State Matters - 8 June 2026
- Dave Layzell MP
- Jun 9
- 7 min read
RAY & VICKI – CONGRATULATIONS!
THIS YEAR’S King Birthday Honours have highlighted two wonderful contributions to the Upper Hunter Electorate which both span decades.
Murrurundi’s Ray Shoobert receives an OAM for his years of service to the community at the foot of the Liverpool Range.
Ray, a charter member of Murrurundi Lions Club since 1962, is now a Life Member of the club and was a foundation member of Murrurundi Men's Shed.
In 2013, he was given the honour of being Murrurundi and the Upper Hunter Shire’s Citizen of the Year.
Vicki Woods now adds AM to her name as a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the tourism and hospitality industry, and to the community.
Vicki’s contribution to Largs is legendary, whilst best known for her six Excellence for Best Restaurant in a Pub Awards with Bushrangers Bar and Brasserie, she has undertaken many roles in Maitland and the Hunter.
A snapshot includes election as a Maitland City Councillor, Largs Public School Parents and Citizens Association president, chair of the Largs-Bolwarra Recreation Board and a member of Lorn Park Oval Recreation Board.
VETS IN SPOTLIGHT
Community consultation is underway on proposed reforms to the NSW veterinary framework designed to modernise veterinary services and better support the industry’s workforce.
Proposed legislation will respond directly to growing pressures in the sector, including high levels of stress and burnout, workforce shortages, and limited access to veterinary care in regional and remote NSW.
The proposed changes recognise the vital role veterinarians play in animal welfare, primary production and the many industries that depend on healthy animals across the state.
A consultation paper has been released on the Have Your Say and NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development websites.
You can have your say and provide feedback by completing an online survey or submitting a submission by 3 July, at: www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/veterinary-practice-regulatory-framework
OUR FINALISTS ARE!
The Upper Hunter Electorate has two finalists in the Civil Contractors Federation NSW Earth Awards 2026.
Daracon Group is in contention for projects costing $30 million to $75 million with the Coulsons Creek Road-MR358 rehabilitation funded by the Australian and NSW Governments.
In the $10 million to $30 million category, Robson Civil Projects has qualified with its work on the Mt Arthur Coal Rehabilitation and Land Management project.
The winners of the CCF NSW Earth Awards will be announced at an industry event in Sydney on 19 June.
LIBRARY GRANTS
Upper Hunter Shire Council and Singleton Council have secured State Library of NSW Public Library Infrastructure Grants.
Upper Hunter Shire awarded $500,000 for the interior development of the Campbell’s Corner Scone Library Project.
Singleton Council’s Flexible Spaces, Welcoming Faces project to upgrade Singleton Library for modern use has received $189,125.
The infrastructure grants are for projects that will assist NSW councils to improve public library infrastructure, including buildings and information technology systems.
REDBANK UPDATE
A merit appeal against the Independent Planning Commission’s decision to refuse development consent to restart Redbank Power Station is set for a Land and Environment Court hearing next month.
Verdant Earth Technologies Limited lodged the appeal after a State significant development application for the conversion and restart of the dormant power station, south of Singleton was refused by the IPC.
Verdant proposed to generate energy by using up to 700,000 dry tonnes per year of biomass as a fuel source.
The appeal hearing is scheduled for 20-24 July at the Land and Environment Court, Sydney with a site inspection be conducted prior to the courtroom proceedings.
BRIDGE CONTRACT
A tender has been awarded for the new bridge over the Paterson River, Gresford which has attracted funding from the Australian and NSW Governments.
Dungog Shire Council has appointed civil construction company, Bridge Marine and Engineering, to undertake the works on Gabulah Road.
The new structure has been long awaited by local residents, who for years have relied on an aging suspension bridge across the river.
Construction is expected to begin in coming months with the project to take approximately 12 months to complete.
Awarding of the tender comes just weeks after the opening of the new Clarence Town Bridge to vehicles and pedestrians.
The new structure will be completed early next year, with Dungog Council working for the remainder of the year to finalise the bridge approaches and other associated works.
RENEWABLE DISCUSSIONS
North Harbour Clean Energy is this week holding its latest discussions with the community regarding the proposed Upper Hunter Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project near Aberdeen.
Community Information Drop-In Sessions are being held at Aberdeen Bowling Club on Tuesday, 9 June, 2–4pm and 5–7pm and Wednesday, 10 June, 10am–Noon and 5–7pm.
The sessions will cover the final project design, environmental and technical study outcomes, next steps in the NSW planning process and Q&A with the project team.
For more information, check: https://nhcleanenergy.com
And, EnergyCo’s new REZ Mobile Office (RMO) for the New England Renewable Energy Zone is in Muswellbrook and Scone this week.
The RMO stops at Muswellbrook Library on Tuesday, 9 June, 11am-4pm, and then Upper Hunter Shire Council Chambers, Scone, 11am-4pm on Wednesday, 10 June.
Also on Wednesday, EnergyCo’s landholder information webinar, 5.30-6.30pm, for landholders who may host transmission infrastructure and want to understand EnergyCo's process to acquire easements.
For further information and to register for the webinar, go to:.
COMMUNITY HEALTH MOVE
One of the remaining pieces of Hunter New England Local Health District’s move away from The Maitland Hospital site in High Street has now been determined.
The NSW Government has purchased 525 High Street, Maitland, opposite the courthouse and city library, for $22 million to become the new home for community health services.
The existing two storey building will be refurbished with on-site car parking to be available for staff and the community.
Community health and community mental health services will continue to operate from the High Street Maitland former hospital site while refurbishment is carried out.
East Maitland Community Health Centre will not be relocated as part of the project.
For more information, visit: https://www.nsw.gov.au/maitland-community-health-project
WINTER TRAINING
The primary industries workforce is being encouraged to use the winter months to take part in the Upper Hunter farm safety training program.
Delivered by Tocal College, through the NSW Government’s AgSkilled program, the series of short training courses may be fully funded for eligible primary producers, agricultural workers and industry professionals.
With drought conditions increasing workloads and adding pressure to day-to-day farm operations, the training will provide a timely opportunity for producers to refresh important safety skills, connect with other landholders and step away from the farm for a day of practical learning.
Courses being delivered include Chemical Application Level 3 and Reaccreditation on 22 and 23 June, WHS for Workers on 14 July and WHS for Supervisors and Managers on 15 July.
Hunter Local Land Services staff will also attend selected sessions to share practical drought management resources and advice on livestock management, animal health and weed control.
Producers can register by completing the expression of interest form:
VIRUS AWARENESS
If you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, especially if you have a toddler or work with young children, you are being asked to increase your awareness about cytomegalovirus or CMV.
Most people have probably never heard of CMV but it is a common virus that is a serious risk during the first trimester of pregnancy.
CMV can cause lifelong disability in babies, including hearing and vision loss, epilepsy and cerebral palsy - yet simple steps can reduce the risk.
Those steps include washing hands carefully, avoid kissing children on the lips by giving a kiss on the forehead instead and don’t share food, drinks or cutlery, especially a dummy or toothbrush.
Updated Australian Pregnancy Care Guidelines now recommend all pregnant women are informed about CMV and women at higher risk, including those with young children or who work with children, are offered testing early in pregnancy by their GP or obstetrician.
A group of world-class Australian health researchers are working to raise awareness, so check in at: https://cerebralpalsy.org.au/our-research/research-projects-priorities/cmv/
SPOTLIGHT ON COERCIVE CONTROL
Younger people are the focus of the NSW Government campaign to drive increased awareness of coercive control.
YouTube, Instagram and TikTok are being used to reach people aged 16 to 40 years with the advertisement for the “It’s not love, it’s coercive control” campaign.
Coercive control is domestic abuse and can cause serious harm through a pattern of behaviour when someone repeatedly hurts, scares or isolates another person to control them.
It can include physical violence and sexual abuse – but it doesn’t have to, because in NSW, it is a criminal offence when a person uses coercive control towards a current or former intimate partner.
To see the coercive control campaign, go to: https://www.nsw.gov.au/family-and-relationships/coercive-control/our-campaigns.
If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, call the Police on Triple Zero / 000.
For confidential advice, support, and referrals, contact 1800 RESPECT or 13 YARN.
TIDY TOWNS ENTRIES
Entries are currently open for the 2026 Keep Australia Beautiful NSW Sustainable Cities and Tidy Towns Awards.
The prestigious awards celebrate outstanding contributions of councils, towns, organisations, businesses and individuals across the state, who are helping to create more sustainable, liveable and connected communities.
The awards categories cover the Circular Economy, Community Spirit and Inclusion, Litter Prevention, Liveable Cities/Towns, Biodiversity Conservation, Local Heroes, Young Legends aged up to 25 and the Overall Award.
Submissions close on 31 July, with the category judging and overall assessor visits held August-September with the Tidy Towns winners announced in October.
To review the award categories, download submission guidelines, and access resources to support applications visit: www.kabnsw.org.au/awards.
RETURN AND DONATE!
Students experiencing disadvantage will be supported by NSW Return and Earn partnering with The Smith Family.
The partnership will run until 18 October with a fundraising goal of $200,000 to assist recipients of The Smith Family’s Learning for Life scholarships.
For every 30 eligible cans or bottles returned to the NSW Container Deposit Scheme, one book will be provided to a child or young person experiencing disadvantage.
The Smith Family currently supports almost 19,680 students in NSW through the Learning for Life program and partners with almost 280 schools to deliver educational support.
Return and Machine locations can be found at: https://returnandearn.org.au/map
BARRINGTON’S INVITATION
Aussie Ark’s Barrington Tops sanctuary will resume its Devils in the Wild tours in August after a short winter break.
These fully guided two-hour tours take you behind the scenes of the world-leading conservation work at Aussie Ark’s Tomalla site.
After exceptionally high demand new tour dates have been released from August to December.
The dates are 15 and 29 August followed by 12 September, 24 October, 7 & 21 November, and December 5 and 23.
Led by one of the expert rangers, you will encounter Tasmanian Devils in free-range enclosures as well as Eastern Quolls, Brush-Tailed Rock-Wallabies, Potoroos and meet hand-raised joeys.
For Aussie Ark updates, check: www.aussieark.org.au/visit-us/devils-in-the-wild-tours
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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