The Government’s failure to mandate Australia’s recycling targets is to blame for any recyclable items sent to landfill because of tomorrow’s introduction of a waste export ban.
Greens spokesperson for Waste and Recycling, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, said the waste and recycling sector’s concerns about tomorrow’s change were not new.
“The recycling industry has been very clear in voicing its concerns and demands in the lead-up to the national waste export ban, and the Environment Minister chose to ignore these.
“The recycling sector has consistently called for mandatory national packaging targets – such as minimum recycled content in packaging – in order to have the confidence to invest in the infrastructure necessary to process plastic and other wastes banned from export.
“The Recycling and Waste Reduction Bill 2020 would have mandated the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation’s voluntary recycling and packaging targets, had the Liberal Party not refused to support Greens amendments.
“These targets were supported by the recycling industry and a broad range of stakeholders, but the Liberals let party politics get in the way of introducing good legislation.
“The recycling industry has made it abundantly clear that voluntary packaging and recycling targets have been a complete failure in the past. The industry clearly has no trust that voluntary targets will be met by packaging companies in the future without government intervention.
“Confidence in meeting these targets is critical to the recycling sector as it provides the certainty necessary to underpin investments and upgrades in recycling technology and capacity in this nation, all of which is necessary to effectively deal with our own waste problems.
“The Liberal National Party coalition has repeatedly chosen to back big packaging companies that oppose mandatory targets over a recycling industry that demands them, and which employs over 60,000 Australians.
“The reason the recycling industry continues to be sidelined by the Liberal National Party coalition is because this Government is more concerned with receiving donations from powerful packaging companies than supporting local communities and the environment.”
Month: June 2021
$180 million in medical research to improve the lives of Australians
The Morrison Government is investing $180 million in ground-breaking medical research projects around Australia to improve the lives of Australians and their loved ones.
Funded through the Government’s $20 billion Medical Research Future Fund, 106 medical research projects will receive funding to improve health outcomes, including for Australians with cancer, dementia, brain injuries, heart problems, neurofibromatosis and many others.
$18.7 million will be provided through the Stem Cell Mission for 17 projects that will address illnesses facing many Australians and their families, including heart disease, COVID-19, epilepsy and childhood cancer.
The Murdoch Children’s Institute will receive almost $1 million to evaluate the potential of a bioengineered heart tissue to be used for congenital heart repair in children. This project will radically transform patient outcomes and improve the quality of life of children affected by heart disease.
Through the Genomics Health Futures Mission, 17 researchers will receive a share of $46.5 million for genomics research, which will support health clinicians to identify genetic disorders and diagnose rare diseases faster, positioning Australia as a global leader in this area.
Australian researchers fighting against paediatric and childhood cancers will also receive $18.4 million as part of the 2020 Paediatric Cancer Grant Opportunity and 2020 Childhood Cancer Research Grant Opportunity, to improve treatment, therapies and survival rates for Australian kids.
To improve health outcomes for Australian patients, we’re investing $12.9 million in seven research projects that will use data to improve access, quality, safety and efficiency of our primary health care system as part of the 2020 Primary Healthcare Research Data Infrastructure grants.
Monash University will receive $9.6 million to focus on discovery research projects, including next-generation precision oncology, tumour immunotherapy and epigenomics, which will help make a real world difference for the thousands of Australian kids each year facing a cancer diagnosis and the fight of their lives.
Cancer remains the leading cause of death in Australia. We’re providing $21 million through the 2020 Improving Diagnosis in Cancers with Low Survival Rates Grant Opportunity to eight projects, which aim to improve the early diagnosis of ovarian cancer, liver cancer, lung cancer, as well as cancers where the primary site or origin is unknown.
We are supporting home grown research into cardiovascular health, with $20.1 million in new funding to support 16 projects from real-time cardiac monitoring, to after stroke care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, from medicine management for stroke patients to arm strength and rehabilitation.
We’re providing $17 million for 11 research projects as part of the Dementia, Ageing and Aged Care Mission, which will help senior Australians maintain their health and quality of life as they age, keep their independence for longer and access quality care when they need it.
Seven projects will receive a share of $7.4 million to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through the 2020 Indigenous Health Research Grant Opportunity.
Australian researchers at the University of Melbourne are investigating further COVID-19 vaccine candidates. Through the COVID-19 Vaccine Candidate Research grants, we’re providing $6 million to the University for two projects to help protect Australians against future pandemics.
The 2020 International Clinical Trial Collaborations grant opportunity is providing $5.6 million for three projects, which will bring international clinical trials into back pain, caesarean births and Hodgkin lymphoma.to Australia.
$4.6 million will also be provided through the 2020 Neurofibromatosis Research grant opportunity to four Australian research projects looking into neurofibromatosis – a devastating genetic condition that can cause cancer, blindness, deafness, and chronic pain.
To help improve the lives of Australians who have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), we’re providing $3.3 million to six projects through the Traumatic Brain Injury Mission.
These grants are part of the Morrison Government’s $20 billion Medical Research Future, which is a long-term, sustainable investment in Australian health and medical research helping to improve lives, build the economy and contribute to the sustainability of the health system.
Further information about the MRFF is available at www.health.gov.au/mrff
| Institution | Project | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Murdoch Children’s Research Institute | The Australian Functional Genomics Network | $6 million |
| Murdoch Children’s Research Institute | A national large-scale automated reanalysis program to increase rare disease diagnosis | $3 million |
| Murdoch Children’s Research Institute | New technologies for improved diagnosis of ataxia and the repeat expansion disorders | $653,000 |
| Murdoch Children’s Research Institute | Mitochondrial Diagnostic Network for Genomics and Omics | $3 million |
| Murdoch Children’s Research Institute | The Australian Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN-Aus): An internationally networked national approach for transforming diagnosis for individuals living with rare diseases | $3 million |
| James Cook University | The KidGen National Kidney Genomics Program – improving genomic outcomes for Australian families with genetic kidney disease | $3 million |
| University of Western Australia | Closing the gap in diagnosis of neurological disorders including ataxias and neuropathies – a trans-Australia collaboration | $3 million |
| University of Melbourne | Genetic mosaicism as a stable and robust blood DNA biomarker for precision risk assessment for cancer | $2.1 million |
| University of Melbourne | Precision Diagnosis for the Remaining 50% of Unsolved Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathies | $3 million |
| University of Melbourne | Diagnosis, discovery and novel phenotype characterisation using multimodal genomics in patients with inherited bone marrow failure and related disorders | $3 million |
| University of Melbourne | Evaluating clinically relevant biomarkers to improve early detection and treatment of head and neck cancer | $2.2 million |
| University of Melbourne | Novel predictive disease modelling using liquid biopsies to improve outcomes in melanoma | $2 million |
| University of Sydney | Genomic risk prediction and risk-tailored screening and early detection for common cancers | $3 million |
| Monash University | Population genomic screening of young adults to prevent cancer in Australia | $3 million |
| University of Queensland | Improving genomic testing rates for inoperable lung cancer patients | $2.5 million |
| Flinders University | A liquid biopsy DNA methylation blood test for personalised treatment of patients with gastrointestinal cancers | $2 million |
| Macquarie University | Integrated Multimodal Precision Liquid biopsy to Enhance MElanoma and NSCLC Treatment (IMPLEMENT) | $2 million |
| Institution | Project | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Murdoch Children’s Research Institute | Evaluating safety and efficacy of bioengineered heart tissue for congenital heart repair | $999,000 |
| Murdoch Children’s Research Institute | New therapies preventing heart damage during chemotherapy | $879,000 |
| Murdoch Children’s Research Institute | Stem cell models of glomerular kidney disease for understanding disease and developing treatments | $934,000 |
| Murdoch Children’s Research Institute | Insights into CDKL5 neuronal regulation: pathways to improving neurological outcomes for CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder |
$854,000 |
| University of Melbourne | Stem cell therapies for digestive disease | $584,000 |
| University of Melbourne | iPSC clinical trials – population wide screening of patient iPSC’s to reassess high value drug targets for motor neuron disease | $1 million |
| University of Sydney | Induced pluripotent stem cell derived cardiomyocytes: a new therapy for “no-option” end stage heart failure |
$5 million |
| University of Sydney | Stem Cell Derived-Retinal Organoids to Test Novel Genetic Therapies | $498,000 |
| University of Sydney | Improving decisions about access to stem cell interventions |
$800,000 |
| Monash University | Locally administered extracellular vesicles for perianal fistulising Crohn’s disease | $936,000 |
| The University of Adelaide | A Precision Medicine Based Approach to Treat Craniosynostosis in Children | $441,000 |
| The University of Adelaide | Developing an Evidence-Based Model for Building Trust in Australian Stem Cell Research and Therapies | $995,000 |
| University of Wollongong | Novel SMART AAV vectors for gene therapy for Friedreich’s Ataxia | $983,000 |
| The University of Queensland | Transforming the paradigm of epilepsy care with precision medicine | $1 million |
| University of South Australia | Identification and assessment of new treatment options for the childhood cancer Neuroblastoma | $982,000 |
| South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute Limited | Engineered human stem cells for mutation-specific eradication of myelofibrosis | $853,000 |
| The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) | the sySTEMs initiative: systems biology-augmented, stem cell-derived, multi-tissue panel for rapid screening of approved drugs as potential COVID-19 treatments | $998,000 |
| Institution | Project | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Monash University | The Victoria Paediatric Cancer Consortium: A multi-institutional partnership to catalyze advances in childhood cancer research and clinical implementation | $9.6 million |
| Institution | Project | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| University of New South Wales | Improving outcomes for children with high risk cancer | $1.5 million |
| University of New South Wales | Rationalised inclusion of HDAC inhibitors with standard-of-care chemotherapy to improve outcomes for primary and relapsed neuroblastoma | $614,000 |
| University of Melbourne | Studying the origins, maintenance and resistance mechanisms of poor prognosis paediatric leukaemia at single cell resolution to develop novel therapeutic approaches. | $1.5 million |
| University of Sydney | Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT): Target discovery to treatment | $1.48 million |
| The University of Adelaide | Adolescents with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia: Focussing on the gut microbiota, its role in therapeutic response and potential as an effective adjunct therapeutic in this high-risk group | $1.29 million |
| University of South Australia | ABOLISH Neuroblastoma: Defining the Aetiology and underlying BiOLogy of neuroblastoma to Innovate and SHape new options for prevention, diagnosis and treatment | $1.42 million |
| St Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research | Reducing tumour incidence in adolescents with germ-line mutations in RECQL4 | $958,000 |
| Institution | Project | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| The University of Queensland | Improving surveillance infrastructure for Indigenous primary health care | $2 million |
| South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute Limited | Registry of Senior Australians: Improving Care and Outcomes in Aged Care | $2 million |
| University of Melbourne | Platform to Enhance Prostate Cancer Shared care Integration (PEPSI) |
$2 million |
| Monash University |
Optimising health information exchange during aged care transfers | $2 million |
| The University of Adelaide | Imagendo: Diagnosing endometriosis with imaging and AI | $2 million |
| Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Limited | Regional collaboration to create a Kimberley Health Evidence Data Platform. | $1 million |
| Menzies School of Health Research | Territory Integrated Care: Primary health data Linkage Using Software | $2 million |
| Institution | Project | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| University of New South Wales |
Microbial based biomarkers powered by artificial intelligence for early detection of liver cancer in Australia. The Australian Liver Cancer Microbiome Consortium | $4 million |
| University of South Australia |
Predicting and Preventing Ovarian Cancer: a machine learning approach | $1.3 million |
| The University of Queensland |
Implementing a Multivariate Index Assay for the Earlier Detection of Ovarian Cancer | $2.7 million |
| The University of Queensland |
Lung cancer screening for early detection | $2.8 million |
| University of Sydney |
Ready to screen. Targeting the high-risk population to improve lung cancer diagnosis | $2 million |
| University of Western Australia |
The IC3 Trial: Identifying Cirrhosis and Liver Cancer in Primary Care | $3.2 million |
| Swinburne University of Technology |
Solving Unknown Primary cancER Earlier Diagnosis (SUPER-ED): A stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial implementing a new model of care to support earlier diagnosis | $2.4 million |
| Flinders University |
Shining Light into the “unknown” on Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians with Cancer of Unknown Primary | $2.4 million |
| Institution | Project | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Monash University | Statins and Progression of Coronary Atherosclerosis in Melanoma Patients Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors | $1.7 million |
| Monash University | ECMO-Rehab: A Randomised Controlled Trial of Early Cardiac Rehabilitation to Improve Survival and Recovery in Critically-ill Patients on ECMO | $663,000 |
| Monash University | New models of rehabilitation to improve work and health outcomes after stroke | $1 million |
| The University of Newcastle | Stroke in patients with large Ischaemic Core: Assessment of Reperfusion therapy Impact on Outcome (SICARIO) | $1.5 million |
| The University of Newcastle | Yarning up After Stroke | $485,000 |
| University of Sydney | Safety and Tolerability of AZD6482 in Reperfusion for Stroke (STARS) | $2.7 million |
| University of Sydney | LesioLogic | $1.1 million |
| University of Sydney | Digital solutions for heart failure best practice care | $937,000 |
| University of Sydney | Guardian Angel: Implementation of a peer support program for people with heart disease | $656,000 |
| University of Melbourne | REACHING FOR YOUR WORDS: A Phase IIa umbrella trial of integrated UPper limb & Language Impairment and Functional Training (UPLIFT) after stroke. | $993,000 |
| University of Melbourne | Improving life after stroke with tailored support: Innovation in use of national registry data | $506,000 |
| The University of Adelaide | The SPRINTS Project: Stroke – Prevention of Reperfusion Injury and Neuroinflammation – a Therapeutic Strategy | $2.6 million |
| University of New South Wales | Development of novel, clinically viable strategies for reducing cardiac damage and preventing future events in myocardial infarction (MI) survivors by targeting inflammation | $2.8 million |
| University of New South Wales | CardiacAI: Deep learning to predict and prevent secondary cardiovascular events | $545,000 |
| The University of Queensland | Measuring, Monitoring, and Motivating Adherence to Self-Managed Aphasia Treatment | $389,000 |
| The University of Queensland | Development of drugs to prevent ischemic injuries of the heart and brain | $1,499,560 |
| Institution | Project | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| The University of Queensland | Alignment, Harmonisation, and Results: translating Core Outcome Measures to Improve Care (COM-IC) for People Living with Dementia into Australian practice | $999,000 |
| The University of Queensland | Technology Assisted and Remotely Delivered Anxiety Psychotherapy Intervention for People living with Dementia and Their Care Partners (Tech-CBT) | $1.6 million |
| National Ageing Research Institute | Drawing out care: Using animation and digital technologies to support Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) family carers and people living with dementia | $798,000 |
| Monash University | Knowledge brokers for evidence translation to improve quality use of medicines in residential aged care | $2 million |
| Macquarie University |
SENSEcog aged care: Hearing and vision support to improve quality of life for people living with dementia in residential aged care | $1.2 million |
| Flinders University | Creating partnership in iSupport program to optimise carers’ impact on dementia care | $1.4 million |
| University of New South Wales | Development, validation and implementation of a computerised tool to assess instrumental activities of daily living | $1.3 million |
| Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health | Blood testing to predict and discriminate dementias | $4 million |
| University of Melbourne | Music Attuned Technology Care eHealth (MATCH): A music based mobile eHealth | $2 million |
| University of Melbourne | Development and Implementation of the National Infection Surveillance Program for Aged Care (NISPAC) | $998,000 |
| University of Melbourne | IMpleMenting Effective infection prevention and control in ReSidential aged carE (IMMERSE) | $758,000 |
| Institution | Project | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| The University of Adelaide | Working with Aboriginal families and health and social service providers to assess the feasibility of a novel care package to reduce cannabis and alcohol use and social stress in pregnancy | $675,000 |
| The Council of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research | Developing cultural sensitivity and capability through communication training for mental health professionals | $705,000 |
| University of New South Wales | Understanding how cultural resilience impacts Aboriginal health & quality of life | $560,000 |
| University of Sydney | Understanding the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and wellbeing to health: Implementation of the What Matters 2 Adults wellbeing measure |
$998,000 |
| La Trobe University | Healing the Past by Nurturing the Future: Trauma-integrated perinatal care to improve health outcomes for Indigenous parents and infants in a rural setting | $1.5 million |
| University of Sydney | VOICE – Validating Outcomes by Including Consumer Experience. Developing a patient reported experience measure for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people accessing primary health care | $1.4 million |
| The Sax University | Indigenous Led Evaluation of Aboriginal Programs (ILEAP) | $1.5 million |
| Institution | Project | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| University of Melbourne | AdaptiVax-CoV: A novel adaptable SARS-CoV2 VLP vaccine to produce broad humoral and T cell responses to S, E and M viral proteins | $3 million |
| University of Melbourne | Chimeric next generation COVID vaccines | $3 million |
| Institution | Project | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Macquarie University | Determining the impact of a new primary care model for low back pain: A cluster randomised trial | $2.1 million |
| University of Melbourne | The C*STEROID Trial: An international, randomised placebo-controlled trial to determine the effect of antenatal corticosteroids on newborn health when given prior to planned caesarean section birth from 35+0 to 39+6 weeks of pregnancy | $2.2 million |
| University of Sydney | RADAR: A randomised PET-adapted study of bleomycin-free treatment of early stage Hodgkin lymphoma | $1.4 million |
| Institution | Project | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Murdoch Children’s Research Institute | Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumour Genomics in Neurofibromatosis 1 (MaGeN) | $1.6 million |
| The University of Newcastle | The Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) Cutaneous Neurofibroma Consortium: Identifying Genetic modifiers of disease burden to inform treatment pathways | $1.6 million |
| Monash University | Defining NF1 clinical variation at the microscale to discover new therapeutic targets | $818,000 |
| Murdoch Children’s Research Institute | A randomised control trial of remote microphone listening devices in children with neurofibromatosis type 1 and central auditory deficits | $599,000 |
| Institution | Project | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Curtin University | An informatics approach to predict outcomes and monitor intervention efficacy following moderate to severe traumatic brain injury | $500,000 |
| University of Sydney | From injury to long-term physical activity for people living with traumatic brain injury | $407,000 |
| Monash University | PRECISION-TBI – Promoting evidence-based, data driven care for critically ill moderate-to-severe TBI patients | $499,000 |
| Monash University | The Australian Traumatic Brain Injury National Data (ATBIND) Project | $366,000 |
| Monash University | Exercise therapy for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS) across the lifespan | $500,000 |
| University of Tasmania | Transforming Awareness, Literacy & Knowledge of Traumatic Brain Injury (TALK-TBI) | $1 million |
Suspension of mutual obligation requirements for job seekers and participants in Queensland
The Morrison Government has suspended mutual obligation requirements for employment services participants in Queensland in the Local Government Areas of Townsville, Palm Island, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, Redland, Scenic Rim, Somerset and Sunshine Coast.
The temporary suspension of mutual obligation requirements for employment services participants in these areas will be in place from today, Tuesday 29 June until Tuesday 6 July 2021 inclusive.
No employment services participant in the affected Local Government Areas will face payment suspension or financial penalties for failing to meet their mutual obligation requirements, such as not being able to attend appointments or activities, or not meeting their Job Search requirement if it is due while mutual obligation requirements are suspended.
Where it is safe to do so in line with health advice, employment services participants can engage with their employment services provider.
These arrangements will apply to job seekers in jobactive, Online Employment Services, Disability Employment Services, and participants in ParentsNext and the Community Development Program.
More information about mutual obligation requirements for jobactive, Online Employment Services, and participants of ParentsNext can be found at www.dese.gov.au/covid-19/job-seekers
Enhanced support for NDIS participants in New South Wales
The Morrison Government is committed to ensuring the safety of National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants during the current COVID-19 outbreak in New South Wales (NSW).
More than 61,000 NDIS participants across Australia have now received at least one dose of the vaccine. We continue to see strong growth in numbers across all states and territories.
Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme Senator the Hon Linda Reynolds CSC, said for NDIS participants within Phase 1a in NSW, provider-led vaccination hubs are operating in North Parramatta, Newcastle, Islington and Baulkham Hills.
“In a COVID-19 outbreak where there is ongoing community transmission and extended lockdown periods, it’s been critical that we’ve been able to quickly introduce or reinstate temporary measures to support people in those areas,” Minister Reynolds said.
“The Commonwealth is now also prioritising efforts in NSW to provide in-reach for eligible residential disability accommodation located in the declared COVID-19 hotspots, Greater Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Central Coast and Wollongong.
“I strongly encourage people with disability, their care and support workers and their carers to get vaccinated through the five streams now available to increase protection for themselves and their community.
“I’d like to thank disability service providers, support workers and carers of people with disability for their work in support of the vaccine rollout to this vulnerable group.”
In addition to dedicated disability vaccination hubs, the following measures are in place:
- All NDIS participants aged 16 years and over and carers aged 16 years and over of NDIS participants of any age are eligible to receive the vaccine.
- Disability workers can access the vaccine at Commonwealth SONIC vaccine clinics in Campbelltown, Sydney CBD, Macquarie and Blacktown.
- A national support payment of $150 per participant for disability providers to assist NDIS supported independent living participants eligible within Phase 1a to attend offsite locations, including Commonwealth hubs, state clinics and GPs.
- The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) reinstated a measure, effective from 26 June, to enable NDIS providers in declared COVID-19 hotspot areas of NSW to directly claim the cost of PPE for disability support workers in light of the current COVID-19 outbreak.
- The NDIA also reinstated and expanded a measure to allow eligible registered NDIS providers Australia-wide to seek participant approval to access NDIS participant plan funds to claim costs for PPE used for supports delivered in person by a worker due to higher than normal PPE requirements.
- The NDIA has continued to make available additional temporary support items (for deep cleaning, higher intensity staffing requirements, professional laundering) to assist participants living in supported independent living arrangements where additional supports are required due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
- The NDIA maintains a Clinical First Responder capability that, as a last resort, can provide emergency intervention, clinical support and infection control should there be a COVID-19 outbreak or positive infection in a NDIS residential disability accommodation setting.
For more information on where participants and carers can receive their vaccine, visit health.gov.au/covid19-vaccines
Ordinary Council Meeting Tuesday 29 June 2021
Following is a summary of resolutions from the Ordinary Council meeting of Tuesday 29 June 2021. NB: it is not a full record of resolutions.
Lord Mayoral Minutes
City of Newcastle Awards
A Lord Mayoral Minute was supported that noted and congratulated City of Newcastle staff who have been recognised for their outstanding achievements through several significant national and state award wins.
Newcastle as a Nuclear Free City & Support for a Newcastle Peace Park
A Lord Mayoral Minute was endorsed that reiterated City of Newcastle’s support for a world free of nuclear weapons, and accepted Hunter Peace Group’s request to hold a flag raising ceremony and Civic Reception on 6 August 2021 to mark Hiroshima Day. The Lord Mayoral Minute further acknowledged Hunter Peace Group’s request for assistance to establish a Peace Park in Newcastle aimed at recognising Newcastle’s long and proud activist history in the fight for nuclear disarmament.
City of Newcastle Art Gallery Expansion update – June 2021
Councillors voted to support a final Lord Mayoral Minute strongly noting City of Newcastle’s disappointment that the NSW Government has not made any funding commitment for the Newcastle Art Gallery expansion. This is despite the fact the project will create 170 jobs, including 152 in construction and 18 ongoing jobs post completion and is shovel ready, with an approved development application and a complete business case.
The Lord Mayoral Minute noted there are currently two City of Newcastle applications for funding before the Federal Government, with both requesting the $10 million required to fully fund the expansion, and City of Newcastle will also apply to the new NSW Government process, in the hope of expedient and favourable consideration. A report will be presented to Councillors at the July Ordinary Council Meeting outlining remaining funding options, so that a pathway can be determined to deliver the Newcastle Art Gallery expansion.
Ordinary business
The Meg Purser Communications Scholarship
Council voted to establish the Meg Purser Communications Scholarship, in honour of the late Meg Purser, with the intention of supporting local tertiary students who are committed to their local communities and are striving to make a difference in the corporate and not-for-profit communications field. A total of $5,000 will be allocated annually to the Scholarship for a period of three years.
Approval of staging plan for Black Hill employment lands
Council voted to approve the Industrial Subdivision Staging Plan, dated April 2021, for Lot 30, 198 Lenaghans Drive, Black Hill, known as Black Hill Employment Lands. The Plan provided an updated indicative lot layout, identifying how the development of the site would be staged, as well as details on the provision of infrastructure, payment of contributions and management arrangements for elements of the development.
Compulsory acquisition of road reserve by Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation
Council resolved to approve the compulsory acquisition by Hunter and Central Coast Development Corporation (HCCDC) of part of Honeysuckle Drive, which supports the finalisation of the realignment of Honeysuckle Drive.
Making of the Rate – Hunter Catchment Contribution and Commission for 2021/22
Council voted to authorise the collection of the Hunter Catchment Contribution at the rate established by the NSW Government’s Hunter Local Land Services for the 2021/22 rating year and to endorse the rate of commission to be applied by City of Newcastle for the collection of the Contribution on their behalf.
Making of the Rates and Charges for 2021/22
To make the Rates and Charges for the period 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022 in accordance with the provisions of sections 532 – 535 of the Local Government Act 1993 (Act).
Interest on overdue Rates and Charges for 2021/22
Council voted to adopt the rate of 6.0% per annum on interest on overdue rates and charges for the period 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022, and adopt the rate of 2.37% per annum on interest on overdue rates and charges that are deferred against an eligible ratepayer’s estate for the period 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022.
Executive Monthly Performance Report
Council voted to receive the Executive Monthly Performance Report for May 2021.
Proposed acquisition of 228 Turton Road, Waratah
Council voted to acquire 228 Turton Road, Waratah and classify the land as Operational Land, with authority given to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or his delegate to execute all relevant documentation to carry out the transaction.
RSPCA animal management services agreement
Council voted to enter into a contract for Animal Management Services in accordance with Contract No. 2021/858T.
Tender report – University Drive, Waratah West – catchment rehabilitation
Council voted to accept a tender for the construction of the University Drive, Waratah West catchment rehabilitation, consisting of the construction of a new footbridge and associated works, in accordance with Contract No. 2021/266T.
Tender report – provision of civil design and CAD drafting services
Council voted to accept a tender for the provision of civil design and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) drafting services on a casual hire basis, in accordance with Contract No. 2021/517T.
Tender report – provision of demolition services for car park, 92 King Street, Newcastle
Council voted to accept a tender for the demolition of the seven-storey car park at 92 King Street, Newcastle, and associated works, in accordance with Contract No. 2021/688T.
Tender report – biennial minor civil works and services
Council voted to accept tenders for the provision of minor civil works and services across the Newcastle Local Government Area.
Tender report – biennial spray sealing services
Council voted to accept tenders for the provision of spray sealing services to deliver pavement maintenance and renewal across the Newcastle Local Government Area.
Tender report – biennial asphaltic concrete services
Council voted to accept tenders for the provision of asphaltic concrete services required to deliver pavement maintenance and renewal across the Newcastle Local Government Area.
Tender report – supply of four green waste trucks
Council carried a procedural motion to lay the item on table to seek a report on the business case and opportunity to expedite the delivery of EV garbage trucks to meet our Climate Action Plan commitments.
Tender report – tree work services
Council voted to accept a tender panel for the provision of tree pruning and removal services on public lands, roads, and footways.
Tender report – tree planting and tree establishment
Council voted to accept a tender for tree planting and tree establishment works on public lands, roads, and footways.
Tender report – Summerhill Waste Management Centre – provision of environmental project services – building and demolition landfill leachate system upgrade
Council voted to accept a tender for construction of a leachate collection system for the transfer of leachate from holding tanks to the main leachate pond at the Summerhill Waste Management Centre in accordance with Contract No. 2021/496T.
Tender report – Summerhill Waste Management Centre – provision of environmental project services – leachate capacity upgrade
Council voted to accept a tender for construction of a new leachate pond and associated leachate pumping station at the Summerhill Waste Management Centre in accordance with Contract No. 2021/498T.
Tender report – Summerhill Waste Management Centre – six-year waste audit program
Council voted to accept a tender for delivery of a Waste Audit Program for the Summerhill Waste Management Centre in accordance with Contract No. 2021/418T.
Notices of Motion
Georgetown and Waratah Local Centre
Council adopted a notice of motion to commend staff for the successful implementation of the Local Centres Program and initiate the Georgetown and Waratah Local Centre upgrade to improve the local public domain. This would include footpaths, guttering and road renewal, parking improvements, updated cycleway and pedestrian connections, street tree planting, street furniture upgrades and drainage improvements, while also partnering with local businesses through the Façade Improvement Scheme. The motion requires City of Newcastle to consult with the local community and local businesses regarding the design and implementation of the Georgetown and Waratah Local Centre upgrade.
Late Item of Business
Hamilton Community Pantry
Council adopted a late item that Council Officers continue to work with Food Not Bombs and other local support agencies to support the appropriate, safe and clean provision of items and services that are needed like the Hamilton Community Pantry.
Covid check-in mandate expanded
Use of the Service NSW QR code will be mandatory at all workplaces and retail businesses from Monday 12 July.
Minister for Digital and Customer Service Victor Dominello said expanding the mandate would give NSW Health contact tracers real-time access to QR code data from a greater number of venues including supermarkets, retail stores, gyms and offices.
“This is about keeping customers and staff safe and getting all businesses open again as soon as possible,” Mr Dominello said.
“We know the Delta variant of COVID-19 moves quickly and we must do everything we can to get it under control.
“While many retail businesses, including large supermarkets and hardware chains, have voluntarily adopted the Service NSW QR code, this measure will ensure check-in rates are high across the board and contact tracers have access to reliable records.”
From 12 July, these businesses will need to display the Service NSW QR code and take reasonable steps to ensure people entering their premises check-in using the Service NSW QR codes or digital sign-in sheet:
- Retail businesses and supermarkets
- Individual shops within shopping centres
- Shopping centres will also be asked to display QR codes at entry points where practicable
- Gyms
- Offices, including call centres
- Manufacturing and warehousing
- Universities and TAFE
- Schools including teachers and visitors (such as parents and contractors) but excluding students.
Businesses such as hospitality and hairdressers that were already using the Service NSW QR code will also need to ensure staff and visitors such as maintenance workers and delivery drivers check-in, when they resume services after the lockdown period.
Hospitality businesses will now need to extend the use of the Service NSW COVID-Safe check-in to all customers including takeaway orders.
Businesses that fail to comply with the new health order requirements may be subject to fines and in case of flagrant breaches, temporary closure orders.
“There is no excuse not to check-in everywhere you can – businesses and customers all have a part to play to keep NSW safe,” Mr Dominello said.
“In the same way customers routinely check into cafes, restaurants and bars, we need them to adopt the same approach when visiting a supermarket, retail store and workplace.
“Inspectors have been asked to monitor the situation alongside the NSW Police.”
The Service NSW COVID-Safe check-in is easy for customers to use from within the Service NSW app.
There are more than 5.2 million active users of the Service NSW app.
The data captured by the Service NSW COVID-Safe check-in is only used for the purposes of contact tracing by NSW Health. It is deleted after 28 days.
Businesses who need to register for the NSW Government QR code can find the application form and more information at https://www.nsw.gov.au/register-your-business-as-covid-safe
For visitors without a digital device, other check-in forms must be available.
Community reminded not to travel without valid excuse during lockdown
Two women are among 59 people issued with PINs for breaching a public health order yesterday, after being caught more than 200km from their homes, allegedly without a reasonable excuse.
Just after 2pm yesterday (Tuesday 29 June 2021), police stopped a vehicle on Torrens Avenue, the Entrance, as it displayed Queensland registration plates.
A subsequent check of the woman’s driver’s licence revealed she lived in the Shellharbour area. When police asked her why she was in the area, she confirmed she was aware of the public health order but was on holiday.
The woman was arrested and taken to Wyong Police Station where she was issued a $1000 Penalty Infringement Notice for not comply with noticed direction re section 7/8/9 – COVID-19 and charged with an outstanding arrest warrant.
She was refused bail to appear before Wyong Local Court today (Wednesday 30 June 2021).
About 12pm yesterday, officers attached to Port Stephens-Hunter Police District spoke to a 26-year-old woman in the carpark of a hotel on Tomaree Street, Nelson Bay.
Police established the woman resided in Sydney’s CBD and that she was in the area to visit a friend.
She was subsequently issued a $1000 PIN and was directed to immediately return to Sydney.
State Emergency Operations Controller, Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys, said now is not the time for people in locked down areas to be travelling around the state.
“Can I be clear about this, if you’re from any area covered under the public health order, we don’t want to see you away from your home without a valid reason,” Deputy Commissioner Worboys said.
“Going on holiday is not a valid reason.
“Police are also concerned at the number of PINs we have issued for people not wearing masks on public transport. People need to know we will be out and about ensuring this is complied with.”
“It is imperative that everyone continues to follow the Public Health Orders and does not become complacent.”
In total, 59 PINs were issued yesterday and of those 43 were $200 infringements for failing to wear a fitted face covering.
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.
Detectives investigate armed robbery at Cardiff licenced premises
Robbery and Serious Crime Squad detectives are appealing for public assistance following an armed robbery at a licenced premises near Lake Macquarie last week.
About 4.10am last Friday (25 June 2021), two men – armed with a crowbar and a firearm – forced entry into a hotel at the corner of Main Road and Harrison Street at Cardiff.
The men allegedly confronted two employees demanding cash, before stealing alcohol and a laptop computer.
The men then fled the premises onto Harrison Street.
About 7am, the incident was reported to officers from Lake Macquarie Police District, who attended and established a crime scene.
Initial inquiries were conducted by local police, before detectives from the Robbery and Serious Crime Squad took carriage of the investigation.
As inquiries continue, police are appealing for anyone with information about the incident, or who may have dashcam footage from the area at the time, to come forward.
Investigations are continuing.
The Academy continues in COVID-safe bubble
The CMAA Academy of Country Music staff members and Calrossy Anglican School are working together to ensure The Academy continues to run safely under new COVID-19 regulations.
The Academy is providing an intensive educational course to students and their parents from NSW, South Australia, Victoria and Queensland.
Staff members met with Calrossy executive on Saturday, June 26, following further COVID-19 restrictions coming into force in NSW to ensure all regulations were followed and the community was kept safe. The Academy staff members and students have created a ‘bubble’ at Calrossy where they are not in contact with the general public and have all returned negative COVID-19 tests in the past week and have isolated since being tested. This bubble will be kept in place until The Academy concludes on Saturday, July 2.
“We are so grateful we can still come together for the 2021 Junior Academy course here in Tamworth,” Academy director Lyn Bowtell said.
“I am so proud of the way everyone has worked together to ensure our music education and business course can continue to run in these difficult times. This truly shows the resilience and dedication of our staff members, students and parents who have worked with us to ensure everyone’s safety.”
As the course is an educational institution running in a school, participants are able to sing and gather while following all NSW Government regulations.
However, these changes have meant special guests including The Bushwackers front man Dobe Newton, producer Simon Johnson, singer-songwriters Aleyce Simmonds and Catherine Britt, musician and artist Mickey Pye have presented their sessions to the parents and students via Zoom videoconferencing. Being the innovative creatives that musicians and music industry personnel are, using this technology and adapting to it has meant that the course participants still get the full gamut of experiences that The Academy offers.
The graduation concert will be closed to the public, but will be livestreamed via The Academy Facebook page at 8pm on Thursday, July 1.
Being able to come together as a safe and isolated group has also meant the world to staff members, students and parents as many have been unable to gather in person for nearly 18 months.
The last time The Academy ran in person was January 2020 with the senior course, and has since run as Academy X, an online version and these will continue to run as specialty courses delivered via Zoom.
The Academy personnel also thanked Calrossy Anglican School executives for working with them to run another successful Academy of Country Music.
Emergency leave extension for aged care residents
The Morrison Government is extending emergency leave arrangements for people living permanently in residential aged care who want to temporarily relocate with family to reduce their risk of contracting COVID-19.
The 12-month extension means the emergency leave provisions are now in place until 30 June 2022.
Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, Richard Colbeck, said the extension allows aged care residents to continue to take emergency leave during unpredictable COVID-19 outbreaks, rather than using their limited social leave entitlements.
“We want to provide certainty and reassurance to residents who wish to temporarily relocate and stay with family at times when COVID-19 is a risk in their aged care residence,” Minister Colbeck said.
“The Morrison Government is providing two tiers of support available through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme (CHSP) for people taking emergency leave.
“This includes personal care and nursing services, as well as entry level supports, such as meals and transport.”
Emergency leave provisions were introduced in May 2020, giving permanent aged care residents the option to take emergency leave during a declared emergency.
The entitlement was initially in place from 1 April 2020 to 30 September 2020 and has already been extended once to 30 June 2021.
Permanent aged care residents are usually entitled to up to 52 days of non-hospital related leave (social leave) within a financial year under the Aged Care Act 1997.
When residents take emergency leave they must continue to pay their basic daily fees, means tested care fees and daily accommodation fees, which is the same requirement when taking social leave.
During the leave period, the Australian Government continues to pay residential care subsidies, ensuring providers are not disadvantaged when residents take emergency leave.
More information on emergency leave and CHSP supports is available on the Department of Health website.