18 March 2017 – NSW Parliament Wrap Up
The Berejiklian Government continued to dominate the agenda in state politics this week. Although Transport for NSW may feel differently (on Tuesday, it seemed awfully concerned about Justin Bieber’s concert in Sydney), Friday was the real start of the show, with the announcement of important details about a project that has been decades in the making: the Beaches Link Tunnel. The project will finally deliver on a generation’s worth of unfulfilled promises, creating an express route between the CBD and Sydney’s Northern Beaches, bypassing Military Road and the Spit Bridge.
Speaking of, the tunnel was a hot topic in one of two preselections that took place this week. On Tuesday, KPMG director James Griffin won his bid for the NSW seat of Manly, with strong support from his predecessor, former Premier Mike Baird, who described the outcome as his “dream [coming] to reality.” If elected, Mr Griffin will work closely with Premier Berejiklian to deliver the tunnel for his electorate. Meanwhile, on Thursday, Felicity Wilson took out the preselection for North Shore, formerly held by Jillian Skinner. By-elections for both seats will be held on April 8.
Here's how the week panned out...
Wendy Whiteley Secret Garden trust
Monday saw the creation of a Government trust to preserve a highly successful land reclamation project in Lavender Bay. Wendy Whiteley, former wife of acclaimed artist Brett Whiteley, has spent more than two decades rehabilitating a derelict plot of land owned by RailCorp into a not-so-secret garden. The Premier announced the Government will provide $30,000 for the garden’s upkeep under the terms of the trust, which will also act as a vehicle through which charitable donations can be made. While the cynics among us might see the trust as a ploy to retain the seat of North Shore, the Government does in fact have form when it comes to supporting the garden – in 2015, Transport Minister Andrew Constance granted a 30 year lease of the land to North Sydney Council, ensuring it receives an appropriate degree of local oversight.
Millers Point property sales
While the poles and wires have hogged the limelight, the Government’s asset recycling initiative actually extends much further. For example, 290 properties currently owned by the Department of Family and Community Services in Millers Point are being sold, with proceeds committed for reinvestment in new social housing supply. Of the 290, 125 have been sold so far, generating almost $350 million in revenue for the state. On Monday, Property NSW listed five more such properties for sale, including a three bedroom corner terrace with harbour views. Not bad!
Government given 8/10 for performance
On Tuesday, the NSW Business Chamber released its 2017 Mid Term Report Card for the NSW Government. The Chamber measured the Government against the five priority issues that it identified in the lead up to the 2015 election, awarding it:
9/10 for the first priority – to deliver more infrastructure
7/10 for the second priority – to reform local government
7/10 for the third priority – to improve senior schooling
6/10 for the fourth priority – to address energy security and pricing
7/10 for the fifth priority – to make the state’s tax system more competitive
In addition, the Government received a mark of 9/10 for its management of the budget and 8/10 for its efforts to cut red tape.
CBD light rail stops names
The CBD and South East Light Rail took a small step towards completion on Tuesday, with a list of 19 potential names for stops being released by Transport for NSW. Creative suggestions on the list include ‘ES Marks’, ‘Wansey Cottage’ and ‘Nine Ways’ (for when five isn’t enough). The proposed names will now be assessed by councils, businesses and other key stakeholders impacted by the light rail, before the Geographical Names Board undertakes wider community consultation and “technical assessment” later in the year. No, we didn’t know the Board existed either…
STEM school announced for Western Sydney
On Wednesday, the Premier and Minister for Education Rob Stokes revealed that a dedicated STEM school will be built as part of the planned Sydney Science Park project. The Sydney Science Park STEM School, as it is currently being referred to (where’s the Geographical Names Board when you need it?), will be run by the Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta, taking students from pre-school to Year 12. Construction is scheduled to begin later this year ahead of a slated 2021 opening.
Lock out laws relaxed for seven live entertainment venues
Minister for Racing, Paul Toole, announced on Wednesday that seven live entertainment venues in Sydney have had their licenses relaxed, as part of the Government’s trialling of extended trading hours for venues offering live entertainment, live performances or artistic or cultural events within the lockout precinct. Each venue’s license will now permit entry until 2am, while drinks may be served until 3:30am.
The decision to relax restrictions for live entertainment venues was a key recommendation of the Callinan review, which investigated the impact of lockout laws late last year. Liquor & Gaming NSW is currently assessing a further 19 applications for extended trading hours.
Macquarie Bank unsolicited proposal moves to stage three of assessment process
On Thursday, the Department of Premier and Cabinet announced that an unsolicited proposal for the development of a new metro station in Martin Place had moved to the third and final stage of the assessment process. The proposal, made by the Macquarie Group, is for the redevelopment of the existing Martin Place station and construction of a new Sydney Metro stop in the same location. In addition, it will see Macquarie build two new office towers in Martin Place. Crucially, Macquarie plans to fund the development by itself. By reaching Stage 3, Macquarie can now enter into exclusive negotiations with the Government for the project. Dexus also submitted a proposal for the project, but was knocked back on the basis that its bid was not ‘sufficiently unique’.
12 solar projects planned for NSW
Minister for Resources, Energy & Utilities Don Harwin and Minister for Planning Anthony Roberts took the opportunity on Thursday to reveal possible locations for 12 new solar farms in regional NSW. Proposed locations include: Beryl, Coleambally, Gilgandra, Hay, Hillston, Jemalong, Limondale, Metz, Narrabri, Nevertire, Sunraysia and Walgett. If approved, the farms would more than double the number of solar projects in the state, and be capable of powering an estimated 365,000 homes. The Government has approved eight solar farms since 2011, on top of the three that were already in operation, in an effort to reach its renewable energy target of 23.5 per cent by 2020.
New Sydney tunnels
Finally, Friday saw the Premier and Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight Melinda Pavey announce the commencement of formal works on two major tunnel projects: Beaches Link and the Western Harbour Tunnel.
From mid-April, the Government will begin $77 million worth of geotechnical works for a new Northern Beaches tunnel, along its preferred route between Balgowlah and the Warringah Freeway. The Beaches Link Tunnel will pass beneath Middle Harbour, and also see the Wakehurst Parkway upgraded to two lanes each way. A market-sounding process to investigate private-sector funding and delivery options will commence shortly. By 2018, the Government expects to finalise project costs, designs and timelines, as well as the scope of any private sector involvement.
A second project, the Western Harbour Tunnel, was also announced by the pair on the same day. That tunnel will ultimately become part of WestConnex, extending from Rozelle, beneath Sydney Harbour and through to the Warringah Freeway at North Sydney, where it could join Beaches Link .
More information about the projects can be found here.