RETURN and Earn has partnered with food relief organisation Foodbank NSW & ACT to raise $250,000 to help fund half a million meals to feed families in need this summer.

The six-month recycling appeal was launched this week at a Return and Earn machine in Eastern Creek, alongside John Robertson, CEO of Foodbank NSW & ACT, Danielle Smalley, CEO of Exchange for Change, scheme coordinator for Return and Earn and Michelle Mandl, General Manager, Communications, Customer & Engagement at TOMRA Cleanaway, network operator for Return and Earn.

Foodbank NSW & ACT is the state and territory’s largest and most trusted food relief organisation, providing much needed food assistance to individuals and families across NSW and the ACT.

“At Foodbank, we believe everyone should have access to the food they need, and we are here for everyday Australians who are going without. We currently provide more than 26 million meals each year for those in urgent need,” said Mr. Robertson.

This year’s Foodbank Hunger Report reveals food insecurity in Australia has reached a critical point, with one in three NSW households facing hunger. This equates to one million households facing food-insecurity in NSW alone, with 75 per cent of households saying cost of living is the primary cause.

“Food insecurity doesn’t discriminate, it can affect any of us at any time, and its continuing to impact people that have never been impacted before. Our crucial mission is to make food available to those who need it most, but we can’t do it without the support of our communities and partners,” Mr. Robertson said.

From now until 21 April 2025, every eligible bottle and can donated to the Foodbank NSW & ACT appeal at a Return and Earn machine or on the Return and Earn app at participating return points, will raise 10c toward the $250,000 goal to support their important work.

“The Foodbank appeal is an easy way for the NSW community to support this life-changing organisation to feed families in need.

“Donating just five bottles or cans helps fund one meal, so I encourage everyone to get behind this cause and help us reach our target of $250,000,” said Ms Smalley.

The new Foodbank appeal builds on Return and Earn’s continued success in raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for families in need.

Clare Pearson, CEO of children’s charity Little Wings, was at the event today as the recent Return and Earn donation appeal partner. Their six-month fundraising campaign ended on 20 October and raised close to $200,000.

“Return and Earn has grown to become an important part of the Little Wings service. Helping us fuel our planes and make a positive difference in the lives of seriously ill children and families residing in regional and remote NSW.

“The money raised in this campaign will have an important impact on the lives of hundreds of children by giving them access to life-saving treatments in major city hospitals. We are so grateful for the support and belief in the Little Wings mission by Return and Earn and recyclers in communities across NSW,” said Pearson.

Return and Earn has become a key fundraising channel for many charities and community groups across NSW. Since the scheme launched in 2017, more than $62 million has been raised through donations and fees from hosting return points.

Return and Earn is a partnership between the NSW Government, scheme coordinator Exchange for Change and network operator TOMRA Cleanaway.

Visit: www.returnandearn.org.au.

 

WORK to improve train services for millions of passengers is being boasted by the NSW Government launching a Train Repair Plan following the successful completion of the Rail Repair Plan that has resulted in fewer incidents and more reliable journeys.

Announced in June last year, the Rail Repair Plan means passengers are now spending 35% less time dealing with train delays related to infrastructure failures.

Sydney Trains engaged 2,500 workers to fix 2,116 defects, resurface 468km of track, replace 1,163 train stop rams and remove 193 temporary speed restrictions.

Building on this successful model, the Government is today launching a $35M Train Repair Plan that will upgrade more than 2,000 cars, which make up 372 trains, in line with modern standards.

This 12-month plan is now underway and is the largest coordinated program of train maintenance ever undertaken in NSW.

 In the past year, train faults have increased 28 per cent compared with the last financial year – resulting in 595 service cancellations and 2,445 delays.

Using existing Sydney Trains budget and engaging workers in-house, the program includes improving technology, communications and operating systems, and critical repairs to doors, brakes, windows, air conditioning and CCTV cameras.

 The Train Repair Plan has key targets to:

• Remove 2,037 train defects.
• Upgrade all 11 models of trains.
• Clear 306 train maintenance backlog repairs.
• Clean and paint 1,622 train carriages.
• Accelerate 68 reliability projects, including toilet upgrades, air conditioning, engine replacements, technology system upgrades, brakes, doors and windows
• Complete life extension work for diesel fleets including the XPT, Endeavour and Xplorer.

The Train Repair Plan was a key recommendation from the Rail Infrastructure and Systems Review, which found fleet performance was well below targets for availability and reliability.

The program is distinct from the $447M Tangara life extension work announced in the 2024-25 Budget, which will ensure that this iconic fleet remains fit for service as the Government forges ahead with building the next generation of Tangaras here.

The fleet maintenance work will be complimented by the introduction of the Mariyung fleet, which is on track to be delivered by the end of the year, enabling 50-year-old V Sets to progressively retire.

This is all part of a plan to build better, well-connected communities for NSW to ensure people have reliable access to the essential services they rely on.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said: “On a rail network the size and complexity of ours, carrying millions of people every day, it’s critical we continue to focus on essential upgrades to minimise headaches for commuters.

“Incidents on the rail network are inevitable, but keeping our fleet in top shape is our key priority to reduce delays and cancellations.

“The workers and apprentices on this project will be learning vital skills to not only maintain trains here in NSW, but to build our capacity to deliver the next generation of Tangaras.”     

THE NSW Government is delivering flood roads and emergency service upgrades to bolster the Hawkesbury community against the devastating effect of floods.

The government announced details of a $94.7M investment in the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) to strengthen flood preparedness and response across the state and at key flood risk areas, including the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley and the Northern Rivers.

This new injection of funding is a significant operational uplift for the agency over four years that will:

• Improve flood planning to better prepare for and respond to floods.
• Fund critical fleet maintenance and new equipment.
• Support training and volunteer recruitment activity.
• Enhance public information, warnings and community engagement through channels like the SES website and the Hazards Near Me App.

A further $18M will be invested over the first 12 months to improve flood planning, intelligence and rescue response capability, coordination, operational systems, training, exercising and support for NSW SES volunteers.

The new funding builds on a $14.9M statewide fleet investment which is already underway, providing additional vehicles and vessels which have bolstered the NSW SES’s flood rescue response during recent severe weather events. 

By the end of July, the SES will have rolled out 164 new assets across the state, including 40 vessels, 75 ark angel rafts, 45 command vehicles, two heavy rescue vehicles and two trailers. Many of these assets have already played a significant role in response to severe weather events.

NSW SES units in the Northern Rivers, Central West and Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley have all received equipment, delivering on recommendations from the independent 2022 NSW Flood Inquiry to improve flood rescue capabilities.

In addition, planning for more than 100 infrastructure improvements are underway as part of the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley Flood Evacuation Road Resilience program.

The construction industry can submit proposals to build the crucial bypass of Pitt Town. The bypass will improve congestion by taking traffic out of Pitt Town, helping residents of Hawkesbury evacuate faster during floods. Transport for NSW expects to award the major construction contract to build the bypass in 2025.

The Driftway and Londonderry Road intersection upgrade has been brought forward as part of an election commitment by the NSW Government, providing a new roundabout and an additional lane to improve road capacity during evacuations. Construction on this upgrade is expected to start in 2025, with early investigation and development work already underway.

Transport for NSW will also begin engaging with industry to build the New Richmond Bridge and Traffic Improvements Project – a $500M joint initiative with the Australian Government. The new bridge will be around 10 metres higher than the existing crossing of Hawkesbury and will be able to withstand a one in 20-year flood.

These flood road upgrades are part of a $200M commitment by the NSW Government to deliver major evacuation routes in the flood-prone Hawkesbury-Nepean.

 

THE community has its first look at the $700M Rouse Hill Hospital, the first major adult hospital built in Western Sydney in over 40 years.

The NSW Labor Government will deliver the 300-bed hospital set to deliver much needed contemporary health care facilities for the growing Northwest community.

Thousands of families are moving into the North-West growth area, with the Blacktown Local Government Area (LGA) population expected to grow to almost 500,000 by 2041.

The new hospital will bring healthcare closer to communities around Rouse Hill, Tallawong, Schofields, The Ponds, North Kellyville, Riverstone and Marsden Park.

Rouse Hill Hospital is expected to include:

• An Emergency and Urgent Care Department.
• In-patient beds and a day surgery unit.
• Short stay medical assessment services.
• Pathology, pharmacy, and medical imaging services.
• Outpatient and Ambulatory Care services including paediatrics, renal, maternity services and women’s health.
• A health hub for virtual care and hospital in the home services.
• Prehabilitation, rehabilitation, and lifestyle medicine.

Artist’s impressions of the new Rouse Hill Hospital show wards with views to the mountains and a multi-storey car park, all near public transport.

The new hospital will be one of the first sites to adopt the NSW Labor Government’s full campus model which incorporates health worker accommodation and childcare services.

Planning and design is underway with community feedback being considered ahead of further consultation with health professionals and the community planned for this year.

Construction of the hospital will support an estimated 1,200 direct jobs and thousands of indirect jobs throughout the life of the project.

The new Rouse Hill Hospital is part of the NSW Government’s $3B investment for new and upgraded hospitals and health services across greater western Sydney, one of the largest investments in the region’s health infrastructure in recent years.

Other investments include:

• $1.3 billion to build the Bankstown-Lidcombe Hospital on a new site, the first major investment since the two hospitals merged in 1997.
• $550 million for Fairfield Hospital, in its first major redevelopment since it opened in 1989
• $350 million in the Canterbury Hospital Redevelopment
• $120 million investment to expand bed capacity at Blacktown and Mount Druitt Hospitals

Premier Chris Minns said everyone deserves world class healthcare no matter where they live.

Member for Riverstone Warren Kirby said: “Rouse Hill and northwest Sydney is home to a growing number of young families and the new Rouse Hill Hospital will provide world-class care and great job opportunities right on their doorstep.

“The new Rouse Hill Hospital will provide a significant boost to the economy during and after construction.”

WSLHD Chief Executive Graeme Loy said: “The new Rouse Hill Hospital will demonstrate new ways of integrating hospital services with urgent care and preventative services to keep people well and preferabley out of hospital, thereby reducing the amount of time patients need to spend in hospital when they require care.

“We’re so proud to be developing this new project, and to be involving our nurses, doctors, allied health and support staff in the planning for the new facilities.

“Meeting with members of the western Sydney community for feedback has shown the great interest in this new facility and we look forward to ongoing collaboration as we build this hospital of the future.”

The NSW Government has rolled out 80 new four-wheel drive ambulances across the state, which will allow paramedics to access patients in challenging terrain, the NSW Minister for Health Ryan Park announced today.

These purpose built 4WD ambulance vehicles are used to access patients in situations where standard ambulances would not be able to, particularly in regional and remote areas.

The new vehicles give paramedics greater ability to reach patients in the bush, on sand, through water, mud, and snow.

This enables paramedics to provide lifesaving treatment and stabilisation, while organising a suitable method of moving the patient.

The new Toyota Landcruiser 200 series was modified to a 3-seater to allow for the inclusion of a stretcher and medical equipment.

The 4WDs will not be used in place of standard patient transport ambulances, but will complement the standard stretchered ambulance fleet.

In some cases, the vehicles will also be used to retrieve the patient and deliver them to standard stretchered ambulance for further transport.

If paramedics identify that a location cannot be reached due to road conditions or difficult terrain, they can advise the Control Centre and a specialist resource such as these 4WDs can be deployed from nearby ambulance stations.

“I want our paramedics and first responders to have the most modern and up to date equipment, to help them deliver the highest quality care,” said Health Minister Ryan Park.

“This announcement means that our paramedics will be better placed to reach patients in the most challenging and harshest of environments.

“These special purpose built ambulances will enhance health care in our regional and rural communities.”

NSW Ambulance Chief Executive Dr Dominic Morgan welcomed the new additions to the fleet.

“The new Toyota Landcruiser 200 Series vehicles replace an aging fleet of Toyota Landcruiser Troop Carriers, which were sturdy work horses but no longer fit for purpose.

“These new vehicles will make it easier and safer for our paramedics to continue carrying out difficult rescue missions while delivering the best possible pre-hospital care.”

The historic Zig Zag Railway returned to life this weekend as passenger services resumed following a joint volunteer and NSW Government effort to restore the Blue Mountains icon from fire and flood damage. For years, volunteers have toiled to restore the railway and the NSW Government provided more than $5.9 million through Crown Lands and the Department of Regional NSW to rebuild the locomotive workshop, construct a car park, pedestrian crossing and amenities block.

THE NSW Government has awarded a $2.16B contract to deliver the next stage of tunnelling on the mega Sydney Metro West project. 

The Gamuda Australia and Laing O’Rourke Consortium has been awarded the Western Tunnelling contract to deliver nine kilometres of twin metro rail tunnels between Sydney Olympic Park and Westmead.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said this once in a century infrastructure investment will link new communities to rail services, slash travel times across the network and support employment growth.

 “These tunnels mean you’ll be able to get from Parramatta to the Sydney CBD in around 20 minutes on a fast, safe and reliable driverless metro train, forever changing how we move around Sydney,” Premier Perrottet said.

“Sydney Metro West will double rail capacity between Greater Parramatta and the Sydney CBD, transforming Sydney for generations to come,” he said.

This is the second major tunnelling package awarded on the city-shaping project, with work already underway to deliver twin tunnels between The Bays and Sydney Olympic Park following the contract awarded to Acciona Ferrovial Joint Venture last year. 

Minister for Transport and Veterans David Elliott said major civil works have now commenced at the Bays, with tunnelling set to commence later this year towards Sydney Olympic Park. 

“Work is well underway to get the site ready for tunnel boring machines to be in the ground at The Bays by the end of the year. Huge piling rigs have already started work to prepare the site for the excavation needed to launch the mega machines,” Minister Elliott said. 

“Sydney Metro West will create more than 10,000 direct new jobs and 70,000 indirect jobs – many of those jobs generated by this major contract.”

“To build these tunnels a broad range of skills will be required including tunnellers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, concrete workers, truck drivers, labourers and security guards,” Minister Elliott said.

The Western Tunnelling contract includes:

• Twin 9km tunnels from Sydney Olympic Park to Westmead;
• A Tunnel Boring Machine launch site at Rosehill, tunnelling toward Sydney Olympic Park and relaunched toward Westmead;
• A services facility and crossover structure at Rosehill to allow provision for fresh air ventilation and emergency egress;
• Tunnel portal and dive excavation at Clyde Services and Maintenance Facility;
• Earthworks, retaining structures, drainage and utilities corridor for the Clyde Maintenance Facility;
• Excavation and civil works for Parramatta and Westmead Stations; and
• A segment manufacturing facility at Eastern Creek constructing over 60,000 segments.

Completion of the contract is expected by the end of 2025.

 

IN Australia, one woman a week is murdered by an intimate partner, with 247 lives lost to violence in the four years from 2017–2020 and a further 38 as of 8 November,2021*. It’s a national tragedy and it needs to stop now.

On White Ribbon Day, November 19, White Ribbon Australia is asking men to think about the changes they can make in their communities and workplaces to be part of the solution, not just on one day, but every day.

White Ribbon Australia Executive Director Brad Chilcott said turning this national tragedy around would require real, long-term social and cultural transformation. “And it will need men to stand up and be willing to reflect on their role in making this essential change a reality,” Mr Chilcott said.

“White Ribbon Day events aren’t the cure-all solution, but people, communities and workplaces who take what they learn and put it into practice in the days, months and years ahead can transform the future we share,” he added.

The theme this year is “How Can Men Make Change?”, calling on communities to “Learn, Give, Take Action”.

The call to action will also be front and centre at events across NSW, including a joint activation with White Lady Funerals to raise awareness of the impact of family domestic violence as witnessed by those dealing with the aftermath of these tragic deaths.

As dawn breaks over Martin Place on White Ribbon Day, 52 white chairs, a white rose placed on each–will be arranged in rows, with each empty chair representing the heartbreaking average number of women killed by domestic violence in Australia each year.

On the morning of White Ribbon Day, Rosie Batty, 2015 Australian of the Year and Co-Chair of the White Ribbon Australia Advisory Council, will also be appearing live on Channel Seven’s Sunrise. Seven West Media is an official Media Partner of White Ribbon Day 2021.

Major landmarks across the country will also be lighting up in white, or sharing our messages, in solidarity with our campaign’s focus on the action men can take to end violence against women.

“White Ribbon Day is an opportunity for you to tell us about your community-led approaches to changing the attitudes and social norms that excuse or condone disrespect, sexual harassment and abuse-to put in place the actions needed to bring about that change, with our support,” Mr Chilcott said.

“We have the resources to help you understand the drivers of men’s violence, harassment and abuse, along with the tools you need to stand up and be part of the change. We’ve just launched our new

Resource Dashboard, ‘Learn: How Can Men Make Change’, so that all Australians can be equipped for meaningful action in our communities and workplaces.”

To find out more about hosting a White Ribbon Day event, making a donation to support community-led change initiatives, or to access the comprehensive resource library, visit www.whiteribbon.org.au