February 2023 – Page 11

Fort Scratchley awarded prestigious heritage marker

Fort Scratchley, a former coastal defence installation and historical tourist attraction on the Newcastle coast, has been awarded an Engineering Heritage Marker.

On February 14, Engineers Australia and Fort Scratchley representatives gathered to reveal the Engineering Heritage Marker plaque for the Fort.

The fort is the largest and most diversified and intact coastal fortress barracks complex in Australia. It is set on Signal Hill in Newcastle and overlooks the city and coastline out to the South Pacific Ocean.

Fort Scratchley was built on the grounds of the traditional country of the Awabakal and Worimi peoples. Construction began on permanent fortification in 1882.

The main elements were constructed in the late 19th century and represent civil construction methods of the era including small-scale unreinforced concrete construction, of which the tunnels are a great example.

Fort Scratchley’ s layout is innovative as the tunnels always run downhill in the direction of loading ammunition. The tunnels run into the central magazines or out of them to deep shell lifts.

Construction evolution over the following 50 years is evident in various examples throughout the fort, most notably the changes as reinforced concrete was introduced.

Following its initial military use, the Fort was also used by the National Service Scheme for militia training in the mid-1950s.

Convict coal mines have also been discovered below the Fort by the University’s Coal River Working Party.

Today the inner fort holds gun emplacements, a battery observation post and associated fortress structures and underground tunnels, the commandants cottage, the barracks, and associated buildings on the lower section. The outer fort encompasses the Master Gunner’s Cottage, a workshop, and a multipurpose centre.

Day to day the fort run by volunteers from the Fort Scratchley Historical Society who offer tours of the tunnels and access to the museum and military buildings.

Engineers Australia’s Engineering Heritage Recognition Program recognises historical engineering achievements across Australia to raise the profile and understanding of the work of past engineers across the country. You can view all the Engineering Heritages sites we recognise across the country on our Engineering Heritage register.

SENATOR DORINDA COX TO BE GREENS FIRST NATIONS SPOKESPERSON

Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP has today announced Senator Dorinda Cox as the Party’s new First Nations spokesperson.

A proud Yamatji-Noongar woman, Senator Cox will guide the Greens’ policy work in an important year for First Nations peoples – which will see the Party campaign Yes on the Voice referendum, push the government for continued progress on Truth Telling and Treaty beyond the money allocated in the budget, and progress on First Nations justice.

Senator Cox will continue to hold the Greens’ Resources, Trade, Tourism, and Science portfolios.

Since being elected, Senator Cox has established the groundbreaking Missing and Murdered First Nations Women and Children Senate Inquiry, aimed at addressing the institutional failures leading to unacceptable rates of deaths of women, who are 35 times more likely to experience violence and 10 times more likely to be killed.

Responsibility for the Greens’ campaign and position on the upcoming Voice legislation and referendum will be shared with Adam Bandt as Leader.

A further decision will be made as to the holder of the Sports, Small Business, and The Republic portfolios in the coming period.

Greens First Nations spokesperson Senator Dorinda Cox said:

“It’s with gratitude and humility I take on the role of the Greens First Nations spokesperson in what is one of the most important years in a decade of action for the rights of First Nations people,” Senator Cox said.

“I come from a long line of powerful matriarchs, from the clans of the Kaneyang, Yued, Amangu and Wajarri peoples – and their knowledge and leadership will guide me as I push to make a difference in the lives of our people and of First Nations people across the country.

“As First Nations issues become central to the policy agenda, I feel that the tide is turning – and we are getting closer to genuine self-determination.
“I hope to pave the way for Blak women to see themselves in positions of leadership, as active participants in our democracy, to speak truth to power and shape politics in this country.

“My work in this portfolio will be grounded in our cultural knowledges, practices and protocols as I reach across the aisles of Parliament to bring everyone on this journey towards Truth Telling, Treaty and Voice.

Leader of the Australian Greens, Adam Bandt MP said:

“Since being elected to Parliament, Senator Cox has continued her fight for the rights of First Nations peoples, and she will be an excellent spokesperson for the Greens” Mr Bandt said.

“In her time in the Senate thus far, Senator Cox has already established a Senate Inquiry into Missing and Murdered First Nations Women and Children, shining a light onto institutional injustices that have created and perpetuated systemic violence.

“Dorinda has been working alongside Traditional Owners to stop Santos and Woodside from destroying land and sea Country, including the world’s oldest rock art on Murujuga in the Pilbara.

“At a time when people are demanding Treaty and self-determination louder than ever, Dorinda is a fierce critic of how colonial structures have stuck their hooks into policy at all levels of this country.

“Dorinda will be an excellent advocate for First Nations justice, and I look forward to working with her to advance Truth, Treaty, and Voice.”

LABOR MUST RETURN DIRTY DONATIONS BEFORE SAFEGUARD NEGOTIATIONS

The Greens have called on Labor to return $896,000 in donations from corporations covered by its proposed Safeguard mechanism to give the public confidence in any scheme.

Analysis reveals that 68% of the emissions covered under the safeguard mechanism came from corporations that donated to the Labor party’s election campaign, AEC donations data reveals. 35% came directly from polluting companies, and a further 33% from companies that are paid-up members of peak bodies that donated to the ALP.

Corporations with major projects on the line like Santos, Woodside, Whitehaven Coal, Glencore and Tamboran, as well as peak member bodies like APPEA and the Minerals Council donated generously to both major parties.

18 Safeguard targeted corporations and lobby groups poured $896,000 into the government’s election war chest, in a clear exertion of influence over the safeguard legislation.

The Liberals have vowed to oppose the safeguard mechanism, putting the Greens in balance of power. The Greens have said they are open to good faith negotiations with the government, but the sticking point will be new coal and gas mines. The documents accompanying the draft safeguard mechanism together with Labor’s emissions projections show pollution from gas will actually rise under the Safeguard, with Labor set to open massive new gas projects before 2030 like the Betaloo, Scarborough, Browse and Narrabri gas fields.

Greens Leader Adam Bandt MP said:

“The big sticking point in negotiations over the Safeguard will be Labor’s push to open new coal and gas mines.

“Labor’s proposed safeguard mechanism opens new coal and gas mines instead of stopping them.

“The big coal and gas corporations have paid Labor off, and in return Labor’s opening new coal and gas mines.

“In a time of climate crisis, the scientists, UN Secretary General and the International Energy Agency have all said that to meet climate goals, no new coal or gas projects can proceed.

“Labor shouldn’t be taking donations from the coal and gas corporations they’re meant to regulate. Labor should return these dirty coal and gas donations.”

Greens leader in the Senate and spokesperson on democracy Senator Larissa Waters said:

“The Greens want to get fossil fuel money out of politics altogether so that climate policies are based on science, not donations. My bill is the only legislation currently before parliament that seeks to close the backdoor for donations and stop the flow of money from big polluters to the big parties.

“We’ve been campaigning for decades to clean up our democracy. Enough is enough, it’s time for Labor to work with the Greens on donations laws and end the fire sale of our democracy.”

SCRAPPING OF TPVS AND SHEVS A WELCOME STEP

The Greens welcome the decision to scrap Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs) and Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (SHEVs).

“This decision is a good one, and long overdue. We join with the thousands of people who are celebrating this news today,” Greens Immigration spokesperson Senator McKim said.

“Temporary visas were part of the previous government’s inhumane agenda against refugees and people seeking asylum and it’s long past time we put an end to it.”

“While we welcome this announcement, it’s also critical that people who were unfairly impacted by the previous government’s dodgy ‘fast track’ process are given the opportunity to reapply for a fair and just outcome.”

“We’ll examine this policy change in detail to ensure that no-one is left behind.”

“The government must take steps to support all refugees, particularly those who have faced years of uncertainty, including those who were left in a state of legal limbo.”

30,000 EV chargers across NSW by 2026

The number of Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers will soar to 30,000 across the State by 2026 under a re-elected NSW Liberal and Nationals Government.

The NSW Liberals and Nationals will fast track the rollout of its public and private EV charging plans by:

· Reforming strata laws to make it easier for people living in apartments to charge their EV

· Installing EV chargers throughout NSW transport hubs including commuter carparks and train, bus and ferry stations

· Streamlining planning laws to accelerate the construction of chargers in public places like on power poles and parking meters

Treasurer Matt Kean said with more than one million EVs expected to hit NSW roads by 2030, the Government is already investing $209 million to ensure a comprehensive world-class charging network across NSW.

“We want all drivers to be able to recharge whenever and wherever they need to, whether it’s on a road trip, commuting to work or at home,” Mr Kean said.

Minister for Planning and Homes Anthony Roberts said that the Liberal and Nationals Government is only days away from streamlining planning laws to make it easier to install EV chargers in public places like on power poles and parking meters.

“We know that 30 per cent of drivers can’t access off-street parking and will rely on public chargers, which is why we are cutting red tape to roll them out even faster,” Mr Roberts said.

Minister for Fair Trading Victor Dominello said a re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government will work closely with stakeholders on developing “Right to Charge” strata reforms, meaning where apartment owners are willing to pay the cost and comply with strict safety requirements, their requests to install EV chargers cannot be unreasonably refused.

“These reforms will make it as easy as possible for people living in one of the 84,000 apartment buildings in NSW to install a charger, without passing on unfair costs to other residents,” Mr Dominello said.

Minister for Transport, Veterans and Western Sydney David Elliott said the Government was set to roll out EV chargers in transport hubs across our train, bus and ferry network.

“Commuter carparks are a great option for EV drivers to recharge while at work, making sure they can hit the road fully charged by the end of the day,” Mr Elliott said.

Switching to an EV can save motorists about $1,000 in running costs each year. There are currently about 1,000 public chargers in NSW.

The 30,000 EV chargers will be more than twice the number of existing petrol pumps in NSW.

These reforms build on the NSW Government’s nation leading Electric Vehicle Strategy, ranked equal 1^st in the country, which includes:

· $209 million for EV charging infrastructure

· No stamp duty on EVs under $78,000

· $3,000 rebates for EVs under $68,750

· Transitioning the State’s entire 8,000 plus bus fleet to zero emissions

· Allowing EVs to drive in transit lanes

Sites for the first stage of the transport hubs EV chargers:

· Barclay Road (North Rocks) commuter carpark

· Beverly Hills commuter carpark

· Emu Plains commuter carpark

· Revesby commuter carpark

· Riverwood commuter carpark

· St Marys commuter carpark

· Warwick Farm commuter carpark

· West Ryde commuter carpark

Metro boost for Western Sydney

A re-elected Liberal and Nationals Government will transform Western Sydney by expanding the world-class Sydney Metro to connect greater Sydney to the new Western Sydney Airport

The Government today announced it would kick off the process of delivering four new metro lines in Western Sydney by undertaking the final business cases for the new routes, which include:

· Tallawong to St Marys

· Westmead to the Aerotropolis

· Bankstown to Glenfield via Liverpool; and

· Macarthur to the Aerotropolis

Premier Dominic Perrottet said this major expansion will deliver the missing links in the Sydney Metro network, transforming Western Sydney with around 100km of new track.

“Sydney Metro is Australia’s biggest public transport project and is already re-shaping this city and transforming how we move around,” Mr Perrottet said.

“These new lines will complete the missing links in the metro network in the west and connect our city like never before in what will be a major win for the people of Western Sydney, providing them with even better transport services.

“We are future-proofing the transport needs of our city, to ensure people can travel quickly and safely while also supporting thousands of jobs, additional housing and access to services across region.

“Our long term economic plan is delivering major rail projects for the future and will support communities as they grow.”

Minister for Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport Rob Stokes said the Liberals and Nationals were turning paddocks into a thriving city around the future airport.

“Our cities will be shaped by world-leading infrastructure, connecting people to jobs, students to educational institutions and Western Sydney to the world,” Mr Stokes said.

“Our ambition is to complete the Metro network that we started when we first came to government. The first step is a coordinated strategic business case to determine which link needs to start first. This will set up a pipeline of projects to power the productivity of Western Sydney.”

“By starting this work now, we’re putting the Aerotropolis on a strong footing to be one of the most accessible cities in Australia for people on bikes, cars, planes or trains – connected to a new airport, active transport network and world-class metros and motorways.”

Minister for Transport, Veterans and Western Sydney David Elliott said the completion of the metro in Western Sydney would provide critical transport connections for commuters across Western Sydney and deliver improved access into the Sydney CBD.

“The population of this State is expected to grow by 42 per cent to 11.5 million by 2061, increasing the demand for easy, reliable, turn-up and go services for statewide transport connectivity,” Mr Elliott said.

“This is why it is critical we plan for the future and have the vision to deliver the transport connections where they are needed to ensure people can move conveniently and seamlessly from one side of Sydney to the other.”

The proposed new Sydney Metro lines will include (approximately):

· Tallawong to St Marys – 20 kilometres of track and six or seven potential station locations along the route.

· Westmead to the Aerotropolis – 37 kilometres of track and six or eight potential station locations along the route.

· Bankstown to Glenfield – 20 kilometres of track, with the number of stations to be determined.

· Macarthur to the Aerotropolis – 23 kilometres of track and six to seven potential station locations along the route.

A business case is already underway for a new metro line between Glenfield and the Aerotropolis.

The proposed new lines will be integrated with the broader Sydney Metro network, which includes:

· Sydney Metro North West – completed in May 2019.

· Sydney Metro City and South West – services from Chatswood to Sydenham to commence in 2024, then to Bankstown within 12 months.

· Sydney Metro West – on track to be completed by 2030.

· Sydney Metro Western Sydney Airport – The Australian and NSW Governments are working together to deliver this project alongside the opening of Western Sydney International Airport in 2026.

Labor’s public sector wages policy blows almost $9 billion budget black hole

NSW Labor’s plan to scrap the public sector wages cap would blow an almost $9 billion black hole in the state’s budget, according to analysis from NSW Treasury.

Chris Minns will be forced to cut infrastructure projects or increase taxes to make up the shortfall given he has repeatedly said that public sector wages should keep up with inflation, otherwise they would amount to a pay cut.

Treasury analysis shows that if wage rises were in line with the current inflation forecast in the Half-Yearly Review it would blow an $8.6 billion black hole in Labor’s budget.

If NSW Labor used the latest ABS CPI indicator, it would cost $11.1 billion over four years.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said removing the wages cap and aligning wages with inflation would have disastrous consequences for the entire state.

“Our long-term economic plan will continue to provide record investments in road and rail projects that generate jobs and help future-proof our state,” Mr Perrottet said.

“The Liberal and Nationals have funded the biggest infrastructure program in NSW history because of hard fought financial management.”

Labor leader Chris Minns told media a fortnight ago: “It’s really important to know that the system that we’re bringing in New South Wales is to scrap the wages cap.”

“NSW Labor are putting our record infrastructure pipeline at risk because they have multi-billion-dollar budget black hole,” Mr Perrottet said.

“NSW Labor will need to cut metros, motorways and our cost of living relief measures to pay for their public sector wage increase.

“The NSW Labor plan to unleash public sector wages is a recipe for economic disaster that will stall our economy and take NSW backwards.”

Treasurer Matt Kean said Labor’s Daniel Mookhey had ruled out increasing borrowings and raising taxes which begged the question of how Labor would pay for its wages policy.

“As Treasurer I know the damage a multi-billion-dollar black hole would do to the budget, the economy and the opportunities for future generations – and it’s a price not worth paying,” Mr Kean said.

“If Labor is true to its word then it will have submitted its policy of CPI wage increases to the Parliamentary Budget Office and it should come clean on how it plans to fund the billions of dollars it will cost.

“If Labor has back-flipped on its promise, then it needs to be truthful and explain why. If it hasn’t, it needs to explain exactly which projects and services will be cut to meet the $8.6 billion shortfall.”

NSW public sector workers have experienced real wages growth over the past decade. The current 3 per cent cap plus an additional 0.5 per cent for productivity measures is far more generous than Labor-run Victoria.

Over 400 scholarships awarded to state’s budding interpreters

The state’s pool of language professionals has grown substantially over the past four years thanks to the NSW Government exceeding its election commitment to fill 400 positions through the Multicultural NSW Interpreting Scholarship Program.

Facilitated by a number of educational institutions, including TAFE NSW, University of NSW and RMIT, the program has enabled people speaking more than 50 different languages and dialects to join the NSW Government’s interpreting ranks.

Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure said the Interpreting Scholarship Program empowers people to use their language skills as a career and help their communities access government information and services.

“We have seen through the latest Census data that more and more people are speaking a language other than English at home, including new and emerging languages that weren’t prominent in communities five, ten or even fifteen years ago,” Mr Coure said.

“We have worked with various universities and TAFE NSW so the program could evolve to train those who speak these languages and have them become qualified interpreters.

“By doing this, we have been able to bolster our interpreting ranks with a greater breadth of language capabilities and ensure we have the people available to support our state’s diverse communities.”

The program’s most recent graduates include TAFE and university-trained interpreters speaking Amharic, Dari, Hazaragi, Kannada, Karen, Mongolian, Swahili and Tamil.

NSW Federation of Community Language Schools president Lucia Johns said the program was further evidence of the value of multi-lingual study.

“Language is one of NSW’s greatest cultural, social and business assets. So it cannot be ignored and must be fostered and developed. By teaching children languages at community language schools throughout the state we are protecting and guaranteeing our future linguistic skills,” Mrs Johns said.

“Children who learn a second language at community languages schools will have the option of developing a career in interpreting and translation which benefits all aspects of our society.”

Mr Coure added that the program had attracted a great mix of people of various ages across the state interested in using their language skills as a career, including from regional NSW.

“More than 20 per cent of students participating in the program are from regional NSW, which shows our multicultural state isn’t in one city or suburb,” Mr Coure said.

“We have also had many people from refugee backgrounds use their language skills to gain employment and support their community. This year alone, 30 per cent of scholarship participants were on refugee or special humanitarian visas.

“Everyone who completes the program and attains their certification can join our expert panel of language professionals.”

Through the 2022-23 NSW Budget, $16 million was secured over two years to improve the state’s whole-of-government language service.

“The NSW Government understands that a strong and robust language service is key to a future without barriers for diverse communities, and ensure no one is restricted in accessing information or services because of the language they speak,” Mr Coure said.

For more information about the Multicultural NSW Interpreting Scholarship Program, visit multicultural.nsw.gov.au.

Languages Spoken by Scholarship Students
Amharic	Filipino	Kurdish- Kurmanji	Thai
Arabic	Greek	Macedonian	Tibetan
Arabic/Sudanese	Hakha Chin	Malayalam	Tigrinya
Assyrian	Hazaragi	Mongolian	Tongan
Burmese	Hmong	Nepali	Turkish
Chaldean	Hungarian	Persian	Twi
Chinese Hakka	Igbo	Portuguese	Ukrainian
Chinese-Chiu Chow	Indonesian	Samoan	Urdu
Cook Islands Maori	Italian	Serbian	Uyghur
Creole	Kannada	Somali	Vietnamese
Dari	Karen	Spanish	Zomi Chin
Dinka	Khmer	Swahili
Ewe	Kinyarwanda	Tamil
Fiji Hindi	Kirundi	Telugu
Fijian	Krio	Temne

Bonnyrigg’s multimillion dollar housing boom

The NSW Liberal and Nationals Government’s $855 million Bonnyrigg Renewal Project is moving into its next delivery phase in stages 8 to 11, following the appointment of a development partner to deliver 275 more homes including 65 new social homes for Western Sydney.

Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts said 702 dwellings, including 256 social homes had already been completed in earlier stages 1 to 7 of the state-significant urban renewal project.

“This is an ambitious project that is transforming the former Bonnyrigg social housing estate in Western Sydney to become a vibrant, mixed-tenure precinct, by taking 833 ageing social properties and creating 3,000 new homes for residents, 900 of which are dedicated for social housing,” Mr Roberts said.

Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Services Natasha Maclaren-Jones said the NSW Liberal and Nationals Government is committed to creating secure communities for the state’s most vulnerable.

“We are not only investing in housing where it’s needed most, but we’re creating a safe place for people to live and work. This precinct is providing more than just a roof over people’s head, it is providing a new community centre, open space, and town centre with a village green so residents can thrive,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.

The project also makes great use of the existing Parramatta to Liverpool rapid bus transitway that is nearby.

Following a competitive procurement process to the market, the NSW Land and Housing Corporation (LAHC) has appointed Sydney-based developer Traders In Purple to deliver these next stages of the Bonnyrigg Renewal project.

LAHC Chief Executive Simon Newport said the Bonnyrigg Renewal displays how partnerships can deliver more homes for the community.

“We were able to secure $26.4 million of Commonwealth funding through the National Housing Infrastructure Fund, which unlocks critical infrastructure such as improvements to the road network that are crucial to delivering this type of project,” Mr Newport said.

“When all levels of government, community housing providers and industry come to the table with a shared vision to deliver more and better homes for the people who need it most, we can achieve great things and the transformation underway at Bonnyrigg is a shining example of that.”

As part of the earlier stages of the renewal project, Landcom has also managed the construction and completion of a $7 million 841 square metre community centre, using funds from LAHC under its voluntary planning agreement with Fairfield City Council.

Fairfield City Council Mayor Frank Carbone said the new community centre will be called The Hub @ Bonnyrigg (Dhanawi) and it will become a central focal point for all aspects of community life for local residents, with a large hall for social and cultural activities, meeting rooms, a kitchen and play areas for children. Council will own and manage the new facility moving forwards.

“The Hub @ Bonnyrigg (Dhanawi) will allow people to come together to meet and celebrate, with fully accessible facilities and a community garden. We are proud to have worked together with LAHC to design and deliver this facility for our community,” Mr Carbone said.

The transformation of the Bonnyrigg Estate is a major 30-year project that will be delivered over 18 stages, creating 4,275 jobs and delivering homes for more than 9,000 residents.

Works on the latest stage of the development are set to commence in April 2023.

For more information, please visit www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/land-and-housing-corporation/greater-sydney/bonnyrigg-estate

Boost for walkers and cyclists in Manly

A new pedestrian and cycling bridge will be built over the Manly Lagoon in Queenscliff after securing $3.95 million in funding from the Liberals and Nationals Government.

Minister for Active Transport Rob Stokes said the investment would make it safer to walk and cycle around the Northern Beaches, delivering on the aims of the NSW Government’s Active Transport Strategy.

“The unprecedented funding commitment for walking and cycling by the Liberals and Nationals Government’s is all about making it easier for local families to move around, and this investment will have a transformative impact,” Mr Stokes said.

“This funding will allow for the construction of a new four-metre wide shared pedestrian and cycling bridge alongside Pittwater Road, delivering on our Strategic Cycleway Corridors plans for the Eastern Harbour City.”

Member for Manly James Griffin said the new bridge delivers on longstanding calls from the local community for this project, delivering a win for the people of Manly.

“This project resolves a significant chokepoint in our local walking and cycling network. Whether you’re riding to Manly Wharf as part of your daily commute or enjoying our beautiful coastline on the weekend, this investment will make a world of difference to the everyday needs of our local community,” Mr Griffin said.

“We know that the biggest barrier to people taking up cycling is concerns about riding on the road, so this project will encourage more people to leave the car at home and save on the household budget.”

Construction on the bridge is expected to begin mid-2024 following detailed design. The investment is part of the Liberals and Nationals’ record $950 million investment in active transport across NSW, transforming local communities and making every day better and easier for families.

For more information about the Get NSW Active program, go to: Get NSW Active | Transport for NSW.