State Matters – A Weekly Bulletin from Dave Layzell MP

Member for Upper Hunter – 25 May 2026

NEW LICENSEE – A RECENT expression of interest process has secured a new licensee for postal services in the Branxton area.

The existing Branxton Licensed Post Office (LPO) will close at 5pm Friday 26 June with a new outlet opening on Monday 29 June at Piggott’s Pharmacy, Huntlee.

Australia Post has advised this is a full-service Post Office, including, banking and passport services, operating Monday-Friday, 9am–5pm.

PO Boxes will be relocated to the new location, with Branxton PO Box holders soon to be advised that their PO Box number remains the same and that their key will continue to work at the new  location.

Meantime, expressions of interest for the Merriwa Licensed Post Office can be registered by 5pm on Friday, 5 June, by emailing EOINSWACT@auspost.com.au

DINGO INQUIRY – The NSW Legislative Council’s Animal Welfare Committee will conduct an inquiry into Dingoes in the state’s national parks.

The committee will consider the treatment and the cultural and ecological significance of dingoes, including the legislative, regulatory and policy frameworks governing their management in  national parks.

Dingoes are the only native animal exempt from protection under the Biodiversity Conservation Act.

For the Terms of Reference and to make submissions before 17 July, check: www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/listofcommittees/Pages/committee-details.aspx?pk=317

UPGRADE UNDERWAY – Motorists are advised to allow approximately five minutes additional travel time with work now underway on a major Golden Highway upgrade, west of Merriwa.

The project worth almost $24 million will deliver a new westbound overtaking lane with the upgrade expected to be completed in late February next year, weather permitting. 

Traffic is affected in both directions on weekdays, 6.30am to 5pm, until the end of June, with weekend work starting in July.

From late June to early November, the westbound shoulder will be closed for widening activities with the road width reduced to around 8.5 metres from July to late December.

To support Oversize Overmass (OSOM) movements during construction, temporary OSOM pullover bays are located at the Barnett Street intersection for westbound loads and Glenroy Road  intersection for eastbound movements.

For traffic updates visit www.livetraffic.com with project updates available at: www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/current-projects/golden-highway-upgrade-merriwa-overtaking-lane

DRAFT ENVIRONMENT REPORTS – Two draft Public Environment Reports (PER) for the Hunter Valley Operations continuation project are out for community consultation until 17 June.

The reports for the HVO North Continuation Project and HVO South Continuation Project cover determined controlled actions under the Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

HVO’s proposed continuation will increase resource recovery from the existing operation, predominantly by mining through previously mined areas.

The draft PERs are on display at Singleton Library, Muswellbrook Library and the State Library of NSW.

More details about the continuation project and the public environment reports are available on the HVO website: www.hvo.com.au

ADDRESS THE STRESS – Hunter Local Land Services is encouraging primary producers who have been challenged by recent events, including drought and the availability of fuel and fertiliser,  to share their load.

Demanding conditions can affect how we think, make decisions and cope day to day, so take a moment to check in with yourself, with family, neighbours and others in your community.

If you are feeling that pressure, you are not alone and it is okay to acknowledge it.

Support is available, and you don’t have to work through it on your own.

If you would like to talk through practical options for your property, contact the Hunter LLS team on 1300 795 299 

The Rural Adversity Mental Health Program also offers free, confidential support and resources for people in rural communities.

Visit www.ramhp.com.au to find support near you.

BUSY SCHEDULE AHEAD – EnergyCo has called applications for new members to join the New England Renewable Energy Zone (NEREZ) Community Reference Groups (CRGs).

There are two vacancies available on the North CRG and two vacancies on the South CRG, with applications to close on Friday 5 June.

The CRG applications are being called with a series of community consultation events to be held by EnergyCo during June.

An information webinar for landholders who may be hosting transmission infrastructure and want to understand the process to acquire easements will be held Wednesday, 10 June, 5.30pm- 6.30pm.

And, a new REZ mobile office will visit communities from early June, with EnergyCo team members available to provide information, answer questions and collect feedback on the project.

The mobile office stops at Muswellbrook Library on Tuesday, 9 June,11am-4pm, and then at Upper Hunter Shire Council Chambers, Scone on Wednesday, 10 June, 11am-4pm:

For information on the community reference group applications and mobile office visits check: www.energyco.nsw.gov.au/ne/working-community and, register for the landholder webinar at: https://caportal.com.au/energyco/new-england-rez/keep-in-touch

EARLY TREE DAY – Singleton is getting a head start on National Tree Day with a local planting event taking place this Sunday, 31 May.

The Hunter River at Dunolly, behind Merricks Dog Park, is the location, 9.30am-11.30am, with free coffee for the first 50 people, a sausage sizzle, kids activities and native plants to take home.

Singleton Council is encouraging volunteers of all ages to participate, whether you are seasoned green thumbs or first-time planters.

All equipment is provided, so wear enclosed shoes, sun protection and bring a water bottle.

While National Tree Day is traditionally held on the final weekend of July, council is bringing the event forward for milder autumn conditions to give seedlings the strongest possible start. 

For more information, check: www.singleton.nsw.gov.au/Experience/Events/Whats-On/Community-Planting-Day-2026singleton.nsw.gov.au/plantingday

BRANXTON FEEDBACK – Branxton residents are being asked to give Cessnock City Council feedback on their local public swimming pool.

Council is checking in with the community and pool users to make sure pool services meet current and future needs.

It wants to make sure that your experience at Branxton and Cessnock Pools meets expectations as much as possible, and that it is planning for population growth.

You can help shape the future of the local pools by telling council how you use the pools, what you like and what could be improved by completing the Dive In survey by 26 June.

Visit Together Cessnock to share your thoughts: https://together.cessnock.nsw.gov.au/community-feedback

WHEN COMMS FAIL – The Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO) is helping communities so they can support people when telephone, internet or digital services fail.

Online community sessions are being run to share practical tools, real examples and advice to help representatives support the people that rely on them.

From resolving phone and internet complaints to navigating challenges with digital platforms, the sessions are designed to make it easier to get people the right help.

The TIO wants to support people in frontline community roles through the free online sessions by offering practical guidance and real consumer insights to make it easier when supporting  someone with a phone or internet problem.

It can cover how the complaint process works, when and how to refer someone to the TIO, simple steps that can make it easier to resolve problems with a telco, the rights of vulnerable consumers  and what to do when someone isn’t getting a response from their telco.

Discover more at: www.tio.com.au/news/helping-people-when-services-fail

CHEERS, UPPER HUNTER! – Two Upper Hunter electorate wineries will fly the local flag at the Winter Cellar Door being staged by NSW Wine in Sydney during early July.

Winter Cellar Door is part of NSW Wine’s larger annual ‘drink local’ campaign including participants from the Hunter Valley, Orange, Mudgee, Griffith, Southern Highlands, and Rylstone. 

Broke’s 1813 Wines and Lambs Valley Wines will be among 20 plus producers at the Carriageworks Blacksmith Workshop, Eveleigh on Sunday, 5 July.

NSW Wine President, Mark Bourne, believes activities like Winter Cellar Door are so important to remind Sydnersiders and visitors what incredible wines are on their doorstep.

Destination NSW is supporting NSW Wine to deliver Winter Cellar Door at Carriageworks with further details at: www.nswwine.com.au

BROKE SHINES – Broke is the only Hunter Valley location to be ranked in Australian Traveller’s 100 Best Towns in Australia for 2026.

Twenty-four NSW towns made the list with Broke ranked 93rd, behind Mudgee at 46, Nelson Bay was 84 th but ahead of Bathurst which checked-in at 98th.

The historic village at the foot of the Brokenback Range scored a tenth place among the best country towns in Australia for a charming rural escape with an overall ranking of 93 out of 100.

Broke was best summed up by panellist Irene Jones as a “tiny wine-region stop that’s surprisingly peaceful" in the heart of the Hunter Valley, only a two-hour drive from Sydney.

Other compliments noted Broke is “framed by the wineries and restaurants that call it home .. defined by its rolling farmland and old vines .. where winemakers have harnessed this landscape and  wine lovers have followed, happily hopping between more than 15 local cellar doors.”

Cheers, Broke, a well-earned accolade worth toasting!

WATER WEBINAR – Draft amendments to the Water Management (General) Regulation 2025 will be the subject of a webinar being held next week.

The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is exhibiting the proposal to support the integrity of water management by improving water take information available for compliance actions and resource management.

It outlines clear and practical steps to minimise the gaps in reporting and recording of water take in the state.

To hear about the proposed changes join the department’s webinar on Wednesday 3 June, 3-4pm, by registering at: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/d79729ea-f5cb-4669-b0c7-f66a16a3c4bd@96ef8821-2a39-471c-b89a-67b0833dd3b9

Submissions are being accepted until 15 June with further details on the Public Exhibition page of the department’s website: www.water.dcceew.nsw.gov.au/about-us/legislation-and-policies/acts-and-regulations/water-management-general-regulation-2025

INSTRUCTOR REGULATION – A draft Driving Instructors Regulation 2026 is out for public comment until Friday 5 June.

The Driving Instructors Act 1992 authorises and enables Transport for NSW to require that driving instructors in the state are fit and proper persons, trained and licensed to instruct learners on  particular classes of vehicles.

The Driving Instructors Regulation 2016 released by Transport supports the Act and contains provisions including the circumstances in which a person providing driving instruction is not a  driving instructor for the purposes of the Act, and that records are to be kept by driving schools and driving instructors.

Key updates of the proposed regulation will be to provide for the display of information about reporting instructor misconduct, and removes lapsed provisions regarding instructor training.

Transport is proposing to remake the Regulation subject to a number of amendments and has released a Regulatory Impact Statement on whether additional changes are required.

Feedback can be submitted by providing a submission online, emailing or posting your submission, with further information available at: www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/driving-instructors-regulation

SCHOOLS, ZOOM IN! – Primary schools across the Upper Hunter Electorate are invited to join an online session this week ahead of Reconciliation Week.

The Parliament of NSW, in partnership with the Museums of History NSW, will deliver a free online learning program which focuses on the revitalisation of Aboriginal languages across New South Wales.

The program highlights how Parliament and community-led initiatives are working together to support the renewal, protection, and celebration of Aboriginal languages, an essential part of  culture, identity, and reconciliation.

During the 40-minute virtual session on Thursday, 28 May, from 2.10pm, students will hear from First Nations educators about the Aboriginal Languages Act 2017 and take part in a creative  message stick activity.

Schools can book to participate at: https://mhnsw.au/learning/all-in-reconciliation-through-first-nations-languages/

TRANSGRID INTERNSHIPS – Applications are currently being taken for Transgrid’s twelve week Summer Internship Program. 

Students In their second last year of study, who are passionate about the future of energy are encouraged to apply.

This includes those studying Electrical Engineering and/or Renewable Energy Engineering, Civil Engineering, Construction and/or Project Management, Environmental Planning and/or Engineering.

Internship opportunities are also available for Communications/Marketing, Public Relations/Political Science, Information Technology, Finance/Commerce/Economics, Data Science and/or  Analytics and Human Resource Management students.

For further information about the program and to apply by Sunday, 7 June, check the Transgrid website: www.transgrid.com.au/careers/summer-internship-program/

TAFE ENROLMENTS – TAFE NSW is now taking enrolments for Semester 2, 2026 with hundreds of affordable, practical courses, taught by industry-experienced teachers.

You can gain skills that work in agriculture, business, commercial cookery, hospitality, information technology, community services and flooring technology.

There are trade pathways for experienced workers to turn building and construction industry experience into a nationally recognised qualification through recognition of prior learning (RPL) and  the trade pathways for experienced workers program.

You could help shape the future of Australian manufacturing by getting skills to be future-ready with specialisation in renewable manufacturing and advanced manufacturing.

Explore TAFE’s Semester 2 course opportunities at: www.tafensw.edu.au

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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