State Matters - 16 June 2025
- Dave Layzell MP
- Jun 16
- 6 min read
STEP CLOSER
THE LONG overdue upgrade of Singleton Police Station is one step closer with the project now going to tender.
It comes four years after the NSW Nationals and Liberals Government announced a brand new $12 million, fit-for-purpose station for the town.
The Minns Labor Government last week announced an $8.7 million upgrade which includes a major refurbishment of the heritage-listed 1866 building and construction of a new two-storey wing.
Branxton Police Station will maintain the 24/7 response capacity by accommodating Singleton’s officers during construction which is expected to be completed in 2027.
What the Singleton community and I would like to see most of all when the police station is upgraded is that the doors are kept open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
SAFETY NET IN FOCUS
Our Hunter Valley Flood Mitigation Scheme is in the spotlight when the Water Group of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water holds its June Roundup.
Protecting the Hunter Valley: Why flood mitigation matters more than ever, is the theme for the session on Wednesday, 18 June at 11am.
Manager of the scheme, Adrian Milne, will provide a reminder of just how important the infrastructure is to protect communities and how the scheme plays a key role in reducing the effects of ongoing flood events through a network of levees, floodgates, and channels.
An open question and answer session will follow the presentation, so register to join at:
GLOUCESTER RAP
Residents needing help after the May flood can visit the Gloucester Recovery Assistance Point (RAP) for practical recovery advice and support this week.
The NSW Reconstruction Authority will open the RAP at Gloucester CWA Rooms, 108 Church Street, Gloucester on Wednesday and Thursday 18-19 June, 1.30-5.30pm.
Participating services available include Service NSW, Services Australia, Local Land Services, NSW Health, Rural Adversity Mental Health Program, Australian Red Cross MidCoast Council and Legal Aid NSW.
Keep up to date by calling Service NSW on 13 77 88 or check: www.nsw.gov.au/floodrecoveryupdates
SANDY HOLLOW SURVEY
Transport for NSW is conducting a survey of heavy vehicle operators to help determine the location of the proposed heavy vehicle rest area at Sandy Hollow.
Planning is underway to deliver a formalised off-road rest rea to be located on the northern side of the Golden Highway.
Key features of the rest area will include safe off-street parking bays for heavy vehicles, a dedicated toilet facility for drivers and improved pedestrian safety and town amenity.
The survey is available at: https://yoursay.transport.nsw.gov.au/sandy-hollow-heavy-vehicle-rest-area
REZ ROADWORK
EnergyCo is starting work on delivering upgrades at several locations along the Golden Highway to enable the transportation of oversize over mass (OSOM) equipment needed to build renewable energy zones (REZs).
Construction on the Port to REZ projects includes the intersection of Golden Highway with Lonsdale and Pringle streets, Jerrys Plains as well as the intersection of Golden Highway and Vinegaroy Road, Cassilis.
Work at Jerrys Plains will see construction of a retaining wall north-east of Pringle Street, relocating a water main and an existing street light pole and laying new asphalt north of Lonsdale Street, and east of Pringle Street.
At Cassilis, work will include building a right turn lane from the Golden Highway westbound onto Vinegaroy Road, reshaping the verge and batter on the westbound side of the Golden Highway to the north-west of the intersection and installing a new vegetated open drain.
Standard daytime work hours will be Monday to Friday, 7am-6pm, and Saturdays 8am-1pm.
To ensure the safety of crews and motorists, some night work may also occur and, if required, night time hours will be Sunday to Thursday from 6pm to 7am.
If you have questions, please email Port2REZCommunity@BMD.com.au or call 1800 807 561.
MORE ACCOLADES!
More congratulations for Upper Hunter Electorate achievers following the 2025 Hunter Valley Legends Awards held recently at Rydges Resort Hunter Valley.
Husband and wife, Andrew and Lisa Margan of Broke, were inducted as this year’s Wine Living Legend and Tourism Living Legend.
Andrew inducted as a Living Legend in recognition of his long-standing commitment to securing the Hunter Valley’s place among the world’s great wine regions.
Lisa has dedicated more than 30 years to the Hunter Valley’s food, wine and hospitality scene, with a background spanning teaching, nutrition and fine dining, she brought her vision of agri-dining to life in Broke.
Topping off the Upper Hunter’s success, Liz Silkman was awarded 2025 Hunter Valley Winemaker of the Year after a phenomenal 12 months including being the first Hunter Valley winemaker to be awarded the nationally acclaimed Halliday Winemaker of the Year title.
TELEPHONE OUTAGES
Telstra has advised it will have several planned network outages in the Muswellbrook area over the next two weeks.
Maintenance will be conducted on the mobile site located in Glen Munro Road which will reduce Telstra mobile coverage for short periods.
Mobile services in the area will be temporarily affected while the upgrade works are underway and the site will need to be switched off between Wednesday 18 June and Friday 20 June.
Maintenance is also scheduled on the mobile telephone site at Edderton that services the Mount Arthur mine, which will result in short periods of reduced Telstra mobile coverage.
The site will need to be switched off during Monday and Tuesday, June 23-24.
Telstra mobile customers will receive texts advising of the upcoming work.
Telstra customers can continue to make calls and send texts during the disruption to mobile services by switching on Wi-Fi Calling with business owners encouraged talk to their bank about connecting EFTPOS terminals to NBN or Wi-Fi connection to prevent delays in processing transactions.
Landline services, NBN internet services, and mobile coverage from other providers will not be impacted.
Keep up to date on this outage via https://www.telstra.com.au/outages
BROADBAND CHECK-UP
Dungog is the destination for NBN Co on 17 July to discuss opportunities the National Broadband Network (NBN) investment program could bring to the area.
Doug Walters Pavilion will host the visit with Dungog Shire Council encouraging the community to have its say.
Several NBN upgrades have already been rolled out with next month’s visit considered a chance to be part of the conversation about how to strengthen the digital future of the shire.
NBN Co is keen to hear local thoughts and take feedback on opportunities for further investment plus listen to feedback on internet performance and connectivity in your area.
HOSPITAL UPDATE
Health Infrastructure has just released its mid-year progress update on the Muswellbrook Hospital Stage 3 Redevelopment.
Since the start of work on the project in February, progress has been made on the Operating Theatres and minor refurbishment of the Day Stay unit.
Next, the construction team will move its focus to the lower ground undercroft below the hospital’s main entry, which will become the new Community Health space.
The project team has also been working on purchasing major medical equipment which includes audio visual equipment and pendants for the new Operating Room and Procedure Room and sterilising equipment.
For more information about the project including the mid-year update, go to:
AP COMMUNITY GRANTS
Applications are now open for Australia Post’s 2025 Community Grants program.
Grants of up to $10,000 are available for locally led and delivered projects that improve mental wellbeing outcomes and help people meaningfully connect in their community.
This year, Australia Post is expanding its grants program with an additional $250,000 available to support projects that enhance mental wellbeing, connection and resilience in disaster-impacted communities.
Applications close July 7 with eligibility criteria and information on how to apply available at: https://auspost.com.au/content/dam/auspost_corp/media/documents/2025-australia-post-community-grants-guidelines.pdf
SOCIAL IMPACTS SURVEY
The New England Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) is inviting the community to complete a survey to help it further understand the community’s views about the social aspects of the project.
Your participation will ensure the New England REZ captures views from community members across the project area with the survey results to inform the project’s social impact assessment.
The survey takes around 20 minutes to complete and is taking feedback until this Friday, 20 June at: www.research.net/r/SocialImpactAssessmentSurvey
A diary reminder that NEREZ will be at the Muswellbrook Markets on Saturday 22 June, 8am-1pm at Muswellbrook Showground, then at Aberdeen Highland Games in Jefferson Park on Saturday 5 July, 8am-4.30pm.
For details about upcoming community engagement activities, go to: www.energyco.nsw.gov.au/ne/working-community
HELMET SURVEY
The results of the NSW Government’s second annual Helmet Safety Testing and Assessment Ratings (STAR) program have been released.
Each helmet is impact tested at the NSW Crashlab where Transport for NSW technicians conduct examinations including vertical drops, a strap strength test and drop tests with moving platforms.
Modelled on ANCAP safety ratings for motor vehicles, Helmet STAR provides an easy-to-understand safety rating for new helmets based on comprehensive testing to provide a guide to parents and adult riders.
Helmets tested include models specifically for skaters and foot scooter riders with the helmet’s ability to protect the user’s head in each scenario tested and a star rating assigned.
The children’s helmet rated as safest overall this year is the Fox Rampage Youth MIPS which retails at $290.
However, a $30 white unicorn helmet available from Kmart was awarded five stars to join the $22 Bluey helmet awarded five stars last year as a value option with the highest safety.
View the latest ratings at: www.transport.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/bicycle-riders/helmet-star
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