Month: December 2021

Parramatta, Sydney’s CBD of the West, is filling up with thousands of workers with the opening of a new, high rise work tower – part of the NSW Government’s commitment to expand its workforce west, reduce office costs and boost the economy.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the new 6 & 8 Parramatta Square building is easily accessible, with efficient transport options including trains and light rail, metro, buses, ferries and the WestConnex.
“Signature skyscrapers like these show our state has a bright future and the CBD doesn’t stop at Glebe,” Mr Perrottet said.
“Parramatta Square is a major contributor to our economic engine room and these premium office buildings will host an exceptional workforce in the beating heart of Western Sydney.
“Tomorrow, I will be attending the Bradfield Oration where big ideas for the future of NSW are discussed. It’s projects like Parramatta Square that inspire us to take our state from good to great.”
Minister for Water, Property and Housing Melinda Pavey said Walker Corporation’s 6 Parramatta Square adjoins tower 8, which has reached structural completion at 225 meters tall to become the tallest building in Sydney’s West and ready for tenants in 2022.
“Building these towers has created 4,000 construction worker jobs, giving Sydney’s west a much needed economic boost and this will continue as public and private sector employees settle into their new office digs and spend locally,” Mrs Pavey said.
“Despite the impacts of COVID-19, this workforce has risen to the challenges of this pandemic, safely continuing work on site and completing level after level, all the way to the top, to where we stand here today, some 55 floors later.”
Using technology designed to withstand earthquakes, an incredible skybridge now connects 4 and 6 Parramatta Square to form the NSW Government Campus Hub – the largest public sector office workplace hub in Australia, accommodating around 9,500 workers.
Parramatta Square is one of Australia’s largest commercial business precincts integrating commercial office space with convenient retail and will eventually cater for over 30,000 workers and students, as well as many more visitors.
“Parramatta truly is the beating heart of Western Sydney, and these towers are a symbol of this great region’s resilience and strength,” Mrs Pavey said.
Some of Australia’s most highly regarded blue chip companies have signed long-term leases alongside the NSW Government towers, at 4 & 6 Parramatta Square.
Walker Corporation Executive Chairman Lang Walker AO said the tower will be a beacon of success to the people of Western Sydney.
“It’s not only the tallest in Western Sydney, it’s the biggest too, with the largest Gross Floor Area of any commercial office building in Australia.”
NSW Government staff from the Department of Communities and Justice and the Greater Sydney Commission have started the move into 6 Parramatta Square. Already, tower 4 is the office for the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment and Department of Customer Service.

Disaster assistance is now available in 18 additional local government areas in regional NSW following severe storms and flooding from Tuesday 9 November 2021.
The additional LGAs are Bourke, Coonamble, Dubbo, Glen Innes Severn, Kyogle, Lithgow, Liverpool Plains, Lockhart, Muswellbrook, Narromine, Orange, Parkes, Singleton, Snowy Monaro, Snowy Valleys, Tamworth, Walgett and Warren.
These areas are in addition to the 20 Local Government Areas that are already receiving assistance as a result of the Australian and New South Wales Governments.
Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie said the ongoing severe weather has caused significant widespread damage across regional NSW.
“Continued heavy rain and flooding has resulted in damage to major roads and residential properties, with the impacts unlikely to become clear until flood waters start to recede.”
“We continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with these communities to assist in repairing the damage caused by these events,” Minister McKenzie said.
“Again, I urge people to check local emergency advice and alerts, and never, ever drive through flood waters,” Minister McKenzie said.
New South Wales Minister for Police and Emergency Services the Hon David Elliott said further flooding in the Upper Hunter region over the weekend had led to several evacuations and flood rescues.
“The assistance being announced today will help ensure councils and individuals impacted by this event have the support they need to get back on their feet.”
Assistance available under the DRFA may include:

• Help for eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged (eligibility criteria apply)
• Support for affected local councils to help with the costs of cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets
• Concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers and non-profit organisations
• Freight subsidies for primary producers, and
• Grants to eligible non-profit organisations.

For information on personal hardship and distress assistance, contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 or online at www.service.nsw.gov.au
To apply for a concessional loan or grant, contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593 or visit www.raa.nsw.gov.au
Information on disaster assistance can be found on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au

Parents are being urged to take advantage of the state’s popular Active Kids program, with tens of millions of dollars worth of vouchers still to be redeemed this year due to the COVID lockdown.
And in a December double, Premier Dominic Perrottet also encouraged NSW families to dive into the new First Lap learn to swim program, which starts today.
“Now that sport is back up and running, we’re keen to remind parents to use these excellent NSW Government cost-saving measures so kids can get back to playing sport and learning to swim without breaking the family budget,” Mr Perrottet said.
“With COVID restrictions stopping sport for several months, around 430,000 children are yet to use their Active Kids vouchers this year, meaning there is around $86 million worth of vouchers still up for grabs.”
Every school-enrolled child in NSW is eligible for two $100 Active Kids vouchers per year towards the cost of sport and active recreation fees.
Minister for Digital and Customer Service Victor Dominello said the $100 First Lap learn to swim voucher and Active Kids program are among dozens of NSW Government savings to help to ease cost of living pressures for households.
“Every cent counts when it comes to balancing the family budget and claiming the First Lap voucher is now at your fingertips and available via the Service NSW app,” Mr Dominello said.
Minster for Sport Natalie Ward said the First Lap program, which provides an annual $100 voucher per child, has been expanded to include not just pre-school children but also those in kindergarten in 2021 and 2022.
“With summer officially starting today, there’s no better time to dive into the First Lap program and make sure your child learns vital safety skills,” Mrs Ward said.
For more details or to download a voucher, visit the Service NSW website.