State Matters - 23 June 2025
- Dave Layzell MP
- Jun 20
- 6 min read
ADDITIONAL COMMUNITIES ELIGIBLE
MORE locations in the Upper Hunter Electorate have been added in the past week to the impact area for the East Coast Severe Weather Personal Hardship Assistance grant.
As of the Thursday 19 June update, residents of 30 communities are now eligible for the personal hardship assistance payment.
It includes Bandon Grove, Belbora, Bendolba, Bolwarra, Bretti, Bundook, Clarence Town, Dungog, Glen Martin, Glen William, Gloucester, Gresford, Hillsborough, Lambs Valley, Largs, Luskintyre, Melville, Mindaribba, Monkerai, Paterson, Phoenix Park, Rosebrook, Stanhope, Stratford, Stroud, Stroud Road, Tibbuc, Tiri, Tocal and Webbers Creek.
That was despite my efforts to raise the need to include Vacy, Barrington and Branxton to name just some of the additional locations that I have written to the Minister for Reconstruction about requesting their inclusion in the program.
If you are eligible for the one-off payment of $180 for individuals, or up to $900 per household, the application period has been extended until Monday 21 July, so visit the Service NSW website: www.service.nsw.gov.au/services/financial-assistance-after-a-natural-disaster/suburbs
ADDITIONAL FLOOD SUPPORT PETITION
An e-petition is now available on the NSW Parliament website calling for upgraded support to assist Hunter and Mid North Coast communities devastated by the May flood.
The petition calls on the NSW Government to maximise Category C funding and urgently declare Category D funding for devastated small businesses, primary producers and communities in the two regions.
Category C provides assistance for severely affected communities, regions or sectors and includes clean-up and recovery grants for small businesses and primary producers and/or the establishment of a Community Recovery Fund.
Category D is exceptional circumstances assistance generally considered once the impact of the disaster has been assessed and specific recovery gaps identified.
Under the joint Australian Government-State Government cost sharing for the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, assistance is requested from the states and requires agreement from the Prime Minister.
The e-petition requires 20,000 online signatures to be formally debated in the Legislative Assembly and can be found at: www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/la/pages/epetitions-list.aspx
ROADWORK UPDATE
Preparations for a major upgrade of the Golden Highway near Singleton will begin this weekend with a road closure and diversion of traffic via Range Road.
The Golden Highway will close from 7pm on Friday 27 June until 4am on Monday 30 June, and again the following weekend from 7pm Friday 5 July to 4am Monday 7 July, weather permitting.
The work at Mudies Creek, Whittingham precedes major construction activities for a new 28-metre-long bridge designed to withstand a one-in-100-year flood event.
Meantime, Transport for NSW scheduled work over Sunday night at the intersection of the New England Highway and Bridgman Road at Dunolly, Singleton.
Transport advised the planned maintenance was to improve the existing traffic lights and safety for all road users by replacing a damaged traffic signal detector in the road.
Further night roadwork is planned at Bridge Street, Muswellbrook from Sunday 29 June
to improve the road surface.
Work will be carried out between Hill Street and William Street to upgrade safety for motorists in wet weather conditions.
Traffic will be impacted each night 7pm-5am, and work is expected to take up to two weeks to complete, weather permitting.
For the latest traffic updates call 132 701 or visit www.livetraffic.com
GRADSTART APPLICATIONS
Applications are now open for NSW Health’s GradStart program with graduate nurses and midwives encouraged to start their careers in Australia’s largest public health system.
GradStart is an annual, statewide recruitment process which provides a vast range of employment opportunities across more than 150 health facilities in metropolitan, regional, rural and remote NSW.
Students are eligible to apply if they are completing a nursing or midwifery degree between June 2025 and May 2026, and will meet all the requirements to be registered as a Registered Nurse or Midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
Candidates may also be eligible for scholarships: www.health.nsw.gov.au/nursing/scholarship/Pages/default.aspx
Applications close on 30 June with more information including details on how to apply at: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/nursing/employment/gradstart/Pages/default.aspx
THANK YOU, GEORGE!
Destination NSW has acknowledged the retirement of the Hon. George Souris AM from its Board, following years of dedicated service and strategic leadership.
The Member for Upper Hunter (1988-2015) and a Minister during the terms of two NSW Coalition Governments, is credited with bringing deep expertise to the Board, drawing on his ministerial experience across tourism, major events, hospitality, racing and the arts.
Destination NSW noting that Mr Souris’ insights were instrumental in shaping initiatives that continue to strengthen that state’s position as a global visitor destination.
Destination NSW has a Board of Management elected by the responsible Minister with the organisation having the principal objective of achieving economic and social benefits for the people of NSW through the development of tourism and securing major events.
MULTICULTURAL GRANTS
The Multicultural NSW Stronger Together Grants Program is now open with organisations encouraged to apply before Monday 7 July.
The funding is available for community groups planning to deliver festivals and events between 1 September 2025 and 31 March 2026.
Stronger Together Grants enable successful multicultural and multifaith organisations to access between $5,000 and $20,000 to help celebrate and enhance our state’s cultural diversity.
The continuation of this successful program is thanks to the former NSW Coalition Government’s record investment over two years for our multicultural communities in the 2022-23 State Budget.
For more information, visit https://multicultural.nsw.gov.au/stronger-together-events-festivals/
HALF-TIME, KIDS!
Friday 4 July is the last day of Term 2 for Upper Hunter Electorate public school students, marking the halfway point for the 2025 school year.
That means from Saturday 5 July to Sunday 20 July, the Share Our Space program returns for the winter school holiday.
School grounds will be open to the public daily from 8am to 5pm at Ellerston Public, Scone Public, Muswellbrook Public, Dungog Public and Booral Public.
Gloucester Public and Stroud Public will welcome the community during weekends only, 8am-5pm.
For more on Share Our Space, check in at: www.schoolinfrastructure.nsw.gov.au/content/infrastructure/www/what-we-do/we-support-communities/share-our-space.html
Term 3 begins with a school development day on Monday 21 July then students are back to the classroom on Tuesday 22 July through until Friday 26 September.
NAIDOC WEEK
Singleton Showground is the venue for a free family fun day to mark NAIDOC week on Wednesday 9 July, 10am–2pm.
The Singleton NAIDOC Community Day will have a theme of ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy’.
Singleton NAIDOC Committee invites everyone to take part in the whole-of-community event which will have a huge range of free activities.
It will include a Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony, Mini Corroboree, Koorioke, Elders Tent, Bushtucker tasting, free sausage sandwiches, reptile show, stalls including a Council Kiosk, plus much more.
TELSTRA 3G HELP
Telstra is working to help impacted customers identify the cause of challenges due to the 3G network closure.
Initiatives include a dedicated 3G helpline available Monday to Friday, 8am-7pm, on 1800 990 853 and a 3G customer support webform: www.telstra.com.au/forms/3g-customer-support
Continuous network upgrades include rolling out 5G to more areas to address congestion and improve overall network performance.
If you are still having issues, some things you can check are to make sure you have the latest software on your phone and ensure external antennas are compatible with 4G.
GO Repeaters have the most updated software and set to the correct frequency.
For more general information on addressing 3G closure challenges go to:
FERAL SURVEY
Local Land Services is calling for landholders to provide input by participating in its feral pig and pest impact survey.
The survey aims to assess the level of feral pig damage to both agricultural and environmental assets on properties.
Landholder input is essential in refining pest management strategies and enhancing the support provided in our region.
If you have questions or need more information about feral pig management, please contact your Local Land Services office on 1300 795 299.
To access the online survey, check in at: https://regionalnsw.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_ePr8mH9GNr0eMxU#atid=b2693684c25285b9?utm_source=NW&utm_medium=email
RAISING P&C PROFILE
The NSW Department of Education has recently launched a new website platform for schools which includes a section where P&C Associations can put relevant information.
NSW Parents and Citizens Federation is strongly encouraging all P&Cs to contact the administration staff at their school to put information about their group on this new website.
One of the most common reoccurring questions the Federation gets from its members is how to get more engagement and volunteers from school parents.
The new website is being seen as a great opportunity for P&Cs to be proactive in talking to the school about using the school’s website to promote the organisation to the wider school community.
NATIVE VEGETATION CONSULTATION
Submissions close Friday 4 July on amendments to the Native Vegetation Code.
A discussion paper has been released seeking public and stakeholder feedback on the proposed Code changes resulting from the NSW Plan for Nature.
The Code is part of the Land Management Framework, which works to regulate native vegetation on private rural land in NSW, with the proposed amendments aiming to strengthen environmental protections in the code.
Once the consultation period has closed all submissions, comments and feedback on the proposed Code changes will be considered prior to any changes being made.
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