Latest news with #RuralFireService
ABC News
15 hours ago
- Climate
- ABC News
Search continues for missing hiker Christopher Moore in bushland near Nowra
Authorities are ramping up search efforts to find a missing bushwalker on the NSW south coast in "difficult terrain" ahead of forecast rainy conditions. Christopher Moore has not been seen since Wednesday morning after he was dropped off for a solo camping trip on Twelve Mile Road at Jerrawangala, south of Nowra. Mr Moore's family alerted police to his disappearance on Friday, after the 38-year-old failed to return to the same road to be picked up around midday. Chief Inspector David Cockram said the hiker was "experienced" and was believed to have adequate supplies with him, including thermal clothing, food and boots. "Despite that, we've had some cold conditions and we've definitely got concerns for his welfare." Search efforts to find Mr Moore started on Friday afternoon, with extensive multi-agency efforts continuing across the weekend. NSW Police has been aided by a helicopter, the Rural Fire Service and State Emergency Service, with many crews searching through the thick bushland on trail bikes. "We're doing anything we can provide to that search capacity to try and find this fellow," Chief Inspector Cockram said. The search has been conducted in a large area across difficult terrain in Jerrawangala National Park and around bushland near Wandandian. "You'd have to have some sort of experience, good provisions and good equipment to try and navigate through that area, particularly as a solo person," Chief Inspector Cockram said. "I think [Mr Moore] had intentions to go off track as well, which provides some further complications for us. Chief Inspector Cockram said authorities would put "more boots on the ground" on Monday morning ahead of expected wet weather in the region. The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a medium chance of showers for Nowra, located 30km north of the search ground, on Monday evening, before more rainfall is expected from Tuesday to Friday. "If we're looking at a large amount of rain, that's definitely going to impact our ability to be on the ground," Chief Inspector Cockram said. "We're going to rip in [on Monday] and see what we can do with some additional resources."
Sky News AU
6 days ago
- Business
- Sky News AU
The winners and losers of NSW Budget 2025
Foster carers and children are among the winners in this year's NSW state budget, as the government allocates historic funding to the child protection system. The state has reported a $3.4 billion budget deficit in the 2025-26 financial year, down from a $10.7 billion deficit inherited in 2023-24. Treasurer Daniel Mookhey says the government is on track to record a $1.1 billion budget surplus by 2027-28. Here are the winners and losers. WINNERS Children and Foster Carers A $1.2 billion Child Protection Package has been unveiled to support more than 17,000 children in the foster care system. The package includes: $797.6 million to support children and young people in out-of-home care. $143.9 million in increased Foster Care Allowance from January 1. $49.2 million for 44 government owned residential care homes. $10 million to support the Office of the Children's Guardian. $191.5 million for 200 new caseworkers and retain 2,126 caseworkers. Treasurer Mookhey says it is the largest investment in child protection in NSW history. Developers and Homebuyers The government will introduce a $1 billion Pre-Sale Finance Guarantee to accelerate the delivery of residential developments. The five year plan will remove financial barriers for developers and will be invested in residential development project packages for medium to high density houses. Treasurer Mookhey says the "nation leading" reform would put more supply in the system, in the hope of getting more people into homes and driving down costs. Emergency Services The Budget will be delivering $4.2 billion for disaster relief and emergency services. It will include: $42.2 million for 52 staff at a new 24-hour Badgerys Creek Fire Station. $34.4 million for Rural Fire Service. $17 million to renew Fire and Rescue fire-fighting fleet. $50 million to upgrade police ICT systems. $46.3 million for a new offshore patrol vessel. $87.7 million to strengthen Cyber Security NSW. $154.5 million to help communities recover from Cyclone Alfred. Western Sydney The state government will continue its infrastructure push in Western Sydney, with funding allocated to boost transport and health. Aerotropolis The state government is investing $835 million in infrastructure around the new Western Sydney airport and the Aerotropolis. The state and federal government will jointly commit $1 billion to upgrade the first stage of Fifteenth Avenue. Hospitals A further $700 million will be invested for the Bankstown Hospital (bringing total investment to $2 billion). $492 million for a new Pathology Hub at Westmead. $836.4 million for health services and hospital expansions. Public sector workers More than 90,000 public sector workers are set to receive pay increases which will cost the government more than $2 billion. This includes corrections officers, transport workers, school assistants and other essential workers. Public school and TAFE teachers will also benefit from a multi-year pay increase and increased job security, with over 3,000 casual staff to be offered permanent roles. Renewable Energy $2.1 billion injected into the state's five Renewable Energy Zones. Justice system A $49.4 million will be invested for a new hub to support victim-survivors of family and domestic violence and $34.5 million will be spent to upgrade major courts in NSW, facilitating 15 new courtrooms for victims and their families. $100 million will be spent on increasing the capacity of the prison system and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions will receive $48.3 million in funding. Creative Industries The arts and tourism sector will receive a $586 million funding to support culture and night-time entertainment. The $586 million package includes: $280.6 million for Screen NSW. $100 million in funding to locate a new screen production space. $135 million for Destination NSW marketing and tourism initiatives. LOSERS Drivers The government has not yet committed to extending the $60 a week toll cap, which is due to expire in January 2026. The toll relief scheme has so far saved motorists $139 million in claims since January 2024. The state has set aside $15.4 million to spearhead toll reform, which hopes to deliver relief in the long run. Average Households There are no new major cost-of-living measures for average households in this budget. However, the National Energy Bill Relief Fund will be extended, offering $150 in energy bill relief to households and eligible small businesses from July to December 2025. Tax Dodgers The state government has extended funding for Revenue NSW's tax integrity program to crack down on tax dodgers. The program will continue beyond the 2025-26 financial year. Public sector workers A pay deal has been reached for some public workers including doctors, nurses and psychiatrists. Golfers The NSW government plans to reclaim part of Moore Park Golf Course to create a 20-hectare public park. $50 million will be spent on transforming part of Moore Park South into a public area, which will include facilities for public sport and recreational use.
Epoch Times
23-05-2025
- Climate
- Epoch Times
Up to 13 Weeks' Pay for Workers Stranded by NSW Floods
As devastating floods continue to impact New South Wales, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed financial support for affected workers and praised the government's coordinated emergency response to the crisis. The Disaster Recovery Allowance would be available from 2 p.m. May 26, in the Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Mid Coast, and Dungog local government areas. The allowance provides income support for employees and sole traders unable to work due to disaster-related impacts, including access issues and property damage. Speaking to Sydney radio station 2GB, Albanese said the federal government was working closely with state and local authorities. 'There's seamless activity across the three levels of government, working with agencies and working with the SES, the Rural Fire Service, and everyone else,' he said. He later visited Maitland with NSW Premier Chris Minns, where he acknowledged the scale of the damage. Related Stories 5/22/2025 5/21/2025 'Some of the extraordinary footage of cattle and livestock are being impacted by this as well,' he said. ADF helicopters have also rescued more than a dozen people. An aerial photo shows NSW Fire Rescue personnel assisting an elderly resident during flooding in Port Macquarie, New South Wales on May 22, 2025. A slow-moving trough is dumping rain along the east coast of Australia, leaving thousands of people stranded AAP Image/Lindsay Moller 'The chopper has been rescuing people for the last 48 hours,' he said. He said while immediate rescue efforts were ongoing, a long recovery would follow. 'There's going to be a big recovery effort required. There's been massive damage to infrastructure and we're going to have to really all pitch i,' he said. 'Tragically, these events are becoming more frequent and more intense, but we're a resilient bunch, Australians. And that's precisely what we are seeing now.' More Rain Forecast as Toll Climbs Meanwhile, a fourth person has been confirmed dead, and another remains missing in the record floods along the NSW Mid North Coast. Thousands are without power as the weather system moves south, bringing expected heavy rain to the Hunter, Sydney and South Coast regions. The SES has responded to more than 1,500 calls for help and carried out over 300 flood rescues in the past 24 hours. Residents Urged to Stay Informed The Prime Minister encouraged residents in affected areas to monitor warnings and follow instructions from authorities. He urged people to download the Hazards Near Me app or visit for real-time updates. 'Listen to the advice, make sure you log on to the relevant sites and keep informed if you're in these communities,' he said. This federal assistance provides up to 13 weeks of salary for sole traders and employees unable to work due to access issues caused by the floods. So far, disaster assistance has been activated across 16 local government areas, with broader recovery support to follow.
Asharq Al-Awsat
16-03-2025
- Climate
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Australia's New South Wales Sweats through Heatwave, Faces ‘Extreme' Bushfire Risk
Australia's New South Wales on Sunday sweated in a heat wave that raised the risk of bushfires and prompted authorities to issue a total fire ban for state capital Sydney. New South Wales, coming to the end of a high-risk bushfire season that runs until the end of March, was a focus of a catastrophic 2019-2020 "Black Summer" of wildfires that destroyed an area the size of Turkey and killed 33 people. On Sunday, the nation's weather forecaster said temperatures would be up to 12 degrees Celsius (21.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above average in some areas of the state, with temperatures in Sydney, Australia's most populous city, set to hit 37C (98.6F). At Sydney Airport, the temperature was already 29.3C (84.7 F) at 9:30 a.m. local time, more than three degrees above the March mean maximum temperature, according to forecaster data. Gusty winds, "hot conditions and low relative humidity will result in extreme fire danger over the greater Sydney region," the forecaster said on its website. The state's Rural Fire Service said on X that a total fire ban was in place for large swaths of the state including Sydney due to the forecast of "hot, dry and windy conditions". In neighboring Victoria state, a home was destroyed in a bushfire on the outskirts of Melbourne that was being battled by around 200 firefighters, Country Fire Authority official Bernard Barbetti told the Australian Broadcasting Corp on Sunday. Climate change is causing extreme heat and fire weather to become more common in Australia, a bushfire-prone country of around 27 million, the country's science agency said last year.
Yahoo
16-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Australia's New South Wales sweats through heatwave, faces 'extreme' bushfire risk
SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australia's New South Wales on Sunday sweated in a heat wave that raised the risk of bushfires and prompted authorities to issue a total fire ban for state capital Sydney. New South Wales, coming to the end of a high risk bushfire season that runs until the end of March, was a focus of a catastrophic 2019-2020 "Black Summer" of wildfires that destroyed an area the size of Turkey and killed 33 people. On Sunday, the nation's weather forecaster said temperatures would be up to 12 degrees Celsius (21.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above average in some areas of the state, with temperatures in Sydney, Australia's most populous city, set to hit 37C (98.6F). At Sydney Airport, the temperature was already 29.3C (84.7 F) at 9:30 a.m. local time, more than three degrees above the March mean maximum temperature, according to forecaster data. Gusty winds, "hot conditions and low relative humidity will result in extreme fire danger over the greater Sydney region," the forecaster said on its website. The state's Rural Fire Service said on X that a total fire ban was in place for large swaths of the state including Sydney due to the forecast of "hot, dry and windy conditions". In neighbouring Victoria state, a home was destroyed in a bushfire on the outskirts of Melbourne that was being battled by around 200 firefighters, Country Fire Authority official Bernard Barbetti told the Australian Broadcasting Corp on Sunday. Climate change is causing extreme heat and fire weather to become more common in Australia, a bushfire-prone country of around 27 million, the country's science agency said last year.
