Month: September 2020

The NSW Government’s fast-tracked planning program is leading the State’s post-pandemic recovery by creating 50,000 jobs and injecting $25 billion into the NSW economy over the last six months alone.
The Planning System Acceleration Program has already determined 90 major projects and planning proposals since April and in the next four weeks another 11 will be determined as part of the sixth tranche.
If approved, these could result in another $527 million worth of investment and the potential to create more than 1,400 jobs.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the planning system had been a key economic lever in the NSW Government’s immediate response to the pandemic, driving the state and the rest of the country to a strong economic recovery by accelerating a pipeline of projects.
“COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on our lives and the economy and getting shovel-ready projects out the door to help NSW rebound from this crisis has been a critical priority,” Mr Stokes said.
“Our short-term drive to create a steady supply of jobs and investment has been a great success, with work already starting on construction sites across the State.
“Our focus now turns to a medium-term response, which will speed up and add greater certainty for more complex projects with longer timeframes of between six months and two years.
“With our nation in a recession, boosting the economy and creating jobs is more important than ever.”
The projects selected for accelerated assessment in tranche six include:
 

• Upgrade of the Fort Street Primary School
• Rezoning in St Mary’s for 500 new homes that will have an economic benefit of $126 million and create 250 jobs
• Rezoning in Appin for low density housing and environmental management of a biodiversity corridor, including 39 hectares protected for conservation
• Construction of 18-storey mixed-use student accommodation near the University of Sydney for 488 students, contributing $62 million and creating 245 jobs
• New Oran Park Town Centre in Camden, including dedicated public space, contributing $30 million and creating 60 jobs

“If approved, these 11 projects will mean that we’ve fast-tracked determinations of more than 100 projects since the accelerated program began in April,” Mr Stokes said.
The NSW Government is also driving major reforms to streamline the planning system to make it more efficient and to amplify the success of the acceleration work. Decisions will be made on tranche six projects by 9 October. For more information visit the fast-tracked assessments webpage.

More than 30 new and fast-tracked health, education and transport and roads projects will be delivered across the state within two years, creating up to 20,000 estimated jobs thanks to the NSW Government’s $3 billion Jobs and Infrastructure Acceleration Fund.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the Fund is part of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan, which will include an accelerated $600m in funding for projects built in four separate fields: health, education, transport and roads worth $2.4 billion, creating thousands of jobs at a time when the state needs them most.
“We are committed to firing up the economy and are investing $3 billion to accelerate new and existing projects in priority sectors that will provide a path to employment for thousands of people in NSW, while assisting our economic recovery,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“NSW has a $100 billion infrastructure pipeline and these projects will positively change the lives of people across the state.”
The projects that will receive accelerated or additional funding over the next two years to fast track employment, include:

• Health
  • $60m Sydney Children’s Hospital Network, Randwick
  • $105m to start work on the $385m St George Hospital Integrated Ambulatory Care Precinct, Kogarah and deliver it 2 years earlier than planned
  • $52m to start work on the $700m Shellharbour Hospital to be built on a greenfield site
• Education
  • $100m TAFE NSW Asset Renewal Program
  • More than $300m for schools including an upgrade of Carlingford West Public School
• Transport, Roads and Precincts
  • $28.2m Mamre Road Stage 1 (M4 Motorway to Erskine Park Road)
  • $90m Spring Farm Parkway Stage 1
  • Initial $20m to start work on the Coffs Harbour Jetty Foreshore precinct. Project up to $76m subject to further community consultation

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the NSW economy was the engine room of the nation with the investment being integral for the state, and the country’s resurgence.
“We are committed to keeping people in jobs and businesses and in business across the state, with around half of this investment targeted to the regions. Funding projects that will
support 20,000 jobs is a huge win for NSW,” Mr Perrottet said.
The full list of projects will be announced in coming months.

The NSW Government will deliver the final stage of the more than $700 million St George Hospital redevelopment two years earlier, with a $105 million initial injection, boosting local jobs and the economy.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard announced the $105 million as part of the NSW Government’s $3 billion COVID-19 Recovery Plan to fast-track infrastructure.
“The NSW Government is getting on with the job of delivering world-class health facilities across NSW, including the state-of-the-art St George Hospital,” Mr Hazzard said.
“This investment is creating hundreds of jobs, while also ensuring the local community gets the expanded and enhanced health facilities it deserves as soon as possible.”
Member for Oatley Mark Coure said the accelerated funding to fast-track the $385 million Stage 3 of the hospital’s redevelopment will be of huge benefit to the local community.
“St George Hospital is now up to Stage 3 of its redevelopment, totaling more than $700 million worth of investment, including a new emergency department, a new acute services building opened in October 2017, the recently completed birthing suite and additional parking,” Mr Coure said.
“Bringing forward Stage 3 will fast track the delivery of a new Integrated Ambulatory Care Precinct, increasing inpatient bed capacity as well as much needed enhanced outpatient and community-based services.
“This is wonderful news, particularly for people with complex and chronic conditions, who will now spend less time in hospital, thanks to this new, first-class health facility.”
Planning for Stage 3 will commence this year, with early works set to start in 2021. Main works are expected to start in early 2022, with completion in 2025.
Stage 2 of the St George redevelopment was completed six months ahead of schedule in October, 2017, with an eight-level Acute Services Building above the existing emergency department, and featuring additional inpatient beds, a new intensive care and high dependency unit, a cardiac catheterisation unit, a sterilising services department, new helipad and eight additional digital and interventional operating theatres.
Stage 1 delivered the $41 million new emergency department, together with the improved hydrotherapy pool.

Further to the updates sent over the weekend, NSW Police have issued three individuals with Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for not complying with Public Health Orders.

• About 1.50pm on Saturday (12 September 2020), officers patrolling Central Railway Station stopped a 26-year-old man after he allegedly walked into a restricted area without processing a ticket. Checks revealed the man was denied entry into New South Wales from Victoria on two separate occasions last month. He was unable to produce a permit and was issued with a $1000 PIN.

• About 5pm on Friday (11 September 2020), a 38-year-old man was stopped by police after attempting to enter New South Wales on the Sturt Highway. Police allege the man was unable to provide a permit and was directed to return to Victoria. He allegedly returned to the checkpoint about 2pm the following day (Saturday 12 September 2020) with a permit allowing him to enter via plane and undertake mandatory isolation in a Sydney hotel. He was again directed to return to Victoria. A short time later, the man was stopped for a third time and subsequently issued a $1000 PIN.

• About 7.45pm on (Saturday 12 September 2020), police attended a home on Weber Crescent, Emerton, to conduct a check on a 20-year-old woman who had been ordered to self-isolate. Police will allege she had left the house to drove around the Rouse Hill and Riverstone areas earlier that day. The woman was reminded that she must isolate and was issued a $1000 PIN.

Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.
Anyone who has information regarding individuals or businesses in contravention of a COVID-19-related ministerial direction is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 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.

Police have charged a man and fined a woman in separate incidents since the last COVID-19 update.

• About 11.30am yesterday (Monday 14th September 2020), officers from Bankstown Traffic and Highway Patrol were at a home on Smith Street, Yagoona, when they were approached by a man who allegedly swore and spat at the officers. The 36-year-old man was arrested after a short struggle and charged with not comply with noticed direction (spitting/coughing) – COVID-19, resist or hinder police officer in the execution of duty, use offensive language in/near public place/school, and assault police officer in execution of duty without actual bodily harm. He has been refused bail and is due to appear in Bankstown Local Court tomorrow (Wednesday 16 September 2020).

• Officers from Murray River Police District issued a 40-year-old Wodonga woman with a $1000 PIN. She allegedly breached conditions of her border zone resident permit by travelling to a hotel on Union Road, Lavington, and playing poker machines about 11.45am yesterday (Monday 14 September 2020).

Police continue to appeal to the community to report suspected breaches of any ministerial direction or behaviour which may impact on the health and safety of the community.
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.