Month: October 2022

NSW teachers will be given more time than ever to prepare high quality lessons under plans to support teachers roll out the changes to the new school curriculum.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the additional curriculum release time is on top of the existing weekly release time from face-to-face teaching provided to all NSW public school teachers.

“For high school teachers, this additional time will mean that they will now have the equivalent of almost one full day every week for lesson planning,” Mr Perrottet said.

“We want students to succeed in their schooling and to do that we need to support teachers so they can plan lessons that will deliver the right outcomes for students.”

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the release time will give teachers the opportunity to fully engage with the new curriculum, which is on track to be delivered by 2025.

“We continue to listen to the workforce by removing unnecessary administration requirements, and now we are giving additional time for planning to get this landmark new curriculum right from the beginning,” Ms Mitchell said.

For secondary school teachers, who currently receive five hours and 35 minutes of release time each week, they will be guaranteed the equivalent of an extra 30 minutes per week for three years.

Currently, primary school teachers receive two hours of release time every week and under these changes they will be guaranteed the equivalent of an extra 30 minutes per week in 2023, increasing to an extra 60 minutes per week in 2024 and 2025. Primary school executive staff will also receive additional release time.

Ms Mitchell said schools will also be given more time to plan for the following school years, with an extra school development day scheduled for the end of Term 4 in 2022 and 2023.

“Currently the last day of face-to-face learning for students in Term 4 in both 2022 and 2023 is a Monday, so converting these two days to a school development day is a no-brainer,” Ms Mitchell said.

“It also makes more sense for families to finish the school year on a Friday, while allowing staff more time to have an extra day of professional learning.”

The Central Coast community will benefit from enhanced health services with the official opening today of Wyong Hospital’s ‘Block H’ today.

Premier Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor toured the new building, which is the centerpiece of the NSW Government’s $200 million redevelopment.

“The Central Coast population is expected to grow by more than 95,000 people by 2041 so it was vital to expand Wyong Hospital and create the capacity to meet the needs of the local community well into the future,” Mr Perrottet said.

“The six-storey building features expanded and state-of-the-art clinical spaces, including a new emergency department and intensive care unit, with increased capacity to support staff to care for patients more effectively and efficiently.

“It also fits in with our Six Cities vision for NSW, creating more liveable and better connected regions of global significance – in this case that’s the Central Coast City.”

Mrs Taylor said ‘Block H’ also includes an expanded medical imaging department featuring Wyong Hospital’s first MRI service, which is set to be operational early next year.

“I’m delighted to tour the new and expanded medical imaging department at Wyong Hospital, which includes an additional CT scanner, x-ray machine and ultrasound room,” Mrs Taylor said.

“These services make a real difference, providing services locally to ensure people no longer have to travel outside of the region to access the treatment they need.”

Other features of Block H include 60 additional inpatient beds, a new outpatient paediatric unit and an expanded medical assessment unit. Redevelopment of the existing hospital building has also delivered an additional operating theatre and an expanded transit lounge and medical day unit.

Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast Adam Crouch said construction work on the final stage of the refurbishment of the existing hospital building will commence mid next year, with completion expected by mid to late 2024. 

“The 2022-23 NSW Budget allowed the scope of refurbishment works to be further expanded to include an expanded Cancer Day Unit, in addition to the existing scope for a comprehensive Women’s Centre Clinics, an Aboriginal Health Unit and a Carer Support Unit,” Mr Crouch said.

The Wyong Hospital redevelopment is part of the NSW Government’s record $11.9 billion investment in health infrastructure over four years to 2025-26, with nearly a third of the capital allocation in this financial year going towards regional and rural health facilities.

Since 2011, the Government has delivered more than 180 hospitals and health facilities across NSW, with more than 130 currently underway – of those, more than 90 are in rural and regional areas.

Blacktown residents will soon be able to enjoy a multi-million dollar community hub in Mount Druitt, multiple park and reserve upgrades, revitalised swimming centres and other projects funded as part of the $5 billion WestInvest Fund.
 
Premier Dominic Perrottet, Treasurer Matt Kean and Minister for Local Government Wendy Tuckerman today announced $34.6 million in funding to Blacktown Council for six transformational projects:

• $26.8 million for the Revitalisation of Mount Druitt Hub project which will expand and modernise the existing community centre with a fully accessible library, art studios and cafes, to create an environment to learn, work and play
• $2.2 million for the Community Infrastructure in the Blacktown Local Government Area project which will upgrade three community and aquatic centres
• $2.1 million for the Reserve Embellishment – Tallawong Reserve and Rosenthal Park project which will upgrade two parks to provide improved play areas, pedestrian access, and sport and picnic areas.
• $1.6 million for the Community Park refurbishment at Ashley Brown Reserve North project which will enhance the aging sports ground to support the community’s lifestyle, health and wellbeing
• $1.2 million for the Quality Green and Open Spaces in Blacktown LGA project which will deliver upgrades to sports fields and community infrastructure across five locations
• $708,600 for the Local Traffic Programs in Blacktown project which will enhance and improve streetscapes, and road and pedestrian safety.

 
As part of the WestInvest Fund, $2 billion was reserved for priority Community Projects. This included $400 million for 15 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in West and South West Sydney, with each local council eligible for between $20 million and $35 million, depending on population size.
 
Mr Perrottet said the projects put forward by the Blacktown City Council would help to build a brighter future for the people of Western Sydney.
 
“Blacktown has the highest population of our 15 WestInvest Local Government Areas and these projects put forward by Blacktown Council will fund projects across the LGA to deliver real benefits to the community,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
“WestInvest, which has been made possible by our successful WestConnex asset recycling strategy, is helping make one of our fastest growing areas an even better place for families to live, work and play.”
 
Mr Kean said the Revitalisation of the Mount Druitt Hub project will create a central meeting point that will help improve literacy and bolster the local economy.
 
“This facility will deliver a fully accessible library, art studios, cafes and additional opportunities for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture to be explored and celebrated,” Mr Kean said.
 
Mrs Tuckerman said the swimming centre upgrades will provide a refuge to the summer heat for families and tourists alike.
 
“Thanks to WestInvest, new outdoor Splash Pad’s at Riverstone Aquatic Centre and Charlie Lowles Swimming Centre will be available for residents to cool off in the hot summer months,” Mrs Tuckerman said.
 
“Blacktown Council specifically highlighted the impact on the community of the increasing number of 35 degree days in their WestInvest funding application. These swimming centre upgrades as well as the new and revitalised parks and reserves will help to reduce the heat impact.”
 
Parliamentary Secretary for Western Sydney Shayne Mallard MP said the Local Traffic Programs in Blacktown project will create safer travel by car, bicycle and foot.
 
“This project will also deliver shading and canopy cover from tree planting on local roads to reduce the Western Sydney heat island effect,” Mr Mallard said.
 
Announcements on other LGAs will be made soon.
 
The $5 billion WestInvest program was made possible by the Government’s successful WestConnex asset recycling strategy.
 
A further $1.6 billion from the $2 billion Community Project Grants is available to local community groups.
 
A total of $3 billion is also set aside to deliver transformational projects that will benefit local communities, led by NSW Government agencies.
 
To find out more about WestInvest visit www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/westinvest

The Perrottet Government is putting more cash back into the pockets of drivers than ever before with the first payments from its new toll relief scheme just around the corner.

Drivers will soon be able to apply for the new scheme, with payments expected to be made into drivers’ bank accounts from mid-January 2023, backdated to July 1, 2022.

Treasurer Matt Kean said the scheme is the latest addition to the NSW Government’s commitment to toll relief, which over many years has seen tens of millions of dollars put back into the bank accounts of drivers.

“We know that cost of living pressures are absolutely front of mind for people right across NSW, which is why our government has implemented more than 70 measures to help ease the pressure on household budgets,” Mr Kean said.

“This initiative will deliver $520 million worth of relief over two years, saving eligible commuters up to $750 per year.

“Over the past two years alone, we have given $236 million back to drivers through the M5 Cashback Scheme and a further $139 million in registration relief.”

Minister for Metropolitan Roads Natalie Ward said the new scheme would make life easier for families right across Sydney, including in Sydney’s west and south-west.

“More than half a million Sydney motorists will benefit from the rebate which will be paid quarterly, putting more money back into the pockets of more motorists more often, particularly in Western Sydney,” Mrs Ward said.

“Improving Sydney’s tollways is a complex task, but we are focused on delivering the best possible outcomes for commuters across the city.

“This includes delivering and maintaining the world-class infrastructure that Sydney needs now, while ensuring Sydney remains affordable for everyday families.”

For more details on the new Toll Relief Scheme please visit www.service.nsw.gov.au/new-toll-relief-scheme-faqs

Work has commenced on the dazzling new Pier Pavilion that will adorn the foreshore at Waterman’s Cove and become a renowned harbourside landmark. 
 
Minister for Infrastructure Rob Stokes said the start of construction was a major milestone for the project, which will attract people from far and wide to Barangaroo.
 
“Sydney Harbour is synonymous with architectural beauty and the Pier Pavilion combines Australian elegance with classical influences to create a truly unique landmark at Barangaroo,” Mr Stokes said.
 
“It will be open year-round for people to gather and relax on Sydney’s harbourside and will be used for a broad range of programmed events to strengthen Barangaroo’s position as a world-class destination for all.
 
“The Pavilion will become a must-see feature along the 14-kilometre continuous foreshore walk from Woolloomooloo to Glebe, adding to the collection of incredible public spaces around our harbour.”
 
The structure will include a green rooftop garden with indigenous plant species and 94 columns built using oyster concrete – which is made of ground oyster shells.
 
The national design competition for the Pier Pavilion was won by Sydney-based architects Jessica Spresser and Peter Besley. The design – celebrating land, sea and sky – was chosen for its usability and inclusivity, timeless appeal, and relationship to its surroundings.
 
The Pier Pavilion is part of the NSW Government’s commitment to ensure more than half of Barangaroo is high quality and accessible public space. Early work involves preparing the site and substructure works to reinforce the existing pier, which is due for completion in early 2023. Major construction will begin in 2023.
 
For more information, visit https://www.barangaroo.com/building-barangaroo/barangaroo-south/pier-pavilion

Jointly funded disaster assistance is now available to 27 local government areas (LGAs) following severe flooding across NSW which began on 14 September 2022.
 
The LGAs are: Blayney, Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Cabonne, Cowra, Dubbo, Edward River, Forbes, Gilgandra, Glen Innes Severn, Greater Hume, Gunnedah, Gwydir, Lachlan, Lithgow, Liverpool Plains, Moree Plains, Mid-Western, Narrabri, Narromine, Tamworth, Upper Lachlan, Walgett, Warren, Warrumbungle and Weddin.
 
Assistance is being provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
 
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Senator the Hon Murray Watt, said some communities had experienced multiple flooding events this year.
 
“Eleven of these LGAs were also disaster declared in August, which demonstrates how challenging it can be for these communities to get back on their feet,” Minister Watt said.
 
“Some financial support has already been made available through the Commonwealth and State governments for the August floods, but councils are facing significant repairs to public assets damaged in the latest event, and our priority is to provide the support we can.”
 
New South Wales Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the assistance announced today will ensure that communities in the Central West and north west of NSW can access recovery support.
 
“We know that with these types of floods it can take some time to understand and calculate the impacts of an event like this, particularly when some LGAs still have flooding throughout their regions due to river system flooding,” Ms Cooke said.
 
“We are continuing to assess the impacts of this event to ensure that appropriate support is available.”
 
Jointly funded disaster assistance has also been extended to an additional three LGAs, Dubbo, Forbes and Liverpool Plains, following the flood event which started on 4 August 2022.
 
Assistance available under the DRFA may include:

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

 
For information on personal hardship and distress assistance, contact Service NSW on 13 77 88.
 
To apply for a concessional loan, 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.

From solar-powered Wi-Fi to turning plastic waste into 3D printing material, new and innovative ways to tackle the State’s most complex challenges will receive $10 million in NSW Government support. 
 
Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology Alister Henskens said 10 projects will receive funding through the Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) program to enable small businesses and NSW Government agencies to collaborate and develop solutions to complex problems.
 
“NSW has a highly innovative small business sector and by supporting these businesses to develop home-grown solutions, we can not only improve social and environmental outcomes, but boost our innovation economy by creating high-value jobs and growing new high-tech industries,” Mr Henskens said.
 
“These collaborations have found ways to tackle clearly defined real-world problems in regional connectivity, public transport accessibility, koala population monitoring, reduction of personal protective equipment waste and water purification.”
 
NSW Chief Scientist & Engineer Professor Hugh Durrant-Whyte said the successful businesses had already completed Feasibility Studies under Phase 1 of the SBIR and will now use the funding to develop a proof of concept over the next 15 months.
 
“The devices and systems being developed by these NSW businesses are cutting-edge, and this stage is key to ensuring they can commercialise and realise their potential,” Professor Durrant-Whyte said.
 
“Some of the innovative technologies receiving funding include a method to turn plastic waste from hospitals into 3D printing feedstock, a solar-powered Wi-Fi system to provide coverage in places mobile network operators cannot reach and a treatment to remove microplastics from water.”
 
Following the proof-of-concept phase, NSW Government agencies will consider procurement of the successful projects, the full details of which can be viewed here.
 
A new set of challenges for the second round of the SBIR is currently being finalised and will be announced shortly.

Koalas will be better protected from threats in the Port Macquarie and Kempsey region thanks to a $1.25 million investment through the NSW Koala Strategy.

Minister for Environment James Griffin said the funding includes a $600,000 regional partnership and $500,000 habitat restoration project with Koala Conservation Australia (KCA), and $150,000 to help councils prevent vehicle strike.

“This $1.25 million funding is part of the more than $190 million NSW Koala Strategy, which is the biggest investment by any government in a single species in Australia,” Mr Griffin said.

“The Strategy identified Port Macquarie and Kempsey Council areas as having two of the 10 stronghold koala populations in NSW, which is why this funding is so important.

“One of the biggest challenges for koalas in these regions is habitat fragmentation, vehicle strike and dog attack.

“That’s why we’re working with partners like KCA, which has decades of experience in the region, to help local communities conserve koala populations and restore 250 hectares of local koala habitat.”

The health and safety of koalas in the region will be better supported through $150,000 funding for Port Macquarie Hastings Council and Kempsey Shire Council to reduce vehicle strike by identifying hotspots and installing mitigation measures.

Member for Port Macquarie Leslie Williams said KCA has been managing the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital for 49 years.

“The regional partnership funding for KCA will support the employment of a Koala Officer, which will help ensure that projects across Port Macquarie and Kempsey are incorporating local knowledge and being strategically delivered,” Mrs Williams said.

“We’re also working with the two councils to help prevent vehicle strike by identifying hotspots and suitable mitigation which may include signs to warn and slow down motorists, and improvements in fencing to prevent wildlife from venturing on to roads.”
Member for Oxley Melinda Pavey said the Koala Strategy funding is supporting the community to continue their koala conservation efforts.

“Our community is passionate about protecting the local koala population and partnerships like this enhance the efforts that are already underway across the region,” Ms Pavey said.

Koala Conservation Australia Chair Sue Ashton said the funding was welcome news for the community.

“Koala Conservation Australia has a long-established history in koala rescue and rehabilitation in the Port Macquarie region and we are ready to support the local koala population through these additional conservation efforts,” Ms Ashton said.

The Strategy delivers a range of targeted conservation actions to secure more habitat, support community conservation, address key threats to koala safety and health, and utilise science and research to build knowledge.

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

More farmers across NSW will soon be swinging their gates open to visitors, thanks to a new policy that makes it easier to set up agritourism opportunities.
 
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole today released the Government’s final agritourism policy aimed at helping diversified farm businesses thrive.
 
“We’re making it cheaper and easier for our farmers to diversify their income by starting, running and growing agritourism experiences, such as farm stays, cafes, cellar doors, retreats, roadside stalls, fruit picking and small wedding venues,” Mr Toole said.
 
“Farmers who want to innovate and share a taste of their region with visitors shouldn’t be held back by red tape. That’s why we’ve introduced clear definitions and new planning pathways to allow activities that meet the policy to happen with either faster or no planning approval.”
 
Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts said the finalised policy will support the growing agritourism industry and encourage the next generation to farm the land.
 
“Agritourism is a growing sector for both the Australian and NSW economies and is expected to be worth $18.6 billion nationally by 2030. It’s important we provide a clear and simple pathway through the planning system,” Mr Roberts said.
 
“Our farmers have shown resilience time and time again over the last few years, battling through floods, fires, drought and the COVID-19 pandemic, and we want to support them however we can.”
 
Minister for Agriculture Dugald Saunders said the policy encourages locals to boost their revenue and future-proof their farms.
 
“The last few years have been really tough on farmers as they recover from the drought, bushfires, floods and the pandemic. Reforms like these will help landholders build resilience by providing another source of income,” Mr Saunders said.
 
“Whether they’re building a small shopfront, hosting events, taking in campers or starting roadside stalls, farmers can choose from a range of opportunities made simpler by this policy change.”
 
Minister for Tourism Ben Franklin said there are now endless avenues for primary producers to drive productivity and cash flow on their doorstep.
 
“It’s all about using the land in new and innovative ways, complementing existing businesses and giving people more reasons to visit regional areas,” Mr Franklin said.
 
“The pandemic has seen NSW residents spend more time exploring our amazing state, and these activities will attract tourists and put rural communities on the map as drawcard destinations.”
 
The new policy will commence on 1 December.
 
For more information visit www.planning.nsw.gov.au/agritourism