2021 NSW Australians of the Year Announced
- Former NSW Fire Commissioner, Shane Fitzsimmons AFSM, was tonight named NSW Australian of the Year.
- Premier Gladys Berejiklian congratulated Mr Fitzsimmons and the three other NSW Australian of the Year recipients at a ceremony at Sydney’s Luna Park.
- During the 2019/20 bushfires, Mr Fitzsimmons’s presence was an enduring picture of leadership, empathy, practicality and professionalism. He continues to excel in his current role as Commissioner for Resilience NSW following his appointment in April.
- Aunty Isabel Reid is the NSW Senior Australian of the Year. Born in 1932, she is the oldest survivor of the Stolen Generation and has worked tirelessly to raise awareness and advocate for reparations.
- Pilot and Invictus Games gold medallist, Nathan Parker, is the NSW Young Australian of the Year. He is a public speaker, mentor, flying instructor and aspires to provide joy flights to sick children.
- NSW Local Hero Rosemary Kariuki is an advocate for migrant and refugee woman. Feeling isolated and alone as a migrant to Australia ignited her passion to connect migrant women in Australia in fun and sustainable ways.
- At the dawn of Remembrance Day 2020, poppies have been projected onto the Sydney Opera House in a special moment of recognition of all those who have died in service to our Nation and lighting the way for commemorative services across NSW.
- The NSW Government is continuing its record commitment to school infrastructure with three new and three upgraded schools across the state benefitting from more than $300 million as part of the NSW Government’s COVID-19 Recovery Plan.
- Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Education Minister Sarah Mitchell announced the site selected for the new primary school at Edmondson Park.
- The NSW Government is investing $6.7 billion over four years to deliver more than 190 new and upgraded schools to support communities across NSW. This is the largest investment in public education infrastructure in the history of NSW.
- The NSW Government is investing more than $700 million in this year’s Budget to expand the digital capabilities of the State and build new and flexible ways of delivering services everywhere from classrooms and living-rooms to courtrooms.
- Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the funding formed part of the Government’s $1.6 billion Digital Restart Fund and will be used to boost regional and remote education improve cyber security, enhance NSW Courts and enhance ePlanning.
- More than 200,000 new jobs, a record infrastructure investment and high-quality open space are the highlights of the NSW Government’s latest detailed planning package for the Western Sydney Aerotropolis and surrounding area.
- The NSW Government is seeking community feedback on infrastructure plans for the Aerotropolis, Western Parkland City and detailed precinct plans for:
- Aerotropolis Core
- Badgerys Creek
- Wianamatta-South Creek
- Northern Gateway and Agribusiness Precincts
- For more information and to have your say visit www.planning.nsw.gov.au/aerotropolis
- The Government will accelerate upgrade funding for five train stations under the Transport Access Program (TAP), taking the NSW Government’s total investment to more than $2.2 billion since 2011.
- Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance announced an additional $112 million as part of the 2020-21 NSW Budget for the upgrades and a further $80 million to progress future upgrades. This adds to the existing $885 million that was committed over four years in last year’s Budget.
- Physical distancing and passenger occupancy notifications will now be available for customers using the Opal Travel app for trips on Sydney Trains and Metro.
- Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said eligible customers will be able to receive real time alerts based on the capacity for the service they typically travel on, as well as the usual advice on trackwork, delays and major incidents.
- For more information visit https://transportnsw.info/covidsafe-travel-notifications
- Two of the state’s crash black spots are among the big winners in the 2020-21 NSW Budget, with $35 million in planning money for the duplication of Heathcote Road and another $44 million in planning money for the duplication of Picton Road.
- Minister for Transport and Roads Andrew Constance said duplicating Heathcote Road is not an easy task and will take time but will be well worth it.
- The first tracks have been laid on the $2.4 billion Parramatta Light Rail, marking a major milestone for the project.
- Minister for Transport Andrew Constance said the start of trackwork at Hawkesbury Road in Westmead showed significant progress had been made on the project.
- The 12-kilometre, $2.4 billion Parramatta Light Rail will connect Westmead to Carlingford via the Parramatta CBD and Camellia, and is expected to commence services in 2023.
- Families and businesses across regional NSW will benefit from additional vital community upgrades and job creating projects with the 2020-21 NSW Budget injecting a further $300 million over two years into the transformational Regional Growth Fund.
- The NSW Government is paving the way for more women and mature workers to take up trades, with a $57.4 million commitment over four years for a new Trades Skills Pathways Centre in the 2020-21 NSW Budget.
- The Centre will work with registered training organisations to help experienced but unqualified trade workers to attain certification. It will also look into delivering trades training in a flexible way, which would be attractive for many women and mature workers who are often balancing work and family responsibilities.
- Minister for Regional Youth and Women Bronnie Taylor said the program would boost the prospects of young workers and women in rural areas.
- The NSW Government is set to extend its alfresco dining scheme to Darling Harbour in another win for venues and the live entertainment industry in NSW.
- Last month the NSW Government slashed red tape to allow 19 pubs, cafes and restaurants in The Rocks to expand onto footpaths and public spaces so extra customers can enjoy their summer in the sun.
- The scheme will go live on 13 November in Darling Harbour and allows business to have one person per two square metres if they are registered as COVID Safe and using digital mediums such as QR codes to check customers in.
- For more information visit https://www.darlingharbour.com/