Month: August 2022

One of the largest harbour restoration projects of its kind in the world is set to commence in the iconic Sydney Harbour to reforest and restore marine habitats for penguins, seals, seahorses and turtles.
 
Minister for Environment James Griffin said a $9.1 million NSW Government initiative will help restore Sydney Harbour to bring back lost biodiversity, improve water quality and increase carbon storage.
 
“Celebrated Australian writer Clive James reminisced about our magnificent Sydney Harbour, likening it to ‘crushed diamond’, and we want to restore that same brilliance to the habitats that lie beneath the surface,” Mr Griffin said.
 
“Sydney Harbour is a modern, working harbour at the beating heart of our city, but the effects of urbanisation and industrial activity have resulted in the loss of marine habitats and the species that call them home.
 
“While Sydney’s water quality has significantly improved in recent decades, so much so that we all delight at sightings of whales and seals in the Harbour, there’s no better time to supercharge our restoration efforts.
 
“By installing hundreds of Living Seawall panels and replanting seagrasses and kelp forests in at least nine locations, we’ll be restoring critical habitat for marine life like the endangered White’s Seahorse, Little Penguins, Green Turtles and seals.
 
“The ocean is critical for marine and human life, providing every second breath we take. This harbour conservation and restoration project is one of biggest of its kind and demonstrates our commitment to improving our environment for generations to come.”
 
The NSW Government’s $9.1 million Seabirds to Seascapes project includes three elements:

• Restoring Sydney Harbour’s marine ecosystems by installing Living Seawalls, and replanting seagrass meadows and kelp forests
• Supporting the future of Little Penguins in NSW by conducting the first ever statewide Little Penguin census to better understand their population size and how they’re responding to threats such as climate change
• Helping Fur Seals thrive as a species by conducting a Seal Survey to identify their preferred habitat, breeding grounds, diet and key threats.

 
Seaweeds such as Crayweed provide critical habitat and food for marine life. They also act as underwater forests, capturing carbon and creating oxygen.
 
However, Crayweed completely disappeared from the Sydney metropolitan region from Palm Beach to Cronulla in the 1980s due to pollution, and has never returned.
 
Seabirds to Seascapes is being led by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, in partnership with experts from the Sydney Institute of Marine Science (SIMS), Taronga Conservation Society Australia and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
 
SIMS Chair Peter Cochrane said his ambition is that this project can be applied elsewhere.
 
“Urbanisation has converted more than 50 per cent of Sydney Harbour’s natural shoreline into built structures and introduced many environmental stressors that have degraded aquatic habitats,” Mr Cochrane said.
 
“Despite that, we’re fortunate that the foundations for habitat repair still exist and we have the world-class science to guide this project.”
 
More than 85 per cent of people in NSW live within 50 kilometres of the coast, and coastal tourism employs more than 142,000 or about 24 per cent of employees working in the coastal zone, so protecting the blue economy has never been more important.
 
The NSW Environmental Trust is granting $6.6 million to the project, with partners contributing a further $2.5 million in kind.
 
The Seabirds to Seascapes project builds upon existing management of threatened and protected marine species through the $184 million Marine Estate Management Strategy and the $175 million Saving Our Species program.
 
Find out more at environment.nsw.gov.au/seabirds-to-seascapes

NSW residents who want to get skilled for a first job, a new job or a better job will have more opportunities to access fee-free training, with the NSW Government extending funding through to the end of the 2022-23 financial year.

The joint NSW – Federal Government funded JobTrainer program, providing fee-free training in response to the impact of COVID-19, is due to end in December, but the NSW Government will step in to ensure more people can access training so they can get jobs in priority industries.

Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens announced the funding extension to mark the commencement of National Skills Week, which will remove barriers to training and help people get the skills they need for the jobs they want.

“We want people to get skilled, find in-demand jobs, grow the economy and deliver a brighter future for their families,” Mr Henskens said.

“When it comes to investing in skills and training, NSW has led the nation. Despite the Commonwealth’s funding for fee-free training ceasing at the end of this year, the NSW Government will extend funding for fee-free courses through to July 2023.

“The funding will target the in-demand industries such as community services, including aged care and disability support, hospitality, agriculture and digital technology.

“On top of our unprecedented investment in fee-free training, the NSW Government is also delivering revolutionary new programs and projects, such as our Institutes of Applied Technology and the New Education Training Model.”

Business NSW CEO Daniel Hunter welcomed the investment which will help train more workers for jobs in critical industries.

“The number one issue facing businesses right now is access to skilled workers. Every person that gets skilled up and into a job under this program is a success story for local communities and businesses across NSW,” Mr Hunter said.

For more information on eligibility and locations of the fee-free training courses across NSW including online, visit https://education.nsw.gov.au/skills-nsw. 

An ambitious and visionary plan to build over rail lines at Central will deliver a spectacular new public square and parkland, office space for the startups of the future, more diverse and affordable housing options as well as new city connections.
 
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Government’s vision for Central Station will utilise unused space over the current rail corridor to deliver a vibrant destination and provide much needed space for the expansion of the CBD.
 
“We have a once in a generation opportunity to reimagine this iconic part of our CBD and transform it into a world-class precinct of shops, restaurants, office spaces, parkland and additional housing,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
“This proposal will be another major investment into the future of the Sydney CBD. Our vision will convert Central precinct into a must-visit part of our city for locals as well as for domestic and international tourists.
 
“It will be a major job generating project and will inject further local and global business investment into the Sydney CBD.
 
“The NSW Government’s ambitious plan for Central also focuses on further boosting housing supply, including prioritising much-needed affordable housing.”
 
Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport Rob Stokes said the Central Precinct Renewal will extend the southern CBD and use our transport assets to shape almost 24 hectares of empty space into something magnificent. 
 
“The masterplan celebrates the heritage of the precinct while also offering a grand new public square, three new parks, new community, social services hubs as well as
at least 30 percent of affordable and diverse housing to better meet the needs of all sections of the community,” Mr Stokes said.
 
“This proposal will heal parts of our city that have been torn apart since the railway divided Surry Hills from Ultimo back in 1874. The proposal includes multiple new over-rail connections including Devonshire Street bridge, to enhance pedestrian and bicycle access through Central Precinct and to surrounding neighbourhoods.”
 
Key features of the indicative masterplan include:

• Around 850 new dwellings, including 15 per cent affordable housing and an additional target of 15 per cent diverse housing types such as build to rent and student dwellings.
• Around 15 new buildings ranging in size and scale from 4 to 34 storeys for a range of uses including tech and office space, hotel and residential, bars, restaurants and cafes, education, community and cultural uses.

 
More than 60,000 sq m, or just over six football fields of public domain including parks, squares, plazas including Central Square, Central Green and Mortuary Station Garden.
 
A rezoning package to enable the transformation of the Central precinct is now on public exhibition.
 
The community will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposal from August 22 to September 19. 
 
You can read more about the project here: https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/central-precinct-renewal-program

A $65 million investment to bolster the NSW Government’s biosecurity measures will fast-track the development of  vaccines against Foot and Mouth (FMD) and Lumpy Skin Disease and help position NSW as leaders in the fight against exotic animal diseases.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the goal was to develop mRNA synthetic vaccines for both FMD and Lumpy Skin, a game changer for NSW farmers.

“Current FMD vaccines are made using the virus itself, meaning even vaccinated animals have to be destroyed for Australia to regain our FMD-free status following an outbreak,” Mr Toole said. 

“The development of a synthetic mRNA vaccine could be the key for Australia to apply for FMD-free status without having to destroy vaccinated animals, allowing us to preserve our trade status.

“Australia currently enjoys FMD-free status, giving us continued access to premium international markets for our world-class produce.

“The world is also yet to develop a killed or synthetic vaccine for Lumpy Skin, so having these two mRNA vaccines in our arsenal should these diseases reach our shores would give us a clear edge on the world stage.

“Our message is simple: We are doing everything we can to keep NSW free of FMD and Lumpy Skin Disease, but we are also preparing for the worst by investing $229 million this year alone – the biggest investment by a single jurisdiction on exotic pest and disease control.”

The new funding package includes $3.5 million to drive forward plans for a national mandatory sheep and goat electronic identification system.

The NSW Government is also committing $55.8 million for practical, on-ground biosecurity risk mitigation and response preparedness activities, including:

• $26.3 million to expand a trained response workforce of at least 2,000 experts;
• $17.8 million for on-ground animal control activities such as funding to control potential infected premises, increasing culling of feral pigs and deer, and incentivising farmers to beef up their biosecurity plans;
• $9.7 million to enhance disease surveillance through new intelligent track and trace technology; and,
• $2 million to roll out targeted extension and awareness campaigns to educate livestock owners, handlers, and the community on clinical signs and reporting requirements, as well as how to reduce risks. 

Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders said the preparedness package addresses the devastating impacts an incursion of FMD – or any other exotic animal disease – would have on NSW and Australia. 

“This funding will immediately boost our ability to make an early detection of an exotic pest or disease in NSW, deploy cutting edge technology to survey and diagnose diseases and train a response ready workforce to manage a significant outbreak,” Mr Saunders said.  

“We need to be prepared to fight and eradicate any exotic pest and disease that arrives on our shores, and this investment means we will have the right army and technology ready to do just that.   

“Our farmers deserve to have the confidence to know that if we have an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease, we will be quick to respond, well prepared and ready to return to export markets faster. 

“We have been meeting with farmers, livestock agents and agricultural experts right across NSW who have said measures like these would play an instrumental role in building confidence amongst the sector that the government is equipped and ready for the fight.  

“Today, through this announcement, we reinforce our commitment that we will do whatever it takes to keep our world-class agricultural sector safe.”  

For more information on today’s announcement and a breakdown of the funding, visit https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/animals-and-livestock/beef-cattle/health-and-disease/viral-diseases/fmd

The NSW Government is encouraging councils to apply for the latest round of the Fixing Country Roads program to help enhance the productivity of the State’s farming, manufacturing and freight sectors. 
 
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway said the new round of the $543 million program will focus on shovel-ready projects that will deliver immediate benefits to communities.
 
“The NSW Liberals and Nationals are improving the State’s freight connections so food, produce and raw materials can be transported more quickly and cost effectively, ensuring produce gets to market and the economy keeps moving, not only now but well into the future,” Mr Farraway said.
 
“We want projects that build better, safer roads and bridges with higher speed and load limits that improve access for freight on the local and regional road network.
 
“Every 100km out of a truck driver’s way costs over $300, so helping councils to build the infrastructure that reduces travel times for industry will ultimately reduce costs for families.”
The Livestock, Bulk and Rural Carriers Association (LBRCA) has supported the NSW Government’s Fixing Country Roads Program and has a been an advocate for increasing funding for rural and regional roads.
LBRCA President Wade Lewis said that this program has enabled operators to reduce transport costs and increase the overall productivity and safety of the industry and the communities that they service.
“The NSW Fixing Country Roads funding provides an economic and productivity edge for the agricultural and heavy vehicle transport sector to achieve better outcomes for NSW businesses and communities, which are reliant on efficient, cost-effective and safe road freight services,” said Mr Lewis.
 
Since 2014, over 80 regional NSW councils have received $462.5 million to carry out more than 320 individual projects, 260 of which have now been completed. 
 
When all projects funded to date are completed, the Fixing Country Roads program will have provided an additional 1,889 kilometres of sealed road, saving $8.55 million in reduced maintenance costs for councils.   
 
Applications under the new round of Fixing Country Roads can be made until 5pm Friday 14 October. See nswroads.work/fixingcountryroads

The latest designs for the state-of-the-art Ambulatory Care Building, part of the $740 million St George Hospital redevelopment, have been unveiled.
 
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the new images provide the community with a preview of the hospital’s Stage 3 redevelopment, which recently received a $26 million funding boost in the 2022-23 State Budget.
 
“The St George community has a very bright future when it comes to health care, with this $411 million Ambulatory Care Building set to deliver first-class health services very soon,” Mr Hazzard said.
 
“The Integrated Ambulatory Care Precinct brings together a range of ambulatory, outpatient and community health services under the one roof, making care more accessible for patients and ultimately improving health outcomes.”
 
The designs showcase the new building on Kensington Street and the public forecourt area, which will become the new main entrance for the hospital, as well as the building façade, landscaping and how it integrates with the existing hospital campus.
 
Building on the concept designs released in March this year, the latest designs have been refined following an extensive consultation process and have been lodged as part of the State planning application for the project.
 
Member for Oatley Mark Coure said over 300 meetings with the community, clinicians, hospital staff and consumers have helped inform the development of the hospital’s design, which will provide state-of-the-art health services and facilities closer to home for Sydney’s southern communities.
 
“The new facilities and models of care that the NSW Government is delivering for our community will support the health of our residents for decades to come,” Mr Coure said.
 
“I encourage local residents to view the latest designs for their local hospital and find out more about the exciting services and facilities this project is delivering.”
 
The new redevelopment will include:

• Outpatient, ambulatory and integrated care services
• Pathology specimen collection
• New day rehabilitation unit
• Increased sub-acute and rehabilitation inpatient beds
• Sub-acute aged care unit
• Behavioural management unit
• Acquired brain injury unit
• Palliative care
• Surgical services with refurbished operating theatres
• Enhanced diagnostic imaging (medical imaging and nuclear medicine)
• New Clinical Skills Centre
• Additional parking facilities.

 
The Stage 3 redevelopment includes an additional $26 million funding boost which will deliver a new underground carpark within the basement levels of the new Ambulatory Care Building.

Significant progress has already been made on preparation of the site for main works.

Work is also progressing on the perioperative refurbishment project with four of the eight operating theatres completed in June. The remaining works, including four procedure rooms, will be completed progressively by mid-2023.

The $411 million Integrated Ambulatory Care Precinct (Stage 3) brings the NSW Government’s total investment at St George Hospital to more than $740 million, with previous projects including the $277 million Acute Services Building, new $43.7 million emergency department, and $11.5 million birth suite and theatre refurbishment.

The NSW Government is investing a record $11.9 billion in health infrastructure across the state over the coming four years to 2025-26. Since 2011, the NSW Government has delivered more than 180 hospitals and health facilities across the state, with more than 130 currently underway.

Artist impressions of the $411 million St George Hospital – Stage 3 can be viewed here with the new facilities expected to open for patients in 2025.

For more information about the St George redevelopment click here. 

A chlamydia vaccine for koalas could increase the species’ resistance to the potentially fatal disease in a trial in south-west Sydney, which is part of an almost $1.7 million NSW Koala Strategy investment across the region.
 
Minister for Environment James Griffin said the focus of the vaccine trial is to help protect the species in the south-west Sydney region, home to one of the few growing koala populations in NSW.
 
“Chlamydia is a serious issue for koalas, leading to blindness, infections and infertility in this precious species. This disease weakens koalas and can make them more susceptible to dog attacks and other threats,” Mr Griffin said.
 
“That’s why as part of the more than $190 million NSW Koala Strategy and the Cumberland Plain Conservation Plan, we’re investing more than $600,000 towards keeping the Campbelltown koala population free from chlamydia, including through a vaccination trial.
 
“The NSW Koala Strategy is the single largest investment in any species in Australia, aimed at tackling multiple threats to the species and securing more habitat to protect the future of koalas in the wild.”
 
Koala carers, Campbelltown and Wollondilly Council and the University of Sydney teams involved in the chlamydia vaccine trial will be able to use a new rapid chlamydia testing machine to minimise the time koalas are in care.
 
Additional conservation actions in the NSW Koala Strategy to support south-west Sydney koalas include:

• $600,000 for Landcare to support communities to conserve and restore koala habitat
• $140,000 to fund koala habitat restoration in the Campbelltown and MacArthur region to repair koala corridors
• $200,000 for vehicle strike mitigation works, including a koala underpass on Heathcote Road, to protect koalas from the threat of cars
• $146,000 for mapping koala habitat and corridors and for monitoring koalas in Wollondilly.

Member for Wollondilly Nat Smith said the south-west Sydney community deeply cares about its koalas and this funding will be an opportunity for them to become more involved in their conservation.

“South-west Sydney is one of 10 focus areas identified in the NSW Koala Strategy as important koala populations that will benefit from more intensive investment and
action,” Mr Smith said.

“Koalas in Wollondilly will be better supported by a $146,000 investment to map their habitat, preferred corridors, and monitor their activity.”

The Greater Sydney Landcare Network will deliver a $600,000 project to educate the community about the health and safety of koalas and support local conservation and habitat restoration.

Greater Sydney Landcare Chair Bev Debrincat said it is proud to partner with the NSW Government as a Koala Strategy regional partner.

“Koalas are an iconic NSW species, and the broader community and conservationists in the area will benefit greatly knowing that this significant population will be well-served by the whole community working together in a co-ordinated effort,” Ms Debrincat said.

The NSW Koala Strategy focuses on conservation actions under four themes:

• $107.1 million for koala habitat conservation, to fund the protection, restoration, and improved management of 47,000 hectares of koala habitat
• $19.6 million to supporting local communities to conserve koalas
• $23.2 million for improving the safety and health of koalas by removing threats, improving health and rehabilitation, and establishing a translocation program
• $43.4 million to support science and research to build our knowledge of koalas.

 
For more information visit www.environment.nsw.gov.au/koala

A highly successful Aboriginal early childhood program has received a $2.7 million funding boost to ensure even more young children, their families and educators are skilled in discussing and managing, challenging emotions and feelings.
 
Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said the Getting On Track In Time program – or GOT IT! – was culturally adapted for Aboriginal communities in partnership with local Aboriginal health services and piloted over four years with positive results.
 
“This program has united parents, teachers, mental health workers and Aboriginal people to achieve an important goal – to support young Aboriginal children to recognise, regulate and talk about any troubling thoughts and feelings they have,” Mrs Taylor said.
 
“I am delighted more families will benefit from this excellent program, which was developed by South Western Sydney Local Health District in collaboration with local Aboriginal people.”
 
Designed for children aged three to nine years, Aboriginal GOT IT! is a school-based program led by a team of mental health workers (both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal).
 
Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the program aims to support children, families and educators to address emotional or behavioural concerns in children and reduce the emergence of mental health concerns later in life.
 
“A strong connection to community and culture boosts resilience and helps children better manage the ups and downs of life. This helps to improve their engagement in class and lifts learning outcomes,” Ms Mitchell said.
 
“We’re grateful for the wisdom and sharing of cultural knowledge from our colleagues in Aboriginal health services who helped upskill teachers and tailor this program to children in their early years of learning.” 
 
Aboriginal GOT IT! team leader Jemma Milloy said the program resulted in significant improvements to child behaviour, social skills and confidence in school and home settings.
 
“When you combine cultural and clinical practices, families feel acknowledged and heard,” Ms Milloy said.
 
Findings of the Aboriginal GOT IT! evaluation report include:

• The program was evaluated as highly acceptable to Aboriginal families. 93 per cent of families who were offered a place in the program participated and 89 per cent of children who commenced the program successfully completed it.
• 93 per cent of educators reported the program added value for children and families.
• 100 per cent of educators reported there was a considerable positive impact on overall classroom behaviour and behaviour of the children in the program.
• 92 per cent of educators reported there was a considerable positive impact on their understanding and management of conduct and emotional problems.

 
The $2.7 million investment over the next four years builds on an initial $2.7 million investment for the pilot of Aboriginal GOT IT!.