The continued availability of sea freight to Norfolk Island is a key priority of the Australian Government, which is currently pursuing options to increase sea freight capacity – including a temporary groyne at Cascade Port.

The community will have an opportunity to provide your views on the regulation of green waste-burning during upcoming face-to-face community consultation sessions I am hosting on 2 March 2021.

The Australian Government is currently looking at alternative commercial solutions to return visitors to the mainland with minimal delay, following the temporary cancellation of Air New Zealand flights.

The cancelled flights follow the confirmed case of the highly contagious South African variant of COVID-19 in New Zealand on 24 January.

The Advisory Committee for the Kingston and Arthur’s Vale Historic Area (Kingston) met on-island last week for the first time since July 2019. Members were thrilled to be back on site to see first-hand the significant and visible progress that has been made across Kingston over the past 18 months.

The Australian Government has now confirmed the viability of a proposed temporary groyne, or landing structure, at Cascade Pier and will commence detailed design and approvals works.

In recognition of the critical priority to increase Norfolk Island’s sea freight capacity,
the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, and Communications (the Department) commissioned Arup to complete a feasibility study for a temporary groyne at Cascade.

The new workers" compensation arrangements for Norfolk Island are now in place, with the formal transition to service provider Gallagher Bassett occurring this week.

Gallagher Bassett are experts in claim management and their extensive experience in workers" compensation places them well to deliver the local workers" compensation scheme.

The Australian Government has engaged Qantas to deliver air services to and from Norfolk Island from 26 February to 6 March, following ongoing uncertainty with quarantine-free travel arrangements between Australia and New Zealand.

Until this uncertainty is resolved, Air New Zealand is not able to deliver air services to and from Norfolk Island, as Air New Zealand crew are required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Australia before crewing air services within Australia.

The Australian Government has engaged Qantas to deliver air services to and from Norfolk Island from 16 to 18 February, following the72-hour suspension of the Tasman green zone quarantine-free travel arrangements between Australia and New Zealand on Sunday.

Until the suspension is lifted, Air New Zealand is not able to deliver air services to and from Norfolk Island, as Air New Zealand crew are required to quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Australia before crewing air services within Australia.