Month: September 2024

NSW startups get a new home away from home in Southeast Asia

Startups and innovators in NSW have new opportunities to grow and expand into lucrative Southeast Asian markets with the Minns Labor Government inking new agreements with International Landing Pads in Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Landing Pads give startups access to workspace, networks and services that help them scale up innovative ideas and get them into the market.

The International Landing Pad in NSW, which opened late last year, provides temporary desk space in the Startup Hub for global businesses looking to enter NSW and make domestic connections.

Under the new reciprocal deals with Saigon Innovation Hub (SiHub) in Vietnam, Living Labs in Indonesia and Common Grounds in Malaysia, NSW businesses get the chance to work across jurisdictions, share ideas and make the connections needed to succeed.

In the next 12 months, Investment NSW will work with SiHub, Living Labs and Common Grounds to pilot the program. Up to nine NSW companies will be given the opportunity to base themselves in either Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta or Kuala Lumpur, while three qualified companies from each of the reciprocal nations will be based here.

The deals follow a similar arrangement put in place with India’s National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) earlier this year.

The announcement was made by Minister for Industry and Trade Anoulack Chanthivong as he welcomed business leaders from across the region at the Australia-ASEAN Business Forum.

The Forum celebrates the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Australia and the ASEAN member states and serves as a platform to strengthen NSW’s growing trade and investment relationship with the region.

For more information on the ILP and how to submit an application visit: https://www.investment.nsw.gov.au/innovation/international-landing-pad/

Minister for Industry and Trade Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“NSW is the epicentre of startups and innovation in Australia and the region.

“By getting these agreements in place, we’re making sure that the International Landing Pad doesn’t just open the door to companies who want to invest in NSW, it lets NSW businesses scale-up and expand on an international level.

“One of the most exciting aspects of these arrangements is the ability for nine NSW-based companies to spend time in our partners’ facilities in Southeast Asia. This will allow them to deepen their understanding of those markets and build the relationships critical to their expansion.

“The NSW Government has made expanding trade in the ASEAN region a priority, and this is another step in diversifying our trade footprint.

“The Landing Pads are part of a suite of activities the NSW Government is implementing to support the innovation sector, increase investment and boost exports.” 

Further boost to Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine workforce

The Albanese Government is today announcing a new Jobs for Subs program for 200 young workers required to make Submarine Rotational Force – West (SRF-W) a success.

The Nuclear-Powered Submarine Graduate, Apprenticeship and Traineeship initiative is a Government-funded recruitment and upskilling program for graduates, apprentices and trainees within ASC Pty Ltd.

This initiative from the Albanese Government will allow the ASC Pty Ltd to recruit around 200 additional entry-level personnel over the next two years across high priority disciplines and trades essential to the nuclear-powered submarine enterprise, building the workforce we need in the west to sustain and maintain Australia’s future nuclear-powered submarines.

These roles, predominantly in Western Australia, span fabrication and machining, engineering and project management, and supply chain and operations qualifications.

As Australia’s sovereign submarine partner for sustainment of our nuclear-powered submarines, ASC Pty Ltd plays a critical role in developing the required skills, workforce, knowledge and capability. This initiative seeks to enhance the ability to attract entry-level personnel to critical skills and career pathways, retain valued personnel at entry-levels and grow the workforce available across the Defence industry.

Already, the Albanese Government has committed to invest up to $8 billion in infrastructure to enable SFR-W from 2027 and to operate Australia’s own Virginia class conventionally armed, nuclear‑powered submarines from the early 2030s.

Across Australia, the nuclear-powered submarine program is expected to create around 20,000 highly skilled jobs for Australians for decades to come, including supporting around 3,000 jobs in the west alone.

Over the last two weeks, ASC Pty Ltd has been developing Australia’s sovereign sustainment workforce, in support of the Submarine Tendered Maintenance Period (SMTP) currently underway at HMAS Stirling.

The STMP is an important milestone in the pathway by which Australia will acquire a nuclear-powered submarine capability and is the first time Australian personnel have directly participated in the maintenance of a nuclear-powered submarine in Australia.

During the STMP, Royal Australian Navy personnel have been directly participating in maintenance work on USS Hawaii (SSN 776), a Virginia class submarine, at HMAS Stirling.

In addition, workers from ASC Pty Ltd are providing essential support services to USS Hawaii, and are observing maintenance activities to continue their learning.

During this STMP, no active radiological work is being conducted and no low level radiological material will leave the US ships.

Today’s announcement builds on the more than 4,000 additional Commonwealth supported university places the Albanese Government announced and the work we are doing with the states and territories to grow the skilled workforces we need.

The Albanese Government is investing in the workforce we need to deliver Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines and a future made in Australia.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese

“It is an honour to visit HMAS Stirling and see the finest of Australia’s workforce becoming stronger through the strength of the AUKUS partnership.

“We are announcing a new graduate, apprenticeship and traineeship program to train an additional 200 West Australians to work on Submarine Rotational Force- West program.

“We want to keep Australians safe. That’s why WA will play a key role in building AUKUS. This will help promote peace and deterrence in the region and support local jobs.”

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles

“Today’s announcement is another important step in growing the workforce to be equipped with the skills and training we need to acquire Australia’s nuclear-powered submarines.

“We welcome the crews of USS Hawaii and USS Emory S. Land to Western Australia, for this milestone. We welcome our US friends to our shores, and welcome home the Australians that have been embedded with them.

“We are seeing during this visit the first Australian personnel participating in the maintenance of a US nuclear-powered submarine at HMAS Stirling, the home of Australian submarines.”

Minister for Defence Industry and Capability Delivery Pat Conroy

“This is a further boost to the development of ASC’s sustainment workforce and follows the first cohort of workers departing for training at Pearl Harbour Naval Shipyard in July.

“Australian industry is integral not only to Australia’s nuclear-powered submarine program, but also to supporting the future building, sustainment and maintenance of the submarines of our AUKUS partners.

“We are seeing real progress being made to develop the workforce of thousands of highly-skilled scientists, engineers, project managers, operators, technicians, welders, construction workers, electricians, metal fitters and builders that will be needed to support this nation-building endeavour.”

Revised construction option selected to build a viaduct over the Hunter River on M1 Pacific Motorway extension project

A revised construction method has been selected to build the over-water section of the 2.6-kilometre viaduct across the Hunter River as part of the M1 Pacific Motorway extension to Raymond Terrace project.
Transport for NSW Regional Director North Anna Zycki said the method was revised following extensive community consultation.
“It was clear from the consultation that community members were concerned about potential flood impacts but also wanted reduced environmental impacts and faster delivery of the project,” Ms Zycki said.
“The project team will now use a single 80-metre temporary rock platform on the western side of the river, which removes the need for any dredging.
“Barges will be used to build the deep-water section of the viaduct on the eastern side of the river and these will be supported by a temporary 15-metre rock jetty that will allow material to be loaded and unloaded as the barges move across the river throughout the viaduct build.”  
During the consultation process Transport for NSW hosted five community information sessions in Millers Forest, Raymond Terrace, and Tarro, engaging over 170 residents.
“These sessions provided an opportunity for the community to give feedback on proposed bridge construction methods,” Ms Zycki said.
The first option proposed the use of two small rock jetties of approximately 25 metres, dredging and large barges in the Hunter River as originally contained in the Environmental Impact Statement. The second option involved the use of two temporary rock platforms in the Hunter River of up to 180 metres, built consecutively. 
“We had feedback from around 100 residents, some expressed concerns over the options and we listened, using their feedback to select this revised option,” Ms Zycki said.
“The use of barges in the deeper section of the river eliminates the need for dredging in the shallow section, which best addresses the issues of minimising flood effects and reducing environmental impacts.
“It provides safety advantages too by reducing the time it takes to build this viaduct by up to four months, which minimises the period for risk of increased flood impacts to properties, without the need for dredging in the river.”
The project team will continue proactive engagement with the community about potential flood impacts and mitigation options, including arranging meetings with individual property owners upon request. Construction will start immediately on the new viaduct with girder lifts for the bridge’s approach underway. 
The consultation summary report, including detailed responses from Transport to the feedback received from the community and stakeholders, is now available on our website at https://nswroads.work/m12rt-bridgeconstruction
More information about the project is available at: https://nswroads.work/m12rtportal 
The M1 extension includes upgrades to the surrounding road network, such as the Hexham Straight Widening, and is funded by the Australian and NSW governments. It will feature a 15-kilometre extension of the motorway, removing five sets of traffic lights and cutting nine minutes from travel times during peak periods.  
There will be new interchanges at Black Hill, Tarro, Tomago and Raymond Terrace, the Main North Rail Line, and the New England Highway, and is expected to be open to traffic in 2028.  

Central Coast & Newcastle Line

Incident activity

  • Ongoing – Until further notice

Details

A limited number of buses are replacing trains between Epping and Hornsby due to a tree in the overhead wiring at Normanhurst. Some services may end and start at Hornsby or run via the North Shore Line. Check transport apps for service changes. Delay travel if possible, make other travel arrangements or allow plenty of extra travel time.