16 News

Primary producers across the Northern Rivers are reaping the rewards of the $5 million Northern Rivers Agricultural Drainage Reset Program jointly funded by the Albanese and NSW Governments.

Damaged drainage systems at 77 farm sites have been cleared out and repaired to reduce the impact of future flooding as part of the $150 million Primary Industry Support Package under the jointly funded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, announced following the devastating 2022 Northern Rivers floods.

Vegetation and sediment were cleared from key drainage outlets, restoring water flow across low-lying agricultural land to stop water from pooling and damaging valuable crops. The work supports recovery for Northern Rivers primary producers across the sugarcane, horticulture, rice, soybeans, beef and dairy industries.

Led by the NSW Reconstruction Authority in partnership with the NSW Soil Conservation Service, eligible sites were assessed and prioritised to ensure the greatest benefit for flood impacted communities. Ballina Shire Council, Clarence Valley Council, Rous County Council, and Tweed Shire Council participated in the program.

Wardell cane grower Gordon Lowrey is enjoying one of his best years on his family’s property after participating in the $5 million pilot program across the Northern Rivers farmland drainage.

For more than 80 years, the Lowreys have grown cane south of Ballina and the rebuilding of the drain on his farm ensures water from a typical heavy fall is off the lowest part of his property within 12 hours. 

Building on these learnings, the NSW Government has already established a new Drainage Reset Program to address drainage issues following Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which is also jointly funded by the DRFA. Works are expected to commence in the coming months across affected local government areas.

Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Kristy McBain said:

“Both levels of government were delivering practical support helping people get back on their feet and for Northern Rivers farmers, restoring drainage is one of the quickest ways to protect crops, stock and livelihoods.

“This jointly funded investment with the NSW Government has repaired and cleared drainage at 77 farm sites, helping reduce the impacts of future flooding and supporting recovery after the devastating 2022 floods.

“Programs like this show what’s possible when we all work together to back our producers with on-the-ground works that strengthen resilience and keep regional economies moving.”

NSW Minister for Recovery, Janelle Saffin said:

“Our agricultural community provides significant economic and social benefit to our region, and their resilience since the 2022 floods has been incredible. By working closely with growers and local leaders, we identified that cleaning and restoring drainage networks was the essential first step in helping the whole community move forward.

“This $5 million investment is about giving our farmers the confidence to plant again. Seeing the results on properties like the Lowreys’ in Wardell proves that when we get the technical work right, the benefits ripple out across the entire region.

“I’m proud that we didn’t just ‘fix’ the problem and walk away. We have used this success to establish a permanent Drainage Reset Program, ensuring we now have a proven blueprint ready to protect our agricultural heart whenever disaster strikes.”

“I have stated that the barriers that prevented our farmers from clearing their drains previously should not happen again and we have proven that it can be done.  I have further stated that this work belongs in the Disaster Adaptation Programs (DAP) with one currently underway in the Northern Rivers.”

Cane Grower and Consultant to the NSW Canegrowers Associations, Mick O’Connor said:

“The drain cleaning program has delivered real benefits for both farmers and the river system. By restoring the drainage network to its intended function, water can now move off cultivated land more efficiently before it loses oxygen and degrades in quality.

“This is a win for farmers through improved productivity and healthier soils, and a win for the river as better-oxygenated runoff replaces the poor-quality water that can occur when drainage outlets are not maintained.”

Richmond River Cane Growers Association chairman Geoff Pye said:

The program has had a positive impact on the local environment. With the drainage system now being restored, highly productive floodplain land is once again contributing to both the local economy and the health of the broader environment.

“The program highlights how a well-maintained drainage network can support productive agriculture while also improving water quality outcomes for the river and the wider community.”

The Minns Labor Government has joined with Business Sydney to launch a new report highlighting the growing economic and social contribution of social enterprises and outlining how government and business procurement can help unlock their full potential.

Released today at Business Sydney’s Social Enterprise: Unlocking Life Changing Economic Power event, the report shows around one-third of Australia’s social enterprises are based in NSW, contributing almost $9 billion to the state economy in the year to June 2025, while creating jobs and training opportunities for people facing the greatest barriers to employment.

The launch comes as the Minns Labor Government is implementing a series of procurement reforms designed to drive local economic development and create more jobs for NSW workers and businesses, that will create new opportunities for social enterprises.

These reforms include establishing a Local Jobs First Commission to support local industries, and introducing an ‘If not, why not’ mandate requiring NSW Government agencies to engage with local NSW suppliers before going to tender for projects worth more than $7.5 million.

Social enterprises are businesses that trade with a social, cultural or environmental purpose. They operate across a wide range of industries, from construction, cleaning and hospitality to technology, logistics, training and design, combining commercial success with a commitment to people and the planet.

By engaging social enterprises through procurement policies, the NSW Government is supporting inclusive economic development that delivers financial value alongside measurable social and environmental impact for local communities.

This approach aligns with the NSW Performance and Wellbeing Framework, which recognises the importance of considering social, wellbeing and economic outcomes alongside the performance of government services.

Minister for Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement Courtney Houssos will today address social enterprise and business leaders at Business Sydney’s event to formally launch the report. The report includes a five-point plan to support the long-term growth and sustainability of the sector, alongside case studies demonstrating the impact of social enterprises across NSW.

Business Sydney Executive Director Paul Nicolaou welcomed the NSW Government’s leadership in recognising social enterprises as a valued and growing part of the state economy.

The report highlights that social enterprises reinvest an average of 27 per cent of their revenue into social and environmental impact, with 43 per cent of jobs going to people facing the greatest barriers to employment. It also points to research showing how governments can achieve cost savings when investing in social enterprises through procurement.

The event provides an opportunity to recognise the significant contribution social enterprises make to the NSW economy and to encourage more businesses to include them in their own procurement policies.

To view the report, visit the Business Sydney website

Minister for Domestic Manufacturing and Government Procurement, Courtney Houssos said:

“Social enterprises deliver genuine economic and social benefits for communities across NSW.

“By joining with Business Sydney to launch this report, we are highlighting the important role social enterprises play in creating jobs, strengthening communities and driving inclusive economic growth.

“Many of these organisations are deeply connected to their local communities, reinvesting profits back into services, training and employment opportunities for people who need them most.

“The Minns Labor Government is using the weight of government procurement to drive better outcomes for NSW, which means more local jobs, stronger supply chains and more inclusive growth.”

Business Sydney Executive Director Paul Nicolaousaid

“The Government’s Local Jobs First Commission and its “if not, why not” mandate for government agencies to engage with NSW suppliers before going to tender for projects valued at more than $7.5 million could also benefit social enterprises.

“It is just as imperative that businesses give due consideration to engaging with social enterprises by making them part of their supply chain procurement policies.

“We would like to see businesses follow the government’s lead in recognising social enterprises as one of the most innovative and inspiring sectors of the business community.

“With 4,000 social enterprises in NSW contributing $9 billion to the state economy, our state is the leader in this growing sector.

“Social enterprises give vulnerable groups in the community to find work and career opportunities that might not otherwise exist, and we must do everything possible to help them prosper.”

The Minns Labor Government is relieving pressure on the busy Westmead Emergency Department by creating a dedicated unit for patients experiencing heightened distress or aggression.

It’s another step from the Minns Labor Government to improve mental healthcare in New South Wales, create safer environments for staff, and reduce wait times at emergency departments.

The Coalition’s failure to build critical health infrastructure like Rouse Hill Hospital or implement safe staffing levels for nurses has contributed to the pressure on Western Sydney hospitals, including Westmead.

The Minns Labor Government is slowly undoing this by delivering much needed infrastructure and rebuilding the health workforce.

The new purpose-built unit within Westmead ED will provide a secure, therapeutic environment designed to support patients experiencing acute distress.

In the past five years, Westmead has seen a 31 per cent increase in presentations where a patient is experiencing mental health or behavioural related issues.

There’s also been a significant increase in aggression towards frontline health staff in the Western Sydney Local Health District.

These issues may be related to substance abuse and can be exacerbated in a busy emergency department environment.

The new 6-bed unit will be a quiet space with less stimulation, better suited to patients who are at risk of becoming agitated or aggressive. It aims to:

• Improve safety for patients and staff.
• Lower ED wait times and reduce disruption to other patients.
• Improve outcomes and reduce length of stay for these patients.

Similar models of care at Nepean and Prince of Wales hospitals have resulted in reduced need for sedation and restraint, as well as a reduction in the length of stay and time to be seen in EDs.

Construction will begin in August with the new unit expected to be completed in early 2027.

The unit will complement the Westmead Integrated Mental Health Complex which is currently under construction and due for completion in late 2027.

The Minns Labor Government invested a record $3.1 billion on mental health in the 2025-26 financial year and is investing in more staff and more hospitals to reverse the Coalition’s legacy of staff cuts and hospital construction failures which devastated the health system.

The Government is building Rouse Hill Hospital with an emergency department and birthing services, which the Coalition promised at three elections but failed to deliver on, leaving Western Sydney missing a much-needed new hospital.

It’s also investing in more beds for Blacktown and Mount Druitt hospitals after the Coalition failed to build enough beds.

The Government is also recruiting 237 additional nurses in Western and South-Western Sydney as part of delivering safe staffing ratios and saved 228 nurses from the region that the Liberals planned to cut.

The Minns Labor Government is also investing in more security for hospitals including the roll out of more safe assessment units to more safely care for patients experiencing heightened distress, as well as recruiting over 160 more security personnel since taking office. 

Minister for Health Ryan Park said:

“We are focused on delivering more beds and recruiting more staff to meet the increasing pressure on our hospital system.

“The failure of the Liberals to deliver enough beds and their refusal to recruit enough staff has caused significant strain on Western Sydney’s hospital system.

“Added to this, we are seeing increasing behavioural issues among patients which presents a security and safety concern for staff and other patients.

“This new acute behavioural assessment unit will create a safer environment for both staff as well as patients experiencing heightened distress.

“It’s part of a broader range of measures we are undertaking to improve safety and security in our hospitals.”

Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson said:

“Our nurses and clinicians who work at Westmead ED have told us they are seeing more and more patients who become aggressive or violent and it’s making their job harder.

“Some patients don’t deal well in the loud, busy environment of an emergency department, it can cause them to behave in a way that puts the safety of our staff and other patients at risk.

“That’s why we’re building a new, specialist unit to divert these patients away from the ED waiting room, improving outcomes for them and for our staff.

“It’s just one of steps we’re taking to build a better public health system and relieve pressure on EDs. We’re also building a network of Safe Havens and Medicare Mental Health Centres so that people experiencing mental health concerns have another place to go other than the ED.”

Member for Parramatta Donna Davis said:

“The new unit is an important addition for mental health care in Western Sydney – and one of the state’s busiest hospitals at Westmead.

“Patient and staff safety are critical to the design this new space. Care will be delivered by experts and emergency clinicians trained in deescalation, mental health and drug health.”

NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association, General Secretary, Michael Whaites:

“We welcome the creation of a dedicated, purpose-built unit in Westmead ED in order to combat the rising violence and aggression our members are experiencing.

“This is a great example of what can be achieved when we come together to find solutions to make hospitals safer for staff and patients, while ensuring the community has access to quality, timely care.

“We are proud of our members’ ongoing advocacy and grateful for the collaborative approach that has delivered this outcome.

“This specialised unit will strengthen hospital safety, improve patient outcomes, and is a strong investment into the future of our public health system.”

The Minns and Albanese Labor Governments are continuing to deliver better roads for the Illawarra, with work soaring ahead on the $405 million Mount Ousley Interchange project.  

The new interchange between Princes Motorway and Mount Ousley Road will improve connectivity, safety and efficiency for those travelling through the region.

Sixteen pre-cast concrete girders, each 15 metres long, now form the structure that will connect Mount Ousley Road over the heavy vehicle bypass.

A further twenty girders, ranging from 17-25 metres in length will make up the new shared path over the southbound access road.

In an effort to inspire the next generation of civil engineers and construction workers, over 40 engineering and STEM students from the University of Wollongong and Keira High School were invited on-site to watch the girders being lifted into place.

Crews will now progress the construction of these bridges with deck formwork and building of the bridge deck, shared path, approach slabs and concrete parapets.

Recent night closures of the M1 Motorway have seen extensive work carried out in the corridor, including:

• pavement construction connecting the new safety ramp to the existing Princes Motorway
• construction of new sign gantries to indicate the location of the new heavy vehicle safety ramp
• drainage works to ensure that the motorway is safe to drive on during wet conditions.  

The new safety ramp, which opened in the early hours of this morning, provides a safe area for trucks and buses to gradually come to a stop if they experience brake failure while descending Mt Ousley.

Designed in line with the highest standards, the ramp features concrete barriers and a gravel base for the vehicles to gently sink into causing them to slow and stop.

The ramp is 220 metres long and five metres wide and has been designed for a B-double up to 26 metres in length. An access road has also been constructed for maintenance of the ramp and vehicle recovery.

The Mount Ousley interchange project is on track for completion in 2028.

More information is available at transport.nsw.gov.au/mountousley

Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said:

“This is a significant investment in the Illawarra, improving safety and reliability on one of the region’s busiest highways.

“With key bridge structures now in place and the first heavy vehicle safety ramp now open to traffic, welcome progress on the project is now visible for all to see.

“This is an important investment from the Albanese and Minns Labor governments that will keep people and freight moving safely and efficiently in and out of Wollongong.”

NSW Minister for the Illawarra and the South Coast and Member for Keira, Ryan Park said:

“This is an important milestone for a project that will deliver safer, more reliable journeys across the Illawarra.

“Mount Ousley is the front door to Wollongong, and this interchange will make a real difference to how people and freight move through this corridor each day.

“We’re getting on with delivering the infrastructure our growing region needs.”

NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and Member for Wollongong, Paul Scully said:

“This project is building real momentum, and you can now clearly see the scale of what’s being delivered for Wollongong and the wider Illawarra.

“The new interchange will improve connectivity for motorists, freight and active transport users, while making this key gateway safer and more efficient.

“This is a critical upgrade that coupled with the Minns Labor Government’s recent $270 million commitment to improve roads near the port will support the Wollongong and the Illawarra’s growth for years to come.”

NSW Minister for Roads, Jenny Aitchison said:

“This is a complex project on one of the Illawarra’s most important road corridors, and it’s good to see this next stage coming together.

“With the first heavy vehicle safety ramp now open, we’re putting in place a safer option for truck and bus drivers coming down Mount Ousley.

“If something goes wrong on that descent, drivers need somewhere safe to go. That’s exactly what this ramp provides.

“More than 50,000 vehicles use this route every day, including a lot of freight, so safety has to come first.

“This new interchange will deliver safer, more efficient journeys for motorists across the Illawarra.”

Member for Cunningham, Alison Byrnes said:

“We are working hard across all levels of government to ensure that our local road corridors are safer and more reliable.

“The opening of the new heavy vehicle safety ramp is an important step forward for safety on Mount Ousley, and it is great to see yet another element of this monumental project start to benefit the community.

“I again want to thank the community for their patience and understanding while these major works are ongoing – as the gateway to the Illawarra, this intersection is hugely important for our entire region.

“We’re focused on delivering a safer and more accessible interchange for the benefit of local people, industry and visitors alike.