State Matters - 28 July 2025

PIPELINE CONSULTATION

MUSWELLBROOK AND MAITLAND will be locations for community forums during August on proposed changes to gas supply and pipelines legislation.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is engaging with the community on proposed changes to the Gas Supply [Safety and Network Management] Amendment Regulation 2025 and Pipelines Amendment [Miscellaneous] Regulation 2025.

Under the Pipelines Act 1967, land and easements can be accessed and compulsorily acquired for pipeline projects.

To increase the transparency and consistency of these processes, draft guidelines for community feedback have been released - Authority to Survey Guideline: Engaging with landholders to survey land for a pipeline in NSW, and the Pipelines Compulsory Acquisition Process Guideline: Compulsory acquisition of land for a pipeline in NSW.

The Department invites interested community members and landholders to participate in

in-person forums on Wednesday 20 August at Muswellbrook, 9.30-11am, and at Maitland

2-3.30pm.

Online webinars to explain the regulation amendments and draft guidelines will be held Tuesday 12 August, 9.30-10.30am for industry, with the community session Wednesday 13 August, 6-8pm.

To register for the forums and webinars, plus to have your say by 7 September go to:

www.nsw.gov.au/have-your-say/pipelines-and-gas-supply-regulations

IPC PUBLIC MEETING

Singleton hosts a NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) public meeting Monday 11 August on the state significant development application to restart Redbank Power Station.

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has completed its whole-of-government assessment on the Redbank DA and has referred the application to the IPC for determination.

People wanting to make a verbal submission directly to the Commission at Singleton Civic Centre must register prior to the speaker registration deadline at noon on Friday 1 August.

Written submissions on the application can be made online to the IPC by Monday 18 August at: www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/form/redbank-power-station

DISCOVERY PASS REINSTATED

Sustained pressure by the NSW Nationals and Liberals have prompted the Minns Labor Government to backflip on the TrainLink Discovery pass.

Under the former Coalition Government, these passes were introduced to allow people to travel across the regions in an affordable way, supporting workers, students, residents, and families no matter what their travel destination.

During Labor’s two years in charge of the Treasury, the annual cost was ramped up by 400 per cent from $840 to $3,300, leaving residents worse off in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.

With the Discovery pass three-and-six month fares reinstated, the Coalition will keep pushing for other crucial measures to be reinstated, like the Regional Seniors Travel Card.

EXPO RETURNS

Singleton Civic Centre is the venue next week for the second Careers Expo with registrations to attend now open.

The Expo is a key initiative under Singleton Council’s Skills and Employment Program funded by the former NSW Nationals and Liberal Government’s Resources for Regions program.

Council is partnering with more than 45 stallholders such as the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, Training Services NSW, Workforce Australia and Business Singleton to host the free Expo.

It provides a community hub for jobs and skills information and to support Singleton people to better access employment opportunities within the local government area as the region enters an era of economic transition.

Book your place to be at the Civic Centre on Wednesday 6 August, 1.30–6pm, by going to: https://2025SingletonCareersExpo.eventbrite.com.au

POST-MINING UPDATE

The NSW Government has supported all 13 recommendations from the NSW Parliament’s Standing Committee on State Development into beneficial and productive post-mining land use.

It comes after the announcement of the Future Jobs and Investment Authority, which secured $27.3 million in the 2025-26 NSW Budget.

Legislation to create the authority will soon be introduced to parliament, with the government to also create the Future Jobs and Investment Fund, unlocking the previous Liberal-National Government’s Royalties for Rejuvenation fund.

Specific actions committed to in the government response to the parliament committee include to review potential of mine sites and existing infrastructure for new employment generating land use and retention of infrastructure, as well as a skills audit of the mining workforce.

FAST KNOW-HOW!

The Stroke Foundation is asking us to take time next week to get some FAST knowledge during National Stroke Week.

Knowing the F.A.S.T. (Face, Arms, Speech and Time) signs of stroke mean you can act quickly because every second counts. 

The F.A.S.T. test is simple: Face – Check their face. Arms – Can they lift both arms? Speech – Is their speech slurred and do they understand you? Time – Time is critical, call 000 (triple zero) immediately. 

Stroke is always a medical emergency, so by recognising the signs straight away can change, or even save a life.

Learn more during National Stroke Week at: https://strokefoundation.org.au

CLICK, CLACK!!

Images collected since camera enforcement and fines for seatbelt offences were introduced in NSW a year ago reveal that some 88 per cent of fines related to incorrect seatbelt use.

The NSW Government has also revealed that nearly two-thirds of these fines were issued to drivers whose passengers were not buckled up properly.

Centre for Road Safety’s CrashLab testing shows an incorrectly worn seatbelt in a crash at just 60km/h can cause fatal injuries to the liver, spleen or abdomen.

Wearing a seatbelt correctly doubles the chances of surviving a crash and reduces the risk of serious injury, however, wearing a seatbelt incorrectly can be nearly as dangerous as not wearing one at all.

A seatbelt must sit low and flat across your hips, and the sash must cross the middle of your chest and shoulder, not under your arm, not twisted, not behind your back. 

Seatbelts save lives, but only if they’re worn correctly, so buckle up properly - road trauma is preventable and not inevitable.

POWER TIP

Upper Hunter electricity generator and energy retailer, AGL, is encouraging power consumers to plug into information which can assist them to reduce their bills.

AGL says it is acutely aware of the cost-of-living pressure many Australian households and businesses continue to experience and it knows that energy prices are part of that pressure.

All energy retailers have a regulatory obligation to provide hardship support to their customers, so if you are having difficulty paying your bills, you should engage with your energy retailer as soon as possible to discuss assistance options. 

AGL provides a range of advice through its Saver Centre www.agl.com.au/discover/saver-centre and Energy Coach www.agl.com.au/discover/energy-coach to help customers manage their energy costs.

A range of energy saving advice, information and assistance can also be found at the Australian Government’s website www.energy.gov.au and on the NSW Government’s energy website www.energy.nsw.gov.au.

The Energy Consumers Australia website also has helpful advice for consumers, which can be found at https://energyconsumersaustralia.com.au/consumer-advice

NOMINATIONS OPEN

Upper Hunter electorate businesses can either enter or nominate a business for this year’s Hunter Region Tourism Awards with entries now open until Tuesday 30 September.

The awards are a dedicated program celebrating the outstanding achievements of the Hunter region’s vibrant tourism and hospitality sector.

For the first time in over a decade, businesses from every corner of the Hunter will have the chance to be recognised and promoted through an awards initiative created just for them.

The Hunter Region Tourism Organisation presentation is free to enter with award categories including Accommodation, Dining, Attractions, Experiences, Services and Shopping.

Finalists are announced during the week commencing Monday 13 October ahead of the

Awards Presentation on Monday 3 November, discover more at: www.hunterregion.org.au/hunter-region-tourism-awards/

NEW ONLINE TOOL

Navigating the NSW water licensing and approvals process has been made easier with a new and improved Water Assist e-tool now available.

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water together with WaterNSW have successfully launched the latest version of the Water Assist e-tool as the single point of online entry for all water licence and approval customers. 

Water Assist is a simple step-by-step tool to make it easier for customers to find the right agency and information online quickly.

Combined with website improvements, Water Assist offers a streamlined end-to-end journey for water licences from enquiry to application, so customers spend less time online or on the telephone.

You can find Water Assist on all water licence and approval web pages on the department’s website: www.dpie.nsw.gov.au/water/our-work/licensing-and-approvals

LIBRARIES OFFER HELP

Maitland City Council’s library programs are bringing Tech Help back for Term 3 of the school year.

If you need a hand with your phone, tablet or computer, the free digital tech sessions are designed to build confidence and make everyday technology easier to use.

Be Connected Group Sessions, which are part of the Australian Government’s Be Connected program, are at Rutherford Library on Tuesdays at 11am and East Maitland Library on Thursdays from 11am.

Individual 45-minute, one-on-one, Tech Help Sessions can help with basic device use, internet searching, emails, online safety and more are available at Rutherford Library on Tuesdays and East Maitland Library on Thursdays.

Bookings essential at: www.maitlandlibrary.com.au/whats-on/digital-tech-sessions

FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

One of Australia’s most exciting regional sculpture exhibitions will live up to its reputation when Dungog becomes the centre stage in August for Sculpture on the Farm.

A bumper 116 finalists have been announced for the fifth edition of Sculpture, 29-31 August, when the event transforms Dungog Common into an immersive gallery showcasing 175 indoor and outdoor works.

Some of the nation’s most prominent and emerging sculptors, including Deborah Halpern OAM, Gillie and Marc, Inge King AM, and Vipoo Srivilasa will feature across the Indoor Exhibition marquee, the Open Air Exhibition and the Sculptural Trail.

A total of $57,000 in prizes and acquisitions across 10 categories will be awarded at the Gala Opening Cocktail Party at the historic James Theatre on Friday 29 August from 5pm.