Editors Picks
12 April 2022
GETTING FREIGHT BACK OVER BLUE MOUNTAINS
A 16-metre-deep sink hole is being filled in as part of the NSW Government’s works to repair and reopen the critical western rail freight line.
Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Sam Farraway visited Leura and received an update from Transport for NSW (TfNSW) on repair works.
“The Blue Mountains rail line is a critical freight corridor linking east with west so the TfNSW team has been working 24/7 to get the line reopened,” Mr Farraway said.
“The extent of weather damage across hundreds of metres of track, culminating in the 16-metre sink hole, is staggering. Ballast and the track base underneath was washed away, and a culvert was damaged close to the Great Western Highway.
“TfNSW and Sydney Trains have had to effectively rebuild the entire section of track, while filling in the sink hole and ensuring the area is stable for trains to run on.
“The team has done a great job and removed more than 500 tonnes of debris and we expect to be able to open the line to freight this Saturday, 26 March then to limited diesel-powered regional passenger trains such as the XPT, Bathurst Bullet, Dubbo and Broken Hill services on Monday, 28 March.
“As the electrical services are still out, the intercity fleet are expected to be back online on Friday, 8 April.”
Mr Farraway said extra resources had been deployed to fix the sink hole and surrounding areas.
“Almost 200 staff are working to restore the line using 53 items of heavy machinery, including cranes, concrete pumps, tip trucks, vacuum trucks and excavators,” Mr Farraway said.
The Blue Mountains Line is currently closed between Emu Plains and Lithgow.
Transport for NSW is working on a staged approach to re-opening the track to allow limited intercity passenger shuttle services between Penrith and Springwood this week, with buses continuing to replace trains between Springwood and Lithgow.
Customers are reminded to please allow extra travel time and plan ahead at www.transportnsw.info
and using live apps.
12 April 2022
CAR REGISTRATIONS GO DIGITAL
FORGETTING or losing vehicle registration paperwork is now a thing of the past, with the NSW Government launching a fully digitised, paperless rego service.
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government Victor Dominello said the new Digital Vehicle Registration service is a one-stop shop for millions of drivers, offering digital renewal notifications and a Certificate of Registration all in one place.
“Around 16 per cent of registrations are not renewed on time due to paperwork being damaged, misplaced or simply stuck on the fridge and forgotten about,” Mr Dominello said.
“Through the new service, motorists can opt-in to get electronic reminder notices and access their digital Certificate of Registration through their MyServiceNSW Account.”
To opt-in to Digital Vehicle Registration, visit www.service.nsw.gov.au
02 April 2022
WARNING: SURGE IN ODOMETER TAMPERING
CONSUMERS are being warned about odometer tampering after a four-fold increase in the number of fines issued for the offence in NSW, with hundreds of thousands of kilometres being knocked off vehicle odometers and sold to unsuspecting buyers.
Minister for Fair Trading Eleni Petinos said as used motor vehicle sales have risen amid the COVID-19 pandemic, so too have incidents of odometer fraud where perpetrators wind back the mileage or replace the odometer with one showing fewer kilometres.
“NSW Fair Trading Investigators dished out $112,200 in fines and 76 penalty notices in 2021 and 2022 – a huge jump from 22 total penalties in 2020,” Ms Petinos said.
In one case a seller shaved off more than 400,000km off a 2012 Subaru XV, reducing the odometer from 470,000km down to 52,709km. The vehicle was then sold for $32,000, an $11,000 increase on the original sale price.
To report suspected odometer tampering, visit: www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/report-suspected-odometer-tampering
20 March 2022
WEST'S MOST POPULAR PLACES FOR HOMELESS
SLEEPING rough is the popular term for the homeless in NSW and when it comes to Western Sydney, Parramatta is by far the most popular place to settle down for a night without shelter. A head count by the Department of communities and Justice showed 39 people were sleeping rough in Parramatta in February, compared to 32 last year, but down from 94 in 2020. Cumberland had three, down from seven and Blacktown had just four, down from eight. Penrith LGA also had four, down from 10.
12 March 2022
FLOOD RECOVERY CENTRE OPENS AT SOUTH WINDSOR
A DEDICATED Recovery Centre will open its doors in South Windsor for the first time providing face-to-face support for locals affected by the current flood event.
Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the Recovery Centre would assist communities transition from response into clean-up and recovery.
“A range of NSW Government agencies, community organisations and welfare bodies will work from the Recovery Centre to assist anyone who has been impacted by the record-breaking flooding,” Mr Ayres said.
“Whether it be receiving clean-up help, replacing lost documents or requesting short-term accommodation, I encourage everyone across the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley to take advantage of this assistance.”
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the Recovery Centre is open seven days a week and will support individuals, families, farmers and business owners to find the various forms of practical support available.
“We will work with local communities and councils to progressively build on the services offered at the Resilience NSW operated Recovery Centres, and their doors will stay open for as long as the community needs,” Ms Cooke said.
Member for Hawkesbury Robyn Preston said the flooding experienced in Windsor and the surrounding towns was over one metre higher than the March 2021 flood event.
“We have a big recovery effort ahead of us and it’s fantastic to have a mass mobilisation of resources including personnel from the Rural Fire Service, State Emergency Service, Public Works Advisory, Resilience NSW, NSW Police Force and Australian Defence Force to help with the damage assessments and clean-up,” Ms Preston said.
Resilience NSW will establish a Recovery Centre in Wisemans Ferry shortly.
For those wanting to be assisted remotely, Service NSW is operating as an online one-stop shop, with Customer Care specialists also available on the phone via 13 77 88.
Featured
11 March 2022
ACCOMMODATION SUPPORT FOR FLOOD VICITIMS
Plus access to 16 weeks rental support
A NEW $285M Temporary Housing Support Package will provide accommodation support to flood victims who have lost their homes to ensure people can access more immediate and medium-term accommodation support.
Featured
10 March 2022
WARNING ON FLOOD RECOVERY SCAMS
Fraudsers targeting flood victims
THE NSW Government has issued a warning to flood victims and residents across the state to be wary of flood recovery scams.
