Archives: Media Releases

AUSTRALIA-FIRST $12 MILLION MARINE RESCUE TRAINING CENTRE FOR SYDNEY

I am pleased to announce that Australia’s first dedicated marine rescue training centre will be developed on the shore of Port Hacking in Southern Sydney as part of a $12 million NSW Government investment in ensuring there are more skilled rescuers ready to save lives on the water.

                                                                                      

The NSW Government is a proud supporter of Marine Rescue volunteers, which is why we have invested an additional $37.6 million for new vehicles, improved operating facilities and enhancements to the marine radio network.

 

The Training Academy will ensure the preservation of the heritage values of the Hungry Point Reserve and continue its use for maritime-related activities, while maintaining public access to the site’s open parkland.

 

This project will protect history of the reserve, stretching back to the earliest Indigenous inhabitants living here on Port Hacking, through to its later use as a migrant hostel and Department of Primary Industries fisheries research centre.

 

The training centre will also enhance the safety of our large and growing boating community in southern Sydney, with boaters able to undertake a number of courses to improve their own abilities on the water.

 

This is the first training centre for marine rescue volunteers anywhere in the country.

 

The Academy will include a large lecture/meeting room, smaller classrooms equipped with marine simulators and other technological learning tools, practical outdoor training areas and pool, accommodation and meal facilities.

 

Up to 100 trainees every week will be able to attend the Academy, which will also be available to other emergency services whose personnel use vessels as part of their emergency response operations.

 

The government is also investing up to $5m in a new walkway around Hungry Point, extending the current ocean-side walk beyond Salmon Haul Bay to around the South Cronulla peninsula to Darook Park.

TURN UP AND GO CARINGBAH STATION AND LILLI PILLI BUS TRIAL EXTENDED

I am pleased to announce the high frequency 980 bus trial operating between Caringbah Station and Lilli Pilli Point has been extended until December 2020.

This is to fully assess the patronage potential over a longer duration and determine suitable next steps.

The high frequency bus service is being trialled at Lilli Pilli Point and Caringbah Station using new look buses. Transport for NSW is using the trial to learn more about encouraging people to use public transport for the first and last segment of their journey.

Patronage trends and customer research during the initial trial have indicated positive growth, with customers shifting from private vehicle to bus due to the improved frequency and convenient connection to trains, especially in the PM peak period.

The 980 Turn Up and Go bus trial operates every 10 minutes during the AM and PM peaks along Port Hacking Road Monday to Friday, 6:05am to 8:45am to Caringbah Station (Hay Ave Shops bus stop) and 4:10pm to 8:10pm to Lilli Pilli Point.

Customers can tap on and off using their Opal card, credit and debit cards or linked smart devices.

Opal bus fares apply and customers will receive all Opal travel rewards, such as the $2 Opal transfer discount for adult fares, if they change between a train and a bus within 60 minutes from the last tap off.

I encourage that you plan your trip at www.transportnsw.info

LOCAL SPORT GRANT FUNDING ANNOUNCED FOR CRONULLA

8 local organisations will share in funding from the latest round of the NSW Government’s Local Sport Grant Program.

The program aims to increase regular and ongoing participation in sport and active recreation.

The successful applicants for the Cronulla electorate are:

Organisation                                                                                    Project                                                                     Amount

Gymea Bay Cricket Club                                                 Gymea Bay Oval net expansion                                                 $15,000

Sutherland District Cricket Club                                      Upgrade of cricket nets Glenn McGrath Oval                               $10,485

Cronulla Seagulls Football Club                                      Football goals upgrade for mini-roos matches                           $5,000

Cronulla Sutherland Baseball Club                                 Grand slam batting facility                                                          $5,000

Elouera Boardriders Club Cronulla                                 PA system, generator and competition accessories                   $4,000

St George Sutherland Women’s Cricket Club                 Uniforms for junior and senior players                                        $2,970

North Cronulla Junior Boardriders Club                          Surfing development project                                                       $2,000

Southern Sydney Swim Team Swimming Club               Timing device system                                                                 $2,000

SMALL CRAFT LAUNCHING RAMP OPENS AT BURRANEER

The local community now has safer and easier access to the Port Hacking with the completion of the small craft launching ramp at Lugano Avenue Burraneer.

The launching ramp will provide better access to the water and improved safety for users of small craft such as kayaks, canoes and surf skis.

Non-powered craft now have their own dedicated launching and landing facility a safe distance away from the existing offshore rescue boatshed and ramp. A small set of concrete stairs leading to the water previously serviced this popular site.

The NSW Government’s Boating Now program contributed $225,000 towards the project with Sutherland Shire Council contributing $75,000.

For more Information on maritime infrastructure funding and other projects visit: https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/nsw-boating-now 

COMMUNITY BUILDING PARTNERSHIP GRANTS ANNOUNCED FOR CRONULLA

11 local infrastructure projects will share in funding of $300,000 as part of the NSW government’s current round of Community Building Partnerships funding.

Building and restoring local infrastructure provides a welcome boost to local construction jobs and businesses and to our hardworking community organisations.

There was strong competition for the available funds and a high level of interest from the community.

The successful applicants for the Cronulla electorate are:

 

Organisation

Project

Amount

Gymea Bay Public School P & C

Playground equipment and audio upgrade

$77,000

Lilli Pilli Public School P & C

Refurbish netball/basketball courts

$51,000

Laguna Street Public School P & C

Children’s play area

$33,500

Cronulla South Public School P & C

Refurbish student toilet blocks

$30,000

Sutherland Shire Junior Cricket Association

Solander Playing Fields cricket nets

$21,000

St Aloysius Catholic Parish Cronulla

Creation of new meeting room for community use

$20,000

Cronulla Public School P & C

Sheltered aluminium park settings

$20,000

Sutherland Shire Football Association

Floodlighting smart controls at Lilli Pilli Oval

(Lilli Pilli FC), Tonkin Oval (Cronulla Seagulls FC), Woolooware Oval (Cronulla Seagulls FC)

$18,000

Caringbah North Public School P & C

“Cool the School” – electrical upgrades/insulation/air-conditioning/solar panels

$15,500

Cronulla Seagulls FC

Woolooware Oval seating upgrade

$8,000

Sutherland Shire Football Association

Portable goalposts at Solander Playing Fields (Cronulla RSL FC)

$6,000

COMMUNITY BUILDING PARTNERSHIP GRANTS ANNOUNCED FOR CRONULLA

11 local infrastructure projects will share in funding of $300,000 as part of the NSW government’s current round of Community Building Partnerships funding.

Building and restoring local infrastructure provides a welcome boost to local construction jobs and businesses and to our hardworking community organisations.

There was strong competition for the available funds and a high level of interest from the community.

The successful applicants for the Cronulla electorate are:

Organisation Project Amount
Gymea Bay Public School P & C Playground equipment and audio upgrade $77,000
Lilli Pilli Public School P & C Refurbish netball/basketball courts $51,000
Laguna Street Public School P & C Children’s play area $33,500
Cronulla South Public School P & C Refurbish student toilet blocks $30,000
Sutherland Shire Junior Cricket Association Solander Playing Fields cricket nets $21,000
St Aloysius Catholic Parish Cronulla Creation of new meeting room for community use $20,000
Cronulla Public School P & C Sheltered aluminium park settings $20,000
Sutherland Shire Football Association Floodlighting smart controls at Lilli Pilli Oval(Lilli Pilli FC), Tonkin Oval (Cronulla Seagulls FC), Woolooware Oval (Cronulla Seagulls FC) $18,000
Caringbah North Public School P & C “Cool the School” – electrical upgrades/insulation/air-conditioning/solar panels $15,500
Cronulla Seagulls FC Woolooware Oval seating upgrade $8,000
Sutherland Shire Football Association Portable goalposts at Solander Playing Fields (Cronulla RSL FC) $6,000

MARGARET CORBETT OAM IS 2020 CRONULLA WOMAN OF THE YEAR

Margaret Corbett OAM has been named the 2020 Cronulla Woman of the Year in the lead up to International Women’s Day on 8 March.

 

Margaret Corbett been involved in netball for more than 40 years in different roles, including New South Wales selector, New South Wales convenor, New South Wales Coaching Director, New South Wales State Coach and New South Wales Institute of Sport Head Coach.

 

In 2006 Mrs Corbett became the seventh inductee into the Netball New South Wales Hall of Fame. The prestigious State League Coach of the Year Award was dedicated in her honour and is now named the Margaret Corbett State League Coach of the Year Award.

 

In 2013 Mrs Corbett was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in the Queen’s Birthday honours list for services to netball.

 

In 2019 Mrs Corbett has become the second person ever to be elevated to legend status by Netball NSW, with the organisation honouring the pioneering coach at their annual state dinner.

 

The NSW Women of the Year Awards program recognises remarkable women across the state who have achieved inspiring things in their careers, in business or in their communities.

 

Previous Cronulla Women of the Year are:

  • Shirley Smith (2019 – volunteer work with Caringbah RSL Sub-Branch)
  • Kate Fitzsimons (2018 – director of the Nicole Fitzsimons Foundation – overseas travel safety and assisting talented young people)
  • Alison Todd (2017 – awareness and advocacy with Cancer Council)
  • Jen Armstrong (2016 – founder of the Beauty Bank and domestic violence advocacy; also NSW Woman of the Year)
  • Megan Barnes (2015 – pancreatic cancer awareness and advocacy)
  • Karen Crawley (2014 -mitochondrial disease awareness and advocacy).

JOAN ROBB NAMED NAMED 2020 CRONULLA SENIOR OF THE YEAR

I am delighted to announce Joan Robb as the Cronulla Senior of the Year for 2020.

Ms Robb has volunteered with Neighbourhood Aid/ BeConnected/ BetterConnected for over 24 years. She has made an outstanding contribution to the community as she held many roles including treasurer and member of the management committee.

MS Robb volunteers to take clients out and assists them with their shopping. She also shares a coffee and a chat with the clients as she transports them and accompanies them on morning tea outings.

This award is deserving recognition of Ms Robb’s tireless efforts and generosity.

The other finalists were:

  • Stephen Deards – a volunteer with Sutherland Shire Bushcare for 30 years. As well as the nine Sutherland Shire Bushcare groups with which he currently volunteers, Stephen also volunteers with two groups operating within Kamay Botany Bay National Park.
  • Geoff Schuberg APM – honorary secretary of Cronulla RSL Sub-Branch for over 10 years. He also helps with Department of Veterans Affairs claims while he continues to be the face of the Cronulla Sub-Branch for the ANZAC Day dawn services and Remembrance Day and Vietnam Veterans’ Day services.

Previous winners of the Cronulla Senior of the Year award are:

  • Robert Lovell – volunteer in the Kurnell community
  • John Kane – volunteer at Sailability Cronulla
  • Mick Brannock – volunteer at Wanda Surf Life Saving Club
  • Father Kerry Bayada – Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Caringbah
  • Patricia Donaghy – volunteer at Older Women’s Network Sutherland

CRONULLA BENEFITS AS SCHOOLS RECEIVE ADDITIONAL MAINTENANCE

22 schools in Cronulla are among the 968 schools across NSW that have received additional maintenance work during the last few months, clearing over half of the outstanding school maintenance list across the state.

Over 1.3 million dollars was spent on schools in Cronulla. 

The schools that received maintenance and upgrade works are:

School Name

Electorate

Gymea Bay PS

Cronulla

Cronulla High School

Cronulla

Lilli Pilli PS

Cronulla

Yowie Bay PS

Cronulla

Caringbah North PS

Cronulla

Cronulla PS

Cronulla

Woolooware PS

Cronulla

Kurnell PS

Cronulla

Cronulla HS

Cronulla

Caringbah Public School

Cronulla

Cronulla HS

Cronulla

Woolooware PS

Cronulla

Cronulla South PS

Cronulla

Lilli Pilli PS

Cronulla

Kurnell PS

Cronulla

Cronulla HS

Cronulla

Grays Point PS

Cronulla

Caringbah HS

Cronulla

Cronulla South PS

Cronulla

Burraneer Bay PS

Cronulla

Woolooware PS

Cronulla

Caringbah PS

Cronulla

The maintenance blitz focused on additional repairs and upgrades including roof works, new floor coverings, drainage, electrical work and painting.

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. A record $1.3 billion is being spent on school maintenance over five years, along with a record $500 million for the sustainable Cooler Classrooms program to provide air conditioning to schools. This is the largest investment in public education infrastructure in the history of NSW.

24 NEW MEDICAL INTERNS FOR SUTHERLAND HOSPITAL

Today, I welcomed 24 medical graduates to Sutherland Hospital within the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District, part of the 2020 annual intake of intern doctors funded by the NSW Government.

 

The new intern doctors would perform a vital role in the health system and will be based at Sutherland Hospital as part of their two year contract..

 

The two year internship is a vital step in ensuring our future doctors are amongst the best trained doctors in the world.

 

Across NSW there are a record 1,027 intern doctors beginning work this week, which is an increase of 257 positions or 33 per cent since 2011. The professional experience our new doctors will gain is key to the health and wellbeing of our citizens in the future.

 

The NSW Government is investing $107 million in the internship program this year.