Month: February 2022

The Premier’s Reading Challenge marks its 21^st anniversary starting today, with children encouraged to join the party – by reading lots of books!
 
The Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature.
 
First started in 2002, the Challenge has grown in both student participation and completion numbers every year since its inception.
 
Premier Dominic Perrottet said despite disruptions from COVID-19 in 2021, participation in the Challenge was up almost 3 per cent (440,000 students) with individual books read reaching almost 9 million.
 
“It’s wonderful to see that the Challenge continues to grow, encouraging generations to enjoy reading,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
“The challenge encourages students to extend reading beyond the classroom where they can read for pleasure and knowledge.”
 
Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said this year’s motto “stories that stay with you” was very suitable following the years we have had.
 
“Reading is so beneficial for students’ lives, it sharpens their knowledge and strengthens writing and vocabulary – but just as importantly it makes for happier, more creative kids who take that with them into adulthood,” Ms Mitchell said.
 
“Reading is a gift that unlocks future success for students. I’m excited for this year’s challenge to start.”
 
The Premier’s Reading Challenge begins on Monday, 28 February and is open for student entries until Friday, 19 August. Students from government, independent, Catholic and home schools in Kindergarten to Year 10 can participate.
 
See www.premiersreadingchallenge.nsw.edu.au for the rules of the competition.

The NSW Government has extended trading hours for hotels and registered clubs during special sporting and cultural events in 2022.

The extension allows some venues to trade longer hours so patrons can celebrate events such as Vivid Sydney, the Tamworth Country Music Festival, the Parkes Elvis Festival and the NRL Grand Final.

Minister for Hospitality and Racing, Kevin Anderson, said the move would give patrons extra time to socialise and enjoy major entertainment events while opening more trading opportunities for businesses.

“We understand that it has been tough for hospitality venues recently which is why we are extending trading hours for certain events. This will create jobs and put valuable dollars back into the tills of small businesses,” Mr Anderson said.

“NSW hospitality venues are waiting with open arms to welcome patrons through their doors so now is the time to get out and enjoy yourself in a COVID safe way.”

Venues already able to trade beyond these longer hours on can trade as usual.

“We need to recognise and support events that cater to a range of interests and cultures and that are both locally and globally significant,” Mr Anderson said.

“If you’re keen to flag dates in your social calendar, check the list of events to see when and where pubs and clubs can stay open later and get out and enjoy the yourself at one of our excellent hospitality venues.”

These trading extensions do not affect takeaway alcohol trading times. Individual trading restrictions or other special conditions that apply to a venue’s liquor licence also remain in place for these events.

The NSW Government’s $155 million program for Before and After School Care (BASC) vouchers is now live for parents and carers of children enrolled in a NSW primary school.
 
The $500 vouchers are available now to use at participating providers to assist families with access to BASC services by covering a parent gap fee component of their session fees.
 
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the $500 vouchers are more important than ever in supporting our working families as they get back into the office.
 
“The vouchers will offer parents greater flexibility as they return to the office,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
“They’ll also ease pressure on household budgets as we recover from the disruptions of the pandemic.”
 
Treasurer Matt Kean said the NSW Government is focused on making it easier for women to enter, re-enter and stay in the workforce.
 
“Covid-19 was the first economic shock where women lost more jobs than men, and providing more affordable Before and After School Care services can give working mothers greater choice when it comes to their careers,” Mr Kean said. 
 
Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said this is a great opportunity for families to access a BASC service in their local school community.
 
“Every family with children at a NSW primary school is eligible for one voucher per child, which will provide each child with approximately 60 sessions of free BASC,” Ms Mitchell said.
 
“These vouchers are all about providing affordable access to care for families, particularly after a tough two years where we have had disrupted access to school and BASC.”
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said the vouchers are now live on the Service NSW app.
 
“Similar to Dine & Discover, First Lap and other voucher programs, eligible parents and carers will be able to store and re-use their Proof of Identity documents, such as Medicare Card and Driver’s Licence, to speed up the application process,” Mr Dominello said.
 
Families can access the vouchers online via MyServiceNSW account, in the app, or by visiting their nearest Service Centre.

In another win for conservation, three mammal species once locally extinct, are booming since their reintroduction to Sturt National Park.

Environment Minister James Griffin said recent surveys have shown bilbies, crest-tailed mulgaras and Shark Bay bandicoots, were busy breeding and in good numbers, reflecting the conditions in the far-west of NSW at the moment.

“There is a baby boom underway in far-west NSW and I’m thrilled to see this important rewilding program going from strength to strength,” Mr Griffin said.

“I want people from right across NSW to be able to see the conservation efforts in the bush at their best and this program is one of seven programs just like it working towards that goal.

“Nineteen crest-tailed mulgaras were originally translocated from wild populations in South Australia in August 2020 and from recent surveys, the numbers have rocketed up to be between 160 and 240 individuals, eventually we are hopeful they will number around 480.

“In September 2020 10 greater bilbies were reintroduced from Taronga Western Plains Zoo and were supplemented by another 30 bilbies in May 2021.

“The bilby population is now also booming and is estimated to number up to 60, including female bilbies, who are now having pouch young of their own.

“Sturt National Park has been an ideal location with incredible rainfall over the past year and it is heartening to see locally extinct species thriving in their natural habitat.”

Sturt National Park site is one of three feral-predator free areas already operational funded by the NSW Government and managed in partnership by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Wild Deserts led by UNSW and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.

The NPWS is currently establishing a further four sites which will expand the fenced feral-free area in our national parks to more than 65,000 hectares and provide a conservation benefit to more than 50 threatened species.

“It’s a ground-breaking program to counter damage done to wildlife by feral animals including feral cats which kill 1.5 billion native animals every year in Australia,” Mr Griffin said.

University of NSW Wild Deserts Project Leader Professor Richard Kingsford is excited about the early results at Sturt National Park.

“It’s wonderful to see these animals back in their original home, prospering, and restoring this desert ecosystem to some of its past magnificence,” Prof Kingsford said.

“As well as mulgara and bilbies, 13 Shark Bay bandicoots translocated in May last year have not wasted time either.

“The population is estimated to have doubled, only six months after they were released. Each female bandicoot can have two young and the six females translocated have already had two litters each since arriving at Sturt National Park.” 

Based on the success of these three species, there are plans to translocate a fourth species to the national park, the golden bandicoot, in 2022.

The history of Australia’s most famous landmark will come to life with celebrations to mark the 90^th birthday of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
 
Premier Dominic Perrottet said festivities for the national icon would give Sydneysiders the opportunity to step back in time and take part in a series of exciting events.
 
“The Sydney Harbour Bridge is the show-stopping centrepiece of our beautiful harbour city, this is a great opportunity to showcase how proud we are of the role it plays in our city,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
“Ninety years ago, the first trains and trams crossed and cars followed shortly after, with the bridge earning instant international acclaim which has grown over the years.
 
“Even now, it’s an inspiration for everything we seek to build, functional, beautiful and built to a standard that has stood the test of time. It isn’t just a tourist attraction, it remains a key artery for our city’s beating heart.”
 
Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward said the opening of the Sydney Harbour Bridge on 19 March 1932 marked Sydney’s coming of age as a global city.
 
“In the early days, the bridge was referred to as the ‘Iron Lung’ because it supported the city and provided work to its people through the Depression,” Mrs Ward said.
 
“Today, the bridge remains a vital and beautiful piece of infrastructure that links the CBD with North Sydney, joins communities and supports our economy.”
 
Minister for Heritage James Griffin said until the Sydney Harbour Bridge was finished in 1932, Sydney had been a divided city.
 
“Many of us now take this bridge for granted, but previously the only way across the harbour directly was via boat or ferry. Its construction connected communities and helped Sydney become the global success it is today,” Mr Griffin said.
 
The 90^th birthday celebrations begin with a light show and projections on the bridge pylons each evening from Thursday 17 March to Sunday 20 March.
 
Activities will include 100 members of the public being able to ride on the famous steam locomotive 3801 as it crosses the Bridge and is met by the vintage electric train set F1.
 
The 3801 will leave Central Station just after 9am on Saturday March 19. Tickets cost $100 each, with a maximum of two tickets per person.
 
A vintage electric train set, including Carriage C3426 that was part of the Sydney Harbour Bridge opening in 1932, will meet 3801 on the Bridge as a special salute. It will depart North Sydney station around 9am before making its way to Wynyard and then looping back to North Sydney. Return shuttles will run from North Sydney to Wynyard stations hourly between 10am and 4pm. F1 tickets will cost $10 each.
 
Historic double-decker vintage buses will operate every five minutes from North Sydney and Wynyard as well as vintage ferries between Milsons Point and Campbell Cove every 30 minutes. These will be a free ‘turn up and go’ service with the option to make a gold coin donation via tap card facilities.
 
Other highlights include: 
 

• A walking tour around the CBD including a pop-up art gallery featuring images of historical moments;
• Dancers, buskers and theatrical performances between Town Hall and Campbells Cove;
• A community hub at Campbells Cove including a Welcome to Country, children’s events and performances by Aria Award winners James Morrison and Christine Anu.

 
Tickets to ride the steam locomotive 3801 and vintage electric train set F1 go on sale from 9am tomorrow. To purchase tickets and see more information about other activities, visit www.transport.nsw.gov.au/sydneyharbourbridge

Landmark reforms to better protect the environment, prevent contamination and illegal dumping have passed NSW Parliament overnight.

NSW Environment Minister James Griffin said the Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2021, will help stop innocent landowners and the Government footing the bill for illegal dumping and contaminated land.

“When our environmental laws were introduced decades ago, they were used as the benchmark around Australia. Since 2012, they’ve been used to successfully prosecute nearly 680 polluters and make them pay $12 million through the courts for their crimes,” Mr Griffin said.

“Criminal behaviour has evolved since then, which is why we’re strengthening the law so waste criminals can’t exploit and profit from loopholes.”

In the past three years, these loopholes have seen more than 132,000 tonnes of contaminated waste being illegally dumped in NSW, and innocent landholders or Government being left with substantial clean-up costs.
Some updates to the legislation will:

• Prevent individuals and related companies benefitting from their crimes by ensuring they can be held to account even if they dissolve companies in an attempt to avoid responsibility
• Ensure compliance history is considered when deciding to issue or amend an environment protection licence
• Ensure action can be taken against the owners of vehicles involved in illegal waste dumping. Previously, the law only applied to the driver of the vehicle
• Ensure contaminated property continues to be properly managed or cleaned up when land is sold, or if operations have finished. This means it won’t be left to government or innocent landholders to manage
• Add new and increased maximum penalties, to further deter criminal behaviour
• Increase protections for officers investigating environmental offences so they can do their jobs safely.

“These changes will ensure those responsible for contamination and pollution can be made to clean it up or manage it into the future,” Mr Griffin said.

“This is good news for the environment, and for communities that have suffered from the actions of environmental criminals.”

The Environment Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 is another step in the NSW Government’s commitment to waste policy and the environment, following the release of the Waste and Sustainable Materials Strategy 2041.