Archives: Media Releases

SYDNEY MARINE PARK INCLUDES SHIRE SITES

The NSW government’s proposed Sydney Marine Park includes 25 sites between Newcastle and Wollongong is a significant advance for marine conservation across the Hawkesbury bioregion, including in particular the Sutherland Shire. As a coastal MP and former Environment Minister, I know how important it is to protect and nurture our marine environment and to implement measures that aim to protect and increase our marine biodiversity.


The Towra Point Aquatic Reserve will grow by 349ha, to incorporate additional adjacent Posidonia australis seagrass and shorebird habitat as a special purpose zone. The reserve protects the largest and most diverse wetland complex in the Sydney region. It’s adjacent to the Towra Point Nature Reserve, a wetland of international importance and declared Ramsar site. It’s also an important nursery area for fish and invertebrates, a habitat for migratory seabirds, and rich in marine biodiversity.


Cabbage Tree Creek, a small tidal creek on the southern side of Port Hacking, will be a new 23ha sanctuary zone. The area contains extensive estuarine habitats, including saltmarsh, seagrass and mangroves. It’s a significant area for the local Aboriginal community, as is Towra Point.


An 85ha conservation zone in Royal National Park will go from Martin Head south to the northern end of Garie Beach, including Wattamolla Beach and Wattamolla Lagoon, and 100m seaward.


Some old favourites will be included with no changes to management rules, such as Boat Harbour and Shiprock.


All proposed sites have been carefully analysed by the NSW Marine Estate Management Authority following extensive community consultation. You can provide feedback at: https://www.marine.nsw.gov.au/key-initiatives/hawkesbury-shelf-marine-assessment. Submissions close 27 September.


An information stall will be visiting Cronulla Mall on 15 September from 8 am to 12 noon.

 

 

 

 

 

NSW GOVERNMENT COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD

George Capsis has received a NSW Government Community Service award for his support of some of the most vulnerable and marginalised in our community.


The NSW Government Community Service Award recognises individuals in NSW who have substantially helped to improve the quality of life of members of their community. This is beyond what would reasonably be expected in their usual occupation.


George founded Community Outreach Ministries in 1987 and has provided support to people disadvantaged by mental illness, homelessness, drug or alcohol abuse, suicide and family crisis.


In 2006 George received the Order of Australia Medal for his service to the community through the Community Outreach Ministries.


Each year Community Outreach Ministries holds an event in Cronulla to promote crucial public issues. This May, the “Good News Day” event highlighted people with disability and the work of their carers.
George has also represented the community in his role as a Sutherland Shire Councillor from 2008 to 2012 and was elected to the role of deputy mayor in 2011/2012.


George also served for a period of 17 years from 1986 as the Cronulla Sharks Rugby League team chaplain.


George is an active member of his community and is a deserving recipient of the NSW Government Community Service Award.

 

 

 

 

EASING CONGESTION IN CARINGBAH CBD

Quicker journey times are on their way for Caringbah motorists with improvements at the intersection of President Avenue and Kingsway.

The upgrade will improve traffic flow, increase capacity and reduce delays for thousands of road users on one of Sydney’s key corridors.

The upgrade includes duplicating the right turn lane from Kingsway into President Avenue, removing up to 14 restricted parking spaces in the eastbound lane of Kingsway to allow through traffic and enforcing no right turns from Hay Avenue onto Kingsway (buses excepted).

There will be replacement parking in Caringbah CBD. There will be around 14 replacement perpendicular car park spaces added in Hay Avenue next to the train line in the existing taxi holding area. In the Hay Avenue carpark, around 13 existing parking spaces next to Hay Lane will be converted to half hour parking.

In addition, the Sutherland Traffic Committee will investigate:

  • Hay Avenue becoming two way
  • An additional small taxi rank adjacent to the southern kerb of Kingsway immediately west of the traffic lights at the train station
  • Parallel parking on the north east side of Hay Lane
  • Perpendicular parking on the south side of Hay Avenue
  • No right turn from Port Hacking Road into Kingsway

A bus stop will remain on Kingsway heading east next to the train station.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUTHERLAND COURTHOUSE OPEN DAY FOR MULTICULTURAL COMMUNITIES

A free open day will be held at Sutherland Courthouse for newly arrived migrants and refugees to learn more about fast, fair and accessible justice.

The event will give multicultural community members an opportunity to learn more about the law and how to solve common legal issues.

When you arrive in a new country, the cultural and language barriers you face are overwhelming. That’s why we’ve made it a priority to work closely with multicultural communities to ensure they have the tools to navigate the justice system.

Adjusting to life in a new country is challenging and events like the law information expo make it easier for multicultural communities to understand their rights and responsibilities.

This free event will break down barriers for new community members who may be unaware of valuable services that can help them address legal problems.

The open day will include information sessions on:

  • the difference between civil and criminal law;
  • how a court operates;
  • how to commence court proceedings;
  • victims services ;
  • consumer rights;
  • driving licences and rules

The open day will be held at the Sutherland Courthouse, Cnr Flora & Belmont St., Sutherland, on Friday, 3 August from 10am-1pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

IMPROVEMENTS FOR BUSY GYMEA INTERSECTION

Roads and Maritime Services is progressing plans to upgrade the intersection of President Avenue and Gymea Bay Road at Gymea to improve traffic flow and travel times for motorists.

The improvements will be delivered as part of the NSW Government’s $100 million Congestion and Safety Program which aims to ease congestion and improve safety on our roads.

Roads and Maritime is working with Sutherland Shire Council to develop a design for this busy intersection to improve safety and efficiency for the 40,000 vehicles which use it each day.

A high number of vehicles travel along President Avenue every day, resulting in congestion during the morning and afternoon peak periods.  This work will aim to improve travel times for motorists.

Work along President Avenue will include providing a dedicated left turn bay and an extended right turn bay from President Avenue into Gymea Bay Road northbound to improve traffic flows.

The southern side of President Avenue will also be widened to provide a dedicated left turn bay from President Avenue into Gymea Bay Road southbound.

The work is expected to start later this year.

The community and stakeholders will be kept up to date as the project progresses.

For more information about the Pinch Points Program visit rms.nsw.gov.au/pinchpoints.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCHOOL PLAYGROUNDS OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY THESE WINTER HOLIDAYS

School playgrounds in the Cronulla electorate will be available for the local community to use during the school holidays under an expansion of the successful Share Our Space Program.

Four Cronulla schools will now be open for the community to enjoy during the winter school holidays. Caringbah Public School, Kurnell Public School and Woolooware Public School will participate in the program along with Cronulla South Public School, which first threw open its gates during the April school holidays.

School playgrounds are valuable assets and by making them accessible outside of the school term they can provide a broader benefit to the whole community, including opportunities for sport on school ovals.

Allowing access to school grounds and sports facilities is also a great way to encourage children to keep active during the holidays.

The Share Our Space Program is part of the NSW Government’s recently announced $290 million Open Spaces and Green Sydney package.

Participating schools will receive a $5000 grant they can use to help upgrade their facilities for community and school use.

The schools will be open during the upcoming school holidays from 9 to 20 July, between 8am to 5pm.

MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN IN CRONULLA

More children in the Cronulla will have access to a quality early childhood education, with the NSW Government today announcing $42,400 to invest in attendance-encouraging initiatives in the Cronulla and Miranda electorates.


Cronulla MP Mark Speakman said the funding – part of the NSW Government’s Community Grants program – aims to increase the number of Aboriginal children and children from disadvantaged backgrounds attending a preschool program.


The following services in the Cronulla electorate have been successful in their Community Grants application:

Service Name Amount Awarded (Ex. GST) Activity
Kurnell Pre-School Kindergarten $6,000.00 Staff development, purchase cultural resources
Jacaranda Preschool $10,000.00 Staff development – embedding Aboriginal perspectives


For more information, visit the Department of Education website.

KIRRAWEE HIGH SCHOOL CADET FIREFIGHTERS GRADUATE

Fourteen students from Kirrawee High School have today successfully completed the NSW Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS) Secondary School Cadet Program.


The cadets have completed an eight week course that has given them skills which will last a lifetime.


The program is a great way to introduce young people to the important role volunteer fire fighters play within communities.


As well as examining fire behaviour, the students have been taught essential fire safety techniques and gained an appreciation of the work emergency services volunteers face every day.


The cadet program also offers students the opportunity to experience firsthand the commitment and camaraderie that comes with volunteering.


This is the fifth year that Kirrawee High School has offered the NSW RFS Secondary School Cadet Program to its students.


The school provides support to the program by supervising the cadets during training.


It is this ongoing support from the school’s Principal Paul Owens, the teachers and staff that help to make the program such a success.


The benefits of volunteering are enormous and it is inspiring to see our next generation getting involved.

 

 

 

 

SUTHERLAND SENIORS GET ACTIVE IN THE COMMUNITY

Local seniors will be supported to remain active and engaged in the community through two innovative projects being funded by the NSW Government in the Sutherland Shire.

The Ring o‘Roses project has received $24,500 through the Liveable Communities Grants program. Ring o’Roses aims to reduce social isolation experienced by older people and people with disability. The Ring O’Roses team, comprising people with disability, support workers and older volunteers, will collect unused flower arrangements and these will then be delivered to aged care facilities.

Ring o’Roses was a good example of the unique projects supported by the Liveable Communities Grants program.

Programs like these make the Shire a more inclusive, accessible and enjoyable place to live in later life.

In addition, Sutherland Shire Council has received $60,000 for The Loneliness Project, which will see volunteers visit older people and spend time building connections with them. Sutherland Shire Council will work with community partners BeConnected Community Services Inc., 3Bridges Community, and Gymea Community Aid and Information services to create these programs and to reach seniors so they can participate in these programs.

This project will promote wellness and wellbeing for older people through active participation and enhancing social networks.

The NSW Government is supporting projects like these so residents are supported to stay engaged with friends, family and the wider local community as they grow older.

Both projects have secured funding through Round Three of the NSW Government’s Liveable Communities Grants, with 25 programs receiving a share of $1.2 million this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STAGE 1 F6 EXTENSION UPDATE

Stage 1 of the F6 extension, between the new M5 and President Avenue Kogarah, will allow drivers to bypass 23 sets of traffic lights and save up to 15 minutes on each journey.

 

Premier Gladys Berejiklian today announced it’s now fully funded and open for community feedback.

 

Following this round of community consultation, an Environmental Impact Statement will be completed and exhibited. The Government is targeting tendering and procurement to be underway next year.

 

The stage 1 design includes connection tunnels to facilitate the F6 between Kogarah and Loftus, which is in development.

 

For further information visit www.rms.nsw.gov.au/f6