Madon Labib, 18, Marina Aboud, 18, and Eyleia Saleeb, 17, ride a Waratah train with Premier Mike Baird / Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Corp Australia

A VISION for light rail from Parramatta up to Castle Hill and Ryde and possibly down to Bankstown has been backed by Premier Mike Baird, who will commit at least $10 million to a feasibility study for the project.

In a major win for The Daily Telegraph’s Fair Go For The West campaign, Mr Baird will tonight ­announce funding for the report into the light rail project, which he described as “about as exciting as you can have”.

He also labelled the “north-south” route through Sydney as the “missing link” with the government already working on projects aimed at bringing people from the West to the CBD.

In taking on the project, Mr Baird plans to explore work done by Parramatta City Council, which has already costed the project at $1.7 billion.

Under the council’s proposal, one line would operate from Westmead through Parramatta to Eastwood and to Macquarie Park.

Another line would run from Parramatta to Castle Hill. All up, there would be 30km of track with hopes in the future of adding a Parramatta-to- Bankstown line.

Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian has previously flagged a potential light rail line west of Parramatta and the state opposition has also committed to funding a feasibility study on the project if elected.

“You’ve got improved arteries ... that funnel into the CBD but the north to south is the missing link from a public transport point of view,” Mr Baird said.

“I think it (the light rail proposal) is about as exciting as you can have from a transport point of view . . and I think Parramatta Council’s done very well to do the legwork on this.

“They’ve been constructive ... we want to pick the ball up and now do it properly ... we’re going to measure the full feasibility of the light rail.”

Mr Baird said a key issue raised at the Daily Telegraph’s Fair Go For The West Youth Forum, also “raised by business and community groups ... is the transport going north to south”.

He promised to get on with the study “straight away” and wanted it completed “as quickly as possible”.

“We will crack on with it,” the Premier said, and did not rule out having the study complete in time for the election campaign.

“The initial work done seems to suggest that light rail (has) got a capacity . . in terms of patronage. It could provide an opportunity for the private sector to participate, that is what the feasibility study will look at as well.”

Any construction of a light rail would follow the construction of inner west light rail and planned construction of city light rail through the city and out to Randwick and Kingsford in Sydney’s south east.

Source: The Daily Telegraph by Andrew Clennell.  Original Article.

Our proposed long-term lease of 49 per cent of the State’s electricity network businesses will keep downward pressure on electricity prices through ongoing price regulation and applying strict conditions to the transaction.

These conditions include a guaranteed discount on electricity network prices by one per cent off the forecast regulated prices until 2019, and that the transaction will have no adverse impact on electricity reliability.

Network prices will continue to be subject to regulation by the Australian Energy Regulator and standards such as reliability and safety will continue to be enforced through licences.

An independent report prepared by Ernst & Young has confirmed NSW households have been paying significantly more in network costs than customers in Victoria and South Australia since those states privatised their assets in the 1990s.

Ernst & Young found that while costs in Victoria and South Australia had fallen in real terms, NSW network costs had risen by 122 per cent.

The NSW Government will unlock $20 billion in infrastructure funding, including $6 billion for regional NSW, by undertaking a long-term lease of 49 per cent of the “poles and wires” network businesses, NSW Premier Mike Baird announced.

For Sydney, the centrepiece of the plan will be a new Sydney Rapid Transit line, including a second harbour rail crossing and extending the North West Rail Link through the CBD and beyond to Bankstown.

In the regions, among other projects, Rebuilding NSW will support a Regional Roads Fund and a Regional Water Fund, each worth at least $1 billion.

“Rebuilding NSW will turbocharge productivity and improve the daily lives of families right across the State,” Mr Baird said.

“We all know we live in the greatest state in the greatest country on earth, but we also know, as a community, that a number of significant challenges have built up over time.

“Our roads and rail networks, our schools and hospitals, and our water infrastructure have not kept up with our growing population.

“Now we are seeing the consequences, particularly in the area of transport.

“Both our quality of life – the time we are able to spend with family and friends – and the productivity of our workplaces is suffering.

“I am simply not prepared to let these problems fester, so that they drag down our economy and pose even greater challenges for our children and grandchildren.

“Infrastructure NSW will now be asked to re-cast the State Infrastructure Strategy, ensuring that every corner of the State benefits from Rebuilding NSW – including the Central Coast, the Hunter and the Illawarra.”

Mr Baird said highlights of Rebuilding NSW, in addition to Sydney Rapid Transit and the Regional Roads and Water Funds, include:

• Sydney Roads Renewal, which will include two new WestConnex extensions to the north and south, as well as projects to support the Northern beaches and inner west;
  
• A Schools and Hospitals Building Fund, worth at least $2 billion;
  
• A Sports and Cultural Fund worth at least $500 million.
  

Mr Baird said Rebuilding NSW would be funded through a 99-year lease of 49 per cent of the state-owned network companies.

Strict conditions on the lease would include:

• All net proceeds will be invested in new productive infrastructure;
  
• Electricity network prices will be discounted by 1 per cent off the forecast regulated prices until 2019;
  
• The jobs of permanent award employees will be protected and treated consistently with previous transactions;
  
• The transaction will have no adverse impact on electricity reliability; and
  
• The regional presence of the network businesses will be maintained.
  

See Rebuilding NSW for more information.

Source: www.nsw.gov.au . Original Article.

Public transport in Sydney will experience a massive boost with new rail and light rail projects to help ease congestion across the city.

NSW Premier Mike Baird said urban congestion had frustrated everyone in Sydney for decades.

“Clogged roads and crowded trains are like a heavy, wet blanket sitting on our lives,” Mr Baird said.

“Whether commuting to work or heading out to enjoy this great city, we all want to get there quicker.”

The two new projects join additional Sydney bus services, as well as a long list of substantial improvements to the city’s public transport options.

New rail network

A proposed new 30km Sydney Rapid Transit (SRT) rail network will extend the North West Rail Link, delivering a new rail line under Sydney Harbour, through the CBD and on to Bankstown.

The SRT will benefit commuters by delivering:

• Less crowding across the network.
  
• Three new underground CBD train stations to reduce crowding at Wynyard and Town Hall.
  
• A train every two minutes through the city.
  
• Up to 30 trains every hour in each direction with 98% reliability.
  
• More express trains from Penrith, Parramatta and Blacktown to the city.
  
• A turn up and go service, meaning no need for timetables.
• Mr Baird said funding for the SRT would come from the long-term lease of the State’s electricity and transmission businesses.

“The expected $20 billion in proceeds will be recycled to turbocharge the delivery of key infrastructure projects, like the SRT, that would otherwise be decades away,” Mr Baird said.

The NSW Government will also begin working on the multi-billion dollar Western Sydney Rail upgrade. This includes improving frequency by upgrading the signalling and power supply to allow trains to travel closer together, and building additional track to enable more express trains.

More light rail

Sydney will see more light rail, following the formal planning approval of the $1.6 billion new CBD and South East Light project.

The project will transform Sydney by linking Circular Quay, Central, Randwick and Kingsford, and also deliver over $4 billion worth of economic benefits and create 10,000 jobs in NSW.

This light rail service is expected to be running by 2020.

The Government is also investigating the feasibility of a light rail network for Western Sydney.

More buses

The CBD and South East light rail approval comes as Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian also announced 33 new buses, 360 extra bus services and a new bus route for South West Sydney.

More improvements

The new light rail and bus options join a list of current and future additions to Sydney’s transport system, such as:

• Almost 6,500 extra bus services across Sydney since March 2011.
  
• Opening the Inner West Light Rail extension in March 2014, including 9 new stops.
  
• Implementing Opal electronic public transport ticketing throughout NSW to speed up commutes.
  
• The $2.8 billion future fleet of intercity trains (around 65 new trains) to carry passengers from Sydney to the Central Coast, Newcastle, Blue Mountains and Illawarra.
  
• The South West Rail Link, delivering rail services to one of Sydney’s fastest growing areas.
  
• The $8.3 billion North West Rail Link, delivering 8 new railway stations to Sydney’s growing North West.
  
• Six new ferries for Sydney.
  
• A Wynyard Station upgrade in Sydney’s CBD will help move thousands more train commuters every week.
  

Source: www.nsw.gov.au. Original Story.

The NSW Government is considering changes to light vehicle registration, and would like your feedback.

The proposed reforms include the following:

Passenger vehicles: changing the new vehicle registration charge from one based on vehicle weight, to also include vehicle safety and environmental criteria. Safety would be determined by the vehicle’s ANCAP rating and the environmental component by the vehicle’s emissions;

Motorcycles: changing the current flat registration charge to include incentives to purchase motorcycles with lower power-to-weight ratios, and fitted with Anti-lock Braking Systems (ABS);

Caravans and light trailers: reducing the registration charge for light trailers and caravans that currently pay weight tax, and introducing charges for light trailers that pay no weight tax; and

'Continuous’ registration: offering an automated, continuous registration option via online monthly direct debit or credit - effectively providing registration with no expiry date.

Changes to stamp duty and CTP insurance charges as complementary measures to provide additional pricing incentives to consumers to purchase safer and greener vehicles.

The proposed changes would apply to new passenger vehicles, new motorcycles, and to all caravans and light trailers.

Transport for New South Wales (TfNSW) has prepared a public Discussion Paper and Summary Paper describing the reforms. 

To provide feedback, you can: 

• ·         take a few seconds to complete the quick poll (below)
• ·         make a submission 
• ·         take a few minutes to complete the: passenger vehicle survey; motorcycle survey; caravan and light trailer survey

Di Bartok, Parramatta Advertiser

Click here to view online article

With being a “westie” now “a badge of honour”, Western Sydney businesses gathered to hear how to attract and keep one of the biggest workforces in the country, at a Parramatta lunch today.

Deputy editor of the Daily Telegraph Ben English used his experience as driver of the Fair Go for The West campaign to inspire employers at Western Sydney Business Connection’s What’s Driving Employment in GWS lunch at the ParkRoyal.

Mr English was keynote speaker along with demographer Mark McCrindle, leading the way into a panel discussion involving workplace specialists from Matthew Folbigg, Fay Calderone and Stewart Gough; TAFE NSW strategic projects director Ron Wright and Greg Travers from William Buck Chartered Accountants. Mr English said he discovered during the NewsCorp/NewsLocal/Channel 7 Fair Go for the West campaign that people in the greater west were proud. “People in the west are proud of their area and as we went around the area we found they wanted to celebrate what was already great about the west,” Mr English said. Mr McCrindle confirmed what everyone in the room suspected — that greater Western Sydney was continuing to grow at a faster rate than Sydney city.

Mr McCrindle said the west was the “fastest growing region, in the fastest growing state in the fastest growing OECD country” and that presented challenges for employers, to attract and retain staff.

“There is a higher proportion of the younger generations in Western Sydney. In Sydney, one in four people are under 20 years, in the west, it is one in three,” he said.

Ms Calderone said younger people appreciated flexible working arrangements, the right balance between work and family life and being rewarded for their loyalty in non-monetary ways.

Ben English and NSW Premier Mike Baird — Champions of the West Ceremony at Rooty Hill RSL. Picture Craig Greenhill Source: News Corp Australia 

WITH being a “westie” now “a badge of honour”, Western Sydney businesses gathered to hear how to attract and keep one of the biggest workforces in the country, at a Parramatta lunch today.

Deputy editor of the Daily Telegraph Ben English used his experience as driver of the Fair Go for The West campaign to inspire employers at Western Sydney Business Connection’s What’s Driving Employment in GWS lunch at the ParkRoyal.

Mr English was keynote speaker along with demographer Mark McCrindle, leading the way into a panel discussion involving workplace specialists from Matthew Folbigg, Fay Calderone and Stewart Gough; TAFE NSW strategic projects director Ron Wright and Greg Travers from William Buck Chartered Accountants. Mr English said he discovered during the NewsCorp/NewsLocal/Channel 7 Fair Go for the West campaign that people in the greater west were proud. “People in the west are proud of their area and as we went around the area we found they wanted to celebrate what was already great about the west,” Mr English said. Mr McCrindle confirmed what everyone in the room suspected undefined that greater Western Sydney was continuing to grow at a faster rate than Sydney city.

Mr McCrindle said the west was the “fastest growing region, in the fastest growing state in the fastest growing OECD country” and that presented challenges for employers, to attract and retain staff.

“There is a higher proportion of the younger generations in Western Sydney. In Sydney, one in four people are under 20 years, in the west, it is one in three,” he said.

Ms Calderone said younger people appreciated flexible working arrangements, the right balance between work and family life and being rewarded for their loyalty in non-monetary ways.

Source: Parramatta Advertiser by Di Bartok. Original Article.

Nominate your business for the Bankstown Local Business Awards

The Bankstown Local Business Awards are an inspirational celebration of some of the finest businesses in Bankstown. The awards are highly respected within the local community.

In the past, the retail and service business sectors servicing the Bankstown community have benefited through the awards process.

As part of the 2014 Bankstown Local Business Awards, self nomination catergories are being offered to recognise businesses achieving excellence in other fields, namely:

• Export
• Innovation
• Sustainability

The awards are open to all Bankstown businesses. Entrants nominate themselves in one or more categories simply by completing the entry form. Click here to download your Bankstown Local Business Awards Entry Form.

Entries close Wednesday 9 July 2014.  For further information please contact:

steveloe@precedent.net or phone (02) 8577 5060
domenica.mirarchi@bankstown.nsw.gov.au or phone (02) 9707 9227

There have been many great things about the Fair Go For The West campaign organised by the Daily Telegraph. But the essence of it all can be summed up in one word. Passion.

From a personal perspective I was able to ­experience this passion ­directly when I attended a forum for young people, ­organised by the Daily Telegraph, at the University of Western Sydney campus in Parramatta last month.

I’ve had the chance to do many wonderful, unexpected things since I became Premier less than seven weeks ago. I even got to ­announce our great State of Origin team.

But nothing I have done has been more fun, or moved me more, than this opportunity to speak with about 50 young people from Western Sydney.

Premier Mike Baird takes a ride on a Waratah train from Central to Parramatta / Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Corp Australia

Tara, a young woman who spoke at the forum, is a student at Mount Druitt TAFE. She said she loved her studies but she was frustrated at the time it took her to get to Mount Druitt from Penrith on the 759 bus, which was frequently late.

I promised to check it out, and I have. It turns out the 759 runs pretty much to schedule, but there have been some timetable changes lately; so I’ve organised, through the Tele, for the latest timetable to be forwarded to Tara.

A young automotive ­apprentice called Michelle spoke of her excitement about getting up and going to work each morning.

She contrasted this with the attitude of her friends, and asked what I could do to get them excited about work too.

Then there was Gene, an apprentice plumber who was asking about greater opportunities and education for apprentices in Western Sydney. I found him inspiring too; not just for his plumbing skills, which I totally lack, but for his dream of one day running his own business.

Western Sydney was taken for granted by Labor for decades. But now, finally, the passion of the ­people of Western Sydney is being matched by the ­investment the NSW government is making.

Western Sydney is now home to the largest road project, WestConnex, and the largest public transport project, the North West Rail Link, currently underway anywhere in Australia.

In fact, nearly one out of every two transport infrastructure dollars spent in NSW is now being invested in Western Sydney.

And, of course, along with the federal Coalition government in Canberra, we are building Sydney’s second airport at Badgerys Creek. The airport will drive 30,000 extra jobs in the region.

But more can be done, and the Fair Go for the West campaign has shown the way.

One suggestion that has come forward from the campaign is for a high-powered Sydney development authority, based in Parramatta, to oversee major ­development projects across the whole of Sydney, co-ordinating outcomes and removing bottlenecks.

This deserves support.

I’m pleased to announce we have begun work on the establishment of the ­Greater Sydney Commission, which will co-ordinate planning and infrastructure delivery, boosting housing and employment.

The campaign also threw up the suggestion of a feasibility study for a light rail project linking Parramatta with Bankstown, Macquarie Park and Castle Hill.

Tonight I can announce the government will undertake a study examining up to 10 key corridors around Parramatta for future light rail and bus rapid transport. Fair Go has also asked the government to address youth unemployment in Western Sydney.

This brings us back to apprentices like Michelle and Gene. The key connecting thread between government and their dreams is infrastructure.

So, from now on, in the procurement process for major infrastructure projects, bidders will be asked to spell out how they will leave a lasting skills dividend for local communities through apprenticeships.

They will be assessed on the number of apprenticeships they are prepared to create during construction, through the partnerships they forge with local TAFE and other tertiary institutions.

I am confident this will create at least 1000 new ­apprenticeship positions over the next four years.

It will be a boon for apprentices everywhere; but especially in Western Sydney, which is the infrastructure engine-room of the state. And young people like Michelle and Gene will be given a hand up through their commitment to work hard and learn.

I want to support the ­visions, dreams and passions of young people all across NSW but especially in Western Sydney.

I was inspired by what I heard at the Youth Forum, because, as a Liberal, I ­believe that government, rather than directing people’s lives, should be an ­enabler. This can mean things as big as a new airport or motorway; or as small as the 759 bus.

Mike Baird is NSW Premier

Source: The Daily Telegraph by Mike Baird. Original article.