SPOTLIGHT ON DRIVER TRAINING – CONGRATULATIONS to Upper Hunter Shire Council and its partners who help deliver the Learner Night Driver Program, which has become one of the hottest local in-demand experiences.

The road safety initiative held at Scone Airport has recently caught the attention of the NRMA and features in a newly posted video on social media.

Since the first Night Drive in June last year, more than six events have now been delivered, with each one filling faster than the last – this Friday’s event was booked out within days.

Learner drivers, accompanied by an appropriately licenced supervisor, are exposed to real life driving scenarios and the opportunity to interact with police in a controlled environment.

Learner Night Drive is supported by Hunter Valley Highway Patrol, Transport for NSW, NSW Ambulance, Singleton Council, Muswellbrook Shire Council, Merriwa VRA and a group of  community-minded corporate sponsors.

View the NRMA video on Upper Hunter Shire Council’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/upperhunter.shirecouncil

WATER SUPPLY GRANT – Muswellbrook Shire Council is one of the 18 regional councils to share in an additional $2 million from the NSW Government to manage critical water  infrastructure.

The council has received $50,000 for intensive onsite support with the Muswellbrook Water Treatment Plant.

The Advanced Operational Support (AOS) initiative supports local water utilities with hands-on technical training to optimise existing water treatment plants and extend the lifespan of these  essential assets. 

AOS is part of the $52.8 million Town Water Risk Reduction Program, which has provided support to local water utilities across regional NSW addressing issues including water quality, dam  safety and training for utility operators.

BRIDGEWORK UPDATES – Singleton Council has announced two major transport links which secured joint funding from the Australian and NSW Governments are starting to be restored to  the road network.

Disaster recovery funding of $4.5million has allowed a new Kilfoyles Bridge to be built and a one-kilometre section of Stanhope Road raised with the work being completed last month.

Brunners Bridge over Glendon Brook at Mitchells Flat is on track to open by the end of January, weather permitting.

Replaced to boost road safety and connectivity to the Hunter Regional Livestock Exchange, the project secured $6.5 million from the Restart NSW Fixing Country Roads Program and $700,000  from the Australian Government’s Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program.

Meantime, Dungog Shire Council will undertake community consultation on revised alignment options for the new Gresford Bridge.

This year’s flood events have significantly altered the Paterson River channel and damaged approach areas, prompting a reassessment of the original bridge design.

WEDNESDAY IS IDPwD DAY – International Day of Persons with Disability (IDPwD) will be marked this Wednesday, 3 December, to raise awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability.

The theme this year is fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress.

People with disability are more likely to face poverty, discrimination in employment, being underpaid, as well as workplace and society stereotypes.

One example of the challenges women with intellectual disability face is communicating with health professionals.

The Council for Intellectual Disability has developed the My Body My Choices Conversation cards to help women talk about their body, their relationships and how to stay healthy.

Singleton’s program of activities for IDPwD includes an informative talk on assistive technology, a Sensory Storytime at Singleton Public Library and a pop-up aqua class at Singleton Gym and Swim.

The award-winning and immersive touring exhibition, sensorial, showing at Singleton Arts and Cultural Centre will invite visitors to get hands-on and use all their senses to experience the artworks.

LIVESTOCK FLASH! – Barrington has been named as one of eight locations to benefit from the NSW Government’s latest rollout of the Cattle Underpass Scheme (CUPS). 

In select locations, cattle cross under, not over, roads, thanks to new underpasses and bright solar-powered flashing lights that warn drivers when livestock are on the move.

CUPS helps farmers upgrade safety infrastructure with grants covering up to half the cost, capped at $100,000 for underpasses and $20,000 for flashing-light systems.

MidCoast Council can now install flashing lights on Barrington East Road at Barrington in an upgrade that ensures safer stock movements for farmers, whilst motorists have safer and smoother  journeys.

NEW DOG RULES – A NSW Government crackdown on unethical dog breeding practices has commenced. 

From Monday 1 December, a Breeder Identification Number (BIN) is required for dog breeders and limits exist on the number of litters dogs can have.

There is a cap of 20 non-desexed female dogs over the age of six months to be kept on a premise, unless breeders have been granted an exemption, and one staff member is required at the breeding premise for every 20 dogs.

Female dogs will be limited to five litters in their lifetime or up to three by caesarean.

The changes come with new penalties, of a maximum $110,000 penalty for an individual and $550,000 for a corporation for exceeding the cap on female dog numbers with individuals also  potentially facing gaol time.

Breeders can apply for a Breeder Identification Number (BIN) online: www.petregistry.olg.nsw.gov.au/breeders

QUARRY APPROVAL – he Liverpool Range Quarry has received conditional approved from the NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC).

The decision followed a comprehensive process including hearing from the community and relevant subject matter experts, and considering the formal assessment conducted by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure.

Conditions of consent imposed by the Commission require the applicant to undertake further steps and, in some cases, obtain other approvals.

The applicant or others who have made a submission on the quarry being proposed near Cassilis may be able to appeal the Commission’s decision in the Land and Environment Court of NSW.

The Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure is the agency that is primarily responsible for managing compliance for major projects such as the Liverpool Range Quarry.

A detailed explanation of the IPC determination, which provides the Commission’s full Statement of Reasons for Decision, is published at: www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/cases/liverpool-range-quarry

MARTINS CREEK MOBILE OUTAGE – Telstra has scheduled a planned network outage next week to upgrade its mobile base station which services Martins Creek.

Mobile services in the area will be temporarily affected while the upgrade works are underway to deliver a better 4G and new 5G user experience.

The site will need to be switched off for the entire period during Friday 12 December to Monday 15 December and for eight hours on Tuesday 16 December.

Telstra mobile customers will receive texts advising of the upcoming work and can continue to make calls and send texts by switching on Wi-Fi Calling, which a free setting on most popular mobile  phones. 

Landline services, NBN and Satellite internet services, and mobile coverage from other providers will not be impacted.Any calls to Triple Zero from a Telstra mobile when the site is off air will  automatically connect to another mobile network if available for connection to emergency services. 

Keep up to date on the Martins Creek outage, via: www.telstra.com.au/outages

ACTIVATING ENERGY – Community energy groups and not-for-profit organisations can now apply for funding to help more households cut energy costs, adopt renewable technologies and  access government rebates and incentives.

 

The Community Energy Activation Program launched by the NSW Government will provide funding of up to $600,000 to eligible organisations to help boost local energy initiatives.

 

Funding will support activities such as community education workshops, face-to-face sessions offering guidance tailored to individual needs and dedicated staff roles to deliver trusted local guidance.

 

Interested groups can attend an online webinar on Tuesday 9 December at 11am.

 

Applications for the Community Energy Activation Program will close Monday, 16 February, 2026.

 

To apply for a grant or register for the webinar, go to: https://www.energy.nsw.gov.au/government-and-local-organisations/programs-grants-and-schemes/community-energy-activation-program

 

INFORMATION UPDATE – A new factsheet has been released by Santos to help landholders navigate common myths surrounding the Hunter Gas Pipeline.

 

The information covered in the factsheet includes topics such as property access, future land use and insurance.

 

Santos is proposing to deliver natural gas from Narrabri to the east coast domestic market via two new underground pipelines including the Hunter Gas Pipeline.

 

Survey activities are currently underway on private and public land as the company works to confirm the pipeline route.

 

Santos encourages all relevant landholders to speak with its team to discuss the proposed route and to negotiate voluntary survey and deed of option agreements, as it works to finalise the pipeline alignment.

 

View the factsheet at: www.huntergaspipeline.com.au/wp-content/uploads/SAN12646_Santos_Pipeline-Easement-Myth-Busting-Fact-Sheet_S2R1.pdf

 

SCHOOL TRIP SUPPORT – The Parliament of NSW will extend its Regional Travel Subsidy program into 2026 to help make the Parliament more accessible to regional and remote students.

 

Additionally, feedback has been taken onboard and from January it will increase the amount to $500 per eligible school. 

Eligible schools are those located 120 kms or more from Sydney and can claim the subsidy by visiting the Parliament and completing one of the educational programs. 

Bookings for next year are now open for Legal Studies and the Legislature, which can be undertaken on sitting and non-sitting days of the Parliament. 

Apply by booking a school tour or workshop with the Parliament Education Team, ask about the travel subsidy when you call, then before your visit complete and return the form to: dps.education@parliament.nsw.gov.au.

For more on the Regional Travel Subsidy, check: https://education.parliament.nsw.gov.au/tour-parliament/nsw-school-tour-travel-subsidy/