State Matters – A Weekly Bulletin from Dave Layzell MP

Member for Upper Hunter – 11 May 2026

FESTIVE SCONE – BREEDING BRILLANCE is the theme for this year’s Scone Horse Festival which is now underway in the Horse Capital  of Australia.

Highlights of the opening weekend included the Festival VIP honour being bestowed on Brad Wamsley for his contribution to the sport of  polocrosse, along with the staging of the Horse Festival Parade and Scone Horse Show.

Breeding Brillance will be recognised during this week’s Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association Awards and during tours of the Scone  Equine Hospital along with the local thoroughbred studs.

Then there’s the icing of the cake for the ten days of festivities with the Scone Cup racing carnival on Friday and Saturday before eyes turn  skyward for the fireworks at Lake Glenbawn on Sunday.

The plan your Horse Festival diary by going to: https://sconehorsefestival.com.au and: www.facebook.com/sconehorsefestival

CHECK TRAVEL PLANS – Australian Rail Track Corporation will undertake essential maintenance and improvement works on the  Hunter Valley and North Coast railway lines this weekend.

Track closures affect Hamilton to Narrabri between 3am Saturday, 16 May, and 3am Tuesday, 19 May, and Telarah to Acacia Ridge,  Queensland from 5am Saturday, 16 May, to 7.30pm Monday, 18 May.

Coaches replace NSW TrainLink services and buses replace Hunter Line passenger services, with travellers encouraged to check:  https://Transportnsw.info or call 13 22 32 for assistance to plan their journey.

Signage and traffic control will be in place at locations where motorists may experience short delays due to crossing works or adjacent corridor works.

Information on road closures and alternative routes can be found at livetraffic.com: www.livetraffic.com

DROUGHT, TAX IN SPOTLIGHT – The Autumn sitting of the NSW Parliament has resumed after the Easter-Anzac break with drought and a tax on primary producers high on my agenda last week.

I have put current drought conditions in the Upper Hunter Electorate on the parliamentary record and called for the Minns Labor  Government to ensure next month’s NSW Budget includes assistance for farmers to maintain core breeding stock.

The imposition of the state government’s Primary Producer Land Tax on the electorate’s wine industry, I believe, poses a serious threat to  cellar doors at our local wineries and the tourism industry.

I call on the Premier, the Treasurer, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW to focus their attention on  this issue of taxing secondary production or value-adding as a matter of urgency.

The Parliamentary chamber also got to hear about 12-year-old, Nash Goddard of Glendon Brook, being selected for the NSW Blues junior  team for the Professional Bull Riding State of Origin series which breaks from the chutes in Newcastle on May 30.

DUNGOG BRIDGES – One lane of the new Clarence Town Bridge is open to traffic from this week as construction continues to complete  the associated roadworks on either side of the structure.

Single lane traffic movements are operating under the current traffic management conditions during the first stage opening for the Williams  River crossing.

The new bridge, funded by the Australian and NSW Governments, is being used to allow the temporary closure of the historic Brig  O’Johnston Bridge for major rehabilitation work.

Meantime, Transport for NSW is advising motorists a detour will be used during the $7.3 million rehabilitation of the heritage listed Cooreei  Bridge on Stroud Hill Road, east of Dungog.

The bridge’s dilapidated timber abutments will be replaced with concrete and while most of the work will be carried out underneath the span, the bridge will need to be temporarily closed at times.

Transport intends to limit closures to minimise disruption to the community with all motorists detoured via Alison Road, Clarence Town  Road, Mary Street and Dowling Street, which will add around 30 minutes to journeys.

The project is expected to take around 16 months to complete, weather permitting.

COST OF LIVING TIP – If you receive a fine or overdue fine notice and are finding it hard to pay, Revenue NSW can provide help and  support.

To start you can request a fine review or seek advice on applying to go to court from NSW Legal Aid www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au or by accessing  independent legal advice. 

There are other ways to pay a fine such as setting up a payment plan, applying to have your fine reduced or written-off or clearing your debt  through approved unpaid work or activities.

Managing your fines online has been made it easier and you can now add Fines to your MyServiceNSW account.

If you are a First Nations person, you can call the First Nations Hotline on 1800 002 345 to talk with support officers about your options and  to help you get back on track.

For more information on the options that may be available, check: www.revenue.nsw.gov.au/help-centre/online-services/sections/fines

MORE GREENS? – Ravensworth Composting Facility is looking to expand operations with an application for a state significant  development modification now on exhibition until 20 May.

The existing resource recovery facility has development consent to process 200,000 tonnes of organic material per annum, with the approval  also covering water drainage and leachate management works, hardstand and other supporting infrastructure.

Modification 3 proposes an expansion of the existing facility to process up to 250,000 tonnes per annum of waste, permit the receival and  processing of municipal and commercial and industrial sourced food organics and garden organics (FOGO) recovered material and the installation of a weighbridge.

The public exhibition process allows any individual or organisation to have their say about the proposed development.

The application can be viewed online at the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure website by going to the planning portal and  clicking on Major Projects then the On Exhibition tab: www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects

JERRYS PLAINS ROADWORK – Construction of a pullover bay on the Golden Highway, Jerrys Plains for the Port of Newcastle to  Renewable Energy Zones (Port-to-REZ) upgrade will start in coming weeks.

Construction work for the pullover bay near the petrol station includes building hardstands, kerb and gutters, installing signs and  landscaping, spray sealing and line marking of the road.

The new pullover bays will complement existing facilities along the road network and provide motorists with an opportunity to safely pass  oversize over mass (OSOM) vehicles.

Standard daytime work hours are 7am-6pm Monday to Friday, and Saturdays 8am-1pm. 

To ensure the safety of construction and roadwork crews as well as motorists, some night work may also occur Sunday-Thursday, 6pm-7am.

Any affected residents or businesses will be contacted directly if night roadwork is required.

For the latest updates, visit www.livetraffic.com or call 132 701.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY REVIEW – If you rent a residential property or have experience as a residential property tenant then the NSW  Government wants your input on introducing minimum standards for energy efficiency for rental homes.

Renters make up about one third of NSW households with rental homes less energy-efficient than owner-occupied homes, and the gap is  largest in lower income and regional areas.

Rental homes are also more prone to mould, which can worsen health outcomes.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water and NSW Fair Trading are investigating Minimum Energy  Efficiency Rental Standards (MEERS). 

If introduced, MEERS could set out mandatory requirements for rental homes, for energy-related features such as insulation, heating and  cooling, and hot water systems. 

Even simple upgrades like upgrading ceiling insulation and efficient heating and cooling, could save renters an average of $160 to $750 each  year on energy cost savings.

A range of perspectives including landlords, real estate agents and tradespeople is being sought with the consultation paper providing helpful information and detailed options for implementation.

Have your say by 31 May at: www.nsw.gov.au/have-your-say/energy-efficiency-rental-standards

FORESTRY REPORT – The NSW Government has released the Independent Forestry Panel’s Stakeholder Consultation Report in a key  step toward modernising forestry in a way that protects biodiversity. 

The Independent Forestry Panel, chaired by Peter Duncan AM with panel members Professor Mary O’Kane AC and the Hon. Mick Veitch,  received more than 1,700 submissions, attended focus groups and stakeholder interviews.

The Panel consulted with representatives from the timber industry, forest growers, environment groups, unions, Aboriginal communities,  local government, business, related industries, tourism, scientific experts and the Commonwealth Government. 

Following finalisation of the Stakeholder Report, the Panel has been tasked to produce a Considerations Report, which will accommodate the  Stakeholder Report findings and identify opportunities to ensure the ongoing sustainability of the NSW forestry industry and support jobs. 

The Panel’s Stakeholder Report is available at: www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/cabinet-office/resources/independent-forestry-panel-stakeholder-report

CLARITY FOR LANDLORDS – Landlords are on notice that strengthening compliance and enforcement of tobacco and vaping goods laws in NSW has now taken another step forward.

The Public Health (Tobacco) Amendment (Landlord Offences) Bill 2025 has passed Parliament and will commence on proclamation in the  NSW Government Gazette.

The legislation creates an offence for commercial lessors who knowingly permit premises to be used by tenants to sell illicit tobacco and  illegal vapes.

The new offence carries a maximum penalty of one year imprisonment, a fine of $165,000, or both.

It is intended to target landlords who are aware of tenants selling illicit tobacco and vaping goods from their premises and knowingly permit  this illicit activity to continue, without taking steps to report or evict the tenant.

Further information on penalties and enforcement are available at: www.health.nsw.gov.au/tobacco/Pages/retailers-penalties-enforcement.aspx with premises subject to current closure orders listed on the Tobacco Closure Orders register: www.health.nsw.gov.au/tobacco/Pages/closure-register.aspx

WASTE SOLUTION GRANTS – Muswellbrook Shire Council and the Hunter Joint Organisation are among ten innovative council-led  projects sharing in more than $2.3 million from the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA).

The fourth round of the Local Government Waste Solutions Fund is designed to help councils drive clever circular projects and improve  waste management.

Muswellbrook Council has secured $145,000 for the Circular Solutions Accelerator Stage 1: Unlocking Local Innovation for Organic and  HDPE Waste such as plastics.

Hunter JO has $298,892 for the Hunter Circular Materials Data Project, to update and integrate regional waste and resource recovery data,  combining existing datasets with new information captured through geospatial mapping. 

This project is a collaboration involving Midcoast, Dungog, Maitland, Cessnock, Singleton, Muswellbrook, Upper Hunter Shire, Port  Stephens, Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Central Coast councils.

For more information, including details of the latest projects, go to: http://epa.nsw.gov.au/waste-solutions-fund

MPS CONSULATATION – Anyone with experience of the Mobility Parking Scheme (MPS) is encouraged to provide feedback for a NSW  Government review by 27 May.

The MPS provides parking concessions to support people with disability or mobility impairment to access the community and participate in  everyday activities.

The consultation for Transport for NSW is exploring ways to improve how people apply for and use the scheme, including making it easier to  access information and services.

It includes exploring potential digital options, such as online application process and a digital medical certificate, alongside existing services. 

Among those being asked to participate are applicants, permit holders and carers, medical practitioners, enforcement and compliance  officers.

All feedback will be considered and may inform future changes, subject to feasibility and existing policy settings.

Have your say by completing the survey at: www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/mobility-parking-scheme

COMMUNITY ACTION GRANTS- A special round of the Community Partnership Action (COMPACT) Program announced by the NSW  Government is currently calling for applications.

COMPACT supports partnerships and collaboration between community, non-government, youth, sports, arts/media, educational, industry  and other organisations by providing grant funding for innovative, evidence-based community projects.

Not-for-profit organisations in NSW may be eligible for grants of $50,000 to $100,000 per year for partnership projects for up to two years. 

Successful projects build youth leadership and support networks, facilitate respectful dialogue and engage young people through sports, art,  charity and community service.

An online information session will be held on Thursday 14 May to provide further information on the program and guidance on the  application process.

Eligible organisations are invited to apply for a share of the $1.2 million funding before

Friday 29 May by going to: https://multicultural.nsw.gov.au/compact-grants/compact-sccr-2026-2028/

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
www.davelayzell.com.au/news/categories/state-matters

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