13 March 2011

The NSW Government has approved a further two solar farms at Manildra and Moree valued at $330 million. Minister for Planning, Tony Kelly, said the $150 million 50 megawatt facility at Manildra will be constructed on a 200 hectare cleared farmland site on Molong Road. Panels will take up about 120 hectares and consist of 36 photovoltaic array blocks arranged in rows two to five metres apart, the Minister said. The $180 million 60 megawatt facility at Moree will be constructed on a 160 hectare site on the 265 hectare Weebollabolla property off Bullus Drive.

12 March 2011

A NSW Liberals and Nationals Government will deliver a Construction Kick Start Program to get the state property and construction sector moving again, after abolishing Labor's $429 million homebuyers tax, NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell said today. Labor's homebuyers tax has hit 35,000 homebuyers by an average of $1,000 each, earning the Keneally Labor Government more than $32 million in its first eight months of operation. Labor's tax is forecast to gouge $429 million over four years. "Home ownership is becoming a fading dream for young families because of Labor's unnecessary taxes," Mr O'Farrell said.

10 March 2011

The NSW Government will provide $2 million to re-develop and revitalise The Block in Redfern creating 62 homes and providing 9,000 metres of commercial, community and cultural space. The revitalisation of The Block known officially as the Pemulwuy Project will create 300 jobs. This comprises 200 in construction and another 100 ongoing jobs once the project is completed. Premier Kristina Keneally today announced the funding during a visit to Redfern with Member for Marrickville, Carmel Tebbutt. For many years, the Block has played an important role in the local community as well as the wider Indigenous community, Ms Keneally said. Its renewal and redevelopment will ensure that it continues to play just as an important role in the future.

09 March 2011

Minister for Planning, Tony Kelly, has approved four proposals at Barangaroo - three project applications and one modification. The proposals are: Main works for the construction of the headland park and northern cove; Pilot trials in-situ remediation methods on the former Miller's Point Gasworks area at Barangaroo and Hickson Road; A 43 storey commercial building known as C4, located at Hickson Road, Barangaroo South, and a modification to the existing approval (2/11/2010) for bulk excavation and a basement car park. These individual project applications are consistent with the approved Concept Plan (as modified) for Barangaroo. The proposals were lodged as early as 19 February, 2010 and their approvals are the result of months of consultation, including a 30 day public exhibition period.

09 March 2011

David Borger has let the cat of the bag on Kristina Keneally's secret plan to abolish dozens of local councils, said Shadow Minister for Intergovernmental Relations Chris Hartcher. The Sydney Morning Herald reports Senior Labor Minister David Borger has a plan to reduce the number of local councils from 41 down to six. Kristina Keneally needs to immediately state exactly which councils will go under her secret plan, Mr Hartcher said.

08 March 2011

The NSW Liberals & Nationals will fast track the widening of the M5 as part of a Congesting Busting Program unveiled today by NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell. "Action has to be taken to help long-suffering commuters stuck in daily traffic jams and public transport delays," Mr O'Farrell said. "The key to the strategy is to combine new rail links, express trains and bus services with initiatives to unclog Sydney's motorways and local roads," he said.

08 March 2011

The Minister for Small Business and Minister Assisting on Deregulation, Senator Nick Sherry, discussed COAG Seamless National Economy reforms; trades licensing; a National Occupational Licensing System; the National Construction Code; a nationally uniform Occupational Health and Safety laws, regulations, and codes-of-practice; speeding up assessments of planning proposals; skills enhancement; and the registration of business names.

08 March 2011

In a speech entitled 'Parramatta - Australia's Next CBD', the Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese, discussed Parramatta of yesterday and today, the work the Australian Government is doing with our major cities, urban passenger rail expansion, the Parramatta to Epping Rail Link, and the Gillard Government's commitment to New South Wales' road and rail infrastructure.

07 March 2011

Greens MP and lead Upper House candidate David Shoebridge has called on Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell to articulate what planning system will replace the controversial Part 3A, after a leading developer group has agreed it should be scrapped. With the developer lobby in the Coalition's ear, the real concern is that new planning laws under a Coalition government will just be a rebadged 'Part 3B', with the only change being a Coalition minister will be making decisions instead of a Labor one, Greens planning spokesperson David Shoebridge said. Now that the Urban Development Institute of Australia has admitted Part 3A needs to be scrapped we need clarity on what should replace it. The Greens are again asking Barry O'Farrell to articulate his plan, which at the moment is nothing more than a blank sheet for developers to write upon.

07 March 2011

Kristina Keneally's centrepiece transport promise is already off the rails with revelations Labor's Parramatta to Epping Rail Link has been delayed and has blown out in cost, NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell revealed. It's been revealed Kristina Keneally's Parramatta to Epping Rail Link has been delayed by a year to 2018 and the budget has blown out by an additional $340 million. Kristina Keneally was informed of the delay in December, but claimed during a Radio 2UE on 22 February: "I'll have that train running in 2017." Labor proved they couldn't be trusted to deliver this rail link when they first promised it in 1998, and this delay and blowout is further evidence Kristina Keneally can't be trusted in 2011, Mr O'Farrell said.