The first stage of a key cycleway linking the city centre to Merewether Beach has been fast tracked in recognition of the city’s newfound love for cycling since lockdown measures were introduced in March to contain the spread of COVID-19.
The project has been given a $3.1 million funding boost under Newcastle’s COVID-19 stimulus budget, allowing for completion of construction of a 1.1km section that stretches from Merewether Beach to Glebe Road at The Junction.
Plans include a 2.5m-wide, bi-directional shared path along Watkins Street and Coane Street, between Watkins and John Parade, with new and upgraded crossings for pedestrians and cyclists.
“By prioritising our investment in Newcastle’s cycleway infrastructure we hope to help encourage this surge of interest to continue beyond the current climate, enabling cycling to play an even larger role within Newcastle’s transport mix now and in the future,” Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“The cycleway will create an important connection with one of the city’s favourite coastal destinations and encourage more people to make the switch to pedal power.
“We are committed to promoting cycling as a genuine transport option for residents, families, commuters and recreational users, which is why expansion and improvement of the cycleway network is one of the City’s priority projects.
“Improving and expanding Newcastle’s cycling network is an important investment in the future of our city, in line with the adopted Newcastle Cycling Strategy and Action Plan.”
Almost $5 million has been allocated to cycleways projects under the revised 2020-21 capital works budget, including $3.1 million for the Merewether to The Junction cycleway, as well as funding for a missing cycleway link on University Drive between Blue Gum Road and the inner-city bypass in Birmingham Gardens.
Councillor and cycling enthusiast John Mackenzie welcomed the funding.
“Cycleways deliver a range of benefits to the community by reducing pollution and congestion on our roads, improving a person’s health and wellbeing and reducing their environmental impact,” Cr Mackenzie said.
“I am pleased to see these cycleways projects being prioritised within the revised budget and look forward to seeing them progress during the next 12 months and beyond.
“Our community has been very clear in stating that improved cycleways throughout the city would encourage people to swap the car for the bike in their daily commute to work and school.
“This initial stage is an important step towards the completion of the overall City Centre to Merewether Beach cycleway project, which will provide a first-class route between the inner city and one of our most popular beaches.
“In recent months, as a result of COVID-19, we have seen increasing numbers of residents making use of our city’s cycleways for both transportation and recreational purposes.”
Concept designs for the Merewether Beach to The Junction cycleway will go on public exhibition from Monday 29 June until Monday 27 July via the City of Newcastle website.
Month: June 2020
Museum set to welcome back visitors
The reopening of the City’s cultural attractions will continue this week when Newcastle Museum throws open its doors to the public.
The Museum will recommence its operations on Tuesday 23 June, with three daily one-hour sessions being held between 9.30am and 1.30pm.
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Each session will be capped at 45 people, with the restrictions designed to allow visitors to enjoy many of the museum’s most popular attractions while still complying with the latest NSW Public Health Order.
Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said the reopening of the museum will provide another exciting option for locals and visitors looking to make the most of the easing COVID-19 restrictions.
“Following on from the successful reopening of the Newcastle Art Gallery and several Newcastle Regional Library branches, I’m pleased to see the community once again given the opportunity to enjoy the cultural and historic displays on offer at Newcastle Museum,” she said.
“As with all our reopened facilities, careful planning has gone in to being able to safely reintroduce staff and visitors into this space. We ask that visitors continue to practise social distancing, following the floor markers and direction of our staff.”
Newcastle Museum Director Julie Baird said while the facility’s interactive attractions will remain closed for safety in line with State guidelines, the museum still offers an entertaining and informative experience that provides a fascinating insight into Newcastle’s rich heritage.
“We’re so pleased to be able to open our doors and invite visitors back to Newcastle Museum,” she said.
“The public’s safety, and that of our team, is our top priority. So we’ve had to make some changes in our exhibition spaces, as well as remove a lot of our interactive exhibitions such as Supernova and Mininova for now.
“There is still more to discover, from the FIRE! Exhibition, A Newcastle Story, the popular BHP steelmaking simulation and the Cultural Resurgence and Kuueeyung exhibitions, which allow you to reflect on and absorb aspects of our rich local Aboriginal history and culture.”
The Museum will open from Tuesday to Saturday each week. Entry is free, however online bookings via newcastlemuseum.com.au are required before visitors arrive.
A series of Frequently Asked Questions are available at newcastlemuseum.com.au to assist the community with further information about the changes they may experience during their visit.
BIGGEST EDUCATION SHAKE UP IN 30 YEARS
The NSW school curriculum will be overhauled to improve standards, with changes starting in 2021 and all years learning the new curriculum by 2024.
Unnecessary content will be cut, there will be a greater focus on literacy and numeracy, and TAFE and vocational training pathways will be modernised.
A curriculum review undertaken by Professor Geoff Masters supports the biggest shake up of the education system in more than 30 years.
The Government’s response to the review is based on:
- Decluttering the curriculum by reducing unnecessary subjects
- A ‘back to basics approach’ that will see a renewed focus on the core subjects of English, Maths and Science
- Year 11 and Year 12 prequalification for University and TAFE courses.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the overhaul would raise standards and equip students for the jobs of the future.
“The NSW Government will be taking a back to basics approach to the curriculum. Literacy and numeracy will remain the focus throughout a student’s school experience,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“We are investing record amounts into education and the results need to match this. We need to make a change if we want NSW to improve by global standards.”
Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said changes to the curriculum will ensure teachers have the time and support to teach the fundamentals, including maths, English and science.
“I want to see all our young people leaving school confident and equipped to succeed in life,” Ms Mitchell said.
“We want a curriculum that leaves no student behind while challenging students who are advancing faster than others.”
“We have listened to the experts when formulating the government response to the Curriculum Review – and I am confident that the changes we will implement will ensure that NSW remains one of the best places to educate our children for decades to come.”
Work to deliver the NSW Government’s new curriculum is already underway.
Facts and figures:
- Approximately 1.2 million students in Kindergarten to Year 12 attend 3100 schools and are taught by more than 100 000 in-school teaching staff.
- Consultation completed during the Curriculum Review found 98 per cent of teachers believed excess syllabus content was leading to diminished educational outcomes for students.
- NAPLAN results for NSW students have stagnated over the last decade.
MORE PLACES FOR CHILDREN IN PRESCHOOLS
More families will have access to preschool thanks to a new round of funding announced today, creating additional places in preschools for children on waitlists.
The NSW Government is continuing its commitment to increase access to preschool for communities across the state with another round of Start Strong Capital Works Grants for community preschools.
Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said the NSW Government understands that preschool is incredibly important to a child’s development and their performance later in their schooling.
“Not only are we helping cater to growing demand for more places in preschools with these grants, we’re also supporting jobs in the construction industry during this time of economic recovery,” Ms Mitchell said.
Eligible not-for-profit organisations can apply for funding to build, renovate or extend their facilities to deliver a community preschool, or purchase a vehicle for a mobile preschool to cater for increasing enrolments.
The NSW Government has committed $10 million in funding as part of the Start Strong Capital Works Grants program for 2020. This is an increase on the $8.3 million allocated in 2019.
Grant applications from not-for-profit community preschools and mobile preschools operating in areas of the state where there is a demonstrated shortage of places will be prioritised.
“This funding will ensure even more children in NSW have access to 600 hours of quality early childhood education in the year before school, giving them the social, cognitive and emotional skills to transition to school as well as benefiting them in the longer term,” Ms Mitchell said.
Grants are available in five categories, including: construction of a new centre based community preschool facility, extending an existing centre based community preschool facility, renovating existing or new premises for a centre based preschool, purchase of replacement vehicles for existing mobile preschools, and responding to crisis situations.
Applications can be submitted online from now until 23 August 2020. For more information, visit the Department of Education website at: https://education.nsw.gov.au/early-childhood-education/operating-an-early-childhood-education-service/grants-and-funded-programs/capital-works-grants
NEW CYBER TASK FORCE TO DRIVE STANDARDS
An Australian first collaboration between the NSW Government, AustCyber and Standards Australia has seen the creation of a task force charged with accelerating the adoption of industry standards for cyber security across Australia.
Made up of a cross-sector group of industry experts, including in defence, energy, health and financial services, at its first meeting today the task force agreed the focus should be:
- Improving the practice of cyber security across Australian businesses
- Harmonising baseline standards and providing clarity for sector-specific additional standards and guidance
- Enhancing competitiveness standards by sector for both supplier and consumers
- Providing greater interoperability
- Supporting Australian cyber security companies to seize opportunities and go global.
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the task force was another critical step in bolstering government’s cyber security defences and creating a strong cyber security ecosystem.
“We know that the current plethora of different security standards make it difficult for government and industry to know what they’re buying when it comes to cyber security,” Mr Dominello said.
“By bringing together industry to identify relevant standards and provide other practical guidance, we aim to make government more secure, whilst providing direction for industry to build their cyber resilience.
“This will realise our ambition for NSW to become the leading cyber security hub in the Southern Hemisphere.”
AustCyber CEO Michelle Price said trust in the digital infrastructure now driving Australia’s economy is at the core of Australia’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and cyber security functions as an insurance policy for a resilient economy.
“The economy’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has proven Australia can take leaps towards embedding digital technologies, but the quality of this digitisation and digitalisation along with its trustworthiness is now under immense pressure – and is obviously being targeted by malicious cyber actors,” she said.
“There is a risk underlying the speed of digital transformation in Australia, and the new standards will be critical in helping deliver a consistent, industry-focused framework for NSW. The newly established task force will help NSW businesses understand what they need to do to tackle the complex challenge of protecting against cyber attacks.
“This work will also provide a pilot for the rest of the country to enable rapid adoption of consistent, internationally harmonised cyber security standards and guidance. Cyber security is one of Australia’s most promising growth sectors and importantly protects our digital infrastructure and data.”
CEO of Standards Australia Adrian O’Connell said the cyber task force is an exciting opportunity to strengthen cyber security across the board.
“Standards Australia looks forward to working alongside the NSW Government, AustCyber and the members of the task force in providing information around technical guidance and promoting industry backed security practices through the use of standards,” Mr O’Connell said.
The task force creation follows the NSW Government’s record $240 million investment in the cyber industry last week
NSW PLANNING SYSTEM POWERS PAST JOBS TARGETS
The NSW Government’s Planning System Acceleration Program is on track to reach its target of creating opportunities for 30,000 jobs in half the time originally anticipated.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian today announced a further 19 planning projects that will have their assessments fast-tracked through the program, which, if approved, will see the State reach its jobs target in three months instead of six.
“When we approve projects, we create jobs; it’s as simple as that,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“If approved, this latest tranche of projects will see $4.7 billion invested in our State and deliver almost 15,000 jobs,” Ms Berejiklian said.
Projects in the third tranche of the program include an over-station development at Sydney Metro Victoria Cross, a new solar farm, a new school in Camden, affordable housing in Gosford, and a land release in Yass Valley that will allow more than 5,000 new homes to be built.
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said getting shovel-ready projects out the door as fast as possible is helping NSW rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“So far this program has unlocked $1 billion of economic investment a week – far surpassing any other State’s planning acceleration programs,” Mr Stokes said.
To date, 48 major projects have had their assessments finalised through the program, which has created opportunities for more than 25,000 jobs, $13 billion in economic benefit, more than 8,000 new homes and more than 2 million square metres of open space, parks and land for environmental conservation.
“We’re establishing a new normal for the NSW planning system, with faster decision making and simpler processes. And with local councils now following our lead with their own acceleration programs, NSW will remain the pounding heart of the Australian economy.”
To be considered for a fast-tracked assessment through the Planning System
Acceleration Program, a development application (DA) or rezoning must already be in the State’s system, deliver a public benefit, demonstrate an ability to create jobs during construction and once complete, be able to commence construction within six months (for a State Significant Development application or State Significant Infrastructure application) or allow a DA to be lodged within six months (for a rezoning).
Decisions on projects in Tranche 3 of the Planning System Acceleration Program will be made by 17 July 2020.
For more information visit: www.planning.nsw.gov.au/fast-tracked-assessment
Second man charged after officers allegedly assaulted – Maitland
A passenger who allegedly fled from police has been arrested and charged after three officers were assaulted, one of them suffering a fractured eye socket, in the Hunter region last night.
About 8.40pm (Sunday 21 June 2020), an officer from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District stopped a Ford hatchback on Trevor Street, Telarah, after it was allegedly driving dangerously.
Police will allege two men, the driver and a passenger, got out of the car and approached the officer as he was walking towards them.
The driver, a 20-year-old man, allegedly pushed the male officer. As the sergeant tried to arrest the man, the passenger inserted himself between the men.
The driver then allegedly punched the officer to the face, before both men allegedly fled the scene on foot.
Shortly after, the driver was sighted at a nearby railway corridor trying to jump a fence when two officers attempted to restrain him. The driver allegedly punched a constable multiple times before jumping over the fence.
A senior constable followed him over the fence and was also allegedly punched before the 20-year-old man was eventually arrested and charged. He remains before the courts.
The sergeant was taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment for a fractured eye socket. The two other officers were treated for minor lacerations and soft tissue damage at Maitland Hospital. All have since been discharged.
Following further inquiries, a 24-year-old man was arrested at a home on Ada Street, Telarah, just after 3pm today (Monday 22 June 2020).
He was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with assault police officer in execution of duty cause actual bodily harm, resist officer in execution of duty and escape police custody.
The man was refused bail to appear at Maitland Local Court tomorrow (Tuesday 23 June 2020).
$223 Million To Unlock Hundreds Of Local Infrastructure Jobs
The Morrison and McGowan Governments will support construction jobs across Western Australia by jointly investing an additional $223 million to deliver shovel-ready infrastructure projects and urgent road safety upgrades.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said further investment in infrastructure would play a critical role in the Commonwealth’s JobMaker plan and help the West Australian economy as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Partnering with state and territory governments to invest in more major infrastructure projects across Australia is a key part of our JobMaker plan to rebuild our economy and create more jobs,” the Prime Minister said.
“This funding injection means we have brought forward or provided additional funding in excess of $1 billion Western Australian in the past eight months.
“This package builds on the fast tracking of $868 million for infrastructure in Western Australia which we announced last November, locking in priority upgrades that will bust congestion, improve safety and boost jobs at a time we need it most.”
Finance Minister Mathias Cormann said the Australian Government’s $176 million contribution builds on its nationwide $100 billion, 10-year infrastructure pipeline.
“Federal funding for this package has been drawn from the recently announced $1.5 billion allocation to priority shovel-ready projects and targeted road safety works.
“We are continuing to work closely with all levels of Government making decisions to create jobs and support our economic recovery,” Senator Cormann said.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Government had worked closely with State, Territory and Local Governments to identify shovel-ready projects to help reinvigorate the economy and get money flowing into jobs and businesses as soon as possible.
“In Western Australia, this will see us investing in critical shovel-ready projects along the Great Eastern and Bussell Highways, Exmouth Road and Toodyay Road while simultaneously delivering a dedicated road safety package for life-saving improvements right across regional WA,” Mr McCormack said.
“Overall this package is estimated to support more than 1,000 jobs during construction, which is absolutely fantastic news for locals and communities across the state.
“By investing in critical infrastructure projects across the country, we are doing more than just supporting local jobs and businesses at this critical time. We are investing in our future beyond COVID-19 by delivering lasting infrastructure which will kick-start our economic recovery and benefit Australians for years to come.”
Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan said the Regional State Road Safety Improvement Program would see the two Governments invest $100 million across the state to deliver improvements over the next year.
“The Road Safety Improvement Program will widen, seal or install audio-tactile line markings on more than 20 regional routes right across the state to reduce run-off-road crashes,” he said.
“These works will improve road safety, saving lives and bolstering the resilience of the state’s road networks, which is absolutely critical for our regional roads.
“The package will immediately help support economic activity and WA jobs, and is another sign of the State and Commonwealth Governments working collaboratively in the interests of Western Australians.”
Senator Cormann further said that bringing forward these key infrastructure projects is part of $13.8 billion in infrastructure funding for Western Australia that the Federal Government has committed to transport infrastructure projects to date.
“The Federal Government is committed to projects that get West Australians home sooner and safer. But particularly as we look to grow the West Australian economy on the other side of the COVID-19 crisis, we want to guarantee work for local trades and keep money flowing through local businesses throughout the construction phase and beyond,” Senator Cormann said.
Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said the funding injection would also deliver shovel-ready fixes to Thomas Road.
“For Perth motorists that includes creating dual lanes for an extra kilometre between the Kwinana Freeway and Nicholson Road and a much-needed intersection upgrade,” Mr Tudge said.
“Thomas Road is used by around 19,000 vehicles every single day and this funding means shovels will be in the ground sooner to support local jobs and the economy.”
Western Australian Minister for Transport Rita Saffioti said the funding injection would support local jobs, businesses and the economy while providing lasting infrastructure to help the state bounce back as COVID-19 restrictions ease.
“This funding injection will help us start work on even more critical regional road infrastructure including the dualling of Bussell Highway, upgrades to key tourism roads in Exmouth and key freight roads through Toodyay.
“These projects will support our local regional economies, creating and supporting local jobs whilst also improving safety.”
The jointly funded package is supported by investments from the Commonwealth ($176 million) and WA Government ($47 million).
Statement On Malicious Cyber Activity Against Australian Networks
Protecting Australia’s economy, national security and sovereignty is the Government’s top priority.
Based on advice provided to the Government by our cyber experts, the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), Australian organisations are currently being targeted by a sophisticated state-based cyber actor.
This activity is targeting Australian organisations across a range of sectors, including all levels of government, industry, political organisations, education, health, essential service providers, and operators of other critical infrastructure.
We know it is a sophisticated state-based cyber actor because of the scale and nature of the targeting and the tradecraft used.
The Australian Government is aware of and alert to the threat of cyber-attacks.
The ACSC has already published a range of technical advisory notices in recent times, to alert potential targets and has been briefing States and Territories on risks and mitigations.
Regrettably, this activity is not new – but the frequency has been increasing.
Our objective is to raise awareness of these specific risks and targeted activities and tell you how you can take action to protect yourself.
Cyber security is a shared responsibility of us all. It is vital that Australian organisations are alert to this threat and take steps to enhance the resilience of their networks.
All Australian organisations who might be concerned about their vulnerability to sophisticated cyber compromise can take three simple steps to protect themselves:
- Patch your internet facing devices promptly – ensuring any web or email servers are fully updated with the latest software.
- Ensure you use multifactor authentication to secure your internet accessible infrastructure and cloud-based platforms.
- Become an ACSC partner to ensure you get the latest cyber threat advice so you can take the earliest possible action to protect yourself online.
The ACSC and the Department of Home Affairs has published a more detailed technical advisory with advice for Australian businesses and organisations to protect themselves, which is available here.
The ACSC has also been actively working with targeted organisations to ensure that they have appropriate technical mitigations in place and their defences are appropriately raised.
The Government’s 2016 Cyber Security Strategy – backed by a $230 million investment over four years – has strengthened Australia’s cyber security foundations, stimulated private sector investment in cyber security and positioned Australia as a regional cyber security leader. The Government will release a new Cyber Security Strategy in the coming months, which will include significant further investments.
The Government also invested a further $156 million to build cyber resilience and expand the cyber workforce as one of our election commitments and we invested additional funding for a whole-of-government cyber uplift program.
The work of the Government’s Critical Infrastructure Centre and Trusted Information Sharing Network has also been focussed on the threats to critical infrastructure and other systems of national significance.
But there is more to do and we must do this work together – cyber security is a whole of community effort – government, industry, and individuals.
The risks are present and will continue to be present. That is why these investments are necessary and the protections we put in place necessary. The Australian Government will continue to do everything to keep Australians safe.
The Government encourages organisations, particularly those in the health, critical infrastructure and essential services, to take expert advice, and implement technical defences to thwart this malicious cyber activity.
Further information on how you can protect yourself and your business from cyber threats is available at www.cyber.gov.au.
Officers injured after vehicle stop – Maitland
Three officers have been assaulted – one sustaining a fractured eye socket – after a vehicle stop in Maitland overnight.
About 8.40pm (Sunday 21 June 2020), an officer attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District stopped a silver Ford hatchback on Trevor Street in Telarah after it was observed driving in a dangerous manner.
Police will allege one male exited the vehicle and walked towards the Sergeant, attempting to block his vision of the car.
At this time, the officer observed another male exit from the driver’s side of the vehicle before he began acting erratically and allegedly pushed the officer in the chest.
As the officer attempted to arrest the driver, the second male allegedly inserted himself between the two men. The driver then allegedly punched the officer to the left side of his face, impacting with his eye.
Both men then fled the scene on foot.
Shortly after, the driver was sighted at a nearby railway corridor trying to jump a fence when two officers attempted to restrain him. During the melee, the driver allegedly punched a Constable in the neck and shoulder area multiple times before jumping over the fence.
A Senior Constable followed him over the fence and was also allegedly punched before the 20-year-old man was eventually restrained and arrested.
The man was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with driving without a licence, drive vehicle under influence of alcohol, assault police officer in execution of duty cause actual bodily harm, escape police custody, two counts of resist officer in execution of duty, and two counts of assault police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm
The Curlewis man was refused bail to appear in Maitland Local Court today (Monday 22 June 2020).
Two female occupants of the Ford are assisting police with inquiries, while the male occupant remains outstanding.
The Sergeant was taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment for a fractured eye socket. The two other officers were treated for minor lacerations and soft tissue damage at Maitland Hospital. All have since been discharged.