Month: May 2020

The NSW Government has today released its plan to provide a COVID-safe transport network.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said as restrictions are eased and people travel more, we need to ensure physical distancing is maintained across our public transport network.
“As we ease restrictions, we will see more activity and more people returning to work, school and university,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Our number one priority remains keeping commuters safe so we are ensuring there are plenty of safe and efficient options to get people moving throughout our State during the pandemic.”
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said for the foreseeable future, the public transport system could not run as usual, and the current low patronage levels were already close to the safe capacity in the peak.
“Everyone will need to maintain physical distancing during this pandemic,” Mr Constance said.
“That means if you are not already using public transport during the peak times, please do not use public transport during peak periods.”
The NSW Government’s COVIDSafe Transport Plan includes:

• Avoiding peak travel: If you are not already using public transport in the peak, please do NOT use public transport in the peak. Services are already close to capacity to allow for distancing at these times. Off peak times are between 10am and 2pm;
• Deep cleaning and more hand sanitisers: Intense and ongoing cleaning will occur throughout the transport network and there will be a continued rollout of hand sanitiser at key transport hubs, including at high demand stations;
• Boosting parking: Special event-style parking arrangements will be in place at Moore Park for people who are able to drive to work. Other locations will be rolled out soon. In addition car park operators will be offering special deals for all day parking;
• More cycling and walking options: The Government is working with councils on establishing pop-up cycleways and enhancing pedestrian access to allow more people to find alternative routes to work;
• Physical distancing – ‘No dot, no spot’: Distinctive green dots will be used on trains, buses and ferries to show passengers the safest places to sit and stand. A ‘No dot, no spot’ will see passengers asked to wait for the next service. School children will be given priority access;
• More data: Customers to be given real time information through Apps, social media and Transport Info to see which services have space available to maintain physical distancing; and
• More services: Changes will be considered to increase services eg; more ferries, water taxis and private vehicle passenger services on the water.

Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said cleaning continues to be ramped up, with an extra 132,000 hours of cleaning since March.
“The network has never been cleaner, however to maintain physical distancing you will continue to see fewer people on our network and we want people to continue to drive, cycle and walk whenever they can,” Mr Constance said.
“We will be monitoring patronage and have staff at key locations across the metropolitan area to assist customers.”
Ms Berejiklian said it is important the community continues to come together to slow the spread of COVID-19.
“Our frontline transport staff have been doing an amazing job during this unprecedented time and I urge you to keep giving them your respect and understanding,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“Be prepared your trip will look different and please consider all options available before you start your journey.”

The NSW Government will fast-track the delivery of new fit-for-purpose social housing properties across the State through a pilot program aimed at getting high-quality affordable housing built quickly.
Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said about 100 new one and two storey homes will be constructed on around 50 suitable sites scattered across metropolitan and regional areas through the Fast-Tracked Social Housing Pilot Program.
“This initiative will deliver more well-designed homes and provide new social housing faster and more efficiently,” Mrs Pavey said.
“This pilot will deliver suitable housing that complies with rigorous design and building standards and Councils’ zoning rules three time faster than traditional processes – speeding up the delivery of new well-designed homes across NSW by up to a year.
Small scale dual occupancy homes and manor houses with backyards for families will be built on underutilised lots.
Mrs Pavey said these types of homes can provide attractive and affordable housing for our society’s most vulnerable across the State.
“The Government’s pilot program will not only provide well-designed quality homes for those in need, it will help stimulate the NSW economy and create much-needed construction jobs.”
Housing Industry Association NSW Executive Director David Bare said the pilot program is a great initiative by the NSW Government to showcase the type and quality of low-rise medium-density housing that the industry can deliver.
HomeWorld Chair Mike Scott said his organisation strongly supports the Pilot Program as another means of delivering more much-needed social housing, working with the NSW Government.
The Pilot Program forms part of the NSW Government’s Future Directions Policy for Social Housing – a 10-year plan to drive better outcomes for tenants by providing more and better social housing.
The NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) will work with project home builders to deliver ‘off-the-shelf’ designed properties at a reduced cost to taxpayers, through the Pilot Program.
The NSW Government is calling on project home builders with suitable expertise in designing and building dual occupancies and manor houses to lodge an Expression of Interest application.
For more information and to lodge an application visit here.

Patients at hospital emergency departments and COVID-19 clinics will benefit from an $8.6 million expansion of the NSW Government’s award-winning Patient Experience Program.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said an additional 86 staff will be recruited to 50 hospitals across NSW, with COVID-19 clinics a priority, as part of the Australian-first program.
“This valuable program has proven to be a huge help to patients and carers during what is often a very worrying time, ensuring they receive all the information and support they need from the minute they arrive in our care,” Mr Hazzard said.
“The additional full-time staff will welcome patients and their families and provide them with directions and information about what to expect at each stage of their care and treatment. The extra support will go a long way as we continue to combat COVID-19.”
The funding boost to the Patient Experience Program is part of the NSW Government’s $800 million investment to support the health system’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including significantly increasing capacity in NSW public hospitals, particularly in ICUs.
As part of the program patients receive:

• access to free Wi-Fi, mobile phone charging stations, additional power points, water and other refreshments
• information sent to their mobile device about what to expect during their stay
• fact sheets on their particular condition/ treatment options
• ongoing care instructions after discharge, available in multiple languages.

Advice in multiple languages will also be given on safety, hygiene and COVID-19 symptoms.
The Patient Experience Program was piloted for six months at Blacktown, Liverpool, Nepean and Lismore hospitals and won the 2019 NSW Premier’s Award for world-class customer service.
For more information visit: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Performance/Pages/experience.aspx
The new 86 positions will be based at the hospitals in the following Local Health Districts and Specialty Networks

Local Health District/Speciality Network	Emergency Departments and COVID Clinics
Sydney Local Health District	RPA, Concord, Canterbury
Northern Sydney Local Health District	RNS, Ryde, Hornsby
Western Sydney Local Health District	Blacktown, Westmead, Auburn, Mount Druitt
Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District	Nepean
St Vincent’s	St Vincent’s
Illawarra Local Health District	Shoalhaven, Shellharbour, Wollongong
Southern Local Health District	Bega, Goulburn
North Coast Local Health District	Lismore, Ballina, Grafton, Tweed
Mid North Coast Local Health District	Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie
Children’s Hospital Network	Sydney Children’s and Children’s Westmead
Murrumbidgee Local Health District	Wagga , Griffith
Hunter New England Local Health District	John Hunter, Taree, Moree, Cessnock, Maitland, Calvary Mater, Tamworth, Armidale Belmont
Western Local Health District	Orange, Bathurst, Dubbo
Central Coast Local Health District	Gosford, Wyong
Far West Local Health District	Broken Hill
South Eastern Local Health District	POW, St George, Sutherland, Sydney Hospital
South Western Local Health District	Liverpool, Fairfield, Bankstown, Campbelltown, Bowral

More than 1,200 people who were sleeping rough in NSW have been helped into temporary accommodation through the rapid expansion of assertive outreach to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said this presents an opportunity to help some of the community’s most vulnerable people break the cycle of disadvantage by assisting them into longer-term accommodation.
“Our intense work since the beginning of April has resulted in many people sleeping rough accepting the offer of temporary accommodation for the first time in their lives,” Mr Ward said.
“While this is a positive outcome, now that these people have a roof over their head and a safe place to stay, we want to work with them to plan for the future and, where we can, assist them to secure a safe and stable home.”
As part of the Government’s $10 million investment in charities, Neami National will receive an additional $3 million to extend support services for people in the Greater Sydney area living in temporary accommodation as part of the effort to find permanent housing solutions.
Neami National CEO Tom Dalton said the collective response during the pandemic builds on the existing networks within the community.
“These connections are critical in supporting people to move into longer-term housing. This commitment provides us with the opportunity to work with each person to understand their needs and help identify the right support for them,” Mr Dalton said.
“We can assist people to find longer term housing and the right services that provide support to improve health, wellbeing and independence.”
In addition, the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) is working intensively with Specialist Homelessness Services in regional and rural NSW to assist people in temporary accommodation into longer-term housing.
These initiatives align with the NSW Government’s commitment to halve street sleeping by 2025 as part of its Premier’s Priorities.

In the past 24 hours, one person has been issued with a Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN) under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) COVID-19.
Yesterday’s PINs:

• About 9.30pm yesterday (Friday 15 May 2020), Traffic and Highway Patrol officers were patrolling Emu Plains when they stopped and spoke to a 19-year-old man on Mitchell’s Pass. The man could not provide a reasonable excuse for leaving home and was issued a $1000 PIN.