Mayors Column 9 October 2026
Published on 09 October 2026
Following Council’s recent mid-term mayoral election, I would like to begin my first column as Mayor by acknowledging and thanking former Mayor Maurice Collison for his many years of service to the Upper Hunter. First elected as a Councillor in 2012, Maurice went on to serve as Deputy Mayor before taking on the role of Mayor in 2020. His commitment to our Shire over the past 14 years deserves recognition, and I thank him for his leadership, dedication and contribution to our communities. I look forward to working alongside our new Deputy Mayor, Cr Peter McGill, as we lead Council through to the next mayoral election in September 2028.
As the October school holidays draw to a close, what a weekend of football we have just had! It was great to watch the Newcastle Knights take on the Sydney Roosters in the NRL Grand Final, with what seemed like the entire Hunter getting behind the Knights. While losing 19–18 was heartbreaking, the team has given our region plenty to be proud of. If you haven’t had your fill of football, touch football returns to Scone next week, so make sure you’re registered and ready for another season.
Council’s youth activities have been keeping young people entertained throughout the school holidays, including a Zombie Colour Run in Murrurundi and movie and pizza nights held across Murrurundi, Scone and Merriwa. The movie nights were held as part of Mental Health Awareness Month, providing an opportunity for young people to come together, socialise and have important conversations around mental health and wellbeing. A big thank you to everyone involved in organising these activities and helping make the school holidays enjoyable for our young people.
Murrurundi certainly had plenty happening towards the end of September, with the King of the Ranges Stockman’s Challenge and Bush Festival drawing an impressive crowd. I’m told it was one of the biggest turnouts yet, perhaps helped by the exposure the event received on *Better Homes and Gardens* last year. Congratulations to the organising committee and volunteers who put so much work into making this event possible.
Nominations are now open for the 2027 Upper Hunter Shire Australia Day Awards, and I encourage everyone to consider putting someone forward. Every community has those familiar faces who quietly make a difference, whether it’s the volunteer who turns up to every sporting event, someone who has spent years helping others, or a local who has dedicated their time to preserving our history and traditions. These are the people who make our towns what they are, and they deserve recognition. Completing a nomination only takes around five to ten minutes, so please don’t leave it until the last minute. Nominations close at 4.30pm on Wednesday 4 November. Head to Council’s website and search ‘Aus Day’ to nominate.
Council is currently recruiting for our next Director Infrastructure Services. This is an important leadership position overseeing areas such as roads, water, sewer and other essential infrastructure. If you have experience in engineering, managing large teams and delivering major projects, I encourage you to look at the position advertised on Council’s website. Applications close on Thursday 22 October.
There has been some welcome news for regional roads, with the NSW and Australian governments announcing a $1.74 billion investment across three major road corridors. This includes upgrades along the Golden Highway and New England Highway, both important routes for our region. The program aims to improve road safety, freight efficiency and connections between regional communities. Further information is available through the Transport for NSW website.
Looking ahead, the Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza returns to White Park in Scone from Thursday 22 to Sunday 25 October. This event attracts students and schools from across the country, providing valuable hands-on experience in livestock handling, judging and the agricultural industry. It is a wonderful opportunity for young people to develop their skills and interests in agriculture, and I wish all participants and organisers a successful event.
Finally, Council’s annual Bulk Waste Clean Up begins next week. This weekend might be the perfect opportunity to have a clean-out and get rid of some larger household items you no longer need. However, please remember that there are rules about what can and cannot be collected. Items such as furniture and floor coverings are accepted, but mattresses, tyres and garden waste are not. Council holds a separate mattress and tyre disposal event earlier in the year, so please keep these items aside.
Collections will take place across the Shire from 12 to 30 October, depending on your town. Please only place your waste out on the Sunday immediately before your scheduled collection week, keeping footpaths and nature strips clear and safe for pedestrians. I encourage everyone to visit the Bulk Waste Clean Up page on Council’s website and read the brochure before putting anything out.
As we head further into October, I look forward to getting out into our communities, meeting more residents and continuing the work ahead of us. There is plenty to be done, and I appreciate the opportunity to serve the Upper Hunter as Mayor.
Cr Pat Ryan
Mayor
Council Meeting Recap September 2026
Published on 29 September 2026
Upper Hunter Shire Council met on Monday 28 September 2026 to consider matters relating to Council leadership, community funding, regional infrastructure, financial sustainability, policy development and community facilities.
Mid Term Election – Mayor and Deputy Mayor elected – Councillors elected Cr Pat Ryan Mayor and Cr Peter McGill as Deputy Mayor. A separate Media release has been issued.
The Mayor and Deputy Mayor will hold office for the next two years, until September 2028.
Community Enhancement Fund applications – Six applications totalling $110,550 were recommended for support through the Goulburn River Solar Farm Community Enhancement Fund.
The recommended allocations are:
- Upper Hunter Where There’s a Will – $15,700 for a community film and dinner event and mental health first aid training
- Upper Hunter Shire Council – $30,000 towards heating the Merriwa Olympic Pool
- Merriwa Cricket Club – $10,000 for replacement cricket nets
- Merriwa Preschool and Activity Centre – $35,000 for flooring installation
- Merriwa and District Health Association – $14,850 for bookkeeping and financial management
- Merriwa Pony Club – $5,000 towards the purchase of a trailer
The applications were assessed against criteria including community benefit, local need, affordability, feasibility, value for money and long-term sustainability.
Liverpool Range Wind Farm update – An update from the Liverpool Range Wind Farm Community Consultative Committee covered construction staging, road upgrades, the grid connection, biodiversity offsets, environmental approvals and community benefit arrangements.
The project proponent advised the committee that construction was planned to commence in early 2027, subject to commercialisation, a final investment decision, financial close and the required approvals.
Committee members raised matters including impacts on local roads, workforce accommodation, quarry operations, water supply and the potential costs transferred to councils and local communities.
Federal Assistance Grant reform – A submission to the NSW Grants Commission was presented in response to proposed changes to the distribution of Federal Assistance Grants.
Under the proposed methodology, Upper Hunter Shire Council’s allocation would have increased by approximately $1.96 million when compared with the amount received in 2025/2026. This comparison includes an increase of approximately $1.37 million in the general-purpose component and $591,000 for local roads.
The draft submission generally supports the proposed methodology as a fairer way of distributing funding to councils with limited revenue-raising capacity and higher service-delivery costs.
It also seeks further consideration of natural disaster funding, the calculation of assistance for disadvantaged councils and the additional services regional councils are often required to provide, including airports, saleyards and childcare.
The submission calls for the revised methodology to be implemented in full from 2027/2028 rather than phased in over several years.
Financial performance measures – Feedback was also prepared for the Office of Local Government’s review of council financial performance ratios.
The submission supports financial measures that provide a realistic assessment of councils’ operating performance, liquidity, borrowing and long-term sustainability.
Among the matters raised are the treatment of depreciation and other non-cash items, benchmarks reflecting the greater reliance of rural councils on grant funding and a proposed two-month cash expense cover benchmark for rural councils.
It also supports using financial ratios in long-term planning and presenting three-year trends to provide a more stable assessment of council performance.
Policies reviewed – Updated policies covering town and village tree preservation, the naming of community facilities and commercial benefits, and external communications were presented for adoption.
The tree preservation and facility naming policies return following amendments requested in August. These include clarification around the removal of weeds by members of the public and a stronger position on sponsorship signage remaining on Council facilities when clubs are not using them.
A new Enforcement Policy was also recommended for public exhibition from 30 September to 29 October 2026. The policy is based on NSW Ombudsman guidelines and addresses Council’s approach to regulatory and enforcement responsibilities.
Regular use of the Old Court Theatre – Regular weekly use of the Old Court Theatre by the Scone Community Shed and Scone Seventh-day Adventist Church was proposed.
The Scone Community Shed plans to provide upholstery and furniture-restoration activities on Wednesdays during school terms. The Church is seeking to hold services and Bible study activities on Saturday mornings.
Under the recommendation, hire fees would be waived, subject to appropriate conditions. Both groups would be responsible for leaving the facility clean, replacing standard bathroom consumables and reporting maintenance issues to Council.
The arrangement aims to increase community use of the heritage-listed facility, which has received fewer than six bookings annually over the past two years.
Notice of Motion – firearm buyback scheme – A Notice of Motion calls on the NSW Government to abandon its firearm buyback scheme and redirect the funding towards rural healthcare and roads.
The motion also seeks greater recognition and funding for rural health services and proposes submitting the matter for consideration at the Local Government NSW Annual Conference in November 2026.
Notice of Motion – privacy at Council pools – A Notice of Motion raises concerns about technologies capable of recording photographs, audio and video without consent.
The proposal seeks to amend the Conditions of Entry at Council swimming pools to prohibit non-consensual recording using camera-enabled devices, including smartphones, body cameras and wearable technology such as smart glasses. It also proposes authorising lifeguards to remove visitors who record other people without permission.
Staff have recommended developing a policy that considers privacy, child safety, enforceability, and legitimate uses of assistive technology by people with disability.
Confidential matters – Following consideration in confidential session, Council reported the following resolutions in open Council.
Former water tank site – 47 Paradise Lane, Murrurundi – Council resolved to enter into negotiations, as outlined in the confidential report, with a view to entering into a contract of sale with the applicant.
Authority was delegated to the General Manager to perform all functions required under the contract.
7 Surman Street, Scone – Council resolved to sell 7 Surman Street, Scone following a competitive EOI process.
Appointment of internal auditors – Council resolved to engage Forsyths Business Services as its preferred contracted internal audit provider.
The provider will prepare a four-year internal audit plan and undertake three internal audits each year for the term of the plan.
For more details on other matters discussed, please refer to the meeting agenda available on the Upper Hunter Shire Council website, or head to our YouTube channel to watch the meeting.
Bulk Waste Cleanup
Upper Hunter’s Annual Bulk Waste Clean Up Is Approaching! 
Mark your calendars because it’s time for a clean-out! Upper Hunter Shire Council’s Bulk Waste Clean Up service is just around the corner.
2026 Collection Dates:
Scone, Gundy, and Moonan Flat: October 12 – 16
Murrurundi, Blandford, Wingen, Parkville, and Bunnan: October 19 – 23
Cassilis, Merriwa, Aberdeen: October 26 – 30
Important Info: Items should be placed on the kerbside on the Sunday before your week of collection.
Garden waste will NOT be accepted.
Mattresses and tyres are also prohibited.
No liquid waste of any sort.
Frequently Asked Questions:
“Can I dispose of my scrap metal?” Scrap metal is included again this year!
“What about my old laptop or TV?” Electronics / E-Waste is not accepted in the Bulky Waste Collection but can be dropped off for free at the Community Recycling Centre in Scone.
For more information, head to our website: upperhunter.nsw.gov.au
