COVID-19 Report

REPORT | AUGUST 2020

Pop-up COVID-19 clinics open across West

WESTERN Sydney Local Health District (WSLHD) continues to open pop-up testing clinics in strategic locations in response to ongoing COVID-19 community transmission.

Th e latest drive-through clinic opened today at Western Sydney University (WSU) Parramatt a South campus, following another drive-through clinic opened in Auburn on Monday.

Th e WSU testing clinic will operate from 9am-3.30pm Monday to Friday in the P16 carpark off James Ruse Drive.

Anyone arriving for testing is advised to stay inside their vehicle at all times. Health staff follow strict infection control protocols for the safety of themselves and others.

Th e latest pop-up clinic follows the success of the clinic continuing to run at Parramatt a Community Health Centre and the temporary clinic that was operating from Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral in Harris Park.

WSLHD chief executive Graeme Loy thanked Western Sydney University for partnering with the District to open the latest pop-up clinic.

“We will continue to explore new locations and do everything we can to make testing as easy and convenient as possible for anyone who needs it,” Graeme said.

“Th ank you to everyone who has come forward for testing so far. Please continue to look for any symptoms, and if you are sick then make sure you self-isolate until you get a negative test result. Th is is the way forward to keep everyone safe.”

Th ere are now 20 testing clinics across Western Sydney Local Health District – fi nd your nearest one and stay up to date with the latest COVID-19 news at htt ps://www.health.nsw.gov.au/

Th e drive-through clinic at Stockland Merrylands will be closing on Sunday, having being the site of more than 5000 tests since it opened on May 25. WSLHD will continue to be fl exible with operating pop-up testing sites in priority areas across the district according to changing needs.

If you have any symptoms, it is important you self-isolate and arrange to get tested. Symptoms of COVID-19 include a sore throat, cough, high temperature or unexplained tiredness.

Testing is free and a referral from your doctor is not necessary.

To help protect yourself against COVID-19, exercise the following precautions: • Wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. • Avoid touching your face. • Maintain 1.5 metres physical distance from others in public.

Good, but no room for complacency

NSW has reached a major milestone new cases and controlling the spread of in the fight against COVID-19, with COVID-19. more than one million tests carried A total of 1,007,662 tests have been out in NSW since January. done since testing began, including

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the 18,524 over the past 24 hours. people of NSW should be proud of this “NSW Health Pathology have been achievement and thanked the community the quiet achievers during the pandemfor doing their part to help keep NSW ic, working incredibly hard behind the COVID-safe. scenes, doing almost 60 per cent of these

“NSW has one of the highest tests, averaging 7,500 a day,” Mr Hazzard COVID-19 testing rates in the world and said. reaching one million tests already is an “Th ey’ve also received around incredible result,” Ms Berejiklian said. 290,000 registrations for their pioneering

“I want to thank everyone in NSW SMS Results Service that has halved the who has come forward and been tested. average waiting time for negative results.” Th is needs to continue – if you have the Mr Hazzard warned that the virus mildest of symptoms it is so important is likely circulating among people in the you come forward and get tested. community with mild symptoms and

“If you have already been tested and the risk of outbreaks and a resurgence of were negative but develop symptoms cases remains. again, you need to come forward and get “While this is a fantastic response tested again.” from the community, we must keep up

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the fi ght against COVID-19 and not high testing numbers is critical to fi nding allow complacency to set in.”

Nominations open for COVID SAFE businesses

NOMINATIONS are now open for the 2020 SafeWork NSW Awards, acknowledging NSW businesses that demonstrate an outstanding approach to work health and safety.

Minister for Bett er Regulation and Innovation, Kevin Anderson said this year’s awards will recognise businesses who’ve implemented innovative and eff ective measures to protect their employees throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Nominations are now open and, given this year’s unique circumstances, we will focus on businesses who have best responded to the signifi cant challenges posed by COVID-19 pandemic in the workplace,” Mr Anderson said.

“It’s not been an easy year for our businesses, and this year’s awards are a great opportunity to say thank you to the employers who have gone above and beyond to adapt their working methods to make sure their workers are safe.” 2020 marks the 17th anniversary of the SafeWork NSW Awards, which will be broken down into three sub-categories: • Small business – non-govern- ment (two regional and two metropolitan). • Large business – non-govern- ment (two regional and two metropolitan) • Government.

“Non-government businesses across NSW that are selected for recognition are eligible for a $3,000 safety rebate for their business.” Mr Anderson said.

Nominations for the 2020 SafeWork Awards are open until August 9, with winners announced in October. To nominate, visit https://www.safework.nsw.gov.au/advice-and-resources/campaigns/safework-awards

Help for hard-hit creative sector

THE hard-hit creative sector will that industry to navigate the current “Th is is a wonderful opportunity benefit as five new Business situation,” he said. for the NSW arts and cultural sector Connect advisors get to work, “Th e advisors can also provide that has been so greatly valued by providing free-of-charge adinformation about government supthe community over this diffi cult vice to small businesses affected by port options for the NSW arts and time.” COVID-19. cultural sector and put organisations “Th e arts sector supports about

Minister for Finance and Small in touch with State agencies.” 118,000 jobs across NSW and conBusiness Damien Tudehope said Minister for the Arts Don tributes $16.4B directly and indirectthe creative industries were some Harwin encouraged small creative ly to NSW’s Gross State Product.” of the most impacted industries by organisations to take up the opporTh e new advisors are among an COVID-19 and the new Business tunity for advice from Business Conadditional 40 to be engaged through Connect advisors would be able nect about the support measures Business Connect to assist small to share their insights with small available. businesses as they deal with the businesses. “All guidance provided by Busiimpacts of COVID-19.

“In total, there are now 10 ness Connect advisors is currently In total, Business Connect has Business Connect advisors with free of charge and has already proven more than 110 business advisors. creative backgrounds and they have itself to be invaluable to 6700 small Phone 1300 134 359 for more the skills to help small businesses in businesses,” Mr Harwin said. information. 11

Curing the ills of social media

RTA urges Covid-19 crackdown as misinformation spreads

 DALLAS SHERRINGHAM

SOCIAL media’s key role in the spread of misinformation during the Covid-19 pandemic has illustrated it can be a dangerously petulant child in the hands of the wrong people.

We have known for years that Social Media is like the old Wild West with virtually no rules and regulations. Shoot fi rst and ask questions later.

Without the constraints of proper editing and editorial guidelines and legislation it has been free to make every kind of ridiculous claim from alien invasions to every kind of conspiracy theory under the sun.

Th en along came the pandemic and everything changed. What was funny and silly and entertaining took a serious turn when people started dying from Covi19 because they believed the advice of unqualifi ed self-appointed ‘experts’.

To give you a ‘for instance’, I spend a lot of time on Facebook through my media work and these are just a few of the Furpheys I have come across: • Bill Gates started the Pandemic so he could market his vaccine.

The vaccine contains a tiny implant that will be able to track your every move. False of course but people swear it’s right. • Covid-19 can be prevented by any number of drugs, potions and herbs, to name just a few.

NO! Th e success complements the NSW • Covid-19 is being spread by a mysterious vapor trails dropped by Chinese jets. NO! • Covid-19 is being caused by newly installed 5G phone towers. NO! • Covid-19 is a pandemic caused by world business leaders. NO! • Praying will prevent Covid-19.

NO! • The lockdown is a plan to control and take over the masses. NO!

Th e list goes on and on and any intelligent person with commonsense realizes they are garbage but the two things Social Media lacks which are essential in a time of crisis are commonsense and human intelligence.

Th ey are the two things we must add to make it useable. And they are the two things oft en missing and the latest “outbreak” of misinformation could provide to be the deadliest of all.

Social media ‘experts’ are now telling the community to refuse Covid-19 tests for any number of outlandish reasons

Dangerous misinformation

Th e dangerous misinformation is being targeted by Responsible Technology Australia, bett er known as RTA.

It says Social Media needs to grow up and be transparent about the ‘infodemic’.

It said social media needed to be compelled to be transparent about the extent of its misinformation problem, particularly when it came to false information and conspiracy theories about COVID-19.

Th e policy group which advocates for the ethical progression of technology says the fi rst step to countering false information about coronavirus online is showing the size of the problem.

“We have no clear picture on why people are refusing coronavirus tests, but we do know that there are fast growing conspiracy theories hampering the government’s public health measures,” Chris Cooper, executive director of RTA, said.

“Facebook and other social media platforms consistently say they are acting on misinformation, but they’ve never been transparent about the size or extent of the problem.”

RTA is calling on the social media platforms to produce a live list of the most viral content about coronavirus, to fi nally give the public visibility on what

information is circulating in the community.

“We don’t let restaurants just say their kitchens are clean - we have random inspections and we investigate any food poisoning, Mr Cooper said.

“We don’t just accept people are paying their taxes - the tax offi ce audits people. We don’t blindly trust construction fi rms - we have building inspectors,” Mr Cooper said.

“Every important service provider or industry in our country has an inspection and enforcement method except Facebook and other social media giants. It’s time for social media to grow up and respond to proper public oversight.

“Because regardless of how we use social media, or whether we use it at all – we are all aff ected by the current lack of

NSW leads on virtual health care

The NSW Government will investigate and clinicians – and that’s why the a wider roll-out of virtual healthcare NSW Government will continue services following the successful to invest in the technology which expansion of the NSW virtual health provides easy to access, hospital in system during COVID-19. the home style care.

accountability” he said. Government’s record spend on health, Nation’s leaders with more than $26B invested in the “We are already nation leaders NSW health care system over the past with our record health infrastrucyear. ture program and now we want to

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said NSW lead the country in virtual health patients and clinicians have embraced technology”. virtual healthcare, with a 700 per cent secondary appointments, aft er a patient’s A recent survey of patients treated increase in the use of virtual health serinitial diagnosis at a face-to-face consulby the new RPAvirtual model in Sydney vices over the four months from February tation. Local Health District found: to May 2020, compared with the same “Traditionally, less than a quarter of • 89 per cent said the technologies period last year. a per cent of all outpatient services are used by RPAvirtual improved

“Th e social distancing requirements delivered via videoconference in NSW. their access to care and treatthat became a necessity with COVID-19 However, by May 2020 this had risen to ment; led to a rapid ramp-up of NSW Health’s four per cent. • 80 per cent felt confident at virtual care system – with more than “Th is rapid expansion allowed patients home knowing their symptoms 82,000 outpatient appointments delivered to be cared for in their own homes withwere monitored daily; and via videoconference over four months,” out the inconvenience of travelling outside • 72 per cent said the wearable Ms Berejiklian said. their home. monitoring devices they were

“Virtual healthcare has proven to be “Virtual health technology is proving provided were easy to use. particularly eff ective for follow up and to be a game-changer for both patients Health Minister Brad Hazzard said

virtual health had proven to be particularly useful in rural, remote and regional areas of NSW, where residents have been able to access a wider range of services without travelling long distances.

“Patients have said while initial face to face contact with their treating clinician is important, follow up appointments by telehealth are well received,” Mr Hazzard said.

“It means patients in regional and rural areas don’t have the stress of travelling long distances to hospital and have bett er access to specialists.”

Hunter New England and Western NSW Local Health Districts have been early adopters of virtual healthcare, which has been further expanded over recent months.

It is a Premier’s Priority to reduce preventive visits to hospital by fi ve per cent by 2023 and virtual health is an important element in achieving this goal.

Th e NSW Government has invested $75M over two years to support virtual health services.

Unsafe businesses risk penalties of $55k

NSW businesses must follow the State “Th anks to the hard work of the commuMinister for Customer Service Victor public health orders will be held to account Government’s COVID safety warnings nity, thousands of businesses and have been Dominello said help and assistance is availand could face a penalty of up to $55,000 or and public health orders or risk a penalable to reopen their doors and welcome back able for businesses. an on the spot fi ne of $5000. ty of up to $55,000. customers,” Ms Berejiklian said. “Downloading an industry specifi c safety Breach of orders made under the Public

More than 117,500 COVID safety plans “While communities embrace the easing plan and registering as COVID Safe is simple Health Act 2010 is a criminal off ence and have been downloaded in less than a month of restrictions and we kick start the economy, and can be done online. Service NSW can att racts heavy penalties. In the case of any but businesses also need to register to prosafety must come fi rst and businesses cannot help with any questions,” Mr Dominello said. business, the maximum penalty is $55,000 vide customers with confi dence. be complacent. “Customers are encouraged to give feedand a further $27,500 penalty may apply for

Premier Gladys Berejiklian said there are “Whether it’s a café, construction busiback to businesses. Our focus in June was on each day the off ence continues. 10,500 registered COVID Safe businesses ness, cinema or sports club, all organisations educating industry; while our focus in July across NSW but she would like to see this must ensure the safety of staff and customers. will be on compliance.” To download a safety plan visit https://www.nsw. number increase. Th ere are no more excuses.” Any business found in breach of the gov.au/covid-19/covid-safe-businesses 12 WESTERN SYDNEY BUSINESS ACCESS AUGUST 2020

Park design boosts Penrith economy

AVIBRANT, contemporary, and green open space in the heart of Penrith’s City Centre is one step closer to being realised with the delivery of the concept design for City Park.

Th e concept design was informed by the ideas and input provided by the community during consultation last year and responds to their main request to bring nature into the city centre.

Key features include a variety of large trees to provide shade, a sensory garden, several water features, as well as natural landscaping to transform the space into an urban retreat.

Th e concept design also provides space for people to meet, eat, be active and celebrate together with these aspects set to stimulate the day and night-time economy by att racting residents, visitors and investors.

To assist with their challenges Management, and PR Consultancy,

The concept design for City Park delivers on the community’s aspirations for the space to be a natural retreat in the City Centre.

Penrith Mayor Ross Fowler OAM said the delivery of the concept design is an important milestone in this project and off ers an exciting glimpse into the future of Penrith’s new city park.

“Council has been working with the community on this project for a number of years and it is wonderful to see our shared vision for City Park starting to take shape,” Cr Fowler said.

“Th e concept design for City Park showcases elements for cooling the city through smart technology, creative design and natural landscaping to create an iconic destination within the City Centre that we can all be proud of.

“City Park will unlock the City Centre precinct to major opportunities and alongside other city-shaping projects such as Soper Place, Regatt a Park, Gipps Street Recreation Precinct, will strengthen Penrith’s position as Western Sydney’s most liveable city.”

Th e detailed design of City Park is progressing over the coming months and further community consultation will take place in late 2020. Construction is due to start in late 2021 and the project set to be complete by early 2023.

View the concept design and find out more at

Amanda Brisott.

WSBC offers small business package

WESTERN Sydney Business specifi cally for businesses with 20 She recently joined WSBC and is

Connection’s (WSBC) has employees or less. looking forward to utilising her memlaunched a new membership WSBC’s Small Business Memberbership to connect with liked-minded program for small businesses. ship off ers a host of benefi ts including business leaders.

General Manager, Amanda Brisot a one-hour marketing consultation, “As a small start-up,S membersaid small business accounts for a a business strategy session, access to ships are oft en out of reach. Th e signifi cant proportion of Australia’s training and development webinars small business membership is so employment and production and and networking opportunities. aff ordable and off ers great opportuabout one fi ft h of its GDP. It is also Kathrine Holland took the leap to nities to network with other small the lifeblood of the local economy small business ownership earlier this businesses in Western Sydney,” she and the local community. year. Establishing a Marketing, Brand said.

penrith.city/citypark and to support their growth, WSBC Ms Holland is enjoying the fl exiWSBC’s Small Business Membership is has introduced a new 12-month bility and the ability to make quick available for $200 + GST for 12 months. For membership package designed decisions. further information go to wsbc.org.au

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Artist impressions of the Powerhouse Museum on the banks of Parramatta River.

Council reaffirms Powerhouse support

As Mayor blocks move for a sit down meeting with Premier

 DI BARTOK

PARRAMATTA Council has affirmed its support for a new flagship museum in Parramatta as part of the Powerhouse family and is eager to work with the NSW Government to refine the project’s design.

However, the desire of some councillors to have a sit-down meeting with Premier Gladys Berejiklian to refi ne details of the museum was again thwarted on the Lord Mayor’s casting vote at the recent council meeting.

At the meeting, Councillor Pierre Esber, backed by deputy Lord Mayor Michelle Garrard,suggested that “now was the time” to put forward ideas on the museum, perhaps saving heritage buildings Willow Grove and St George’s Terrace from demolition.

Th e councillors made the point that, now the Powerhouse at Ultimo was staying, plans for Parramatt a may be open for change that would save the heritage properties..

Th e Premier has reaffi rmed her commitment for an off -shoot museum for

Cr Michelle Byrne. Lord Mayor, Cr Bob Dwyeer.

Parramatt a, though there is a feeling that it may be a diff erent version to the one originally proposed.

Cr Garrard said that, following the Ultimo announcement, there was hope that the government “may change its mind over the demolition” of the heritage buildings.

Cr Steven Issa said it was inconceivable for council to sit down with the Premier in the time remaining for fi nal acceptance of the proposal.

In further discussions with this publication, Lord Mayor Bob Dwyer said council would be in discussions with Arts Minister Don Harwin on the fi ner details of the Parramatt a proposal.

Centre of global Sydney

Council’s submitt ed formal response, to the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Parramatt a museum applauds NSW Government’s continued investment in cultural and social infrastructure in Parramatt a, while again reiterating council’s continued advocacy for the retention of Willow Grove and St George’s Terrace.

“Parramatt a is the centre of global Sydney and deserves a world-class cultural institution. Th e new Powerhouse Museum will deliver that,” Cr Dwyer said in a statement..

“I thank the NSW Government for recommitt ing to this game-changing project and we will do everything in our power to ensure the best outcome for the community.”

Council has identifi ed in its submission opportunities to improve the proposed museum’s design, including the way it integrates the public domain and its interaction with the planned Civic Link – a key pedestrian spine linking Parramatt a Square with Parramatt a River.

Council is requesting the NSW Government consider these matt ers and greater collaboration during the detailed design process.

“We can use our local knowledge and technical expertise to help refi ne the museum’s design and make sure it takes full advantage of its riverside position in Parramatt a’s CBD,” Cr Dwyer said.

“While we fully support the new addition to the Powerhouse family in Parramatt a and welcome the thousands of jobs it will bring to Western Sydney, it’s important for us to suggest ways to enhance the museum for the benefi t of our community.

“We look forward to working with the NSW Government on the museum’s design for what will be a once-in-a-generation, world-class cultural institution we can all be proud of.”