State Matters - 26 October 2026
ALMOST THERE
AS CONSTRUCTION of the New England Highway Singleton Bypass reaches completion, I understand the local community will have the opportunity next month to see the new road before it opens to traffic.
The eight-kilometre, six bridge project costing $700 million, is jointly funded by $560 million from the Australian Government with a $140 million NSW Government contribution.
Singleton Bypass will divert 26,000 vehicles each day around the town including more than 3700 heavy vehicles.
A preferred option for the bypass was announced in 2016 with the project approved in August 2020.
Transport for NSW started early work in late 2022, with Acciona Construction Australia awarded the design and construction contract in November 2023 with major construction commencing in September 2024.
For more on the project, go to: www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/singleton-bypass-new-england-highway
DUNGOG, TIDY TOWN 2026!
Congratulations to the communities of the Williams and Paterson river valleys with Dungog named Overall Winner of the Keep Australia Beautiful NSW 2026 Tidy Towns Awards.
Dungog’s success also included four community awards.
Single-Use Plastic Free Dungog won the Plastic Free Communities Award.
Sustaining the Williams Valley Inc. received the Biodiversity Conservation Award for the Myall Creek Rehabilitation.
Paterson Hub and Harvest won the Community Spirit and Inclusion Award.
And, Michelle Dado-Millynn was recognised with the Local Heroes Award.
Dungog will now host the 2027 NSW Awards, welcoming councils from across the state to the shire, and represent NSW at the 2027 Australian Tidy Towns Awards.
Recognition also for Singleton Council named winner of a Resource Recovery Award for the introduction of FOGO and Singleton Tidy Towns received a Litter Prevention Award for The Adopt a Road program.
St Josephs Primary School, Merriwa, was rewarded with a Young Legends Award for its practical sustainability projects.
FURTHER HONOURS
Capping off a big week for the Upper Hunter Electorate, recognition for two local councils at this year’s Ministers’ Awards for Women in Local Government.
Mayor of Singleton, Cr Sue Moore, received one of the highest honours in local government taking out the prestigious Minister-selected Councillor Lilliane Brady OAM Award.
Cr Moore was first elected to Council in 1999, became Singleton’s first female mayor as elected by her peers, and the first female mayor by popular vote.
She has now served three consecutive terms as mayor since 2016.
Singleton Council was also recognised with the Excellence in Gender Equity Award, which Acting General Manager, Mel Curtis, described as wonderful recognition for an organisation committed to supporting its people to be their best through a range of initiatives and programs.
Acknowledgement also for MidCoast Council with Manager Water Planning and Assets, Tracey Hamer, highly commended in the Breaking Barriers Award.
DETECTOR DETECTED
Trying to outsmart the NSW Police Force Traffic and Highway Patrol will have its sequel in court for one motorist pulled over on Hunter roads.
Officers conducting random roadside testing located a radar detector fitted to the vehicle involved.
The 70-year-old man driving the car was issued with a Court Attendance Notice for “drive vehicle with speed measuring evasion article fitted.”
The radar detector was seized with Traffic and Highway Patrol Command reminding all motorists, radar detectors are illegal in NSW and have been for decades.
MINING DEVELOPMENTS
Several significant decisions in the past week will assist the Upper Hunter with the transition
post-coal mining.
New planning controls for the Mt Arthur Coal Mine, Muswellbrook now have two areas zoned for new industry with access to major highways and the existing rail loop.
Around 800 hectares of land in the two priority areas are identified for early activation.
Land will only be released for development once it has been rehabilitated by the mining company and confirmed safe, stable and non-polluting, with all future projects on these sites to go through their own development assessment.
Meantime, the Future Jobs Investment Authority will be established following the Future Jobs and Investment Bill 2025 passing the NSW Parliament.
The Authority will have four Local Divisions with the Hunter and Central West Divisions the first to be established comprising representatives of workers, industry, local government and the community.
The work is backed by $29.7 million of ongoing funding for the Authority and more than $170 million under the new Future Jobs and Investment Fund, with additional contributions each year.
TALK ABOUT TAFE
Whether you have been to TAFE NSW or not, everyone across the state is being asked to contribute feedback to assist the understanding of local training needs.
The input will help deliver services and spaces so communities can thrive with the understanding that every community is different, and that local economies, industries and skills needs continue to change.
TAFE NSW is Australia's largest vocational education and training provider, delivering industry-relevant skills and qualifications that empower individuals, strengthen communities, and support workforce development across the state.
Feedback will help identify changing priorities and ensure TAFE delivers effective, meaningful and locally relevant education, training and support.
You can share an idea, such as the one thing the training provider could do for a big impact in your local community and explain how it would benefit the community.
Share your ideas, experiences and feedback by 15 November, at;
NEW SES BASE
Stroud Unit of the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has moved into a brand-new and improved home.
The new $2.1 million facility is about three times the size of the former base and brings volunteers, vehicles and equipment together in one location.
The new building includes a training room, kitchen, office, change facilities, showers, vehicle garage, and additional equipment storage.
It will support the work of Stroud SES volunteers who respond across a large area from Barrington Tops National Park to Tea Gardens and the northern coast of Port Stephens, helping during storms, floods, road crashes and other emergencies.
The unit has responded to about 350 incidents over the past three years, and in recent weeks, volunteer membership has grown by five new recruits.
BUSINESS COMMITMENTS
The NSW Nationals and Liberals have committed to fix the legal mess that has resulted in the state's wine producers, including in the Upper Hunter electorate, being charged land tax for turning their grapes into wine.
Primary production land tax exemptions have been denied to wineries because the dominant revenue of the winery is from the wine, instead of the grapes.
Despite the NSW wine industry calling on the Minns Labor Government for 18 months to fix the problem, nothing has been done.
And, the NSW Coalition is also committed to deliver payroll tax relief, challenging the Government to back small and family businesses struggling with rising costs and taxes.
The NSW Nationals and Liberals Payroll Tax Policy will raise the payroll tax threshold from $1.2 million to $1.5 million, reduce the payroll tax rate from 5.45 per cent to 4.75 per cent for businesses with a total Australian payroll below $10 million and introduce CPI indexation to payroll tax thresholds to eliminate bracket creep.
HIGHWAY CONSULTATION
Golden Highway communities are being asked to have input into Transport for NSW's
Regional Corridors Upgrade Program (RCUP).
The community, business and industry will help prioritise short, medium and longer-term projects along the Golden Highway corridor and inform potential future investment decisions.
Drop-in sessions are being held Monday, 26 October, at Jerrys Plains School of Arts 10.30am-Noon and Denman Memorial Hall, 2-4pm; then Tuesday, 27 October, Merriwa Meeting Room (Old Library) 9-11am and Erica's Bread Bar, Cassilis,12.30-1.30pm.
An online information session is scheduled for Monday 2 November with registration via:
Have your say by 8 November, at: https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/newcastle-2-dubbo
AVOID CHEAP & DODGY
Transport for NSW inspectors have conducted targeted audits cracking down on dodgy vehicle inspections.
More than 200 operators have been taken offline and a further 200 businesses issued warnings for their role in suspect pink and blue slips.
Since January this year, 84 operators have been suspended for issuing ‘sight unseen’ pink and blue slips and another 223 operators have been issued with warnings for issuing safety compliance documents fraudulently.
Transport’s regulatory team has randomly inspected more than 3,100 vehicles to ensure compliance leading to 1,300 unsafe vehicles being taken off NSW’s roads with more than 6,000 defects identified.
Every year, owners of light vehicles more than five years old must obtain a Pink slip before renewing their registration, Blue slips are required to register a previously unregistered vehicle and heavy vehicles need a Brown slip.
To find a safety inspection provider, visit the NSW Government website:
BE HEATWAVE AWARE
Council On The Ageing NSW is encouraging older and vulnerable people to be prepared for the Heatwave Season as Summer approaches.
The advice is to understand heatwave risks, stay informed through weather forecasts and public health warnings, and prepare before the extreme heat arrives.
NSW Ambulance is the state’s combat agency for heatwaves with information and advice at: www.ambulance.nsw.gov.au/in-the-community/warnings
The weather bureau also has resources, such as the Bureau of Meteorology Heatwave Knowledge Centre: www.bom.gov.au/resources/learn-and-explore/heatwave-knowledge-centre and heatwave forecasts: www.bom.gov.au/weather-and-climate/specialised-forecasts-and-observations/heatwave
VISIT TAFE VIRTUALLY
Registrations can now be made for the TAFE NSW Virtual Open Week being held next month.
Explore your further education and training options, learn how to get started and find the pathway that is right for you.
Virtual Open Week, November 17-19, brings all the information together in one place, is super easy to access and you can get involved wherever you are.
You will learn about How to enrol, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer
Study options for students under 17, Apprenticeships and traineeships, Course pathways across a range of study areas plus Fees, payments and funding support.
The webinars and information sessions are designed to help you make informed decisions about your future, and the opportunity to have your questions answered.
Discover how TAFE NSW can help you upskill for the job you want, register by going to; www.tafensw.edu.au/events/
NEWEST MEMBERS WANTED
Maitland Libraries are on a mission to welcome 100 babies under the age of one as new library members.
Babies can join the library with a parent or guardian as their guarantor, then participate in one of the free weekly Baby Bounce sessions.
Baby Bounce is a fun, welcoming program of stories, songs and rhymes that supports your baby’s early language development.
It’s also a great way to meet other local families and discover books your child will love.
The free 30-minute sessions are held weekly for babies and their parents/carers and are ideal for babies aged up to 12 months who are not yet walking.
No booking is required, just turn up at 10am to Rutherford Library on a Monday, Maitland Library on Wednesdays and East Maitland Library Thursday and Friday,.
For more information, check: www.maitlandlibrary.com.au/whats-on
KEY TO CONFIDENCE
The Master Locksmiths Association of Australasia wants people living with disability and their carers to be aware of how they can access MLAK facilities.
The Master Locksmiths Access Key (MLAK) program helps people with disabilities to use accessible toilets, Changing Places facilities and other amenities.
The key allows eligible people to access facilities when they need them providing greater privacy, dignity and independence, while preventing misuse and vandalism which helps ensure these facilities remain available, clean and fit for purpose.
MLAKs are available to purchase through the Master Locksmiths Association: https://masterlocksmiths.com.au/mlak/
MLAK-enabled facilities can be located through the National Public Toilet Map:
AG’S OTHER AI
Primary producers curious about Artificial Intelligence (AI) but not sure where to start are being given the opportunity to learn more.
The NSW Farm Business Resilience Program, jointly funded by the NSW Government and the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, is holding a practical introduction to AI on the Farm.
It will cover how AI can support your farm business, save time and make everyday tasks easier with simple first steps to start using AI with confidence.
An online event is being held Friday, 30 October, 10.30am-Noon with registration at: https://events.humanitix.com/online-ai-on-the-farm where you can also add your name to the waitlist for future events.
Contact:
Email address: upperhunter@parliament.nsw.gov.au;
New Address: 94 John Street Singleton 2330
Postal Address: PO Box 60 Singleton NSW 2330
Ph: 6543 1065
Comments