State Matters - 14 July 2025
- Dave Layzell MP
- Jul 14
- 7 min read
CHEERS, WATER LOVERS!
FIVE Dungog shire projects have secured almost $25,000 from this year’s round of Hunter Water’s Love Water Grants.
One-off funding has been awarded to a total of 19 projects that promote water conservation and efficiency, as well as those that incorporate education, environmental stewardship or sustainability outcomes.
Clarence Town Lions Club receives $5,727 for a water tank and drinking station in Lions Park and Dungog Public School has $5,216 for a water tank and watering system.
Dungog Junior Cricket Club can improve irrigation at Bruyn Park and Clarence Town Senior Citizens have water for Clarence Town Community of Gardens after each received $5,000.
Gresford District Landcare has been awarded $3,860 for its Water is Life, Community is Love initiative.
To find out more about the Love Water Grants, visit www.hunterwater.com.au/grants
PRICE RISE
Public transport fares go up from Monday 14 July with Opal fares to increase by an average 2.5 per cent to adjust to annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) movement.
For commuters travelling to Sydney Airport, the Station Access Fare (SAF), independently set by the Airport Link Company, also increases for using the Domestic and International Airport train stations and single trip tickets.
There is no change to the $50 weekly cap for Adult Opal customers, the $2.50 daily cap for Gold Senior/Pensioner Opal card customers and transfer discounts of $2 for Adult Opal customers.
More information: https://transportnsw.info go to Tickets and Fares or the Opal Travel app.
Meantime, metro and regional train passengers will travel free for two days on Thursday 31 July and Friday 1 August on all Sydney Trains, NSW TrainLink, Airport Link, and Sydney Metro services.
The fare-free period is an acknowledgement of the travelling public’s patience during the period of protected industrial action by rail unions.
Passengers using NSW TrainLink services during this time will be refunded but must have booked a ticket to secure their seat to travel.
Free travel will not extend to buses, ferries and light rail which will charge fares as normal.
RECOVERY POINT
Primary producers and small businesses are being asked by the NSW Reconstruction Authority to take advantage of the Tocal Recovery Assistance Point next week.
Practical recovery advice and support will be available in one place on Monday 21 July and Tuesday 22 July, Noon-4pm, in North Court 2 and 3 at Tocal College, Paterson.
Services are expected to include Service NSW, Services Australia, NSW Health, Legal Aid NSW, Australian Red Cross, Rural Financial Counselling Service, SafeWork NSW, Local Land Services and Dungog Shire Council.
Residents in the impacted areas eligible for the East Coast Severe Weather Personal Hardship Assistance payment need to apply by next Monday, 21 July:
Keep up to date at: www.nsw.gov.au/emergency/floods/recover/flood-recovery-updates
or call Service NSW on 13 77 88
BROKE FERAL PIGS
A further meeting on the feral pig problem in the Broke area is scheduled for next week.
The follow-up meeting will be held at Broke Hall on Monday 21 July commencing at 1pm.
An initial meeting was held last month to discuss the current impact of feral pigs on the area.
Local landholders are encouraged to attend for a report back on progress since last month’s meeting and to provide further intelligence on the extent of the issue.
IPROWD ENROLMENTS
Hunter Valley and Port Stephens-Hunter Police Districts are jointly calling for Aboriginal people interested in a career in policing to take an important next step.
Applications are now open for the next IPROWD course with TAFE NSW which will commence at the Kurri Kurri campus next month.
The Indigenous Police Recruitment Our Way Delivery (IPROWD) program offers Aboriginal people a pathway into policing.
IPROWD requires a study commitment of 35 hours per week with the Kurri Kurri TAFE’s fulltime course delivered over 13 weeks between August 25 and December 5.
The Certificate III in Vocational and Study Pathways for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Island People provides training subsidised by the NSW Government.
To learn more about IPROWD, visit: https://www.tafensw.edu.au/programs/iprowd and to explore careers in policing: https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/recruitment/careers_and_salary
DISCOVERY PETITION
Regional people should not have to beg for basic services which is why the NSW Nationals are rallying support for the regional travel Discovery Passes.
An ePetition to the Legislative Council is calling for the 3-Month and 6-Month Discovery Passes to be reinstated.
Their removal has left only 14-day and 30-day options which are significantly more expensive, inflexible, and poorly suited to the realities of regional and interstate travel across the full NSW TrainLink network.
Discovery Passes once made regional and long-distance travel genuinely accessible by supporting students, young people, and low-income travellers to connect communities to education, medical care, work and family.
The petition will remain open for signatures until 26 September and can be found at:
AGSKILL BOOST
The acclaimed initiative AgSkilled has been extended for another 12 months with a $5 million injection of NSW Government funding.
Over the past year, AgSkilled has provided training for more than 2,300 participants across 188 locations, achieving an impressive 94 percent completion rate through the 768 courses run by 33 endorsed providers, including TAFE NSW.
This program will give more farmers, producers, and workers access to cutting-edge training that meets the needs of a fast-changing industry, from mastering on-farm technology to improving safety, sustainability, and productivity.
The program is also helping to attract a new generation to agriculture and horticulture, with one in four participants aged under 25, and one in four being female.
Discover more about AgSkilled at: www.nsw.gov.au/education-and-training/vocational/vet-programs/agskilled
TAFE SEMESTER 2
TAFE NSW is preparing for the resumption of classes from next Monday, 21 July, when Semester 2 commences.
TAFE believe everyone has a gift and wants to help you find yours with courses in Aged Care & Disability Support, Agriculture, Art and Design, Building and Construction, Early Childhood, Engineering, Hospitality, Real Estate, Sustainable Practice, Study and Career Pathways.
Prospective students are encouraged to register now to join this week’s one-hour virtual information sessions or to watch a recording if you can’t attend.
Session 1 is Wednesday 16 July, 8-9am and Session 2 on Thursday 17 July, 12-1pm.
To secure your spot: https://tafenswevents.eventsair.com/virtualorientation-semester2-2025/virtual-orientation-s2-2025/Site/Register
TRANSPORT HERITAGE GRANTS
The NSW Government funded 2025 Transport Heritage Grants Program is now open taking applications until the beginning of August.
Administered by the Royal Australian Historical Society and supported by Transport Heritage NSW, the program aims to help the community rediscover the culture, the events and the people that shaped transport in our state over the past 170 years.
It also supports the restoration and conservation of, and access to the valuable heritage assets including buildings, rolling stock, vehicles, museum objects and collections.
Depending on the type of project, organisations and individuals are eligible to apply for grants.
Discover more about the Transport Heritage Grants Program at: www.rahs.org.au/transport-heritage-grants-program/ with enquiries to: grants@rahs.org.au
NSW MUSIC PRIZE
The state’s exceptional contemporary musicians will be celebrated with the NSW Government launching the country’s largest prize for music.
Three categories are planned including the NSW Music Prize for the artist or act whose release has had the most significant impact, NSW First Nations Music Prize for a First Nations artist or act and NSW Breakthrough Artist of the Year.
They will be awarded to NSW-based artists or acts who have demonstrated exceptional creative achievements and meaningful impact between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025 by releasing music or achieving a major career breakthrough.
A Selection Committee of 20 music industry experts will nominate artists and create a longlist for the NSW Music Prize and NSW Breakthrough Artist of the Year - an expert Judging Panel of five will then determine the winners.
Expressions of Interest to join the nominations committee and judging panels close on Monday 21 July.
To apply, or for more information visit the Sound NSW website: www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/sound-nsw
DEMOCRACY CHALLENGE
Public high schools in the Upper Hunter Electorate have until 31 July to register for The Writing Democracy Challenge.
The Challenge is for Years 7-10 students to write a letter proposing a solution to a real-world issue addressed to either the NSW Department of Education or their local council.
Co-organised by the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law at UNSW, Story Factory, and NSW Parliament, with support from the NSW Department of Education - the civics education and engagement initiative engages students with important social issues, refines their writing skills, whilst learning the real-world practice of civics and democracy.
The 90-minute competition is held on International Democracy Day, Monday 15 September, with selected students invited to attend a Statewide final workshop on 26 November at the NSW Parliament.
More information about the Challenge, including a registration link, is available at: https://www.gtcentre.unsw.edu.au/writing-democracy-challenge.
FISHING GRANTS
Grant applications for Gone Fishing Day are being accepted by Fisheries and Forestry NSW until 24 July.
The grants support recreational fishing clubs and associated organisations to purchase items required to run their own events on or around Gone Fishing Day on
Sunday 19 October.
Gone Fishing Day promotes and celebrates fishing with the grants to purchase or hire fishing gear, bait, food and non-alcoholic drinks, participant giveaways and other equipment required to run a local event and associated activities.
Fishing clubs and associated organisations can only apply for one package per organisation per event by completing the application in full at: www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/gone-fishing-day-2025
THORNY PROBLEM!
When we next head outdoors we are being asked to watch for a thorny invader which is a Hunter Priority Containment Weed.
African Boxthorn is a thorny shrub which is invading pastures, bushland, roadsides and waterways.
It’s a Weed of National Significance forming dense, spiny thickets that block access, reduce pasture and provide cover for pests.
Plants grow up to 5 metres tall and 3 metres wide and may appear dead during drought or winter by dropping their leaves.
Treat mature plants first and follow up to prevent regrowth with herbicide which is most effective in cooler months if plants are still actively growing.
For advice contact your local Biosecurity (weeds) Officer at Hunter Regional Weeds: www.hunterregionalweeds.net.au or visit NSW WeedWise: https://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au
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