In the nation’s largest-ever health workforce boost, a record 10,148 full-time staff will be recruited to hospitals and health services, like Brookvale Community Health Centre, across NSW over the next four years. This $4.5 billion investment will ensure strong levels of health staffing for our massive pipeline of health infrastructure projects.
As part of this investment, 7,674 more workers will be recruited in the first year, to ease pressure on COVID-fatigued health staff and fast-track more elective surgery for patients. This will ensure health staff get the respite and back-up they need, and that hospitals have new staff to deliver quality health care.
The NSW Government will also provide a $3,000 ‘thank you’ payment to employees in the NSW Health Service in recognition of their work on the COVID-19 frontline. The payment covers paramedics, midwives, cleaners and all other permanent staff employed by NSW Health.
I’m sure you will agree the health workforce went to extraordinary lengths during the pandemic, earning the admiration and gratitude of the entire state. In other great news, teachers, nurses, paramedics and other key workers will receive a record pay increase following the NSW Coalition Government Budget. This means NSW frontline workers will experience some of the highest public sector wages growth in the country.
Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link
Independent advice has been received from Infrastructure NSW to reprioritise the staging of mega-projects across the NSW Infrastructure pipeline. The Government will respond to that advice in due course. Whilst the Beaches Link tunnel itself is yet to receive planning approval, the precursor to Beaches Link, the Western Harbour Tunnel is already under construction. By creating another Harbour crossing, the Western Harbour Tunnel will take pressure off the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Harbour Tunnel and make it easier for us to get around from the Northern Beaches.
In addition, the Warringah Freeway Upgrade construction started in March 2021, to be carried out in stages and is planned to be completed in 2026. Price escalation across the construction market means now is the time to be prudent and consider how best to stage existing projects. The Beaches Link project team will continue to meet with stakeholders and work through important issues.
Your update on local projects underway:
- North Head National Park Upgrade. The multimillion dollar investment will open
later this year - The Manly Wharf 3 Upgrade. Designs have been shared with the community and this will create wet weather cover and disability access to the Wharf.
- The old Aquarium site. The demolition of the Aquarium will be a great improvement and create open space on our Harbour.
- Local schools will benefit from $3 million on upgrading school crossings right across the Manly Electorate to keep children safe.
In addition, we are building a further forty-five Domestic Violence shelters across the state and I am campaigning to ensure we have one built on the Northern Beaches to support the work of the outstanding Northern Beaches Women’s Shelter.
Monthly Environment Minister Update
On 1 June the ban on lightweight plastic bags came into force – the first of many single use plastic items being banned in New South Wales this year. As Minister for Environment I’m incredibly proud to see New South Wales stepping forward to protect our environment and stop this harmful product from ending up in our waterways and environment.