Minister for Energy and Environment

Reports of a white whale passing the NSW coast has prompted a reminder for the community to give the extraordinary mammal plenty of space.

Environment Minister Matt Kean said the white whale, possibly the famous Migaloo, might be passing from the Central Coast to Newcastle today after being spotted on the South Coast yesterday.

“Since Migaloo was first reported in 1991 there are a number of other white whales recorded, and like the literary predecessor Moby Dick, human interest in pursuing these white whales is putting them at risk,” Minister Kean said.

Hornsby Council has taken out the National Award along with the State Award for the number one phone recycling. Over the last 12 months the Thornleigh Community Recycling Centre in Hornsby collected 525kg of mobile phones and acccessories for recycling. The drive thru recycling centre makes it easy for residents to recycle a number of household items including mobile phones.

More than half a million homes and businesses in Sydney’s inner suburbs will have more reliable power, with TransGrid’s $285 million Powering Sydney’s Future project getting the green light today from the NSW Government. 

Energy Minister Matt Kean said the upgraded infrastructure will provide additional security of supply during peak demand periods.

“Parts of Sydney’s transmission and distribution networks are reaching their end of life, so this project will play a crucial role in ensuring a continuous and reliable energy supply for our communities,” Mr Kean said. 

The entire colony of Brush-tailed Rock-wallabies in Kangaroo Valley survived the 2019-20 bushfires which devastated the region, with the support of emergency food drops, announced Environment Minister Matt Kean today.

“Since the Currowan fire burnt endangered Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby habitat near Kangaroo Valley in early January, National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) rangers trekked into the region every week to provide food for the hungry wallabies and ensure their survival,” Mr Kean said.

Landcare NSW will receive $1.3 million from the NSW Government, in a partnership for a series of regional biodiversity conservation projects across NSW.

Minister for Environment Matt Kean said the funding will be administered by the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Trust (BCT), the NSW government body that delivers private land conservation agreements across NSW.

Energy businesses, workers and consumer groups are being encouraged to help shape the design of the new Energy Security Safeguard, to ensure it will drive down power prices and improve the reliability of the NSW grid.

Energy Minister Matt Kean today called on interested stakeholders to respond to the Energy Security Safeguard consultation paper, which is an important next step to implement the State’s Electricity Strategy to lower power prices and improve the reliability and sustainability of the electricity system.

Electricity consumers are set to benefit from more affordable and reliable electricity, following the NSW and Commonwealth Governments’ support to speed up the upgrade to the NSW-QLD interconnector (QNI).

Energy Minister Matt Kean said the Australian Energy Regulator’s final approval of the QNI upgrade is great news for the households and businesses of NSW, providing an additional 190 megawatts of low-cost electricity for NSW and supporting over 150 jobs.

Hornsby locals are encouraged to return their bottles and cans and donate the 10 cents to those doing it tough in the bush.

Member for Hornsby and Minister for for Environment Matt Kean says, “All Return and Earn vending machines will now allow you to donate the proceeds from your bottle and can collection to Rural Aid, directly helping those suffering in the drought.”