Month: July 2020

The NSW government has built a record-equalling 42 new and upgraded schools this year, and is poised to break the record in Term 3.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said more than $1.3 billion has been invested in the record breaking 2020 building program benefitting thousands of students and providing thousands of construction jobs.
“Even during the challenge of the pandemic, NSW has kept building,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“On Day 1 of Term 3 we are opening five new and upgraded schools which will benefit up to 3,000 students.”
In 2019, the NSW Government opened 42 new and upgraded schools with more than $1 billion invested.
Today’s announcement was made during a visit to Ku-ring-gai High School to open a multi-million-dollar upgrade, including 15 new classrooms and a new multipurpose hall.
Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said she was thrilled the next phase of school building is well underway with planners, architects and builders to be engaged by the end of 2020 on more than 130 projects representing a total project value of $1.2 billion.
“We will continue our record $6.7 billion investment in school infrastructure to support our students and ensure they have access to high quality education facilities,” Ms Mitchell said.
“The scale of school building in NSW is unprecedented and will ensure our growing communities have quality schools to learn in.”
The fast-tracking of planning approvals through the NSW Government’s Planning System Acceleration Program also means construction has started or will begin soon on eight school projects.
“We will support jobs across the state today as we look to recover from COVID-19, and at the same time secure the future prosperity of NSW by enhancing schools for our students and teachers,” Ms Mitchell said.
Schools opening on Day 1, Term 3 2020 include:

• Jordan Springs Public School (new)
• Karabar High School (upgrade)
• Ku-ring-gai High School (upgrade)
• Speers Point Public School (upgrade)
• Yass High School (upgrade)

 

Sydney Trains is looking to hire a record number of new apprentices, with 90 positions on offer.
Minister for Transport Andrew Constance joined Sydney Trains Acting Chief Executive Suzanne Holden and two current apprentices at Petersham Training College today to officially launch the recruitment drive.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted life for thousands of people across NSW. This apprenticeship program is an opportunity for people who may have been affected to take up an apprenticeship and develop life-long skills in the rail industry,” Mr Constance said.
“Sydney Trains maintains a huge network covering more than 1,500 kilometres and a variety of skills are required to keep the network moving. I really want to encourage anyone interested in learning and developing their trade skills to apply.”
Sydney Trains apprenticeships will be available across seven disciplines – Telecommunications, Signal Fitting, Signal Electrical, Substations, Rail Traction, Plant Mechanic and High Voltage Cables, with all apprentices receiving nationally recognised trade qualifications.
“We are proud to offer an industry leading apprenticeship program, with women accounting for almost a quarter of our total apprentices,” Ms Holden said,
“The Sydney Trains network is the largest passenger rail network in the country and there’s plenty of work to do. Apprentices will learn the skills so they can help maintain infrastructure like our overhead wires, escalators, bridges and tunnels, signaling system and the fleet.”
There are more than 200 apprentices currently working across Sydney Trains, with 60 joining the rail agency earlier this year. Previous apprenticeship intakes have included people who have chosen a career change from jobs and professions like teaching, or returning to the workforce for the first time after parenthood.
Applications can be made through the I Work for NSW website and close on 2 August 2020.

Thousands of extra services will continue to run across the public transport network with almost 200,000 students expected back on the network from tomorrow when classes start for Term 3.
Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said the extra 3,300 services added to the network last month will be retained to provide more options and space for customers.
“More than 4.4 million trips were taken by school students during Term 2 and with similar numbers expected during Term 3 it is crucial there are plenty of transport options for the community,” Mr Constance said.
“Based on current physical distancing requirements, retaining these extra services will provide more than 126,000 extra spaces on trains and 93,000 extra spaces on buses across each week.
“Transport has an important role to play in getting students back to school and we want to assure the community we are working hard to support their return.
“People are also reminded that no school student will be turned away from any public transport service.”
Mr Constance said a new point-to-point vehicle sanitisation station at Prestons has also been fast-tracked following an increase in COVID-19 cases in Western Sydney
“The new station will allow taxi and rideshare vehicles to be sanitised so the industry can help keep drivers and passengers safe during COVID-19.”
Transport for NSW Chief Operations Officer Howard Collins said the COVIDSafe Transport Plan is in full swing, with increased cleaning, green physical distancing dots, additional staff and extra services still in place to support customers.
“It is more important than ever to find those green physical distancing dots for the safest places to sit and stand on the network,” Mr Collins said.
“We also want everyone to consider their travel options for getting to and from school, work places and other activities, including walking and cycling where possible.”
“All customers need to continue practising good hygiene while on all public transport which includes staying home if they are feeling unwell.”
Road users are reminded to take extra care as activity around schools increases this week.
“As we are asking everyone to consider their travel options, including driving, this is not the time to be complacent about road safety,” Mr Collins said.
“School zones are back in force on Monday 20 July so motorists are reminded to look out for children around schools and take extra care as more children may be walking and cycling.”
“I’d like to again thank frontline staff for their efforts in getting students back to school safely,” Mr Constance said
“Our customers have done a great job during this challenging time and we need to continue to work together to keep public transport COVID safe.”

Sydney Metro construction work deep under the city has revealed a view of Sydney never seen before.
Workers have finished digging a 19 metre long escalator tunnel to create one of the entrances to the new Martin Place metro station.
Minister for Transport Andrew Constance said the milestone has exposed a view of Sydney Tower and the MLC Centre – from 19 metres deep under Martin Place.
“We’re getting on with the job of delivering Sydney Metro through the city as quickly as possible. This completed entrance tunnel is a visible reminder that a new generation of fast, safe and reliable driverless metro trains are on their way to more of Sydney,” Mr Constance said.
It took about seven weeks to excavate the 19 metre deep tunnel, which will house four escalators as customers travel to the new underground metro station.
The tunnel was built under the historic 50 Martin Place building, navigating the basement of the heritage-listed structure.
More than 2,000 tonnes of crushed rock was removed and 700 tonnes of shotcrete used to line the tunnel.
The tunnel is now being waterproofed and lined with concrete.

The NSW Government will tighten COVID-19 restrictions around “higher risk” activities as the pandemic enters a new phase of community transmission.
From 12:01am Friday, 24 July the following rules will be in force as NSW enters a state of ‘COVID normal’.

• Compliance measures introduced to pubs will be extended to restaurants, bars cafés and clubs. This includes:
  • Limiting group bookings to a maximum of 10 people;
  • Mandatory COVID-Safe plans and registration as a COVID-Safe business; and
  • A digital record must be created within 24 hours.

 

• Weddings and corporate events will be limited to 150 people subject to the four square metre rule and registration as a COVID-Safe business. Strict COVID-Safe plans must be in place and high-risk activities including choirs and dancing must not occur; and

 

• Funerals and places of worship will be limited to 100 people, subject to the one person per four square metre rule and a COVID-Safe business registration.

The rules on gatherings remain the same: 20 guests inside the home and 20 for gatherings in a public place. However, as the home is a high transmission area, the NSW Chief Health Officer strongly recommends a COVID-Safe precautionary approach of limiting visitors to the home to 10 people as a general principle.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said this tightening was to reduce the risk of uncontrollable break-outs and ensure NSW stays open for business.
“Unfortunately we must live with COVID-19 and the way it has changed our lives,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“These rules will give businesses and the community a degree of certainty into the foreseeable future, and help NSW avoid uncontrolled virus spread.”
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the NSW Government continues to work with business and industry to ensure they operate in a COVID-Safe way.
“These measures apply across the state and will also work to protect residents in rural and regional NSW,” Mr Barilaro said.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the changes are based on advice received from the Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant.
“We do not want to see community transmission getting to a stage where it is out of control. These restrictions target large gatherings which are high risk settings for transmission of the virus,” Mr Hazzard said.
“We need people to do the right thing: follow the rules; stay home if unwell and get tested, even with the most minimal of symptoms; always maintain physical distancing when out and about; and ensure good hand hygiene.”
Minister for Customer Service Victor Dominello said the new rules will be strictly enforced to protect the wider community.
“Venues should be on notice – NSW Police, Liquor & Gaming inspectors and NSW Health officials are carrying out inspections across the state to ensure COVID-Safe plans are being followed,” Mr Dominello said.
Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said with a heightened risk of COVID-19 outbreaks, the people of NSW need to be on high alert.
“This is the time to be vigilant – we need people to come forward and be tested even if they have the mildest of symptoms, we need businesses to follow and enforce their COVID-Safe plans and we need people to follow the rules,” Dr Chant said.
For the latest information and for the locations of testing clinics go to: www.nsw.gov.au/

A new 50-Year Vision for Greater Sydney’s network of parklands and green open spaces has been launched today by the NSW Government, heralded by an initial $10 million investment to revitalise one of the city’s forgotten harbour-side parks.
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Rob Stokes said the draft Vision – which is now open for public comment – puts NSW on a path to the first-ever metropolitan-wide plan for the city’s open spaces and parklands.
“Our city’s parks are one of our greatest assets and belong to all of us; it’s time for a clear, single vision to protect, manage, enhance and expand them for generations to come,” Mr Stokes said.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how we need to change the way we look at our public spaces – not as parks in a city but rather as Sydney as a city within a park.”
The Vision will be championed by a new Greater Sydney Parklands (GSP) government agency that brings together the Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust, Parramatta Park Trust, and Western Sydney Parklands Trusts, as well as the parklands of Callan Park and Fernhill Estate. Michael Rose, Chairman of the Committee for Sydney, has been appointed the Chair of GSP board.
“In the past, the individual parkland trusts have had a sole focus on the land within their boundaries. Now we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to look beyond those boundaries to plan for our parklands and open spaces over the next 50 years as a connected and vital network that forms the backbone of our city,” Mr Stokes said.
“This new city-wide agency will work in partnership with communities and local councils across Greater Sydney to champion the new Vision and ensure we’re working holistically to expand and improve our open spaces and parklands.”
Combined, the agency will oversee more than 6,000 hectares of parklands across Sydney, which host almost 40 million visits each year.
Callan Park in Sydney’s inner west is the first park to be identified through the GSP for urgent restorative work, with $10 million in funding allocated to enhance the connection with the waterfront and Bay Run. A new Landscape Structure Plan has been released for public comment, which will inform how the funding is spent.
“This investment in Callan Park is just the start and demonstrates our commitment to revitalising and growing our city’s great public open spaces, starting with one of its great forgotten jewels,” Mr Stokes said.
The draft 50-Year Vision for Greater Sydney’s Open Space and Parklands will be open for consultation until 11 September 2020.
For more information visit: www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/gs

Police intend to issue up to 60 COVID infringement penalty notices (PINs) after officers were called to a party at Schofields overnight.
Officers from Quakers Hill Police Area Command were called to a home in Nottingham Street about 11.30pm (Saturday 18 July 2020), responding to complaints about a noisy party.
Police discovered more than 60 people had gathered at the property, in breach of the Public Health (COVID-19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order (No 4) 2020. (The PHO restricts outdoor public gatherings of not more than 20 people, with a 20-person limit on visitors to a home.)
Assistance was sought from neighbouring commands from Mt Druitt, Hawkesbury, Blacktown, The Hills and Nepean, as well as the Police airwing, PolAir, a team from the Dog Unit, and OSG officers from North West and South West Metropolitan Regions, to manage the crowd many of whom were intoxicated.
OC spray was deployed when a brawl broke out inside the home involving 15 people, and officers entered the building.
Three males were taken to Blacktown Hospital, two for minor injuries sustained in the brawl and a third for the effects of alcohol.
Police intend to issue up to 60 people with COVID-19-related Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) of $1000; 30 people were arrested after refusing a move-on direction, and of those 15 were taken to Riverstone Police Station where their identities were verified.
Those 30 people will also be issued with a separate TINS for failing to comply with a move-on direction.
Police have been told the house had been booked via an online rental company.
Inquiries are continuing.
Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report crime via NSW Police social media pages.

A man has been charged after attempting to flee hotel quarantine when he was caught leaving his room for a cigarette today.
About 2.35am (Sunday 19 July 2020), a 28-year-old man currently completing a mandatory, 14-day quarantine period at a hotel on Macquarie Street, Sydney, was seen attempting to leave his room by security.
After being advised to return to his room, the man refused, and allegedly attempted to leave the hotel via the lift when he was stopped by police.
After a short, physical struggle with officers, the man was restrained and returned to his hotel room.
The Queensland man will be served a Future Court Attendance Notice for the offences of resist police officer in execution of duty and failing to comply with the Public Health Act Order.
Police will allege the man breached the 14-day mandatory quarantine required to be completed by returned international travellers, as per the Public Health (COVID-19 Air Transportation Quarantine) Order 2020.