JUST IN: These public spaces across Sydney were the winners at this year's NSW Landscape Architecture Awards
It's Sydney's beaches and beautiful harbour that get most of the attention, but there are plenty of other public spaces that make up the urban landscape of our stunning city. And surprise surprise, keeping it looking fresh takes a lot of planning and meticulous work. Our city's complex cityscape and lush landscapes make it one of the most unique cities in the world, and last night, the people helping to bring it to life were applauded at the annual NSW Landscape Architecture Awards.
In celebration of all things urban design, the 2025 NSW Landscape Architecture Awards were held on Thursday, June 26 in a ceremony at the State Library of New South Wales. The big winners of the night took home awards that celebrated innovative design when it comes to public spaces.
Amongst the winners was Parramatta Square which took home the Award of Excellence for Civic Landscape. The Parramatta Light Rail (Stage 1) was given the Infrastructure Award of Excellence. The public space around the first building at Sydney's new CBD Bradfield City was also honoured in the awards, and based on the green-space-focused plans we've seen, we have a feeling Bradfield City will be in line for a few more awards as it comes to life over the next few years.
The Barangaroo Station Park (the harbourside garden just outside of the metro station) won the Landscape Architecture Award, with the jury giving Pyrmont-based firm Arcadia huge kudos for their impactful design and 'consultation with First Nations Knowledge Holders and archaeologists', citing how the design 'incorporates interpretive elements and native planting to tell layered stories of Gadigal Country and early colonial heritage.'
If you've ever hopped on or off at the popular metro station you'd be aware of just how special it is – with a huge new pavilion on the water's edge now adding to the area's wow-factor.
Wimbo Park – a corner of fresh air amid the bustle of Surry Hills – was given the Award of Excellence for Parks and Open Space. Bordered by Bourke Street (and just steps away from one of the city's best bakeries, Bourke Street Bakery) Wimbo Park is an urban oasis home to meandering paths and a ground-level trampoline for kids to enjoy.
You can check out the full list of winners – which includes a number of projects in progress – over here.
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7 hours ago
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JUST IN: These public spaces across Sydney were the winners at this year's NSW Landscape Architecture Awards
It's Sydney's beaches and beautiful harbour that get most of the attention, but there are plenty of other public spaces that make up the urban landscape of our stunning city. And surprise surprise, keeping it looking fresh takes a lot of planning and meticulous work. Our city's complex cityscape and lush landscapes make it one of the most unique cities in the world, and last night, the people helping to bring it to life were applauded at the annual NSW Landscape Architecture Awards. In celebration of all things urban design, the 2025 NSW Landscape Architecture Awards were held on Thursday, June 26 in a ceremony at the State Library of New South Wales. The big winners of the night took home awards that celebrated innovative design when it comes to public spaces. Amongst the winners was Parramatta Square which took home the Award of Excellence for Civic Landscape. The Parramatta Light Rail (Stage 1) was given the Infrastructure Award of Excellence. The public space around the first building at Sydney's new CBD Bradfield City was also honoured in the awards, and based on the green-space-focused plans we've seen, we have a feeling Bradfield City will be in line for a few more awards as it comes to life over the next few years. The Barangaroo Station Park (the harbourside garden just outside of the metro station) won the Landscape Architecture Award, with the jury giving Pyrmont-based firm Arcadia huge kudos for their impactful design and 'consultation with First Nations Knowledge Holders and archaeologists', citing how the design 'incorporates interpretive elements and native planting to tell layered stories of Gadigal Country and early colonial heritage.' If you've ever hopped on or off at the popular metro station you'd be aware of just how special it is – with a huge new pavilion on the water's edge now adding to the area's wow-factor. Wimbo Park – a corner of fresh air amid the bustle of Surry Hills – was given the Award of Excellence for Parks and Open Space. Bordered by Bourke Street (and just steps away from one of the city's best bakeries, Bourke Street Bakery) Wimbo Park is an urban oasis home to meandering paths and a ground-level trampoline for kids to enjoy. You can check out the full list of winners – which includes a number of projects in progress – over here.
Daily Record
17-06-2025
- Daily Record
National Insurance must-knows to ensure you get full New State Pension payments in retirement
A new survey found over half of respondents admitted they had no idea of the current value of State Pension. Income tax rises for Scots in April - how the changes affect you New research from Standard Life's Retirement Voice report suggests there is a widespread lack of awareness around the State Pension, with many adults unsure of how much they will be paid and when they will start receiving it. The full New State Pension is worth almost £12,000 a year, however, half of UK adults (50%) are unaware of how much they will receive from their State Pension in later life, including 31 per cent of those nearing retirement, aged 55-64. Meanwhile, nearly a third of UK adults (32%) and 12 per cent of 55 to 64-year-olds don't understand what the State Pension age means to them, or their future. Standard Life's research, conducted among 6,000 UK adults, found a substantial lack of understanding regarding other areas of the State Pension, including a lack of awareness that National Insurance Contributions determine the amount of State Pension someone receives in retirement. Over half of those surveyed admitted they had no idea of the current value of State Pension payments (51%) and were also unaware of how to calculate their State Pension entitlement (52%). Meanwhile, over a third (34%) revealed they didn't know that their National Insurance contributions determine the level of entitlement and the amount of money they'll receive from the State in retirement. Commenting on the findings, Dean Butler, Managing Director for Retail Direct at Standard Life, part of Phoenix Group, said: 'With the State Pension rising to £11,973 a year for the 2025/26 tax year, it remains a crucial part of many people's retirement income. But despite its importance, there's still a lot of confusion around how it works and how much people might get. 'Knowing when you'll start receiving your State Pension and how much you're likely to get is an important part of planning for retirement. It helps you work out how much extra you need to save, when you could afford to retire, and what your overall financial picture will look like.' He added that understanding how your National Insurance contributions impact your retirement is vital, so you're not caught out when the time comes. Mr Butler continued: 'With the Personal Allowance frozen at £12,570 until 2028, there's a good chance that people will pay tax on the State Pension alone from 2026 or 2027. The UK Government might change the rules to avoid this, but it's good to be aware of tax when planning for retirement.' Mr Butler answers key questions about the State Pension to help more people understand the retirement income. What is the State Pension? The State Pension is a regular payment made to you by the UK Government every four weeks when you reach State Pension age, which is currently 66. However, it's important to be aware that payments, which are issued by the DWP, can be made every week or every fortnight. Not everyone is entitled to the full State Pension, and the amount you receive might not be enough for you to live on. Therefore, it's important to factor your State Pension into your retirement planning and ensure you have a good idea of how much it might be worth, when you can claim it and how it will stack up with your other retirement savings. The easiest way to check how much you will be due is to use the State Pension forecasting tool on here. How much is the State Pension worth? The full New State Pension is currently worth £230.25 per week, however, the amount you get is dependent on how many 'qualifying' years of National Insurance payments you have. You'll usually need at least 10 qualifying years on your National Insurance record to get any State Pension and you'll need around 35 qualifying years to get the full New State Pension if you do not have a National Insurance record before April 6, 2016. What is my State Pension age? Dean explains: 'Your earliest age you can start receiving State Pension is known as your State Pension age. You can find this out easily on the UK Government's website. Men born before 6 April 1951 and women born before 6 April 1953 can claim the basic state pension now, but if you were born on or after these dates, you'll be eligible for the New State Pension when you reach State Pension age. 'This age is regularly reviewed to account for factors such as affordability and life expectancy - it is currently 66 but will rise to 67 by 2028.' How does the State Pension Triple Lock work? Dean explained: 'The purpose of the Triple Lock is to ensure that the State Pension doesn't lose value over time. It guarantees that, each year, the State Pension will rise by the highest of three measures: inflation in the September of the previous year (as measured by Consumer Prices Index); the average increase in total wages across the UK for May to June of the previous year; or 2.5%.' Will the State Pension be enough to fund my retirement? Dean said: 'The reality is there's a significant gap between what you get from the State Pension and what you may actually need or want in retirement. 'The State Pension only covers a very basic lifestyle - less than is needed for a minimum standard of living in retirement, according to the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association - and, because it only starts in your late 60s, it won't help to support you if you want to retire earlier. 'It should therefore only form part of your overall retirement plan and, so, it's important to fully understand how much you might need to save into your personal or workplace pension plan to potentially be able to afford the retirement you want. A pension calculator can help you see if you're on track.' State Pension payments 2025/26 Full New State Pension Weekly payment: £230.25 Four-weekly payment: £921 Annual amount: £11,973 Full Basic State Pension Weekly payment: £176.45 Four-weekly payment: £705.80 Annual amount: £9,175 Future State Pension increases The Labour Government has pledged to honour the Triple Lock or the duration of its term and the latest predictions show the following projected annual increases: 2025/26 - 4.1%, the forecast was 4% 2026/27 - 2.5% 2027/28 - 2.5% 2028/29 - 2.5% 2029/30 - 2.5% State Pension and tax The Personal Allowance will remain frozen at £12,570 over the 2025/26 financial year. The most important thing to be aware of is that people whose sole income is the State Pension will not pay income tax. However, anyone with additional income on top of their State Pension may need to pay tax. This is paid a year in arrears, so if the 2025/26 financial year's uplift takes you over the threshold, you will not receive a tax bill from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) until July 2026.
Powys County Times
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Letter: British pensioners are among the poorest in Europe
The Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that pensioners with taxable incomes of £35,000 or less will still receive the Winter Fuel Payment this winter. In the year ending March 2022, pensioners in the UK paid £19.5 billion in income tax. This tax was collected from pensioners whose total income - including State Pension, private pensions, and other taxable earnings - exceeded the £12,570 personal allowance threshold. If say the £200 Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) were spread out over a full year, it would equate to approximately £3.85 per week (£200 divided by 52 weeks). Shame it could not be added to the State Pension instead then there would have been no means testing. Even with the Triple Lock system, which ensures the pension rises annually by the highest of inflation, wage growth, or 2.5%, the UK State Pension remains below the minimum wage and is one of the lowest in Europe. For example, pensions in France, Spain, and Germany tend to be significantly higher. In contrast, pensioners in Luxembourg receive up to £5,426.93 per month, significantly more than in the UK. As for the £10 Christmas Bonus has remained unchanged since it was introduced by Edward Heath's Conservative government in 1972. If it had been adjusted for inflation, it would be worth around £165 today. Some estimates suggest it could be closer to £130.
