Month: November 2024

The Minns Labor Government is cutting red tape in the planning system today, announcing significant reform to fast-track the delivery of new and upgraded public schools and health facilities by up to eight months.

For too long, upgrades to essential public infrastructure have been hampered by the current planning process, which can take between 12 and 18 months.

Today, the Minns Labor Government has made changes to the Transport and Infrastructure State Environmental Planning Policy (T&I SEPP), which will allow the Department of Education (DOE) and the NSW Ministry of Health to streamline approvals for essential infrastructure works.

The changes allow NSW Health and the NSW Department of Education to deliver new Government infrastructure projects without needing to lodge a development application with the local council or Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure.

In some cases, this is expected to cut between six to eight months from a 12 to 18-month planning process, from preparation of the application to determination.

For health infrastructure, NSW Health will be able to assessalterations and additions to existing facilities, such as a new hospital wing or specialised care facility up to a gross floor area of 30,000m2.

The development of new public schools, including preschools, additions to existing public schools and buildings up to four storeys in height will be allowed without a development application.

It also removes the administrative burden placed on local councils associated with managing the lodgement, exhibition, collating of public submissions and assessment of large planning documents.  

Thorough assessments of the environmental impact of projects will still need to be conducted by the Department of Education and NSW Health, along with consultation with communities, councils and other stakeholders before construction can begin.

Non-government schools will be able to access the exempt and complying development pathways, which include additional provisions for the development of teaching facilities within existing or approved schools. For example, under the previous development permitted without consent provisions, non-government schools could only develop a library or classroom that is not more than 2 storeys.

Under the complying development pathway, non-government schools will be able to build such facilities up to a maximum height of 4 storeys, so long as the development complies with certain development standards.

The NSW Government has also made additional development permissible for non-government schools under the complying development pathway, including the development of pre-schools of 50 or more children, demolition of buildings that are not heritage listed and multi-storey car parks.

The reform will make it easier to deliver new schools and school upgrades up to four storeys, or in line with local planning controls, and new and upgraded health facilities. The Minns Labor Government will deliver this essential infrastructure where it is needed most, supporting more homes being delivered across the state.

This is part of the Minns Labor Government’s comprehensive plan to build a better NSW. Our Government is focused on delivering the essential services the people of our state need, to improve the lives of the people now and into the future, and we build a better NSW for all.

Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:

“All children deserve access to high-quality schools in their local area, and the Minns Labor Government is determined to deliver for the families of NSW.

“We are cutting red tape in the planning system so we can continue to deliver for the working families of NSW.

“After making a record investment in public education, we are focused on clearing a backlog of school infrastructure backlog works left after ten years of neglect by the Liberals and Nationals.”

Minister for Health and Regional Health Ryan Park said:

“These reforms go a long way to ensuring that growing communities receive the new health infrastructure that they need and deserve.

“If we can reduce the wait times on these critical projects, that is a great thing for patients and communities.”

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“These changes to the planning system will significantly speed up the delivery of essential school and health infrastructure in our state.

“As we ramp up the delivery of housing in the state, it’s key that we streamline the delivery of the schools and health facilities our communities rely on.

“Cutting red tape strangling our planning system can only help our community.”

The Minns Labor Government has passed legislation to extend the payroll tax rebate for GPs available under the $189 million Bulk-Billing Support Initiative to services billed to veterans with a Gold, White or Orange DVA card.

This means that clinics which specialise in the treatment of veterans are more likely to be able to access the rebate.  It will keep their costs down and allow them to continue to offer important primary care services to veterans.

The Bulk-Billing Support Initiative was introduced in the 2024-25 NSW Budget to protect bulk-billing for people needing a GP and reduce the strain on our emergency departments.

Under the initiative, the NSW Government waived $104m of historical payroll tax liabilities, which began accruing for contractor GPs under the previous Liberal-National Government. It also established an ongoing payroll tax rebate for GP clinics in metropolitan Sydney which bulk-bill at least 80% of their patient services (70% outside of metropolitan Sydney). 

The expansion of the Bulk-Billing Support Initiative means that services billed to veterans will count towards the threshold needed to benefit from the payroll tax rebate. It will apply retrospectively to 4 September 2024, when the initiative commenced.

The NSW Government consulted extensively with peak bodies, clinics and agents throughout the design and implementation process of the initiative.

This included legislating a 12-month pause on payroll tax audits for GP practices in September 2023 to allow time for engagement with the sector, and the establishment of a Revenue NSW-led working group to create a practice note to assist clinics, their accountants and legal advisors.

While the issue of veterans’ services was never raised during the consultation, the Minns Labor Government has responded quickly to strengthen the initiative following consultation with RSL NSW.

Recent Medicare data showed that an additional 1.8 million GP visits in NSW were bulk-billed in the year to October 2024. This resulted in a 1.3-point increase of the overall bulk-billing rate in NSW to 81.9%, the highest in Australia.

Extending the Bulk-Billing Support Initiative and will boost its effectiveness to provide cost-of-living support for patients and certainty for GPs and clinics.

Minister for Health Ryan Park:

“We know how difficult it can be to access a GP, and when people can’t afford one, they often end up in the emergency department, placing more pressure on our busy hospitals.

“By making GPs more affordable, we can save our busy EDs for emergencies.

“I am so pleased that we are expanding this crucial initiative to veterans.”

Minister for Finance Courtney Houssos:

“Having already legislated the removal of historical payroll tax liabilities, these changes will further strengthen the Bulk-Billing Support Initiative.

“This will reduce cost pressures on clinics which are providing important medical care to our service men and women and give veterans greater access to affordable healthcare.

“The Bulk-Billing Support Initiative is the first time the state government has made a strategic investment to support bulk-billing, highlighting the Minns Labor Government’s commitment to relieving cost-of-living pressures.”

Minister for Veterans David Harris:

“The Bulk-Billing Support Initiative is a win-win that makes medical care more affordable and accessible for our brave service men and women while easing cost-pressures on our medical care providers.

“In a time when people are really doing it tough making ends meet, I am proud to be part of a Minns Labor Government committed to helping those that serve our nation.”

Central Coast residents will have recently seen traffic surveys being carried out along the Pacific Highway and Manns Road corridor as part of planning work for the Gosford Bypass.

The NSW Government has invested $40 million towards planning and development of a proposed major upgrade on this corridor, which carries up to 30,000 vehicles each day from the Ourimbah Interchange through to the Central Coast Highway.

Work on the bypass route has been completed from Ourimbah to Parsons Road at Lisarow in the north, and in the south from the Central Coast Highway at West Gosford to Stockyard Place.

Transport for NSW is progressing the development of the remaining 7.2km of the corridor to deliver shorter-term improvements such as new and upgraded footpaths and shared pathways and access to bus stops, while also confirming a longer-term strategy for future major upgrades.

Delivery of any upgrades for the Gosford Bypass, including any property acquisition, will depend on gaining project and funding approvals.

To keep up to date with the project, visit
https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/gosford-bypass

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison said:

“The NSW Government is keen to get moving on this final section of the Gosford Bypass, which is why we allocated $40 million in the State Budget to cover planning and development.

“The people of the Central Coast have been waiting far too long for these improvements and I’m pleased the Minns Labor Government is now starting that work.”

Member for Gosford Liesl Tesch said:

“Gosford is the heart of the Central Coast and ensuring motorists can move smoothly in and around the area is a key part of the NSW Government’s vision for the region.

“Coasties deserve better than bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Pacific Highway each day and I’m looking forward to the NSW Government making this happen after the investigations and planning works are carried out.”

Member for The Entrance David Mehan said:

“The Gosford Bypass has been put on the back burner for too long and it’s great to see our election promise is being delivered.

“Residents can rest assured this project won’t get stuck in development for decades, as I’m determined to see better roads and smoother traffic all the way from West Gosford to Ourimbah.”

As part of the largest assisted relocation program in Australian history, the first of four buyback homes have been relocated to the Resilient Lands Program (RLP) site at Mount Pleasant Estate in Goonellabah this week.

The first four homes should be onsite by Christmas, providing a bridge between the $790 million Northern Rivers Resilient Homes Program (RHP) and $100 million Resilient Lands Program (RLP).

The NSW Government’s RLP program accelerates new land and housing options and gives participants in the RHP, which is jointly funded by the NSW and Commonwealth Government, more options to move off the floodplain and out of harm’s way.

The RA’s contractor will relocate the first two homes to Mount Pleasant over the next week. The other two homes are planned to be relocated in December with the first homeowners likely to be onsite in 2025.

One of the key objectives of the project is to demonstrate the relocation process and potential for these character homes and how they can fit within a new neighbourhood.

A local architect has been commissioned to provide the RA with design options for alterations to make sure the homes contribute to the character of the Goonellabah community and surrounding environment.

Mount Pleasant was the second RLP site announced in 2024. The site will demonstrate a mix of small and standard lot sizes as well as detached and attached housing types with a range of price points for buyback participants.

Mount Pleasant is one of seven sites that have so far been identified under the Resilient Lands Program, the others are at East Lismore, North Lismore, Brunswick Heads, Ballina-Lennox Head, Summerland Estate near Casino and Junction Hill near Grafton.

It will also demonstrate housing types that could be rolled out at other RLP sites and builds on the community masterplanning work led by the RA in partnership with the Living Lab and Government Architect NSW.

The RA has held two community information sessions and BBQs at Mount Pleasant in May and September this year to keep the community updated on the proposed development. The masterplan is moving towards finalisation to accelerate the delivery of new homes on the site.

The site will be developed progressively over three stages, from the end of 2024 to 2026.

RHP participants who have accepted a buyback offer will have the first opportunity to purchase property delivered under the RLP. Following the offer to RHP participants, any remaining properties will be made available to the broader public.

To stay up to date and receive more information about this or any other RLP development, people can register their interest by emailing RLP@reconstruction.nsw.gov.au or phone 1800 844 085.

Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said:

“Australia’s largest resilience adaptation program is underway in the Northern Rivers and the relocation of these buyback homes to Mount Pleasant is an important milestone.

“This really strengthens the link between the Resilient Homes Program and the Resilient Lands Program and gives people impacted by 2022 floods a way to get off the floodplain.

“The Mount Pleasant site will be an architecturally designed development that demonstrates the best use of mixed-housing types with the surrounding neighbourhood and natural features.”

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:

“We are providing homeowners hit by Australia’s worst ever flood disaster with a range of options to get them off the floodplain and out of harm’s way.”

“We have reached a major milestone as the first homes are relocated off the floodplain, retaining their unique character and working with the local community to provide a more resilient future.”

Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery Janelle Saffin said:

“There is a high level of interest in the community for relocating homes or purchasing relocated homes and Mount Pleasant will be a good demonstration of how that can be done.

“Preserving these historic homes and providing that link to the past is important for the community, but Mount Pleasant will also provide a diverse range of other housing options and different price points.”

Local infrastructure projects across NSW are set for a boost with the next round of the NSW Government’s Community Building Partnership (CBP) grant program to open early next year.

Incorporated not-for-profit community organisations and local councils will be eligible to apply for grants of between $10,000 and $100,000.

Grants can be for building, refurbishing or repairing community infrastructure, or for buying freestanding equipment or vehicles.

Each state electorate receives a maximum of $450,000 in funding and applications are assessed against other proposed projects within the same electorate.

A total of $41,850,000 in grants will be available for local infrastructure projects through the CBP program.

Since 2009, the program has awarded more than $464 million to over 20,900 projects across the state.

The Program Guidelines will be available soon.

Applications will be accepted online from Tuesday 28 January 2025 and will close at 5pm AEDT, Friday 21 February 2025. Successful organisations will be announced later in 2025.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said:

“The next round of the Community Building Partnership program is opening soon.

“These grants make an impact at a local level – a shade cloth at a childcare centre or a repair to local sports facilities are valuable ways this program makes a difference to communities.

“Applications open in January but we’re aware applications take time. I want to encourage eligible organisations to start thinking about the projects that are top of the ‘to do’ list for their communities.”