydney and the Central Coast to have the best jobs and the best education opportunities, and these new precincts will deliver that.”
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said creating the environment for innovation and entrepreneurship would provide opportunity for the next generation.
“It’s vital we take advantage of the strong economic position NSW is in to create opportunity for the future and keep growing NSW,” Mr Perrottet said.
“We have Australia’s most diverse economy, and one of the great strengths of NSW is our ability to innovate and develop new businesses both for today but also for the next generation.”
These four precincts are in addition to six other major precincts that the Government is delivering across NSW:

• Western Sydney Airport Aerospace and Defence Industries Precinct.
• Westmead Health and Education Precinct.
• Randwick Health and Education Precinct.
• Williamtown Defence Aerospace and Aviation Precinct.
• Parkes Special Activation Precinct.
• Wagga Wagga Special Activation Precinct.