State Matters - 6 October 2025
- Dave Layzell MP
- 7 days ago
- 7 min read
QUARRY HEARING
THE NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) will hold a public meeting at Cassilis on Tuesday 22 October to receive local input on the proposed Liverpool Range Quarry.
The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has completed its whole-of-government assessment and referred the state significant development application to the IPC for determination.
A development application exhibited late-last year proposes a hard rock quarry to extract, process and transport up to 700,000 tonnes of hard rock material per annum to supply construction material for the approved Liverpool Range Wind Farm project.
The registration deadline for speakers to participate in the public meeting at Cassilis Community Centre is midday Tuesday, 14 October.
Written submissions are to be lodged by 5pm on Wednesday 29 October.
For more information of the Cassilis public meeting, the state significant development application and making submissions, go to the IPC’s website: www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/cases/liverpool-range-quarry
NEW ENGLAND REZ UPDATE
EnergyCo will hold information sessions in Muswellbrook and Scone to update the community on changes to the New England Renewable Energy Zone transmission corridor.
A new study area is being reviewed between Muswellbrook and the central south hub near Walcha, for safer and more efficient construction, reduced environmental and road impacts, and to avoid key aerial firefighting zones around Lake Glenbawn.
A 3-kilometre wide corridor will be refined to a 1km corridor early next year, with the easement ultimately narrowed to 140 metres wide, generally 70m for each line.
Information sessions are at Muswellbrook Library on Wednesday 29 October, 3-7pm, Thursday 30 October at Scone Motor Inn, 3-7pm, and at Gundy Soldiers’ Memorial Hall on Wednesday 5 November, 3-7pm.
EnergyCo is taking feedback at: nerez@energyco.nsw.gov.au alternatively, call 1800 061 114 (toll free) and view the website at: www.energyco.nsw.gov.au/ne
BUSHFIRE DANGER PERIOD
The Bush Fire Danger Period is now in force across the Mid Coast, Hunter Valley and Liverpool Range rural fire districts until the end of March next year.
If you are planning on conducting a burn, you will require a fire permit from your local Fire Control Centre or Rural Fire Service brigade.
Fire permits help ensure fire is used safely and reduces the danger to you, your property and the community.
Along with having the required fire permits, you need to notify your local fire authority and neighbours of your intent to burn at least 24 hours in advance.
Residents and land holders must also know the rules when it comes to the use of fire.
So, now is the time to prepare your property by clearing gutters, mowing lawns, removing flammable materials away from any structures, reviewing your Bush Fire Survival Plan and stay informed with the Hazards Near Me app: www.nsw.gov.au/emergency/hazards-near-me-app
If you need more information visit: nsw.rfs.nsw.gov.au and for the Bush Fire Danger Period requirements, check: www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/BFDP
ROADWORK WRAP
Lane closures and reduced speed limits of 40km/h will be in place during night maintenance work to improve the New England Highway through Singleton.
Transport for NSW is undertaking removal and replacement of concrete slabs on the highway between White Avenue, Darlington, and the Hunter River Bridge, Dunolly.
Work commences Thursday 9 October, 7pm-5am, then continues Sunday to Thursday for an expected completion in six nights, weather permitting.
And, EnergyCo is changing work arrangements at four sites for the Port of Newcastle to Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone roadworks to better manage worker fatigue.
From 7 October, workdays are changing at the Golden Highway and Vinegaroy Road, Cassilis worksite from five days on-two days off, to ten days on-four days off.
Each fortnight, work will start on a Tuesday and finish every second Thursday and continue every second Saturday and Sunday during the ten-day roster.
Work notifications are available on the Port to REZ website’s interactive map: www.energyco.nsw.gov.au/our-projects/enabling-projects/port-to-rez
For the latest traffic updates call 132 701, visit www.livetraffic.com or download the Live Traffic NSW app.
GREYHOUND APPOINTMENTS
Expressions of Interest (EOIs) close next Tuesday, 14 October at 5pm, for roles overseeing the NSW greyhound racing industry.
Minister for Gaming and Racing, the Hon David Harris MP, has established an independent selection panel to oversee the process to identify suitable candidates for the roles.
They include appointment as a director of the Greyhound Racing NSW Board and a Commissioner of the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission, including as Chief Commissioner.
A candidate information pack is available at: https://iwork.nsw.gov.au with EOIs to be submitted with an up-to-date CV and cover letter outlining relevant experience via email to racing.admin@racing.nsw.gov.au with the subject line of “GRNSW Director Appointments” or “GWIC Commissioner Appointments”.
Further information at: www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/office-of-racing/key-appointments
TOBACCO LICENSING
Retailers must now have a valid tobacco licence and display it at the point of sale to sell tobacco or non-tobacco smoking products in NSW.
Those who continue to do so without holding and displaying the license will face penalties.
The three-month grace period for the state’s retailers and wholesalers to apply for a licence as part of the NSW Government’s new Tobacco Licensing Scheme ended last week.
If a valid licence application was submitted on or before 1 October, retailers and wholesalers can continue to trade until notified of the outcome of their application.
Businesses can apply for a tobacco licence using their MyServiceNSW account by completing an online application, providing a recent criminal records check and paying the yearly licence fee.
Businesses can get support to submit their licence application by calling the Tobacco Information Line on 1800 357 412.
More information on applying for a licence is on the NSW Health website:
MUSWELLBROOK HALF-DAY HOLIDAY
Muswellbrook will have the opportunity to go to the races on Melbourne Cup afternoon with a half-day local public holiday confirmed for the Local Government Area.
Muswellbrook Shire Councillors resolved in April to make application for the half-day public holiday for the Muswellbrook Mayor’s Cup Race Day on Tuesday 4 November.
NSW Minister for Industrial Relations, Sophie Cotsis, has endorsed the local public holiday for the whole of the Muswellbrook Shire LGA from noon to 6pm on 4 November.
It will cap-off a five-day program of events from October 31 to November 4 being promoted by Council as “This is a Little Taste of Real Country.”
Details of all events that are part of “A Little Taste” are available on Council’s website: www.muswellbrook.nsw.gov.au/event/real-country/
HUNTER TRANSPORT PLAN
The Hunter Strategic Regional Integrated Transport Plan (SRITP) has been published setting out a 20-year vision and key transport priorities to support a growing Hunter region.
Transport for NSW exhibited the Draft Hunter SRITP between December 2024 and February 2025 receiving almost 600 responses from community members and key stakeholders.
The plan comprises 49 short and medium-term initiatives, as well as longer-term and statewide outcomes, which were finalised following the consultation period.
Some of the initiatives are already in planning while other new priorities will require further investigation to determine their feasibility.
View the Hunter Transport Plan at: www.transport.nsw.gov.au/huntersritp.
DEFIBRILLATOR GRANT OPEN
Applications for the Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program are now open and being accepted until 1 December or when funding is exhausted.
Eligible NSW sport and active recreation facilities and clubs will be provided with up to $3,000 for the purchase of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to be available at sports facilities.
Heartbeat of Football Foundation has also received a $150,000 grant from the state government to conduct the first ever research into which NSW sports facilities have AEDs installed.
Heartbeat of Football will also use the funding to expand its #HeartHealthMatters Program to deliver AED familiarisation and CPR training to sporting organisations across regional areas.
For further information on the Local Sport Defibrillator Grant Program, visit:
TAFE RECRUITS TEACHERS
TAFE NSW is currently offering skilled and qualified industry experts the opportunity to gain the Training and Assessment qualification and become a TAFE NSW Teacher.
The Paid to Learn Program can allow you to become a qualified TAFE NSW teacher in just 14 weeks and get paid the equivalent of a fulltime teacher's salary whilst completing the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (TAE40122).
If you don’t have a Training and Assessment (TAE) qualification but have at least three to five years’ industry experience you can study the TAE via a number of different delivery options and take up to 18 months to complete it.
If you have previous military service, the Ranks to Recognition Program can help bring your previous experience into the classroom.
Teaching positions are currently available in agriculture, carpentry, early childhood education and care, electrical trades, fitting and machining, heavy vehicles, nursing and allied health plus literacy, numeracy and foundation skills.
Discover more about The Paid to Learn Program, at: https://careers.tafensw.edu.au/become-a-teacher
GRANT SUCCESS
Seven Upper Hunter electorate organisations have been successful recently securing community grant funding.
Australia Post's 2025 Community Grants awarded to Gresford Bowls, Sport and Recreation Club, East Gresford with $4,000 for Let’s Check on Our Mates and Muswellbrook’s Blackroo Community Indigenous Corporation has $3,500 for Kicking Goals for Connection.
Transgrid has also announced the latest recipients of its Community Partnerships Program with up to $5,000 for not-for-profit organisations that are local to its planning, operations and major project areas.
Five Upper Hunter electorate organisations receive grants including Pacific Brook Christian School, Hunter Valley Support Brigade, Wybong Public Hall Inc., Muswellbrook High School P&C Association and Ellerston Public School P&C.
Applications for Round 2 of this year’s Community Partnerships Program close on Friday, 31 October.
For more information: https://www.transgrid.com.au/community/community-partnerships-program
SMALL BUSINESS MONTH
Muswellbrook Chamber of Commerce and Industry is marking Small Business Month with a series of workshops.
You can choose to attend the free events for small to medium businesses all day or just attend selected sessions.
Muswellbrook RSL Club is the venue on Wednesday 22 October, 9am-3.30pm, with four sessions covering AI, marketing, time management and tips for business success.
Register at: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/2025-small-business-month-business-workshops-tickets-1704557400069
Hunter Region tourism businesses are invited to casual networking and connecting with fellow tourism operators at Newcastle Racecourse on Monday 13 October, 5.30-
7.30pm.
And, Maitland Business Chamber presents the 2025 Business Summit, on Thursday 16 October 8-11am, at Maitland Town Hall.
To explore and register to attend Small Business Month events, visit: nsw.gov.au/nsw-small-business-month
TROUT SEASON
The 2025-26 NSW trout fishing season is officially open following the annual four-month closure to allow fish to spawn and reproduce.
Anglers can now cast a line in the Barrington Tops, Gloucester Tops and surrounding trout fisheries including streams in the New England and Fish River near Bathurst in the Central West.
A reminder that all recreational fishers should check they have a current and valid NSW Recreational Fishing Fee Receipt (unless exempt) and take the opportunity to refresh themselves on the fishing rules before wetting a line.
Fishing rules and regulations are available via the FishSmart App or by accessing the NSW Recreational Freshwater Fishing Guide available at NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) offices, fishing fee agents or online:
www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/fishing-rules-and-regs/freshwater-recreational-fishing-guide
For information on fishing around Gloucester and the Barrington Tops, check this guide:
Contact:
Email address: upperhunter@parliament.nsw.gov.au;
Street Address: 94 John Street Singleton 2330
Postal Address: PO Box 60 Singleton NSW 2330
Ph: 6543 1065
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