Today I joined Gladys Berejiklian and Adam Marshall to hand back more than 15,000 hectares of land in the State’s central west to Aboriginal owners, which will be reserved to form the new Mt Grenfell National Park and Mt Grenfell State Conservation Area.
NSW is set to become an energy and economic superpower, with the Electricity Infrastructure Investment Bill 2020 passing through the NSW Parliament today.
Minister for Energy Matt Kean says it’s a great day for our State and a great day for our country.
“This Bill will enable us to get on with delivering the energy infrastructure we need to keep the lights on and get electricity prices down for homes and businesses across our great State,” Mr Kean said.
For more than a decade, Australian politics has been ravaged by the climate wars, dividing the country between those focused on the economy and those focused on addressing climate change.
But two things have changed since the climate wars began.
The NSW Budget has been handed down with a focus on kick-starting the economy and keeping our community safe.
Member for Hornsby Matt Kean MP said this budget is about helping families, job creation and ensuring our health system continues to be world-class.
“The NSW State Government is committed to ensuring our community is kept safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. That is why we are investing in our health system,” Mr Kean said.
“This will include $60 million this year for the continued redevelopment of Hornsby Hospital.”
The brand new paediatrics unit at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital is open for business with staff thrilled to be in their new home.
Paediatrics is the second department to open in the brand new 6 storey clinical services building. The centrepiece of the $265 million Stage two redevelopment of the hospital.
Member for Hornsby Matt Kean and Member for Ku-ring-gai Alister Henskens SC took a tour of the new department which includes additional beds for patients and a better play area for younger children and a recreation room with study area for older children.
Planning is underway to improve accessibility at Thornleigh and Normanhurst stations. Member for Hornsby Matt Kean MP said,
“The upgrades to Thornleigh and Normanhurst stations will provide a station precinct that is accessible to those with a disability, limited mobility, parents and carers with prams and customers with luggage.”
Preliminary investigations will help identify what work will be required to make both stations fully accessible, with survey and site investigations having taken place in late October.
The brand new paediatrics unit at Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital is open for business with staff thrilled to be in their new home.
Paediatrics is the second department to open in the brand new 6 storey clinical services building. The centrepiece of the $265 million Stage two redevelopment of the hospital.
Member for Hornsby Matt Kean and Member for Ku-ring-gai Alister Henskens SC took a tour of the new department which includes additional beds for patients and a better play area for younger children and a recreation room with study area for older children.
More than 270,000 hectares has been added to the NSW national park estate, smashing the State’s target to increase the footprint by 200,000 hectares by 2021.
Environment Minister Matt Kean said the new additions – totaling 202,669 hectares – are the largest increase to national parks in a single day since 2005.
“Permanently reserving national parks is the cornerstone of biodiversity conservation in NSW,” Mr Kean said.
Our frontline defence against bushfires will be boosted thanks to more than $29 million in new funding for the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) as part of the NSW Government’s response to the NSW Bushfire Inquiry.
Measures funded in the package include:
The billion-dollar Oven Mountain pumped hydro project has been declared Critical State Significant Infrastructure by the NSW Government, kick-starting the country’s largest Renewable Energy Zone and unlocking opportunities for 600 regional jobs.
Energy Minister Matt Kean said that pumped hydro was essential for the State’s energy future and works by pumping water up the hill when energy is cheap and letting it run down the hill when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing.
After being elected as Member for Hornsby in March 2011, I have embarked on many initiatives that the community and I see as pivotal issues for Hornsby. I see and understand the needs of the community and am proud to play my part.
