State Matters - 6 July 2026
- Dave Layzell MP
- Jul 6
- 7 min read
HEARING EXTENSION
THE Independent Planning Commission (IPC) has added a third day to proceedings for the upcoming public hearing on the proposed Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) North and South mine continuation projects.
Two days of hearings are scheduled next week at Branxton Community Hall on Thursday, 16 July, and Friday, 17 July.
A third day will now be held entirely online as a livestreamed video conference on Wednesday, 22 July.
To cater for the number of speakers who have registered to speak in person, some who have registered to speak via videoconference or telephone on 16 or 17 July may be contacted to be rescheduled to the online hearing on 22 July.
Registrations to speak close at noon on Wednesday, 8 July, and the deadline for written submissions has been extended to Wednesday, 29 July, with further information at:
All three hearing days will be livestreamed on the IPC’s YouTube channel:
FIREARMS LAWS UPDATE
Phase two of the NSW Government’s firearms reforms have now taken effect with the changes intended to strengthen oversight and reduce risk.
Changes include firearm licences only being issued for a maximum of two years, however, licences issued prior to 1 July 2026 remain valid until expiry.
Strengthened identify proofing processes apply with identity verification mandatory before an application can proceed, which applies to licence and permit applications, including renewals.
A Permit to Acquire firearms will not be issued until a person can demonstrate they meet safe storage requirements.
The Minns Labor Government’s recent NSW Budget invests $42.8 million over ten years into the NSW Gun Registry, including additional staff and system upgrades to support the implementation of these reforms.
For information on the implementation of the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2025, go to: www.police.nsw.gov.au/online_services/firearms/terrorism_and_other_legislation_amendment_act_2025
TSR REMINDER
Local Land Services is reminding visitors to travelling stock reserves (TSRs) during the winter school holiday to respect these public lands and understand what activities are permitted.
Many passive recreational activities are permitted on TSRs, including bushwalking, bird watching, horse riding, picnicing and pedal bike riding.
However, activities such as camping, motorbike riding and four-wheel driving are not permitted.
Visitors are also reminded that collecting firewood from a TSR is illegal and that fallen timber and standing dead trees must be left in place.
Penalties of up to $5,500 can apply for removing or destroying timber on a TSR.
Learn more by visiting the Local Land Services website: www.nsw.gov.au/regional-and-primary-industries/travelling-stock-reserves or call 1300 795 299.
TOCAL OPEN DAYS
Tocal College, Paterson is holding its winter school holiday open days for prospective students over the next two weeks.
The open days on Friday, 10 July, and Friday, 17 July, are an ideal forum to visit Tocal and get a feel for what life as a student is really like.
Each day's activities include an overview of full-time courses, a description of career opportunities, information on fees and financial assistance and an inspection of college campus facilities including Tocal's commercial farms and training facilities.
Discover more at: www.tocal.nsw.edu.au/students/future-students/open-days and to register your interest in attending: https://tocal.assessapp.com/webforms/113240/new
AWARDS OPEN
Nominations are now being received for the 2027 NSW Women of the Year Awards to be presented next March in Sydney.
Nominees are required in six categories including the Premier’s Woman of Excellence,
Aboriginal Woman of the Year, Regional Woman of the Year, Young Woman of the Year and Community Hero.
The sixth award, Ones to Watch, is an opportunity for parents, carers and school teachers to nominate girls and young women aged 7-15 for their courage, bravery, strength, determination or kindness to help and support those around them.
Award recipients will be announced at the NSW Women of the Year Awards on Thursday, 4 March 2027.
To learn more about the Awards and nominate an exceptional woman or girl by Thursday, 13 August, visit: www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/women-nsw/awards-and-events/nsw-women-of-year-awards
RIVER FORUM
Singleton Civic Centre is the location on Thursday, 27 August, for the Hunter River Forum.
Hunter Local Land Services will host the one-day event which brings together the people, projects and partnerships helping to improve the health and resilience of the Hunter River catchment.
The Forum is designed for landholders, community groups, councils, researchers, environmental organisations and anyone interested in the future of the Hunter River.
This year's discussion combines leading scientific research with practical experience from landholders, community groups, Aboriginal organisations, local councils and natural resource management practitioners.
The program will include presentations on the RiverKeeper Program, Wollombi Brook restoration initiatives, flood recovery and resilience projects, Landcare-led riparian restoration and collaborative partnership projects supporting healthy waterways.
For more on the Forum, check: www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/local-land-services/events/hunter-river-forum-2026 and register to attend, at: https://events.humanitix.com/hunter-river-forum-2026-singleton-aug
LANDLORDS WARNED
Commercial landlords are now a focus of the crackdown on the sale of illicit tobacco and vaping goods.
A new offence applies to landlords who are aware of the sale of the illicit goods from their premises and knowingly permit this activity to continue, without taking steps to report or evict the tenant.
The new offence carries a maximum penalty of one year imprisonment, a fine of $165,000, or both.
The state government is aware illicit product sales continues to evolve, with some attempting to obscure and avoid the enforcement activities by using QR codes and social media communications to facilitate ongoing sales to customers, after a closure order has been issued.
NSW Police and NSW Health are working together to identify these methods and pivot enforcement strategies to shut down these activities.
Members of the public can lodge complaints about retailers they believe are doing the wrong thing via the reporting portal on the NSW Health website:
STATE ‘TAXES’ RISE
Expect to pay more in NSW Government fees and charges which rose from the start of July.
Motorists are impacted by a price rise for pink slip, blue slip and Vehicle Inspection and Identification Unit (VIIU) inspection fees, vehicle weight taxes, as well as driver, rider and heavy vehicle licence fees.
Prospective new road users pay more for driver and rider knowledge, driving and hazard tests, with prices also up for NSW Photo Cards, and handbook and learner logbook replacement costs.
Water activities are more expensive with boat and personal watercraft licence fees, maritime knowledge test fees, and boat and vessel registration and renewal fees impacted.
The Housing and Productivity Contribution is a tax on every new home and even garbage disposal is more expensive with a rise in the Waste Levy.
NEW SAFETY RULES
Learner and provisional motorcycle riders have new safety requirements which are now in force.
All learner riders in NSW must wear an approved hi-vis vest or jacket when they ride.
Additionally, all NSW learner and provisional riders (P1 and P2) must wear approved protective gloves.
The new requirements are designed to improve rider safety and visibility on the road.
Demerit points apply if you are not wearing the correct gear when you ride.
More information about the change in requirements can be found at:
ROADWORK SPEED LIMIT
Changed rules apply to roadwork speed limits outside of construction hours, with a new standard now finalised and published by Transport for NSW.
If there are no workers on site and it is out of work hours, the roadwork speed limit will be increased, if it is safe for motorists and pedestrians.
All road users must comply with the signposted speed limit, including where speed limits are reduced due to roadwork, which often results in changed road conditions.
The new standard has been published in the NSW Government Gazette and on the Transport for NSW Transport Standards website: www.transport.nsw.gov.au/operations/roads-and-waterways/business-and-industry/partners-and-suppliers/traffic-engineering-4-3
APPRENTICESHIP APPLICATIONS
Transgrid is calling applications for its 2027 Apprentice Program with roles available in Newcastle, Tamworth, Orange, Wagga Wagga, Wallgrove and Yass.
School leavers, career changers and regional jobseekers keen to learn a trade can earn nationally recognised qualifications and play a real part in the energy transition.
Apprentices will work across regional NSW in substation, telecommunications, and transmission line roles.
They gain hands-on experience maintaining and expanding Transgrid’s high-voltage network, as well as working on large-scale infrastructure projects, supported by technical training, face-to-face learning and mentorship from industry professionals.
For more information or to apply by Sunday, 19 July, go to: www.transgrid.com.au/careers/apprentice-program
JULY ROUNDUP!
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water has its Water Engagement Roundup scheduled for later this month.
Water allocations for the new water year are the focus of the one-hour online briefing with participants asked to submit questions beforehand so they can be answered during the session.
The department will break down allocations and availability in a practical, easy-to-follow way, so water users get a clear understanding of what has been allocated, what it means for participants, and how to plan with confidence.
The Roundup is 11 am–12 pm on Wednesday, 22 July, with registration at:
ROADWORK ADVICE
Motorists who use the Golden Highway, Sandy Hollow are advised construction will commence shortly on a new heavy vehicle pullover bay.
The roadwork for the Port of Newcastle to Renewable Energy Zone (Port-to-REZ) upgrade program will enable the delivery of oversize, overmass (OSOM) equipment needed to build the REZ’s across NSW.
Construction will be undertaken from mid-July to the end of September and includes building hardstands, kerb and gutters, installing signs and landscaping, spray sealing and line marking.
Work will be scheduled Sunday to Thursday, 6pm-7am, with only minor delays expected for traffic and buses.
Please observe speed limits, follow the directions of traffic controllers and signs, plan ahead and allow extra travel time.
For the latest updates, visit www.livetraffic.com or call 132 701.
MEMORABLE JUNE
Aussie Ark Barrington Tops sanctuary looks set to remember June 2026 as a milestone month for its conservation program.
A highlight was collaboration with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service for the state’s first ever re-wilding of the Rufous Bettong.
There were 17 adult bettongs born in the Barringtons sanctuary which have been released into the feral-free Ngambaa Nature Reserve near Coffs Harbour.
Additionally, five endangered Eastern Quolls, were successful transferred and released into the wild as part of an ongoing collaboration with the Tasmanian Quoll Conservation Program, Booderee National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Traditional Owners of the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community.
The three male and two female quolls were born at the Ark and ‘hardened’ for the wild in the Barrington wildlife sanctuary and have adjusted well to their new life in the feral-proof Booderee Botanical Gardens in the Booderee National Park.
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
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