State Matters - 21 April 2025
- Dave Layzell MP
- Apr 22
- 6 min read
LEST WE FORGET
COMMUNITIES across the Upper Hunter Electorate will pause this Friday to reflect and commemorate Anzac Day.
Before sunrise Dawn services will be held from 5.30am onwards at Merriwa, Muswellbrook, Singleton, Branxton, Dungog, Paterson, Clarence Town and Gloucester with Aberdeen, Scone, Denman and Broke to join in between 5.30am and 6am.
Upper Hunter Shire’s main services are from 9am at Gundy, 9.30am at Aberdeen and 10.30am at Scone and Merriwa.
Muswellbrook’s march to the main service steps off at 10am with the Denman march to begin at 11.50am.
Broke commences the main Anzac Day services for Singleton at 10am, Burdekin Park and the War Memorial Gates at Bulga are the venues for services at 11am.
The march to the Branxton WWI Rotunda begins at 11.15am with the service from 11.30am.
In Dungog Shire, Gresford and Dungog will form up to step off at 10.30am for their Commemorative services.
And, Club Gloucester is the assembly point for a 10.30am march to the Commemoration Service at the Gloucester Memorial Clock Tower from 11am.
ANZAC DAY TRADING
Retailers and shoppers are reminded of changes to Anzac Day trading restrictions to ensure participation in events to commemorate veterans and their service to our country.
From this year, retailers who were closed prior to 1pm on previous Anzac Days will remain closed for the entire day.
The move to full-day trading restrictions largely impacts big retailers operating in NSW including department stores, supermarkets and fashion outlets.
The move to full-day trading restrictions follows a public consultation period, which received strong support from veterans, veterans’ organisations and the broader community.
Certain exemptions apply for chemists, newsagencies, petrol stations, takeaway restaurants and licenced venues such as pubs and clubs which can remain open.
Exemptions also apply for small shop retailers - as defined in Section 8 of the Retail Trading Act - with no more than four staff plus up to two owners working, shops holding a hotel or small bar licence, provided they meet specific conditions and shops listed in Schedule 1 of the Retail Trading Act 2008.
For more information, visit the Small Business Commissioner website: www.smallbusiness.nsw.gov.au/news-podcasts/news/anzac-day-and-easter-weekend-trading-rules
MORE DOUBLE DEMERITS
Drivers continue to be reminded to travel safely with double demerits back in force from Thursday morning 24 April to Sunday night 27 April.
The NSW Government urges drivers and their passengers to use seatbelts which are a legal requirement for all people in a motor vehicle.
You can play your part in making NSW roads safer by never driving when you are fatigued or under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Offences that attract double demerits are speeding, using a mobile phone illegally, riding without a helmet, not wearing or incorrectly wearing a seatbelt or carrying passengers not wearing or incorrectly wearing a seatbelt or restraint.
MUSIC, RODEO & RACING
Singleton takes centre stage for Anzac long weekend entertainment headed up by a special celebration at Lower Belford.
Dashville marks the 20th anniversary of the Gum Ball with three days of music from Anzac Day afternoon through until Sunday night featuring a big line-up of performers.
Singleton Showground opens the gates at 10am Saturday for the Singleton Rodeo with the schedule of events spanning ladies barrel racing and breakaway to the open bullride, bareback and saddlebronc.
Racing fans will cruise the Golden Highway on Saturday for the Merriwa Cup with gates open at 11am for the five-race card.
AN IMPORTANT VOTE
Now for the vote that does not require you to leave home but will require you to be parochial.
The Upper Hunter Electorate has Broke and Gloucester flying our flag in the 2025 Top Tourism Town Awards.
Broke is a contender for the Tiny Tourism Town crown for destinations with a population below 1,500 residents.
Gloucester is vying for the Small Tourism Town title for locations with a population of between 1,500 and 5,000 people.
Only one vote per email address is permitted and voting closes on Sunday 4 May at:
DRAFT BUSH FIRE PLAN
Upper Hunter Shire residents are being asked to provide comment on the Liverpool Range Draft Bush Fire Risk Management Plan.
The Liverpool Range Bush Fire Management Committee document identifies bush fire risk to communities and ways of reducing the impact of fires to keep people safe and protect the things the community value.
The committee is made up of fire agencies, land managers and other stakeholders across the Liverpool Range district and is focussed on protecting lives, homes, businesses, the environment, cultural values and other assets in this area.
Public feedback will help shape the bush fire risk management plan for the next five years with comment closing on Monday 26 May.
Have your say by email, postal submission and via the consultation website:
REZ ROADWORKS
Road upgrades for the state’s Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) will start within weeks after the NSW Government awarded the contract for the first stage of the Port to REZ Program.
The works includes upgrades at 19 locations from the Port of Newcastle to Elong Elong near Dubbo, to unlock access to the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone.
Construction locations will include Lonsdale Street Jerrys Plains and Vinegaroy Road Cassilis.
The $128 million program will upgrade key roads and intersections to make it possible to transport the oversized equipment needed to build renewable energy projects and leave improved roads for the community.
To view the 19 upgrade locations visit the Port to REZ interactive map: https://caportal.com.au/energyco/rez
RENEWABLES GUIDE
A new guidebook has been launched to help landowners and the community to better navigate and understand the transition to renewable energy.
The NSW Renewable Energy and Transmission Guide has been developed by NSW Farmers in collaboration with the Queensland Farmers Federation and the NSW Government.
It is designed to ensure landowners in NSW are better-informed as they engage with developers, government agencies and contractors in Renewable Energy Zones and beyond.
The guide will assist landowners who are considering hosting wind, solar or battery projects, and those engaging with energy companies about transmission projects in their region.
Another aim is to demystify the energy transition for neighbours and broader community members.
The guide will be available in print and on the NSW Farmers website: www.nswfarmers.org.au/NSWFA/Content/IndustryPolicy/Resource/NSW-Renewable-Energy-and-Transmission-Landholder-Guide.aspx
RESCUE PARAMEDICS
Singleton will benefit from the latest graduation of NSW Ambulance rescue and special operations paramedics following a two-month intensive training program.
Intensive Care Paramedic Aaron Nielsen, who moves to Singleton to work as a Rescue Paramedic is among 10 graduates from the first rescue course of 2025.
Paramedics learn skills including road crash rescue, vertical rescue, land search and rescue, tactical medicine, swift water operations, confined space rescue, breathing apparatus operations and large animal rescue, at training locations including the Hunter region.
The latest class will be posted across the state at Ambulance Rescue stations located including Singleton, Rutherford and Tamworth.
Aaron Nielsen is now looking forward to utilising his skillsets as an intensive care and rescue paramedic in a regional community.
UPSKILLING OPPORTUNITY
Regional and rural women will be empowered with essential skills in first aid and mental health and crisis support through free training with St John Ambulance.
The Rural Women's Network Skills Roadshow will provide the training under a partnership between the NSW Government and St Johns.
Approximately 30 free workshops tailored for women are planned across 15 regional locations including Maitland on May 16-17, Tamworth May 30-31 and Port Macquarie June 27-28.
The program aims to be accessible and includes skills to respond effectively in emergency situations, recognise mental health issues, recognise situations where people may be in imminent crisis, provide appropriate interventions and learn where to direct people for further support.
Workshop participants will receive a nationally accredited certification once they have completed their training.
To register, go to: https://events.humanitix.com/rwn-skills-roadshow
MOSQUITOE WARNING
People enjoying the great outdoors over the Anzac long weekend and autumn school holiday are being advised to protect themselves and their families from mosquitoes.
Five people have acquired Japanese encephalitis (JE) in NSW and, sadly, two of these people have died.
JE virus is spread by mosquitoes and can infect animals and humans with the Upper Hunter among Local Government Areas (LGAs) of high JEV concern.
The neighbouring Liverpool Plains and Mid-Western council areas are also among 60 LGAs eligible to access the Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccine.
JE virus vaccine is available for free for people who live or work, including volunteer deployments, in any of the defined high-risk LGAs and are at risk of mosquito bites.
If you are eligible for a free JEV vaccine, speak to your General Practitioner (GP), pharmacist or Aboriginal Medical Service about getting vaccinated today.
For further information and ways to protect yourself visit Mosquito borne diseases: www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/mosquito-borne/Pages/default.aspx
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