May 2020 – Page 14

Opening of 100th COVID-19 GP-Led Respiratory Clinic

The 100th GP-led respiratory clinic opens today in Mudgee, New South Wales, as part of the Australian Government’s $2.4 billion health response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Since the first GP-led respiratory clinics opened in Macquarie Park and Morayfield on the 21st March, more than 100 clinics have since opened around the country to assess and test patients with mild to moderate COVID-19-like symptoms, reducing pressure on hospital emergency departments and local general practices.
Clinics in Wodonga and Morwell in Victoria; and Hazelbrook in NSW also opened today.
Throughout Australia there are now 436 clinics operating nationwide that include:

102 GP led respiratory clinics funded by the Commonwealth
305 state fever clinics funded jointly by the Commonwealth and States
29 ADF clinics funded by the Commonwealth.

The clinics supplement a range of measures, including additional practice incentives and the expansion of telehealth, to enable the medical workforce to continue to care for Australians through the pandemic.
“While Australians and our wonderful health professionals have done an outstanding job of containing the virus so far, we need to be prepared for further cases,” Minister for Health, Greg Hunt said.
“With 100 GP-led respiratory clinics open across all states, with more on the way, we will be extremely well-prepared to stamp out any new outbreaks, wherever they occur.
“In collaboration with the states and territories, these clinics have been rolled out extremely fast since the initiative was announced on 11 March.
“This has only been possible because of the dedication and professionalism of our GPs, their staff and their representative organisations, all of whom deserve our thanks.”
Regional Health Minister, Mark Coulton said the clinics are helping to ensure rural patients with mild respiratory issues could see a doctor, without putting other patients at risk, almost half of the clinics are located in regional, rural or remote areas.
“Regional Australians are doing a brilliant job of protecting their communities by following the advice of experts, however if you have a fever, cough, sore throat or other respiratory symptoms, I urge you to make an appointment at one of these clinics to get tested,” he said.
“Regional people and communities must remain vigilant as we see the number of cases decline and continue to practice good hygiene and social distancing.
“It’s equally important that people keep appointments and continue to consult their doctor without delay if they have a non-COVID related health issues.
“I’ve convened regular roundtables to ensure our response recognises the unique challenges in rural and remote areas, and I acknowledge the work of the Rural Health Commissioner supporting local doctors to establish these GP clinics.
Included in the 100 operational clinics are nine Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS)-led clinics. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are significantly overrepresented in the high-risk categories for COVID-19 – including through a much higher burden of respiratory and other chronic diseases. A further seven ACCHS-led clinics are being offered contracts.
“It is critical that respiratory Clinics are easily accessible to ensure safe and culturally supportive screening and follow-up care management,” Minister Hunt said.
All Australians are encouraged to download the COVIDSafe app to improve tracing and help keep more people safe.
The respiratory clinics have thorough infection prevention and control protocols to minimise the risk of transmission of COVID-19. They provide assessments and testing for all people with symptoms to detect cases and allow them to be isolated as early as possible.
Patients attending a GP-led respiratory clinic should make a booking via the online booking system on health.gov.au or by phoning their nearest clinic.

COVID-19 costs City of Newcastle $18m

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on City of Newcastle’s finances is forecast to be $18 million by the end of June.
The March Quarterly Budget Review Statement to be considered by the elected Council later this month forecasts that City of Newcastle’s income will fall by $17.849 million at 30 June, when compared to the most recent budget update three months ago.
The impact of COVID-19 on the City’s bottom line is furthered through the Council-approved $5.5 million community support program that commenced in April and runs until the end of June.
A second round of support measures in response to COVID-19 will be announced next month as part of the 2020/21 budget.
The overall impact on this year’s (2019/2020) budget is now forecast to be an $8.33 million deficit. This compares to a forecast $4.138 million surplus immediately prior to the state and nation-wide lockdown measures started in March to contain the spread of COVID-19.
City of Newcastle will fund the $8.33 million budget deficit via its existing reserves.
The $18 million reduction in the City’s forecast income for this year is spread across multiple areas of City of Newcastle’s services and includes:

Reduced waste volumes to the Summerhill Waste Management Centre
Loss of ticket sales from the closure of Civic Theatre
Loss of bookings from the almost-complete closure of the Stockton Beach Holiday Park
Reduced Newcastle Airport dividend
Reduced income from investments
Reduced parking meter revenue
Reduced traffic infringements.

City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath said despite the $18 million COVID-19 hit, the organisation’s long-term financial sustainability remained sound.
“Just like the majority of businesses and organisations in our city and region, our income has been significantly affected by COVID-19,” Mr Bath said.
“However, because of the prudent management of the City’s finances in recent years, we have the ability to get through this economic downturn, all be it with a budget deficit this year.
“Our focus over the remainder of this year and next year will be to carefully manage our finances in order to respond to COVID-19, as well as fund projects aimed at supporting the local economy.
“We know that in times of significant economic downturn, the most effective way of supporting the local recovery is to fund community infrastructure. It’s for this reason that City of Newcastle will not take its foot off the pedal of our capital works program, which this year will be a historic $100 million.
“In March, Councillors unanimously adopted a $5.5 million Community and Economic Resilience Package.
“Among a broad range of support for our community, we have already initiated a $800,000 grants program to empower the community sector to support the most vulnerable, as well as offered interest-free rate deferrals for 15 months, and a 50 per cent discount to those small businesses renting a City-owned building.”
For the latest updates on the City of Newcastle’s response to the COVID-19 and changes to services, visit www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/covid-19

Our plan to save Stockton Beach is now on public exhibition

Using offshore sand to save Stockton Beach will protect local homes and community land from the threat of coastal erosion as well as protect $2.5 million in public assets.
This is the finding of a cost benefit analysis undertaken as part of the Stockton Coastal Management Program (CMP), which concludes initial actions to address coastal erosion will cost $19 million over five years, in addition to the requirement for mass offshore sand nourishment which will take an estimated $21 million investment followed by $12 million in maintenance every decade.
Coastal engineers have recommended an initial mass marine sand nourishment campaign of 2.4 million cubic metres to restore the beach and protect coastal assets. It also identifies actions to take over the next 12 months to address immediate risks, while the NSW Deputy Premier’s Stockton Erosion Taskforce determines a legal pathway to secure the required volume of sand from approximately two kilometres offshore.
Research undertaken as part of the CMP has also found that 112,000 cubic metres of sand is being lost each year, far more than previously estimated.
Immediate actions include an initial sand nourishment program of 50,000 cubic metres from land-based (or other permissible) sources, while undertaking essential protection works to the ends of existing seawalls to address the imminent risk of losing both private property and community assets.
The draft Stockton Coastal Management Program is based on years of engagement with the local community, includes the latest expert engineering advice, and provides a way forward that has sand nourishment as the cornerstone of the program.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the Stockton CMP struck a balance between the needs of a sandy beach for the community to enjoy, and protecting coastal assets and properties from erosion.
“The call for mass sand nourishment for both beach amenity and asset protection has been very clear, and through cost-benefit analysis we’ve confirmed this option stacks up with a $2.5 million return on investment,” the Lord Mayor said.
“We’re thankful the NSW Government and in particular the Deputy Premier has recognised the importance of this issue and has committed to using its many agencies to deliver a mechanism to get sand onto Stockton Beach.
“We are now at a critical point in delivering an outcome for Stockton which is why it’s so important for the community to have their say on the plan before it goes to the NSW Government at the end of June.”
Members of the Stockton Community Liaison Group (CLG), which was formed in 2018 and has met formally 21 times, stressed the importance of the public exhibition period.
Barbara Whitcher, Chair, Stockton Community Liaison Group, Stockton resident:
“It’s my hope that the Stockton CMP is considered by the broader community in context, that is City of Newcastle defining its preferred long-term management option while addressing what it can do now.
“Now is our chance to present a united front between the Stockton community and City of Newcastle so we can get the outcome we need,” Ms Whitcher said.
Simon Jones, President, Northside Boardriders, Stockton resident:
“I’m glad that the plan put forward is one which is focussed on returning the sandy beach that I enjoyed as a kid so as the next generation of Stockton can swim, surf, fish and make friends on the beach like we did.
“While the Stockton CLG represents a good cross-section of the community, it’s so important that the broader community takes advantage of this public exhibition period to have their say,” Mr Jones said.
Professor Ron Boyd, Professor Earth Sciences, Stockton resident:
“The Stockton CLG has been providing technical background for the local community and also giving plenty of feedback to City of Newcastle on issues that are important to Stockton.
“My hope is that the Stockton community can achieve some agreement through the public exhibition process so that we provide a consensus position to City of Newcastle and as a result, generate a strong Coastal Management Program submitted to the State Government,” Professor Boyd said.
Callan Nickerson, Stockton Surf Lifesaving Club President and CLG member:
“While it has been a sometimes-frustrating process, City of Newcastle has listened and recognised the importance of the beach to Stockton’s identity and the wellbeing of the community,” Mr Nickerson said.
Every coastal council in the State is currently preparing a CMP in line with the NSW Coastal Management Act 2016, with a deadline of December 2021.
City of Newcastle will become one of the first to submit a CMP at the end of June, in line with a direction from the Local Government Minister.
The Stockton CMP is on public exhibition until 10 June 2020.
You can view the draft Stockton CMP at www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au/stockton.
Key facts:

The Stockton CMP area stretches from the northern harbour breakwall to Meredith Street.
Sand lost from the Stockton CMP area is now estimated at 112,000 cubic metres per year, which is far more than previous estimates.
The required volume of sand for mass nourishment for the Stockton CMP area is estimated to be between 1.8 and 4.5 million cubic metres initially, depending on the sand source, followed by maintenance campaigns every decade, making marine offshore sand the only viable source.
Existing seawalls at Stockton will be repaired, while also being extended at each end with minimal buried structures to protect private and public assets from immediate risk.

Key figures:

Delivering the initial 50,000 cubic metre sand nourishment from available land (or other permissible) sources, protection structures, and other seawall maintenance and associated work is expected to cost $9 million in the first year and a total of $19 million over five years.
Mass offshore sand nourishment is expected to cost $21 million for an initial campaign followed by maintenance campaigns every 10 years at $12 million.

NSW GOVERNMENT EXTENDS FEE-FREE COURSES TO HELP BUSHFIRE IMPACTED COMMUNITIES

The NSW Government further extends its support to the communities recovering from bushfires with a range of fee-free vocational education courses, following an initial suite of courses announced earlier this year on the South Coast.
Fee-free courses are being introduced in areas such as Port Macquarie, West Kempsey, Wauchope, Tuncurry, Taree, Macksville, Cooma and Tumut. Courses available range from First Aid, White Card, Chainsaw and Fell Trees, Dozer Operations and more.
Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said more than 500 people were enrolled in the fee-free courses in the South Coast.
“One of the best ways we can support disaster affected communities is with practical training programs,” Mr Lee said.
“These courses will equip communities with the skills they need as they rebuild and repair critical infrastructure such as homes and businesses. They also create new employment opportunities to assist locals to get back on their feet.
“The training will be delivered by TAFE NSW and other Registered Training Organisations.”
For more information about the range of fee-free courses available to bushfire affected communities, visit www.training.nsw.gov.au or call 13 28 11.

BILLION-DOLLAR REVAMP ON THE WAY FOR MT DRUITT CBD

The NSW Government has today announced the approval of a $1.49 billion revamp of the Mt Druitt CBD, which will create 15,000 jobs and breathe new life into Western Sydney.
The green light for the rezoning proposal paves the way for more than 2,800 new homes to be built in the precinct, as well as new cafés, restaurants, retail outlets and commercial space in taller buildings.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the Mt Druitt CBD rezoning was one of the first projects to have its assessment fast-tracked as part the Planning System Acceleration Program that is keeping people in jobs and the economy moving during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This project has been three years in the making and marks the beginning of an exciting new future for Western Sydney,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“More than 2,900 construction jobs will be created to build this vibrant new hub, as well as thousands more permanent jobs as the new CBD comes to life.”
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said the Mt Druitt CBD rezoning is the sixth project to be determined through the Government’s new fast-tracked assessment program. “In the past two weeks alone, the Planning System Acceleration Program has injected $1.87 billion in to the State’s economy and created opportunities for more than 16,000 jobs,” Mr Stokes said.
“Today’s approval is another exciting step forward for Western Sydney and means development applications for the Mt Druitt CBD can be lodged immediately.”
The NSW Government has worked closely with Blacktown City Council to amend its Local Environmental Plan, which rezones 24 hectares of land to facilitate more mixed-use commercial and residential development.
For more information visit: https://bit.ly/2SVusO3

COVID-19: PARLIAMENT TO CONSIDER PANDEMIC REFORMS

A special sitting of NSW Parliament will consider a second set of laws to equip citizens, businesses and the justice system to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Attorney General Mark Speakman will introduce three Bills for debate today.
“The Bills build on legislation enacted in late March and again makes the health and safety of the people of NSW our first priority,” Mr Speakman said.
The Bills include proposals for extraordinary regulation-making powers to enhance social distancing by:

The modification or suspension of laws requiring people to hold meetings in person, for example a board meeting or physical examination by a medical practitioner for a particular purpose;
The facilitation of wholly electronic signing of documents (the Government continues to consult on what classes of documents will be affected); and
The extension of limitation periods to take into account delays caused by the pandemic.

In addition, the Government is proposing a number of other amendments, including the following:

Health: The proposed health amendments will expand the ability of individual public health orders to require people to undergo testing or a medical examination and streamline COVID-19 medical research and data collection for a public health register. They will allow for COVID-19-related conditions to be placed on the licences of private health facilities and also for audio-visual link mental health examinations.

Justice: Where a judicial officer decides it is in the interests of justice, accused persons will be required to appear in court via video link. Sheriff’s Officers will be given authority to protect court users from the risk of COVID-19 by being able to ask people who display signs of illness, including fever, to leave the court. They may also take the temperature of anyone attending court. When assisting agencies like the NSW Police Force in enforcing Public Health Orders, Sheriff’s Officers will have powers of arrest.

Employee Relations: Changes to annual leave and long service leave laws will provide welcome, flexible alternatives to standing down workers. Long service leave will be available in single day periods to shorten working weeks, but maintain income. Local Government sector workers will be able to agree to cash out annual leave, or take it at half or double pay. The employee must have at least four weeks’ leave entitlement remaining after it is cashed out.

Treasury: The Government will provide a payroll tax exemption for Job Keeper payments made to workers who have been stood down, and for any extra wages paid to workers that earn less than the Job Keeper payment. This additional payroll tax relief will help keep people in jobs and support businesses who sign up to the Commonwealth’s Job Keeper scheme.

Planning: Amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 will extend the timeframe for when a development consent lapses and when appeals can be lodged in the Land and Environment Court. The amount of time a business can remain empty before it loses its existing use rights will be extended from one to three years. These changes will provide more certainty for the community, business owners and the development industry and support NSW’s economic recovery.

Energy and Environment: Amendments to the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act will allow the EPA to temporarily exempt businesses struggling because of COVID-19 from certain requirements of the container deposit scheme, such as fees, charges and other regulatory requirements. The Bill will also support businesses, tradies and workers in the energy industry by creating a regulation-making power to establish the Energy Security Safeguard. The Safeguard will drive the rollout of technologies such as energy efficient and smart appliances in a way that improves grid reliability and lowers power prices.

Better Regulation: A series of amendments to the Strata Schemes Management Act, Community Land Management Act and Retirement Villages Act will remove the need for face-to-face meetings by allowing retirement village committees, owners’ corporations and associations in community schemes to operate electronically. Changes to the Contract Cleaning Industry Act 2010 will temporarily eradicate the 20 week waiting period, to fast track long service payments for those who have permanently left the industry after 5 years.

Local Government: Changes will allow councils to apply the rate peg more flexibly and respond to changing economic conditions such as COVID-19, bushfires and drought. The Minister will have the power to limit a council’s general income as an added safeguard against it disproportionately burdening one sector of the community (such as residential, business, agricultural or mining). Subject to certain conditions, the Government is also placing a two-year moratorium on council chambers and offices building works to ensure investment in infrastructure projects (such as roads, bridges, parks and sportsgrounds), which directly benefit the community and contribute to local economic recovery. The changes will also prevent councils taking legal action for outstanding rates for six months for ratepayers experiencing financial hardship, and provide local government workers with flexibility around leave entitlements to help councils minimise job losses and manage and retain staff.

Families and Communities: Amendments to the Children’s Guardian Act 2019 will maintain continuity of current child protection regulations relevant to the Children’s Guardian’s functions until 1 March 2021, so that there is no gap in coverage while consultation on new regulations is undertaken. Extending the timeframe for consultation gives stakeholders greater flexibility to provide meaningful input in light of COVID-19 restrictions.

Mr Speakman thanked the people of NSW for the many sacrifices they’ve made to help protect the most vulnerable across the state during this unprecedented health crisis.
“There is no question that the community’s unwavering response has been absolutely crucial to slowing the spread of this horrific virus and avoiding the tragic toll of death and illness experienced overseas,” Mr Speakman said.
“The Government is confident these new measures will help protect those hard-won gains and lay the foundations for our state’s successful recovery.”
The Bills will be available to read in full on the NSW Parliament website here.

Man charged for alleged online grooming in the Hunter Valley – Strike Force Trawler

A man will face court charged over the alleged online procurement of a child following an investigation by Strike Force Trawler detectives in the Lower Hunter Valley.
In March this year, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) began engaging online with a man from Maitland.
Police will allege in court that the man believed he was speaking with a 13-year-old girl and engaged in conversations about sex acts he wished to perform on the teenager and shared sexually explicit material with her.
It will also be alleged that the man arranged to meet the girl in person.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives arrested a 36-year-old man at Waratah Railway Station about 10.10am yesterday (Tuesday 12 May 2020).
A subsequent search warrant was executed at the man’s home address, where mobile phones, tablets, a laptop and a hard drive were seized by officers.
He was taken to Waratah Police Station and charged with using a carriage service to procure person under 16 years for sexual activity.
The man was refused bail and appeared via video link at Newcastle Local Court yesterday (Tuesday 12 May 2020), and is next due to appear at the same court today (Wednesday 13 May 2020).
Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing investigation by the CEIU into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.
Regular covert online investigations are conducted by the CEIU; and police in NSW work closely with their law-enforcement colleagues interstate and overseas.
The Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad is comprised of detectives who are specially trained to investigate matters against children and adults, including sexual assault, serious physical abuse, and extreme cases of neglect.
Anyone with concerns about suspected child abuse or exploitation should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. People should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Man issued PIN by Nepean Police Area Command

A man has been issued a $1000 Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN) by police conducting inquiries into the circumstances surrounding a group not complying with Ministerial Directions in Sydney’s west.
Officers from Nepean Police Area Command initiated an investigation after photos and videos were shared on social media concerning an incident at a home in Penrith on Saturday 25 April 2020.
Following inquiries, police issued PINs to five women – aged in their late teens to early 20s – for failing to comply with a Ministerial Direction on Thursday 30 April 2020.
A 22-year-old man, who was filmed in the videos, was spoken to by police at the time.
Following information received and further inquiries, the man was issued a $1000 PIN for non-essential travel via email about 2pm today (Wednesday 13 May 2020).

Greens Move To Allow Universities Access To JobKeeper

The Greens have lodged a motion in the Senate to disallow parts of the Coronavirus Economic Response Package (Payments and Benefits) Amendment Rules (No. 2) 2020 that have the effect of excluding universities from accessing the JobKeeper wage subsidy.
The motion would only disallow provisions of the rules regarding JobKeeper eligibility for higher education providers, which extend the turnover calculation period from one to six months for universities and mandate that government funding be included in the calculations.
Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Australian Greens spokesperson for Education, said:
“Through multiple changes to the rules, universities have been targeted by this government and deliberately excluded from the JobKeeper wage subsidy scheme.
“30,000 jobs are on the line, with impacted staff in every corner of the country. The unfair treatment must end this week. Parliament has the opportunity to reject this malicious exclusion of universities.
“The government keeps shifting the goalposts and the madness has to stop. The failure to support universities through this crisis jeopardises not just our recovery but also our long-term future.
“I call on Labor and the crossbench to do the right thing and back this motion, which would potentially save jobs in every state and territory, and deliver much-needed support to our universities and their staff at this very difficult time.
“In addition to JobKeeper, universities need a dedicated rescue package to massively boost funding, save jobs and research, improve conditions and abolish fees,” she said.

Govt’s money for wildlife disingenuous

Greens Spokesperson for the Environment Senator Sarah Hanson-Young responded to the Federal Government’s announcement of $150million for Bushfire Recovery for Species and Landscapes:
“This announcement is much more about trying to win a by-election than anything to do with helping the environment and wildlife.
“If the Government cared a bit more about protecting koalas than they do protecting their seats in parliament, we might have faith they have a plan for bushfire recovery.
“Environmental recovery after the catastrophic bushfires was always going to need much more than $50m and the government flagged more was coming, but this still isn’t enough. The Greens called for a $500m fighting fund for the environment in January when the fires were still burning, when we already knew more than a million animals had been lost and millions of hectares of habitat destroyed, yet it’s taken four months to get more than $50m.
“$50m was never going to cut it and $150m more now still won’t be enough especially when the government is going to allow more damage to the environment with salvage logging and cut to environmental protections.
“The Federal Government announced yesterday the bushfire recovery funding includes $15m for transporting salvaged logs. This is despite the science clearly showing salvage logging will be devastating to bushfire affected areas causing further disturbance to these ecosystems and hampering regeneration and recovery.
“So on the one hand the government says it is putting more money on the table for the environment but on the other hand, they are supporting salvage logging and planning to cut environmental protections.
“Attempting to win elections by suddenly remembering forgotten bushfire communities won’t fly. Australians care about the environment more than ever and they want it protected, not trashed in favour of the government’s big business mates.
“The Environment Minister should take another look at the policy and start doing the right thing by our native wildlife and environment before we’ve lost even more of it.”