Month: October 2022

A tiny seed, no bigger than a grain of rice, is having a big impact on breast cancer care for patients in Murrumbidgee.

Murrumbidgee Local Health District is the first District in NSW to introduce Magseed – a tiny, stainless steel “seed” that is implanted in a cancerous breast tumour to mark its location for surgery.

Minister for Regional Health Bronnie Taylor said the successful implementation of this new technology is a testament to the quality of medical care available in rural and regional NSW.

“We have some of the finest surgeons and medical professionals in Australia choosing to work in regional NSW. I am so proud that the first Local Health District in NSW to provide this exciting, new and life-saving technology is a regional one,” Mrs Taylor said.

Griffith surgeon Dr Kate FitzGerald said she was keen to see the Magseeds available for public patients in NSW, after first using the technology and seeing the difference it made in Scotland.

“The thin wires, which usually had to be placed the day of surgery, needed to be placed by a radiologist and then taped to the patient’s breast until they were in the operating room,” Dr FitzGerald said.

“With the seed I have more flexibility around where I make the incision. As well as getting the best result as far as removing the cancer, I can also make it look as nice as possible.”

Mrs Taylor thanked the Griffith Breast Cancer Support Group for a substantial donation towards the purchase of the Magseed technology and said the group’s support has been instrumental in making the technology available locally.

President of the Griffith Breast Cancer Support Group, Kaye Mossman said the group is thrilled to see its fundraising efforts contribute to this new technology.

“Through the generosity of the Griffith community we have raised enough money to not only support our local patients with their individual costs, but also make a very substantial donation to Murrumbidgee Local Health District to help fund this exciting new technology,” Mrs Mossman said.

A proposal to raise the Warragamba Dam wall by 14 metres has been declared Critical State Significant Infrastructure (CSSI), as it is deemed essential to NSW for economic and social reasons.
 
Premier Dominic Perrottet said the proposal to raise the Dam wall would save lives, save properties and would help future-proof Western Sydney from flood risks. 
 
“First and foremost my number one priority as Premier is protecting NSW communities and we know from the independent flood inquiry that the best way to protect communities downstream is to raise the wall,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
“This declaration reinforces that raising the dam wall is the most effective long-term flood mitigation strategy to help protect residents across the Hawkesbury-Nepean. 
 
“This region has been hit hard by floods and we are committed to progressing this important project to make sure residents have genuine flood protection into the future.”
 
Minister for Lands and Water Kevin Anderson said the importance of the Dam was highlighted in the recently released Greater Sydney Water Strategy that showed the significant risks and costs of alternative proposals such as Labor’s plan to lower the supply level.
 
“In a flood similar to the worst on record in the valley, the number of homes impacted would drop threefold from 15,500 to 5,000, while 14,000 people would need to be evacuated rather than 90,000. The cost of damages would also be reduced by up to $8 billion,” Mr Anderson said.
 
“Labor’s plan to lower Warragamba’s water supply level by 12 metres would have severe consequences such as putting Sydney into severe water restrictions and increasing people’s water bills.”
 
Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts said the CSSI declaration would not impact the rigorous assessment and stakeholder scrutiny the proposal would need to go through.
 
“The proposal has already been subject to an 82-day public exhibition, which gave stakeholders a chance to provide their feedback,” Mr Roberts said.
 
“The recent flood inquiry confirmed that raising the Warragamba Dam wall is the most effective flood mitigation option available to us.
 
“This proposal doesn’t hurt us during drought, but will protect us during floods, balancing the natural extremes that are becoming more frequent.”
 
WaterNSW will respond to the feedback and issues raised in submissions and its Preferred Infrastructure Report, before a comprehensive assessment is undertaken in accordance with the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.

New dedicated walking tracks and pedestrian and cycling links connecting towns in the Blue Mountains are among the latest projects funded through the Local Council projects announced as part of the $5 billion WestInvest Fund.
 
Premier Dominic Perrottet, Treasurer Matt Kean and Minister for Local Government Wendy Tuckerman announced more than $9 million in funding to the Blue Mountains City Council for three projects, which will deliver transformational infrastructure to shape the future of Western Sydney.
 
The $2 billion WestInvest Community Project Grants includes $400 million for 15 Local Government Areas in West and South West Sydney, with funding shares based on population size.
 
Projects funded in the Blue Mountains include:

• $3.5 million for the Lomatia Park Clubhouse and Amenities Upgrade project to replace an ageing building with a new fit for purpose facility to improve access to sport and recreation.
• $3.2 million for the Active Transport Links – The Greater Blue Mountains Trail to deliver 4.5km of walking and cycling tracks to connect key towns in the Blue Mountains.
• $2.4 million towards the spectacular 20km multi-day Grand Cliff Top Walk project, delivering improved and accessible walking tracks, visitor parking, amenities and open space infrastructure at Gordon Falls Reserves.

 
The Blue Mountains City Council has provided a total of $179,752 in funding towards the Grand Cliff Top Walk project and the Lomatia Park Clubhouse project.
 
Mr Perrottet said these projects will make it easier for the community and visitors to explore the beautiful natural assets in the Blue Mountains and build a brighter future for people of Western Sydney.
 
“The Active Transport Links – The Greater Blue Mountains Trail project will deliver more than 4.5km of safe walking and cycling tracks creating better connections between key destinations in Glenbrook, Bullaburra, Hazelbrook, Woodford and between Wentworth Falls and Leura for the first time,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
“This record investment in Western Sydney has been made possible by of our successful WestConnex asset recycling strategy, with communities across the region now benefitting from new major investments that will deliver better local facilities, open spaces and convenient services all closer to home for families, businesses and residents.”
 
Mr Kean said the WestInvest funding for the Grand Cliff Top walk project will build on the work being undertaken by the NSW Government and the Blue Mountains City Council to deliver key sections of the new 20km, two day walk.
 
“The Grand Cliff Top Walk, which is well underway thanks to joint funding from NSW National Parks and Wildlife along with Blue Mountains City Council, is the first substantial new walking track in the Blue Mountains in more than 70 years,” Mr Kean said.
 
Minister Tuckerman said the projects funded in the Blue Mountains align with the feedback from the WestInvest Have Your Say survey.
 
“The projects put forward by Blue Mountains City Council will conserve and enhance the environmental, economic, social and physical wellbeing of the community and is consistent with the feedback from the WestInvest Have Your Say survey.”
 
The Blue Mountains City Council was allocated 23 million through the Local Government Allocation. Additional projects submitted by council for the combined value of $13.5 million are being assessed and will be funded if they meet all requirements under the WestInvest Guidelines. 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. Successful projects will be announced from December.
 
A total of $3 billion is also set aside to deliver transformational projects led by NSW Government agencies. These projects are expected to be announced later this year.
 
To find out more about WestInvest visit www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/westinvest

The NSW Government will invest $110 million to activate new and emerging industries, drive high value jobs and help the regions reach their economic potential.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said the Regional Investment Activation Fund was aimed at making regional NSW the location of choice for private sector investment.

“Our Government has a big, bold vision for regional NSW – and this fund is about helping bring that vision to life,” Mr Toole said.

“We’re putting more than $100 million on the table to co-invest in game-changing projects that turbocharge priority industries or locations in the regions.

“It will be open to expressions of interest from investors across Australia and around the world interested in expanding or setting up in regional NSW.”

Mr Toole said the fund would help activate the economic potential of the State’s Special Activation Precincts, Regional Job Precincts and other priority locations.

“The NSW Government’s unprecedented investment is making regional NSW the location of choice for investors both here and around the world,” Mr Toole said.

“This fund will help support new and emerging industries where regional NSW has a competitive edge and put our communities in the box seat for the future.”

The Regional Investment Activation Fund will co-invest with eligible businesses in projects that aim to deliver, significant economic, social and/or environmental benefits for a priority industry or location.

Projects must be based in regional NSW, support sustainable employment opportunities and be completed by 30 May 2025.

Applications are now open. For more information visit www.nsw.gov.au/RIAF.

A pioneering tutoring initiative supporting school students to recover following COVID lockdowns has benefits beyond its original aim of improving student learning, a new evaluation has shown. 

Minister for Education and Early Learning Sarah Mitchell said the NSW Government’s COVID Intensive Learning Support Program was seeing benefits for students and early career teachers.  

“We are seeing students’ confidence and classroom engagement improve thanks to the support they’re receiving, along with providing hundreds of pre-service teachers invaluable hands-on experience,” Ms Mitchell said.  

A recent evaluation of the COVID Intensive Learning Support Program examined its impact on student learning and engagement from the teachers’ perspective, the quality of the program-specific teaching and learning resources, as well as some of the challenges encountered by schools.  

The evaluation revealed student confidence and engagement improved by 80 per cent, and students’ motivation and attitude towards school had improved by 77 per cent and 69 per cent respectively.  

A wider evaluation of the program, including academic outcomes of students involved, will be completed by the end of Term 1 2023. 

The NSW Government invested an additional $383 million to extend the program in 2022. The total investment is more than $700 million since 2021.  

Third-year university student Mackenzie Allen spent two days a week for a year at Oak Flats Public School in the Illawarra, providing literacy and numeracy tutoring under the supervision of an accredited teacher.   

“This experience has cemented my future career aspirations in the teaching profession,” Mackenzie said. 

Australia’s biggest renewable energy and storage policy, the NSW Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap officially launched today, paving the way for a cheaper, cleaner and more reliable energy future for NSW.
 
Minister for Energy Matt Kean said the first tender for renewable energy and long duration storage contracts opens today, the first in a series of bi-annual tenders over 10 years to replace retiring coal fired power stations with modern electricity infrastructure.
 
“NSW is targeting the construction of 12 gigawatts of renewable energy by 2030, enough to power the equivalent of 5.8 million homes, as well as 2 gigawatts of long duration storage like pumped hydro, making this the biggest renewable energy policy in Australia’s history,” Mr Kean said.
 
“The opening of the first tender marks a major milestone in the delivery of our renewable energy and storage plans, it’s expected to create a jobs and investment boom across NSW.”
 
Mr Kean said that the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap is the State’s landmark energy policy designed to replace the generation capacity from four out of five of NSW’s coal-fired power stations, which are scheduled to retire in the next 11 years.
 
“NSW is building five massive Renewable Energy Zones across the State, which will produce cheap, clean electricity for generations to come and create major investment opportunities for industry and small businesses.
 
“Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine has put enormous pressure on power prices and shows why we need to fast track our plans to replace ageing power stations and reduce our reliance on generation that relies on volatile international commodity prices.”
 
The Roadmap is forecast to lead to savings of around $130 a year on average on the typical household electricity bill and $430 a year on the average small business electricity bill between 2023 and 2040, compared to if the Roadmap is not implemented.
 
Registration is open until 28 October, which is when project bids close.