Riverina events receive government funding to boost local tourism economies

Regional New South Wales will receive a welcome boost to tourism with 59 events to share in the NSW Government’s $1 million 2020 Regional Event Fund.

Gears and Beers Festival, Wagga Wagga 2018

The NSW Government, through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, will provide funding to event organisers across the state to deliver events that will attract visitors and drive economic activity for local businesses.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW John Barilaro said COVID-19 restrictions led to the postponement of many regional NSW events, which meant many event owners and local businesses lost cash flow during the shutdown period.

“Local businesses in regional communities are preparing for a much needed economic boost after enduring drought, bushfires and more recently COVID-19,” said Mr Barilaro.

“This funding will bring regional events back to life, which will not only put money in the pockets of event vendors but will be a huge morale boost for our communities at such a crucial time.

“These events create local jobs and bring regional communities together, and so we look forward to a full calendar of COVID-Safe events across the state later in 2020 and into next year.”

Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the fund would provide critical support to the tourism and events industries across NSW.

“The calibre and diversity of events supported through the Regional Event Fund will give visitors plenty of extra motivation to get out and explore regional NSW,” Mr Ayres said.

“Regional NSW is eagerly welcoming visitors back to drive spending in communities that rely on the visitor economy to support local businesses.”

The Regional Event Fund is part of the NSW Government’s $10 million Tourism Recovery package and in 2020, comprises two streams: the Flagship Event Fund and a new Micro Event Fund.

The Regional Event Fund will support:

• 18 events through $20,000 annual Flagship Event Fund grants

• 12 events through $30,000 cash and in-kind triennial Flagship Event Fund grants

• 29 events through $10,000 Micro Event Fund grants

“Arts, culture, music, sport, and food and wine events highlight the unique attributes of regional towns that make them outstanding places to visit, and stimulate economic activity in these communities,” Mr Ayres said.

“Tourism is the backbone of so many regional NSW towns, and we know that events are a big drawcard for intrastate and interstate visitors so the NSW Government is proud to support these activities at such a critical time.”

Events scheduled between 1 May and 31 December 2020 at the time of application were eligible for funding. In line with current Australian Government restrictions regarding mass gatherings, Destination NSW will liaise with event owners to discuss their plans. Events must be delivered to receive funding.

Riverina Flagship Event Fund recipients:

• Australian Art Deco Festival (Leeton)

• Batlow Cider Festival (Batlow)

• Gears & Beers Festival (Wagga Wagga)

• Lost Lanes (Wagga Wagga)

• Spring Jam (Wagga Wagga)

• Warbirds Downunder Airshow (Temora)

Kosciuszko National Park - 2020 Snow Season FAQs

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service has released Frequently Asked Questions for the 2020 Snow Season.

Due to Covid-19 guidelines there are some changes this snow season to manage numbers and ensure the safety of communities and visitors, in line with the COVID Safe Operating Plan developed by the ski resorts and supported by the National Parks and Wildlife Service.

The NSW ski season officially opened on 22 June 2020.

The ski resort's lift operations are closed until the opening of the ski season.

The NSW resorts will open on the following dates:

Thredbo: Monday 22 June 2020

Perisher: Wednesday 24 June 2020

Charlotte Pass: Friday 26 June 2020

Selwyn Snow Resort: Closed for 2020 due to bush fire damage

What do visitors need before coming to the ski fields this year?

Due to the restriction on numbers required to keep people safe, if visitors are planning to travel to the ski fields this year they should have in place, before leaving home:

• pre-booked accommodation (including camping) if staying overnight

• a pre-purchased lift pass if using the ski lifts Kosciuszko National Park – Operating safely during COVID-19 3

• have lodged a Trip Intention Form with NPWS if doing on-snow sporting activities that occurs outside of the resort ski / snowboard runs

Visitors should plan ahead and check the following prior to travel for the latest access and restrictions:

• Alerts on Kosciuszko National Park website - https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/kosciuszko-national-park

• Traffic for NSW Live traffic updates - https://www.livetraffic.com/

• Resort websites

Park access and parking

The only requirement to enter Kosciuszko National Park is a valid NSW Parks Pass displayed on the vehicle, if you are visiting a location where park use fees apply. Trip Intention Forms or a resort lift pass are required if you are planning on-snow sporting activities but are not a condition of entry to Kosciuszko National Park.

All public carparks which are open throughout Kosciuszko National Park will operate as per previous snow-seasons. Parking spaces cannot be reserved and a pre-purchased resort lift pass or a pre-registered NPWS Trip Intention Form does not assure that a parking spot will be available when you arrive.

To cater for an increase in backcountry activities this snow season, Cascades Trailhead and Dead Horse Gap carparks are available, for day parking only at this stage.

As always temporary road closures or traffic restrictions may be implemented to manage safety on roads. Please ensure that you have planned ahead and keep abreast of relevant alerts on https://www.livetraffic.com.

Is tobogganing allowed?

Tobogganing, sledding and snow-tubing is not permitted throughout Kosciuszko National Park (KNP) in 2020. The resorts developed a COVID Safe Operating Plan for the 2020 season which was supported by NPWS and the emergency services. While this plan has allowed the season to proceed, it has also resulted in the need to manage visitor numbers across all activities in KNP and the temporary closure of Tube Town in Perisher resort. Selwyn resort is also closed due to bushfire damage.

Due to the temporary closure of the only designated facilities, there are no allocated areas in KNP for tobogganing. Because of the traditional popularity of tobogganing and the temporary closure of allocated areas, it is not possible to ensure safety along roadsides or physical distancing with tobogganing in other areas of KNP.

All restrictions relating to COVID-19 are subject to review as advice from the Department of Health changes. This would include reviewing the current restriction on tobogganing.

Can visitors undertake snow play activities?

NPWS and the resorts are asking visitors not to visit the ski resorts in 2020 specifically for snow play activities. This is because there are no areas allocated for snow play or tobogganing in 2020 due to the resorts COVID Safe Operating Plan.

Additionally, all buildings and facilities in the resorts will have capacity issues due to COVID-19 requirements. This may make it difficult to take shelter for breaks or to avoid cold / harsh weather. If the weather is bad, you may have nowhere to shelter and stay warm.

Visitors can still undertake snow play activities (excluding tobogganing) in other areas of the park, if they undertake these activities in a safe and suitable location.

• Examples of snow play activities include sightseeing, building a snowman, throwing a snowball, going for a short walk or other similar experiences.

• NPWS are concerned about safety management of snow play user groups, as unsafe areas along road corridors may become crowded. Visitors should ensure their activities are undertaken in a safe location and physical distancing measures are undertaken.

• Visitors must take responsibility for their own personal safety including, staying well clear of roads, maintaining physical distancing, parking safely and in accordance with road safety signage.

• Sliding on garbage bags or other similar products is very dangerous and strictly prohibited as per the Kosciuszko National Park Plan of Management (2006).

Do visitors doing snow play need to complete a Trip Intention Form?

No. Trip Intention Forms (TIF) are only needed for visitors doing sporting activities on-snow outside of resort operational areas.

Regional Australia Institute releases The Big Movers report

Today, the RAI has released their latest myth-busting report, The Big Movers, which unpacks population trends around the country, and confirms that regional Australia attracted more people than it lost to capital cities during the last Census - 65,204 more to be precise.

Between 2011 and 2016, more than 1.2 million people either moved to regional Australia or moved around regional Australia from one location to another. More than 500,000 of these people moved from a capital city to the regions.

You can find out where the top five regional areas are in your state or territory by checking out their Factsheet, or dive deeper and read the full report on their website.

Alternatively, join them for a free webinar tomorrow at 10.30am (AEST), where CEO Liz Ritchie will lead an expert panel, including RAI Chief Economist, Dr Kim Houghton, REA Group Chief Economist, Nerida Conisbee, and Murray River Council Mayor, Chris Bilkey, will also join the panel.

Key insights from the report will be presented, and the pre- and post-COVID-19 impacts for property as seen by realestate.com.au, as well as the success factors for a growing inland region.

Get in quick - registrations close today at 6.00pm AEST!

H20 Hack: Water Management Survey

A group of technologists and researchers working in the field of water management have developed a survey designed to get an understanding of interest towards technology for management of water in farms.

The team have developed an IOT (internet of Things) and App-based technology, that can not only help farmers understand the amount of water required, but also provide decision support on when to irrigate. This is specific to the type of crop being grown.

If you have any producers in your network that have some form of water management requirement on their properties please forward them the survey link to fill out. It should only take 2 minutes to complete.

Media Release from The Hon Nola Marino MP: RDA Riverina supporting communities during Covid-19

Richard Allsopp, Chair of RDA Riverina

The Australian Government commends the outstanding work of RDA Riverina in supporting the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Led by Chair Mr Richard Allsopp, RDA Riverina’s engagement with their community, businesses and all levels of Government has been vital in identifying emerging issues throughout the crisis and opportunities for the recovery phase.

This work is important to managing impacts and ensuring communities and businesses are able to get back on their feet as quickly as possible. Key activities being undertaken by RDA Riverina include:

• Actively participating in two collaborative taskforces with a bushfire and COVID-19 recovery focus;

• Collaborating with local and NSW Government agencies to identify shovel-ready projects and develop an agreed regional recovery plan;

• Supporting a campaign to direct businesses to available COVID-19 support, via social media, e-newsletters, the RDA Riverina website and direct contact; and

• Surveying the region’s temporary residents to understand the issues impacting them and providing this information to the Australian and NSW Governments for consideration.

Regional Development Australia Committees (RDAs) have played and continue to play an important role in delivering sustainable infrastructure and services to their region. These Committees deliver important work in consulting with communities, promoting and participating in regional initiatives, and providing information and advice on their region to all levels of Government.

Since late March I have been holding regular teleconferences with RDA representatives three times a week. These conversations provided first-hand insights into how local communities are coping, and the impact and effectiveness of Government response measures. This local intelligence is provided directly to Government ministers and agencies to inform policymaking.

I want to thank the RDA Riverina committee members and staff for their work in driving positive change in your local communities.

If you would like to learn more about how RDA Riverina is able to assist you, visit its website at www.rdariverina.org.au. Further information about the RDA program is available at www.rda.gov.au.

The Hon Nola Marino MP

Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories, Federal Member for Forrest

Economic Development Australia Survey

Economic Development Australia (EDA) invites Economic Development professionals to complete a survey to help identify the aspirations and priority needs of the economic development sector.

As communities embark on the challenge of reinvigorating local economies following the COVID-19 related shut down, EDA will be advocating for all levels of Government to support transformative economic development activities.
 
The deadline to complete this short survey has been extended. Please complete the survey by Wednesday June 24 2020. 

EDA Members who have contributed to the survey will be invited to participate in a national forum, where they will refine the message EDA will deliver to Government on the sector’s behalf.

This process will also identify state priorities, which will empower EDA State Practitioner Networks (SPNs) to lobby for effective state policy settings and resourcing.

Round 4 Building Better Regions Fund Recipients Announced

The recipients of round 4 of the building better regions fund have been announced. RDA Riverina would like to congratulate all of the successful recipients in our region.

Community Investments Stream

• Narrandera Shire Council - Narrungdera Earth Fest Creative Economy Project
  $136,675 to deliver a Creative Economy Training Program and a three day Narrungdera Earth Festival for the whole community in the Narrandera region.

• Griffith City Council - Sunshine Super Girl World Premiere & Yarruwala Wiradjuri Cultural Festival
  $35,000 to present the World Premiere and a short season of Sunshine Super Girl, a theatre production telling the story of Yvonne Goolagong-Crawley.

• Destination Riverina Murray Ltd - Destination Inspiration and Activation Program
  $44,765 to deliver five tourism business support events across the Riverina Murray region and mentor up to 15 participants.

Infrastructure Projects Stream

• Wagga Wagga City Council - Botanic Gardens Precinct Renewal Project
  $4,288,879 to complete renewal works to the Botanic Gardens precinct which will encompass construction of a new exhibition hall, museum refurbishment and upgrade public outdoor spaces.

• Griffith City Council - Griffith Pioneer Housing Project
  $6,000,000 to develop 20 housing properties and 47 new housing sites for low-income households.

'Homebuilder' program to drive economic activity across the residential construction sector

The Australian Government has announced a new HomeBuilder program aimed at supporting jobs in the residential construction sector.

From today until 31 December 2020, HomeBuilder will provide all eligible owner-occupiers (not just first home buyers) with a grant of $25,000 to build a new home or substantially renovate an existing home. Construction must be contracted to commence within three months of the contract date.

HomeBuilder applicants will be subject to eligibility criteria, including income caps of $125,000 for singles and $200,000 for couples based on their latest assessable income. A national dwelling price cap of $750,000 will apply for new home builds, and a renovation price range of $150,000 up to $750,000 will apply to renovating an existing home with a current value of no more than $1.5 million.

The program is expected to provide around 27,000 grants at a total cost of around $680 million.

This increase in residential construction will help to fill the gap in construction activity expected in the second half of 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In doing so, HomeBuilder will help to support the 140,000 direct jobs and another 1,000,000 related jobs in the residential construction sector including businesses and sole-trader builders, contractors, property developers, construction materials manufacturers, engineers, designers and architects.

HomeBuilder complements existing state and territory First Home Owner Grant programs, stamp duty concessions and other grant schemes, as well as the Commonwealth’s First Home Loan Deposit Scheme and First Home Super Saver Scheme.

This year, the Government delivered the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme to help eligible first home buyers to purchase their first home with a deposit of as little as 5 per cent, allowing them to get into the market sooner. HomeBuilder will create even more opportunities for first home buyers to enter the property market, as well as support other eligible Australians to build a new home or renovate an existing home.

The HomeBuilder program will be implemented via a National Partnership Agreement, signed by the Commonwealth and state and territory governments.

More information on HomeBuilder, including eligibility, can be found on the Treasury Coronavirus Economic Response website.

Australian Government Introduces the Trade Mark COVID-19 Helpline

IP Australia have established a free support and assistance service for small to medium Australian businesses who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and want more information about trade mark registration in this new environment.

It is suitable for businesses who have changed or expanded their business offerings due to pandemic effects on the marketplace, and specifically for those who are interested in understanding the options available to them around trade mark registration.

Australian Forest Products – Aussie Made and proud of it!

The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA) is proud to announce it has signed up to the Australian Made Campaign (AMCL) to support the push for Australians to choose local products manufactured from Australia’s sustainably managed forests, as we seek to rebuild the economy after CoVid-19 pandemic imposed shutdowns.

AFPA Chief Executive Officer, Ross Hampton said, “Australia’s forest products industries use sustainably harvested timber to produce Australian-made renewable products which are used every day in homes and offices around the country.”

“That has always been the case, and during the CoVid-19 pandemic our forest products industries haven’t stopped providing essential goods like paper, tissue and cleaning products, as well as cardboard for packaging and timber for pallets and new housing construction. All locally produced from Australian timber, which is the ultimate renewable.”

“It should be unacceptable to Australians that around $5.5 billion in forest products are imported each year and we have a $2 billion trade deficit. We even import a significant portion of the softwood timber framing we use for our homes. If more Australians buy local timber products, we will help ensure our own people keep their jobs in our sawmills and other timber processing plants in regional Australia.”

AMCL Chief Executive Officer, Ben Lazzaro said, “This partnership is a timely one, as it supports the growth of one of Australia’s most important and renewable sectors. The forest products industry is one of Australia’s largest manufacturing industries, employing thousands of Australians, many of who live in regional areas.”

“Australian Made looks forward to supporting AFPA and its members with improved access to Australia’s most recognised, trusted and widely used country of origin symbol—the Australian Made logo,” Mr Lazzaro concluded.

To find out more about the Australian Made campaign go to www.australianmade.com.au.

New look for Snowy Valleys Way touring route

The Snowy Valleys Way touring route, which offers a scenic alternative to the Hume Highway is set to receive a marketing makeover.

Snowy Valleys Council received funding to develop a new look for the Snowy Valleys Way including an overhaul of the promotional and marketing collateral.

Council’s Executive Director Community & Corporate Paul Holton said the re-vamp project included new look road signage, a new website and refreshed visual language for use in all collateral material related to the touring route.

“The new branding sets to position the route as a journey and appeal to a target audience seeking adventure and a slow travel experience,” Mr Holton said.

Along with signage, print and social media platforms, a new website will promote the natural beauty of the road trip, and provide details of campsites, dump points, fuel stops, and other services important to holiday travelers. It will also provide links to other regional tourism websites including Visit Snowy Valleys and Visit Upper Murray.

“We collaborated with Cootamundra Gundagai Regional Council, Towong Shire Council and Indigo Shire Council, who all have a stake in the touring route to ensure everyone was on board with the new look,” Mr Holton said.

Starting at Gundagai, the Snowy Valleys Way passes through Tumut, Batlow, Tumbarumba, Corryong, Yackandandah and Beechworth before re-joining the Hume Highway at Wangaratta.

Mr Holton said the new design collateral would be ready to roll out as visitors began returning to regional Australia following the pandemic restrictions.

“Drive tourism is set to become the preferred Australian holiday escape and is a very important part of our wider region’s visitor experience,” he said.

“Encouraging travelers to detour off the highway via the Snowy Valleys Way brings them into contact with our towns and villages which they would not otherwise be exposed to, helping to boost our local tourism economy,” he went on to say.

The new brand uses simple solid shapes to communicate detouring from the highway and helps to achieve recognition of the brand even when moving, and at a distance.

The website is expected to launch in June 2020, with new road signage installed, and print media available soon thereafter.

The original Snowy Valleys Way project was developed over a decade ago and was a collaboration between the former Councils of Gundagai, Tumut, Tumbarumba, Towong and Indigo and was backed by Federal Government funding. Snowy Valleys Council received a $50,000 grant under the NSW Government’s Stronger Communities Fund to update the branding and collateral.

Removal of iconic Sugar Pine Walk to begin following bushfire impact

Following the devastation of the 2019-20 bushfire season, work will soon begin to remove the iconic Sugar Pine Walk in Bago State Forest.

Sadly, the forest was heavily burnt in the bushfires and the Sugar Pine Walk trees cannot be saved, said Forestry Corporation of NSW Snowy Region Manager, Dean Anderson.

“The site has sentimental value for many of us and we share this loss with the community,” Mr Anderson said.

“Many of our staff were even married on the site, including the person planning the Sugar Pine Walk timber harvest, and anyone who has visited the site will have appreciated how special it was.

“Pine trees are particularly susceptible to fire and the intensity of the bushfires has destroyed this iconic walk in Bago State Forest.

“We have no option but to remove the trees — the site is incredibly dangerous due to the burnt standing timber. The site is strictly closed to the public and forest visitors must avoid the area for their own safety.”

Forestry Corporation will also be working with mills and local contractors to salvage the bushfire-affected wood, with work starting from early June this year.

The organisation is commissioning a photographer to capture the Sugar Pine Walk as it stands and will share these images with the community. We will also be holding a photo competition to capture the community’s memories of the Sugar Pine Walk before it was impacted by fire.

Sugar Pine (Pinus lamertina) is native to the west coast of America and is the largest and tallest of all pine species. The site was planted 1928 as a range of different exotic species were being trialled by the forestry industry.

Forestry Corporation staff are also exploring how to mark the passing of the forest and how best to commemorate the loss.

“Planning is underway for a replacement Sugar Pine Walk, with seed and seedlings in the current site being collected for propagation and replanting for future generations,” Mr Anderson said.

“We are also looking at other ways we can preserve the memory of Sugar Pine Walk and are share with the community to celebrate 100 years of plantation forestry in the local region.”

To find out more about the history of Sugar Pine Walk and current operations, please visit www.forestrycorporation.com.au

Multicultural Community Medal Finalist

A long-standing Regional Development Riverina staff member has been named a finalist for the NSW Premier’s Multicultural Community Medal.

The Premier’s Multicultural Community Medals and the Multicultural Honour Roll highlight the outstanding contribution of migrants, and those who work in the multicultural field. As Skilled Migration Officer, Faye Anderson has made a valuable contribution to this field for more than 15 years.

In her role, Faye is called upon to respond to the needs of Riverina employers and migrants alike in assessing and processing visa applications for certification and sponsorship. But as RDA Riverina CEO Rachel Whiting points out, Faye’s contributions go much further.

“Faye is patient and kind. She goes above and beyond in responding to the needs of new skilled migrants and their families. She meets and greets new arrivals at the airport or train station, is invited to cultural celebrations and has been known to drive new arrivals to job interviews on her day off.

“Faye is the perfect example of a long-standing member of the Riverina community welcoming people to our region. She sets a great example for unity in the community and shows us what we can achieve if people are willing to act as a friend and neighbour to all.”

Rachel said that Faye invests a great deal of time in building relationships with employers and migrants to help them make connections that benefit both parties and significantly contributes to the economic, social and cultural wellbeing of our regional communities.

“Faye has contributed to the goodwill in our communities towards new migrants and has eased the transition for many families. This has been a slow and quiet change but, through her good works, Faye sets the standard for others in the community.

“Faye is a much-loved member of the community and highly respected for her extensive knowledge and experience and we are very proud of her and the work she has done in helping new migrants as part of and in addition to her role as Skilled Migration Officer for RDA Riverina.

“We were sad that the awards night couldn’t go ahead this year as planned due to Covid-19 but super excited for the announcement on Tuesday 26 may. Faye's a true winner in our eyes.”

Commonwealth Government Seeking Consultation on Mobile Black Spot Program

The Government is seeking feedback on the design of Round 5A of the Mobile Black Spot Program.

Consultation Period:  April 21, 2020 09:00 AEST to June 19, 2020 17:00 AEST

The Government is seeking input on the design of Round 5A of the Mobile Black Spot Program. The program funds telecommunications infrastructure to deliver new and improved coverage in regional and remote Australia. The Australian Government has committed $380 million over six rounds to the program.

The program objectives are to provide mobile telecommunications users in regional and remote Australia with:

• access to increased handheld and external antenna mobile coverage, and

• greater choice of mobile network.

The first five rounds of the program have been highly successful, funding 1,229 new mobile base stations. These base stations are delivering hundreds of thousands of square kilometres of new coverage to regional and remote Australia.

The government are seeking stakeholder views on the design of the next round of the program, to identify opportunities and lessons learnt, so the program continues to deliver high-value outcomes to regional and remote Australia.

Feedback will inform the design of the Round 5A program guidelines.

Telecommunications industry, all levels of government and other interested stakeholders are encouraged to make a submission to help inform the Government's consideration of possible program implementation methods.

RDA Riverina are happy to assist LGAs and community members with a regional approach, or you are welcome to make your own submission.

SEGRA publishes COVID-19 Special Communique: Speaking up for Regional Australia

On behalf of the National Steering Committee, SEGRA has published a special COVID-19 edition of SEGRA : Speaking up for Regional Australia. This material has been generated through a bi-weekly conversation with a range of organisations including Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Mayors, Regional Development Australia CEO's and Chairs, Investment attraction agencies, Queensland's Chief Entrepreneur and many others. It contains key issues identified in the conversations and action agendas for people in regional, rural and remote Australia to consider.

Red Cross Emergency Relief Payments for migrants on temporary visas

The Red Cross National portal to assist temporary migrants (anyone in Australia who is not a citizen or permanent resident) to access emergency relief is now operational as of 5/5/2020.

Emergency relief payments are for people who:

• are not Australian citizens or permanent residents, and

• have no access to services like Centrelink or other support payments, and

• have no income, savings or means of supporting themselves, and

• have urgent essential needs like food, medicine and shelter

Emergency relief payments can provide vital short-term relief when people have to make tough choices and decide between essentials. They help with basic needs, like food, medicine, and immediate housing, to help people stay safe.

People need to provide information about their situation, dependents, and visa details as well as their most recent bank statement. Once they make their application Red Cross will contact them to discuss their situation.  

The portal link is: www.redcross.org.au/emergencyrelief

COVID-19 Information in your language

The Australian Department of Home Affairs have launched a new website providing a collection of information on COVID-19 for Australia’s diverse communities.

This new website provides information and advice in 63 languages.

The website includes a range of information on Health, Education, Financial Support, Community & Settlement Services and Visas & the border.

The website is accessible from the official Australian Government COVID-19 response website at https://www.australia.gov.au by clicking on the “Check the latest information in your language” web link.

First Regional NSW COVID-19 Respiratory Clinic opens in Wagga Wagga

The first rural GP-led COVID-19 respiratory clinic in New South Wales officially opened 15th April at Wagga Wagga’s Glenrock Country Practice.

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development and Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack said the new respiratory clinic, assembled at Dr Ayman Shenouda’s practice, was part of the Australian Government’s $2.4 billion health package to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.

“Wagga Wagga is a health hub for the Riverina and the Murrumbidgee Valley with more than 250,000 people relying on the regional city’s health services and medical professionals,” Mr McCormack said.

“Dr Shenouda has been at the forefront of making sure regional Australians live healthy lives and get through this challenging time. I commend the work he has done to help get this clinic up and running. I know the local community will be extremely grateful.

“The Federal Government has committed to establishing up to 100 GP-led respiratory clinics across Australia to assess patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms.

“The local clinics will help to reduce pressure on hospital emergency departments and other general practices.

“Rural and regional residents deserve health care services which are just as good as those provided in our major cities and the national rollout of these new clinics is part of addressing that.

“These respiratory clinics will be best placed to support people with a fever, cough, sore throat and other respiratory symptoms and will help to avoid the risk of infection in our local communities.”

Federal Minister for Regional Health Mark Coulton said the Federal Government was focused on ensuring rural and regional communities are prepared to respond to this pandemic.

“We are putting in place a range of measures including additional practice incentives and the expansion of telehealth to enable the rural medical workforce to continue to care for rural people,” Mr Coulton said.

“Other rural respiratory clinics are also operating in Emerald in Queensland and Mildura in Victoria with more to open over the coming weeks and months.

“The Government is working with local GPs and Aspen Medical, which has significant health emergency management experience in Australia and overseas, to rollout the clinics.”

Vice President of the Royal Australian College of General Practice and Wagga Wagga GP Dr Ayman Shenouda said it was an honour to open the first rural GP-led COVID-19 respiratory clinic in New South Wales.

"GPs are doing an incredible job on the frontline of COVID-19 combating this virus and the respiratory clinic in Wagga Wagga will make a real difference,” Dr Shenouda said.

"The clinic will help to screen patients with flu-like symptoms and is located in a separate position to the practice to keep staff and patients safe. It will allow all patients to access their own GP in a safe environment.

"Screening patients for COVID-19 will help to reduce community transmission of coronavirus."

The Government is investing $206.7 million to establish up to 100 respiratory clinics across Australia, including in rural and regional areas. Additionally, more than 160 fever clinics, jointly funded by the Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments are also in operation across Australia.

BACKGROUND:

• People with mild to moderate respiratory symptoms will need to make an appointment either online via booking links available at health.gov.au or over the phone if the clinic has made a local phone booking arrangement available. (People with severe symptoms should call 000 and/or attend the nearest hospital emergency department.)

• It is important people attend the clinic only at the time of their booking so social distancing can be maintained and they may be asked to wait in their car until the clinic is ready to receive them.

• People will be assessed by a GP or a nurse under the supervision of a GP and have a specimen taken for pathology testing if that is indicated.

• Regardless of whether a test is undertaken, the person will receive clinical advice on how to manage their symptoms and an initial follow-up phone call or text message with test results and to check on how they are going.

• After people have visited the clinic, they will remain eligible to continue to consult their regular GP using the MBS telehealth items.

Funding to help bushfire-hit farmers rebuild boundary fencing bordering public lands

Bushfire-affected landholders will now have access to their share of up to $209 million to help cover the cost of rebuilding boundary fences, after Deputy Premier John Barilaro launched the NSW Government’s ‘Supporting our Neighbours’ project.

Mr Barilaro said the project, funded through the government’s $2.3 billion COVID-19 stimulus package, would not only help farmers recover, but would provide a much-needed shot in the arm for regional economies at a critical time.

“Under this package, we will provide up to $5000 per kilometre for the purchase of materials to rebuild existing fences adjoining public lands damaged by the summer fires, which will go a long way to helping farmers cover the cost,” Mr Barilaro said. 

“This is a great opportunity for all landholders to engage the services of their local contractors at a time when supporting local businesses has never been more vital.

“This is about helping bushfire-affected communities get back on their feet and so we are doing everything we can to make sure that happens.”

Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall said the funding would be delivered through a one-off grant, which would also be issued retrospectively to help cover the costs already incurred by landholders. 

“We know this has been a major issue for fire-affected farmers and we’ve listened to those concerns,” Mr Marshall said. 

“We will have dedicated boundary fence coordinators working with farmers to identify their needs and negotiate with the public land managers to ensure money gets into farmers’ pockets as soon as possible.

“We’re encouraging landholders to use this opportunity to upgrade their fencing bordering public lands and use fire resilient materials wherever possible. Landholders who have already started rebuilding can still receive a backdated payment.”

$100m support for health workers to fight COVID-19

NSW frontline healthcare workers will be provided with free accommodation to protect their loved ones as part of $100 million in extra measures to support frontline staff battling COVID-19. 

 The NSW Government is allocating almost $60 million to provide doctors, nurses, paramedics and other hospital and ambulance staff with the option of staying in out-of-home accommodation during the pandemic. 

The package will also support medical research and vaccine trials to beat COVID-19, as well as commercialise research products and boost domestic supply chains.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said this funding would not only provide support for healthcare workers now but would also give them the resources to tackle COVID-19 head-on in the coming months. 

“Nobody should go to work and worry that it will put their families at risk especially when they are working so hard to protect us. This funding is the least we can do to keep healthcare workers and their families safe,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“Our health professionals are among the best in the world and we must do everything we can to help them not just now but also in the weeks and months ahead as we battle this virus.”

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said providing free accommodation to hospital staff was a crucial plank in the health support package.

“The last thing the brave men and women in our health system should have to worry about is that their jobs will result in their loved ones being exposed to this virus,” Mr Perrottet said.

“As was the case during the bushfires our health system will have all the resources it needs so our frontline health workers can save lives and look after themselves.”

Local health districts will work with staff to make sure accommodation is close to work or their families, depending on individual needs.  

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said no stone would be left unturned when it came to supporting the health system. Mr Hazzard said the vital health package will also include $25 million in funding for medical research and vaccine trials to help develop a cure to beat COVID-19 as well as $11 million to quickly get work from NSW’s world class universities and partner research institutions to market.

“Frontline health staff who have the community’s back now know that the community and the government have their back. This funding gives them options on accommodation when they’re doing battle with COVID-19,” Mr Hazzard said.

“Options to protect their family and to protect themselves are critical, and now they can choose what’s best in their own circumstances without worrying about a drain on their budget.” 

The package also includes $10 million to work with NSW engineering, electrical and manufacturing businesses to urgently undertake pilot projects to produce ventilators and other critical medical equipment locally.

Key elements of the support package include:

• $58 million for health worker accommodation

• $25 million for medical research and vaccine trials

• $11 million for commercialisation of research products

• $10 million Funding to partner with industry to boost domestic supply chains.

The NSW Government has already committed $700 million extra funding for NSW Health as part of a $2.3 billion health boost and economic stimulus package announced on 17 March 2020.

This funding boost is helping double ICU capacity, preparing for additional COVID-19 testing, purchasing additional ventilators and medical equipment and establishing acute respiratory clinics.