Editors Picks
18 November 2024
BEER BATTLE FINDS PEACE THANKS TO LOCAL MP
AFTER years of demand for full-strength beer to be served at the footy, fans will soon have even more to cheer for when attending events at Accor and CommBank stadiums in Western Sydney.
Currently, fans attending these venues in Western Sydney can only buy mid-strength beer, while fans at the Sydney Cricket Ground and Allianz Stadium in Moore Park and the grandstand seating areas at Wollongong’s WIN Stadium can buy full strength beer.
Events longer than three hours including cricket matches tend to have different arrangements.
NSW Member for Riverstone, Warren Kirby recently launched a campaign to change this, calling out how unfair this “East versus West” divide is.
Following Mr Kirby's campaign, Venues NSW will soon offer full-strength beer as part of a new six-month trial across the three stadiums for the start of the 2025 NRL season.
The trial will be in place for match days of three hours or less, with full-strength beer to be available in general public areas.
This trial will provide fans with better variety with full-strength, mid-strength, light and zero alcohol options available during this six-month trial.
The success of the trial will be determined following consultation with NSW Police, liquor authorities, sport and entertainment partners and feedback from fans.
NSW Police will continue to work closely with the venues during this trial period to ensure the responsible service of alcohol (RSA) and RSA marshals will continue to be stationed at all outlets that serve alcohol in the Venues NSW network.
Patrons are also reminded that if you’re looking to drink alcohol you must not drive. Attendees of major events are encouraged to make appropriate travel arrangements, to always have a Plan B and to make the most of public transport included with all event tickets.
“This brew-haha is not about the strength of beer, it’s about fairness - people living in Western Sydney should be treated with the same respect as those in the Eastern suburbs," Mr Kirby said.
“It’s past time commonsense prevailed and people in Sydney’s West are treated the same as those the East.”
14 November 2024
GOVT ENDS TICKETLESS PARKING FINE SYSTEM
THE NSW Government’s reforms to the ticketless parking fine system to require on-the-spot notifications have passed the NSW Parliament.
The changes end the ticketless system introduced by the previous Liberal-National Government in 2020. Under the ticketless system, instead of having the infringement notice left on the vehicle, the fine was sent by post, sometimes not being received until weeks after the incident.
Soon after the introduction of the previous government’s ticketless system, the NRMA and other stakeholders raised issues with the scheme, identifying that it removed transparency and making it more difficult for motorists to contest their fine.
In 2023/24, local councils issued 822,310 ticketless parking fines, a 49% increase over the 551,441 issued in 2022/23.
The Fines Amendment (Parking Fines) Bill 2024 restores fairness and transparency to the parking fine system by:
• Requiring councils to attach an on-the-spot notification to the vehicle.
• Requiring councils to take photos of offences and make them available for Revenue NSW to provide to drivers.
• Providing limited exceptions where an on-the-spot notification is not required, for example where it may be unsafe or hazardous for a ranger to do so.
• Invalidating ‘repeat’ ticketless parking fines, where drivers can be fined multiple times for the same offence before they even become aware of the first infringement.
• Introducing data reporting rules to evaluate if further reforms are necessary.
A working group, which has representatives from stakeholders including Local Government NSW, has been established by Revenue NSW to inform the drafting of regulations and assist with implementation.
Even before the bill passed, several councils began proactively providing on-the-spot notifications to drivers.
14 November 2024
FOOD, NOT FINES FOR HILLS CHRISTMAS APPEAL
HILLS Shire Library members with overdue library books now have a unique opportunity to have their fines waived as part of the Mayor’s 2024 Christmas Appeal and Library Fine Amnesty.
From Saturday, November 16, until Sunday, December 15, library members can return overdue books and have their fines waived in exchange for a non-perishable food donation. All donations will go to Anglicare’s Mobile Community Pantry.
Mayor of The Hills Shire, Dr Michelle Byrne said the donations provide affordable food options to individuals and families who need it most.
“This initiative supports a great cause and gives back to members of our community who are doing it tough,” Mayor Byrne said.
“It also offers Hills Shire Library members a chance to return long-overdue books. Recovering these books also allows other members of the community to enjoy the magic of reading.
“Last year, 2196 items were donated, and 167 lost books were returned to the libraries.
“Even if you don’t have an overdue library book to return, please donate to this worthy cause to help families who need it most and make their festive season a little brighter.”
Overdue books can be returned through the returns chute at any library branch during opening hours. Bring along an item from the list below to donate and present your library card or app to staff at the Customer Service desk at any of the Hills Shire Library branches in Baulkham Hills, Castle Hill, Dural and Rouse Hill.
Acceptable non-perishable food item donations include:
Christmas cake or pudding (500g or 700g).
Tinned ham or chunky soup (450g).
Tinned salmon or tuna (415g).
Tea (100pk).
Coffee (100g).
Packet of biscuits (no chocolate biscuits).
Dried pasta (500g).
Pasta sauce.
Long-life milk.
Long-life custard.
Tinned fruit and vegetables (425g).
Jam (500g).
Chocolate or chocolate-covered items will unfortunately not be accepted, as they are likely to melt.
For more information about the Mayor’s Christmas Appeal and Library Fine Amnesty, visit www.thehills.nsw.gov.au/Library
14 November 2024
APPRENTICES RECOGNISED FOR DEDICATION, RESILIENCE
APPRENTICES from across NSW have been recognised for their dedication and resilience, receiving the Bert Evans Apprentice Scholarship, which offers life-changing support to those facing hardship.
This $15,000 scholarship, spread over three years, was awarded to 150 apprentices who have shown exceptional skill and commitment to vocational education and training, despite overcoming significant challenges.
The 2024 cohort of scholarship recipients includes 44 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander apprentices, 83 learners with disabilities, 57 women excelling in non-traditional trades, and 74 mature-aged apprentices.
Importantly, 113 of the recipients come from regional NSW, highlighting the program's broad reach and inclusivity.
The apprentices were awarded the scholarship for their exceptional commitment to ttrades. This scholarship will provide crucial financial support to help them succeed in their training.
The Bert Evans Apprentice Scholarships are open to all registered apprentices across NSW, including school-based apprentices, whether in metropolitan or regional areas.
Since its inception in 2014, this program has continued to be a beacon of opportunity, enabling apprentices to overcome financial barriers and achieve their goals.
Named in honour of the late Bert Evans AO, a lifelong advocate for vocational education, the scholarship continues his legacy of supporting apprentices and promoting vocational pathways as a foundation for success.
14 November 2024
NEW COMMISSIONER TO LEAD THE SES
MINISTER for Emergency Services Jihad Dib has appointed a new Commissioner, Michael Wassing, to lead the NSW State Emergency Service (SES).
The SES is the lead emergency service agency in NSW for floods, storms and tsunami, providing support for communities through more than 11,000 volunteers operating from a network of over 260 sites across NSW. The SES works closely with other emergency service agencies and also provides road accident, search and rescue support when needed.
Mike Wassing has extensive experience in senior leadership roles in the emergency services in Queensland and Victoria. He joins the NSW SES from the Queensland Reconstruction Authority where he served as Deputy Commissioner.
Prior to this, Mr Wassing was Deputy Commissioner at Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) where he led the Readiness and Response Service and Fire Rescue Service from May 2022 to November 2023, and the State Emergency Service and Rural Fire Service from September 2015 to May 2022.
At QFES, Mr Wassing played a pivotal role in the response to severe weather events including Tropical Cyclone Debbie (2017) and the 2022 East Coast floods which severely impacted South-East Queensland and NSW, as well as the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires as acting Commissioner.
The appointment follows a competitive recruitment process undertaken by the Department of Communities and Justice. Mr Wassing will take up his role from December 2, 2024.
09 November 2024
PERMANENT BREASTSCREEN SERVICE AT BLACKTOWN
NEW permanent BreastScreen NSW clinic will soon be available in Blacktown, providing women in the community with access to free breast screening services all year round.
Minister for Health Ryan Park announced the new location, which will better support the almost 60 per cent of eligible women in the Western Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) who are overdue for their two-yearly breast screen.
The new clinic at Warrick Lane, Blacktown, will be open in of the middle of 2025, seven days a week and will deliver vital breast screening services to more than 80,000 women who live and work in the Blacktown area.
A mobile screening van is currently active at various locations across the Blacktown Local Government Area, including the Blacktown Workers Sports Club and Blacktown City Council to service the Blacktown community.
Other western Sydney screening sites can also be found at Mount Druitt Hospital, Castle Towers Shopping Centre and Parramatta Westfield. There is capacity available at all of these clinics and mobile sites, with no delays for screening appointments.
You can find details of these locations as well as more screening centres near you at www.breastscreen.nsw.gov.au/your-mammogram-appointment/screening-centres or by calling 13 20 50.
For women aged 50-74 years, a breast screen every two years is the best way to detect breast cancer early, before it can be seen or felt. Breast screening is available from the age of 40.
BreastScreen NSW recommends Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have a mammogram every two years from age 40.
Anyone with breast symptoms should contact their GP or health worker without delay.
Any woman with a family history of breast cancer should discuss their needs with their GP. To book a mammogram with BreastScreen NSW, call 13 20 50 or visit BreastScreen NSW – Online booking.
Member for Blacktown, Stephen Bali said: “Having a permanent clinic at Blacktown will enable more western Sydney women to have this life-saving screening in a convenient location.
“This new clinic with comfortable surroundings will treat women with dignity and increase screening participation, which is lower for many multicultural communities, often due to barriers like language, health literacy and trauma.”
03 November 2024
PRESTONS A STEP CLOSER TO NEW AMBULANCE STATION
THE Liverpool community is a step closer to having a new purpose-built ambulance station at Prestons following the purchase of a site on Enterprise Circuit.
The new Prestons Ambulance Station is being delivered as part of the NSW Government’s $615.5M NSW Ambulance Infrastructure Program.
Health Infrastructure and NSW Ambulance carried out a thorough evaluation of the site to ensure the location best meets the needs of our emergency ambulance operations and paramedic staff.
New ambulance stations are located at places which optimise ambulance response performance and meet the needs of local community. NSW Ambulance identified Prestons as a high priority location following a comprehensive service planning process using best practice modelling software to map Triple Zero (000) calls.
The next steps for the project include design development and seeking planning approval for the new ambulance station. Construction and operational timeframes will be determined as the project progresses.
The NSW Ambulance Infrastructure Program will deliver 30 additional ambulance stations and supporting infrastructure across Sydney, the Central Coast, Newcastle and Wollongong over the coming years, boosting frontline emergency ambulance care.
Health Infrastructure is working with NSW Ambulance and other Government stakeholders to identify potential sites for new ambulance stations.
Sites are confirmed for North Sydney, South Windsor, Oran Park, Berowra and now Prestons.
New stations across south-western Sydney are also planned to service the communities of Raby, Prairiewood, Doonside, Glenmore Park, the Aerotropolis and Bargo.
