Job Growth in Newcastle without the Mining Boom

BY JESSICA ROUSE

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the Hunter's job growth isn't thanks to a mining boom, but rather her government's infrastructure spend in the region.

The State Government's $650 million investment in the city for infastructure has doubled the number of jobs throughout the region.

The latest stats from the Hunter Research Foundation Centre mirror the numbers showing the Hunter had an annual growth of 7.4 per cent when it comes to full time jobs in the region.

Gladys Berejiklian says in the past 2 1/2 years alone 37,000 jobs have been created.

"We are for the first time having a boom in Newcastle and the Hunter without a mining boom. This is the first time Newcastle has been able to stand on its own without going through a mining boom. I'm so proud of that,"

"This is the first time in Newcastle's history where Newcastle hasn't had to depend on the mining boo to get ahead."

Premier Gladys Berejiklian in Newcastle yesterday. Image David Threlfo Twitter.

 "We've seen at least $2 billion in private investment coming off the back of the government's contribution and that's resulting in a whole range of construction jobs, engineering, tradies, it's hard to find people to work for us up here because there's so much going on which a good challenge to have," said Premier Berejiklian.

The Premier also said the big infrastructure spend has triggered big events in the region such as the inaugural Newcastle 500 Supercars event in November and big sporting games which is all only going to increase as the city moves into the future.

"We're really thrilled that that's what holds the future of Newcastle. It's a multiplicity of jobs, multiple sectors growing and that's what we want to see. I don't want to see people have to jump on a train every morning and travel long distances because they want to get the job of their dreams,"

"I want people to get the jobs of their dreams in Newcastle, and that's the future we're building," said Premier Berejiklian.

EARLIER:

It's all About Building for the Future: Premier Berejiklian Thrilled with Newcastle Interchange

Boxing Day Trading Now Official In The Hunter

BY IAN CROUCH

The state government says Hunter retailers will face a hefty fine if they force their staff to work on Boxing Day.

Legislation to allow shops to open on December 26 across NSW was passed in state parliament late last night.

It follows a two year trial in the Hunter.

The Shop Distributive and Allied Employees Association maintains there is no economic benefit to Boxing Day trading and workers should be free to enjoy the Christmas holidays with their families.

However, Premier Gladys Berejiklian says community feedback has shown overwhelming support for Boxing Day trading and only a handful of complaints.

Parliamentary Secretary For The Hunter, Scot MacDonald says safeguards have been included to ensure workers are not coerced into working on the traditional public holiday.

"(There are) fines of up to $11,000 for forcing any staff to work on Boxing Day and for large shopping areas that seem to force shops to open in their centres, fines of up to $22,000. We're also having the Industrial Relations Commission do an education campaign so that staff are aware that it is voluntary," he said.

 

Feel like everyone around you is sick? Well it's been the worst flu season on record.

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE and JESSICA ROUSE

It's been confirmed: NSW has just recorded its worst flu season on record, with 64 more cases than last year reported across the Hunter New England region.

In the Hunter alone 3,300 cases have been reported.

There are four strains of the virus circulating the country, with almost half of all national sufferers in NSW. It's thought that because of international travel, strains can travel around the world more easily - when there's an outbreak in the southern hemisphere, it almost certainly travels to the northern hemisphere.

Shadow Health Minister Walt Secord says people suffering from flu symptoms are clogging up our hospital systems more and more.

"Emergency departments should be for heart attacks, car accidents, major trauma so when people get really really sick from the flu it puts an impact on our emergency departments and we have a situation where emergency departments around the state are at breaking point - I know that Calvary Mater Hospital has had a particularly difficult time with the flu season this year."

Walt Secord says our hospitals are struggling to meet demand and in the Hunter New England there are more flu-related ambulance arrivals than in Central Sydney.

"The Berejiklian government was caught completely unprepared - the outbreaks have put enormous pressure on the hospital system when they could have in fact embarked on a vaccination program to encourage people to get their vaccinations. So next year lets hope they get a vaccination program started around May so we can avoid this - the last thing we want to see is our hospitals chock full of people with flu symptoms."

A political statement, not an education statement: MacDonald on Foley

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Opposition Leader Luke Foley visited Medowie yesterday committing to build the high school which was promised 15 years ago.

But the state government have been quick to say it's no longer needed in the area because since it was initially required both Irrawang and Hunter River High Schools are now both under capacity.

There was talk of building a high school for Medowie back in the early 2000's, but now in 2017 the need is no longer there according to the Department of Education. Both Irrawang and Hunter River High are at 1,539 students which is under capacity.

Luke Foley & Kate Washington in Medowie on
Tuesday.
Image: Twitter @Luke_FoleyNSW

Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald says the figures aren't that different to back in 1996 so he just doesn't see the point.

"It's just disappointing that the Opposition Leader won't take the advice of the Department of Education which is very clear in this case that in the Medowie area we need to back the two schools that are there now - Irrawang and Hunter River High - and not build and not promise to build a high school that's not needed for many many years."

The Opposition Leader also called on the current government to step in and make a move towards building a school, but the government won't have any of that.

"What this is, is a political statement not an education statement. It would penalise the school communities and the students of Irrawang High and Hunter River High. There is capacity at those schools, it would mean weaker subject choice for those schools and they would be even further under capacity," said Scot MacDonald. 

Demountables on the rise in Charlestown

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Charlestown MP Jodie Harrison is calling on the Berejiklian Government to address the increasing number of demountables in her electorate.

The number of demountable classrooms has risen to 48 according to figures obtained by the state opposition under the Freedom of Information laws.

Jodie Harrison says the growing population of Charlestown isn't stopping anytime soon, and the government need to recognise this and work towards installing more permanent learning spaces.

"We know that there are more houses in the area, we know that there are people moving into the area and we also know that the government should be providing classrooms for our kid's education and they need to be permanent classrooms because we know that this is going to be an ongoing population increase."

The demountables are taking up, and taking away, valuable playground space from schools, with Warners Bay High School at the top of the list with the most demountables in Charlestown.

The MP says the reliance on these demountable classrooms needs to stop, and it needs to stop now.

"I would certainly hope the Minister for Education and the Premier have been looking at population growth in the area and making sure they're providing infrastructure to deal with that population increase. Our kids deserve a quality education and quality spaces."

Newcastle schools didn't make the funding cut

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp is calling for Premier Gladys Berejiklian to honour the Gonski funding agreement to schools before Newcastle lose more than $5 million from their budgets.

According to figures obtained by the NSW Teachers Federation under Freedom of Information laws, Lambton High will lose around $670,000, and Hunter School of Performing Arts will lose nearly $620,000.

Across NSW, more than $846 million due to be delivered in 2018-19 for public schools will be slashed under the federal government.

Tim Crakanthorp can't understand how the Premier can praise a government and a budget which means schools lose out.

"The Hunter is losing out and it's simply not good enough. This government is absolutely flush with money from huge stamp duty income as well as selling off our assets at bigger than expected sale prices. They really should be putting money into health and education," he said.

Tim Crakanthorp says as a father himself, he's very disappointed in the Government's commitment to Gonski.

Where are the documents for the Newcastle Light Rail!

BY TYLER FARDELL

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is under pressure to release key documents about the Newcastle Light Rail project, after concerns were raised about whether or not there will be a cost blowout.

The premier came under fire last week in Parliament over her involvement in the Sydney Light rail project, which had a cost blowout of around $550 million dollars.

The documents for the Light rail project, which includes the business case and project analysis, have not been released or shown to the public, despite numerous attempts from Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp to view the documents.

"The government has been transparent on this in Sydney but certainly not in Newcastle".

"I'm very disappointed that this government won't come forward and be clear on this particular issue".

Many MP's are weary of another cost blowout in Newcastle, after the transport interchange's final cost was $210 million dollars, despite the fact it was supposed to cost $70 million.

"There not being very clear at all, and that would be indicative of a serious cost blowout but there's no clarity around that".

Tim Crakanthorp

TAFE is Key to a Strong Economy

BY MARISSA ALEXIOU

TAFE's are facing a challenge in meeting the needs of the Hunter community with the government's defunding of NSW's TAFE System.

State Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery is calling for the government to invest in TAFE in order to keep the Hunter's economy strong.

The O'Farrell-Baird-Berejiklian Government has overseen the defunding of the NSW TAFE system and poorly managed Smart and Skilled Program.

With the rise of youth unemployment, TAFE is being seen as a way to encourage workers to seek further education and upskill our workforce.

Sonia Horney said if the government wants to build a stronger economy, they need to provide courses at TAFE that provide apprenticeships and jobs for people in NSW.

The recent cuts to TAFE have been significant and have seen a reduction in courses, apprenticeships and jobs across NSW including the Hunter.

This has further resulted in a lack of skills needed for areas such as manufacturing and aged care.

Sonia Horney said that a strong education system is necessary for a strong economy and quality workforce.

Source:www.studyinaus.com

Berejiklian Defends Lack Of Action on Lower Hunter Hospital

BY IAN CROUCH

 The state's Treasurer is defending the time being taken to start work on the long-awaited Lower Hunter Hospital at Metford.

Land was purchased for the project back in 2011, but only $6-million was allocated in last month's state budget towards further planning, with no word yet on when construction will start.

Gladys Berejiklian says the hospital is still on the government's radar.

"We'd love to be able to deliver everything today, but it's not possible. You have to make sure you identify your priorities, provide the planning money, provide the funding and then get on and do the job, and that's exactly what we're doing", she said

Gladys Berejiklian

Local winners of the NSW State Budget

BY JARROD MELMETH

In her second budget, NSW Treasurer Gladys Berekijlian has delivered a $3.5 billion surplus with Newcastle and the Hunter receiving over $255 million. $142 million of that will go towards the construction of Newcastle's Light Rail.

Key highlights from the 2016-17 budget for the Hunter include:

• $142 million for Newcastle Light Rail.
• $35 million for Cormorant Road, Industrial Drive to Stockton Bridge works.
• $29 million to deal with mining voids in Newcastle, developing a new Muswellbrook sewerage treatment plant, redevelopment of the Maitland Sports ground complex and the Newcastle cruise terminal.
• $18 million for the Hunter Infrastructure and Investment Fund.
• $14 million for freight rail between Hexam and Fassifern. 
• $10.3 million to complete the final stages of the John Hunter Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
• $7 million to continue planning for M1 extension to Raymond Terrace.
• $6.2 million for the NSW Government response to the Williamtown Royal Australian Air Fore Base Contamination
• $6.2 million for planning and site preparation for the new Maitland Hospital.
• $5 million to continue the Newcastle Inner City Bypass project.
• $3.8 million for upgrades of the TAFE Hunter Institute Newcastle Campus Block D.

The surplus is expected rise to 3.7 billion on the back of sales including the $1.7 billion lease of the Port of Newcastle and other assets from the Hunter.

Gladys Berekijlian. Photo Courtesy of The Newcastle Herald.

Budget Boost For Light Rail

BY IAN CROUCH

 Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian is expected to announce $142-million towards Newcastle's Light Rail project when she hands down the state budget today.

There are reports the government has already placed an order for six light rail trains from the same Spanish manufacturer which supplied carriages for Sydney's Inner West Light Rail system.

The government is also expected to issue a call for the private sector to help it design and run Newcastle's bus, ferry and light rail system, with the initial service contract likely to begin in the middle of next year and run for 10 years.

Gladys Berejiklian