Month: July 2023

The design and construction of the new state-of-the-art Mardi Water Treatment Plant is locked in with Abergeldie Contractors Pty Ltd winning the contract to deliver the project.

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The NSW Government’s Safe and Secure Water Program has invested $6.85 million along with over $75 million from the Central Coast Council to build a world-class water treatment plant that will provide up to 160 million litres of clean water every day.

Minister for Water Rose Jackson said it is the first time since 1992 the plant has been upgraded which was great news for the community because it will help secure the region’s water future for the next 5 decades by improving treated quality and reliability.

“While it has been a faithful workhorse for the past 40 years, the time has come to overhaul the technology and modernise the infrastructure to keep up with the demands of a growing community while shoring up water security,” Ms Jackson said. 

“Water treatment plants are a community’s first and last line of defence when it comes to producing safe drinking water. It is crucial the infrastructure can cater for an increasing population and be a reliable source of water in both the wet and dry times.

“Bringing the plant’s technology into the 21st century will enable it to treat raw water to an even higher standard, particularly during low flow periods when there are increased levels of sediment and organic material, including algae, that need to be treated.”

Minister for Central Coast and Member for Wyong David Harris said the upgrade is a major win for the Central Coast community.

“Our community is growing and a modern, secure water supply is a must,” Mr Harris said.

“These important infrastructure upgrades are vital for the health of our community, economy and environment.”

Central Coast Council Director of Water and Sewer Jamie Loader said the project is now moving into the design phase with construction just around the corner, which will be a huge milestone.

“The Mardi Water Treatment Plant provides about half of all drinking water to the Central Coast and transfers extra supply to the Hunter region, so future-proofing this asset and delivering safer and more secure water is a key priority,” Mr Loader said.

“It’s exciting to see progress being made and we’re looking forward to the finished product which will treat up to the equivalent of 64 Olympic swimming pools of top-notch treated drinking water for 210,000 homes and businesses across the Central Coast and parts of the Lower Hunter.”

This is one of the largest water infrastructure projects undertaken by council since the Mardi to Mangrove pipeline which was completed in 2011.

Construction is expected to start in the first half of 2024 and be completed in late 2025.

Clinicians and healthcare professionals will come together at a pivotal forum in Murrumbidgee region to discuss the future of healthcare in regional NSW and the expansion of the Single Employer Model (SEM).

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Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Health, Dr Michael Holland, will deliver a keynote address at the In Rural, By Rural, For Rural forum on 20 – 21 July in Wagga Wagga.

“The forum will focus on the experiences gained during the implementation of the SEM and the model trialled in the Murrumbidgee region, known as the ‘Murrumbidgee Model’,” Dr Holland said.

“The Murrumbidgee pilot has shown that an expansion of this scheme makes rural general practice a more attractive option for doctors as well as making it easier for people in regional New South Wales to see a doctor close to home.”

The SEM provides a tailored, coordinated pathway for doctors wanting to become Rural Generalists during their training in public health facilities and private GP practices.

The NSW Government will be able to access exemptions under Section 19(2) of the Health Insurance Act 1974 for up to 80 Rural Generalist trainees per year, as part of a 2022/23 federal budget commitment.

The initiative will commence at the beginning of the 2024 training year.

Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park, said the experience gained during the Murrumbidgee trial would help shape the expansion of the SEM, which was recently announced by the federal and NSW governments.

Mr Park said this specific training ensures GPs have the right skills to work in the unique environments of regional and rural NSW.

“After the successful trial in Murrumbidgee, we are looking forward to expanding the scheme into other regional and rural areas of New South Wales,” Mr Park said.

“This forum is an opportunity for clinicians and healthcare professionals to learn from the team at Murrumbidgee that piloted the program.”

A partnership between the Commonwealth, NSW Government and Community Housing Provider, BaptistCare has delivered 162 new social and affordable homes in Carlingford for hundreds of people in need.

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This project will see 97 social housing applicants moved from the waiting list and into secure accommodation. The remainder of the apartments will be allocated to eligible affordable housing applicants.

The Commonwealth has delivered $70 million through the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC) to community housing provider BaptistCare, helping to deliver more homes under the NSW Government’s Social and Affordable Housing Fund (SAHF) Program.

In addition to developing the Carlingford site, BaptistCare will manage the property and provide wrap-around support services to tenants under their 25-year contract term to empower tenants to lead more independent and satisfying lives.

The new estate has 162 new state-of-the-art homes comprising 82 one-bedroom, 63 two-bedroom and 17 three-bedroom apartments for over 55s and single-parent families at risk of homelessness, in unsafe housing and those impacted by domestic violence.

The NSW Government is committed to delivering housing that people are proud to call home. The Carlingford housing community features a children’s playground, community spaces, underground carparking and native landscaping.

The Albanese Government recently announced a new $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator to deliver thousands of new social homes across Australia, including $610 million for NSW.

This will enable the construction of even more homes like the ones being opened in Carlingford.

The apartments are independently certified to the Liveable Housing Australia Guidelines Silver standard, ensuring that the homes are accessible for tenants.

Tenants have started to move into their new homes which became available in June.

NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said:

“The housing crisis is real and growing, and it’s through innovative partnerships like this one, which leverages the expertise of the community housing sector and vital Commonwealth funding, that we’ll deliver more social and affordable housing sooner.

“Our priority is to continue to deliver more social and affordable housing across NSW. We want to get more people off the housing waitlist and into homes.

“In addition to providing safe and secure housing, the wraparound services are crucial to ensure we are supporting some of our most vulnerable with access to the help they need to lead fulfilling and independent lives.

“Achieving better outcomes starts with having a safe place to live. We are not only delivering homes, we are giving people who need them the best opportunity for a brighter future.”

Federal Minister for Housing Julie Collins said:

“This exciting partnership between different levels of governments, along with this community housing provider shows what is possible when we’re working together.

“I’m proud that our government’s new Social Housing Accelerator will enable the construction of even more homes like these in NSW.

“It’s also a great example of the kind of projects we could be helping build under the Housing Australia Future Fund.

“But this secure, ongoing pipeline of funding for social and affordable housing is being blocked by the Greens and the Liberals in the Senate.”

BaptistCare CEO Charles Moore said:

“Community housing providers like BaptistCare are an important part of the ecosystem in delivering quality social and affordable housing and wrap-around services that support people facing rental stress and homelessness across the state.

“Having a secure place to call home is vital, but housing is more than just having a roof over a head. BaptistCare is focused on creating genuine communities for our tenants and encouraging friendships, connection and support networks for the people who live there.

“Tenants will have access to a suite of support services such as counselling, group programs and chaplains, no interest loans, and aged care services where relevant, as well as the reassurance that our staff are onsite and available to assist with their independence and wellbeing.”

The NSW Government and the Public Service Association (PSA) have agreed to a 4 per cent salary increase for over 80,000 public sector employees in the Industrial Relations Commission yesterday.

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More than 80,000 NSW Public Sector employees will now receive a 4 per cent salary increase and a 0.5 per cent increase in superannuation backdated to 1 July 2023.

This includes prison officers, park rangers, school support staff, child protection workers, case workers, Rural Fire Service employees, State Emergency Service employees, Service NSW employees, and public servants covering a range of occupations across all Government departments and agencies.

The decision is the culmination of successful collaboration and negotiation between the Government and the PSA in reaching agreement to improve pay for NSW public sector employees.

The 4 per cent increase under the Government’s Fair Pay Policy is the biggest pay increase for NSW public sector employees in over a decade.

The Government is continuing to work with other public sector unions on the resolution of other negotiations.

The wages cap is obsolete following the NSW Government’s 4 per cent pay offer.

Minister for Industrial Relations and Work Health and Safety Sophie Cotsis said:

“The Minns Government is getting on with the job of fixing the recruitment and retention crisis.”

“The Liberal-National’s wages cap eroded trust between essential workers and government, suppressed wages and led to the staffing crisis. The wages cap is dead.”

“This will benefit the people that keep the state’s essential services like schools, prisons, and national parks up and running.

“The people of NSW deserve world class public services. We will continue to keep people at the heart of all of our work.”

Shadow Treasurer Damien Tudehope has called on the Minns Labor Government to come clean on which cost of living measures and services it will now cut to pay for its unfunded $3.4 billion public sector wages blowout.

“The Minns Labor Government is crowing that the wages cap is dead and obsolete. What is really dead and obsolete is Labor’s promise that any public sector wage rise beyond the 3% cap for 2023/24 would be fully offset by productivity gains. To say the wages cap is dead does not absolve Labor of that promise,” Mr Tudehope said.

“Minns’ deal with his PSA union mates announced today, along with the even higher unfunded wage rise offer currently being voted on by the HSU, will together cost the NSW taxpayer $3.4 billion more over the next four years than provided for in Labor’s pre-election budget costings,” Mr Tudehope warned.

“Four months into Minns’ four year term and we can see that Labor’s priorities are wrong, Minns’ is delivering jobs for the boys, deals with union mates and broken promises. The people of NSW deserve better.” Mr Tudehope said.

On the eve of the Matildas opening game at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Sydney’s train network is again in chaos with commuters forced to pay for union industrial action in the lead up to this year’s election.

The Labor Government’s Train Review1 released earlier this year concluded the cause of the significant increase in the backlog of infrastructure inspections and maintenance was due to ongoing union industrial action in 2022.

With a sold-out crowd of over 80,000 fans descending on Homebush tonight, Shadow Minister for Transport, Natalie Ward is calling on Minister Jo Haylen to guarantee that Sydney Trains will provide safe and reliable transport.

In an unbelievable move, the Minns Labor Government has appointed Josh Murray, a former Labor staffer and Party member, to become the new Secretary for Transport.

Mr Murray has no experience in operating or managing any public transport system, with his main qualification for the role seemingly being a former Chief of Staff to a Labor Premier.

Shadow Minister for Transport Natalie Ward commented:

“The complete destruction of Sydney Trains’ reliability under the new Labor Government is a joke. Sydney is on the world stage for the Women’s World Cup, and the Transport Minister can’t get the trains to run on time.

“These maintenance repairs are only required because the trade unions prioritised political industrial action in the lead up to an election ahead of regular maintenance, and commuters are now paying the price.

“The Transport Minister chose a PR spinner over qualified candidates to lead Transport for NSW, if this is the level of reliability under Labor, Sydney will grind to a halt.”

Give your view on how to make renting fairer.In NSW, nearly one in every three people rent their home. The NSW Government is working to improve rental laws to support renters, landlords and the community. Better rules for rentals will help give more stability for renters and certainty for landlords.If you live in, own or manage a rental property, or are interested in renting rules in NSW, we want to hear from you.Your feedback will help us make changes that consider anyone in NSW affected by these laws.

https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/improving-nsw-rental-laws

The NSW Government today announced $31 million to support beekeepers, horticulture and cropping industries affected by the Varroa mite outbreak.

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The announcement was made in front of the NSW Farmers Conference, held in Rosehill Gardens.

Minister for Agriculture, Regional NSW and Western NSW Tara Moriarty said Varroa mite continues to be a significant threat to the honey bee and pollination industries throughout regional NSW.

“The NSW Government is committed to supporting these industries in their fight against Varroa mite, which was first detected in the sentinel hives of European honey bees at the port of Newcastle just over a year ago,” Minister Moriarty said.

“Protecting our apiary industry, as well as the many industries which rely on it for production and pollination, is not only the right thing to do – it also makes good economic sense.”

Minister Moriarty said Varroa mite will add an estimated $52 million per year in apiary management expenses. The impacts without intervention would be severe on both the wild European honey bee population as well as managed hives around Australia.

“The NSW Varroa mite response, led by NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI), is the biggest plant pest response ever undertaken in NSW and as we pass the 1-year milestone we remain focused on the goal of eradicating the mite,” Ms Moriarty said.

In the past year:

• 2148 people have spent an estimated 452,569 hours on the response across 990,400 hectares of eradication (red) zones
• the NSW DPI has fielded more than 10,000 calls, and has held close to 100 community meetings and webinars
• the Wild European Honey Bee Management Program has deployed 705 bait stations, 823 Fipronil applications, and has been monitoring samples of Wild European Honey Bees collected in Emergency Eradication Zones for Varroa mite of which 725 have returned negative results
• the NSW DPI has sampled 40,726 managed hives across NSW
• beekeepers have sampled 91,626 hives throughout the state.

NSW Government has already spent more than $33 million to control Varroa outbreaks, including $13.7 million in reimbursement to around 2500 affected commercial and recreational beekeepers.

Minister Moriarty said an updated plan for the next 3 years of the response had been endorsed by the National Management Group, which includes representatives from all states, the Commonwealth and industry groups.

“The operational cost of the response is approved and cost-shared by all governments and 16 industry parties, and the progressive spend is monitored by all parties on a regular basis,” Ms Moriarty said. 

For more information on current and emerging biosecurity outbreaks, visit the NSW Department of Primary Industrieslaunch website.

Couples can share their love with pride with two new micro-wedding locations now available through the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.

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The new Sydney Zoo in Eastern Creek will host 11 wedding ceremonies on 3 November, where animal lovers will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to exchange vows on the zoo’s Lion Deck, with the day sure to be a roaring success.

Couples can also choose to add a bit of spice to their day with two exclusive wedding opportunities to be held at Peppers Creek Barrel Room & Chapel in the Hunter Valley. The first will be a summer special on 7 December 2023 and the second, a winter wonderland on 21 June 2024, each with 12 ceremonies available.

This new venue features a sandstone chapel where ceremonies will take place and is surrounded by picturesque vineyards.

In addition to these two new venues, the Registry is again poised to help couples set sail on their lives together, welcoming the return of the Sydney Opera House as a special Valentine’s Day micro-wedding venue in 2024.

Following the popularity of the site for micro-weddings over the past two years, the iconic venue will be available for 36 couples to marry on the most romantic day of the year, Valentine’s Day, with reception packages available at Opera Bar and the Yallamundi Rooms.

With the average wedding in Australia costing $36,000, micro-weddings provide an affordable and easy-to-organise option at some of the best venues in Sydney and surrounding areas.

Accommodating up to 35 people, including the celebrant, this intimate style of wedding allows couples to book an affordable and personalised package at an unforgettable location.

Couples can tailor their special day to suit their budget with options for additional extras including photography, floral arrangements, and reception packages from the Registry’s list of industry suppliers.

All legal requirements, including the ceremony, a celebrant, lodgement of Notice of Intended Marriage, as well as a standard and commemorative wedding certificate are provided.

Other Registry micro-wedding locations available include Sergeants Mess in Chowder Bay, Chinese Garden of Friendship in Darling Harbour, Vaucluse House, Hyde Hacienda in Circular Quay and The Old Clare in Chippendale.

Make a booking and learn more about micro-weddings

Couples are reminded a Notice of Intended Marriage must be lodged at least one month ahead of a wedding date.

Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Jihad Dib said:

“Starting life together shouldn’t break the bank, which is why these micro-wedding offerings are a great choice for couples looking for something a little more intimate and unique.”

“I am thrilled to be unveiling these new micro-wedding offerings and wish every couple who takes advantage of this option a long and happy future together.”

NSW Registrar, Theresa Fairman said:

“The NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages continues to offer special and affordable wedding experiences for couples headed down the aisle.”

“These new venues are an exciting opportunity for couples to marry in unique locations like the new Sydney Zoo and the sweeping Hunter Valley.”

“The Registry’s micro-weddings are a popular option, with 341 couples tying the knot across 30 events since 2021.”