State Matters – A Weekly Bulletin from Dave Layzell MP

Member for Upper Hunter – 13 April 2026

ALL ABOARD! – PATERSON and Branxton will share the nostalgia when Hunter Valley Steamfest takes pride of place on the Hunter and North Coast rail lines this weekend.

Steam locomotive 3265 departs Maitland for five return trips to Branxton on Saturday and four return journeys on Sunday, with steam loco 3526 making three return trips to Paterson on Saturday and a further two runs on Sunday.

Paterson’s Rail Motor Society will have the 1920s era rail motors CPH 1, 3 and 7 carry passengers between Maitland and Paterson on both days.

The Society’s 1960s ‘Red Rattler’ 621/721 heads to Kooragang Island both days using the Walsh Point loop for a unique look at the world’s largest coal port.

To plan your Steamfest weekend, check: www.steamfest.com.au

ROAD UPGRADES – The first small section of the Singleton Bypass opened to traffic last Wednesday, 8 April, with traffic now using a portion of the future southern connection.

The traffic switch, between White Falls Lane and Newington Lane, is one of several staged changes ahead of the New England Highway bypass opening later this year.

At the southern connection, motorists heading out of Singleton on the highway are now using a newly built southbound on-ramp, while northbound traffic is being diverted onto an off-ramp that  passes beneath one of the project’s new bridges.

And, almost four months after Upper Hunter Shire Mayor Councillor Maurice Collison welcomed the first travellers at the tops of the range, the Main Road 358 restoration project had its  ceremonial official opening last week.

The $48.3 million rebuild was jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Government to repair damage caused by a major natural landslip in 2021.

Traffic between Merriwa and Willow Tree resumed using Coulsons Creek Road on 22 December last year ending a road closure which had impacted freight and traffic movements for almost five  years.

PLANNING PROPOSAL – Consultation is underway on a NSW Government proposal for a single Community Participation Plan on planning proposals. 

The Government suggests the change will end confusion and give communities a clearer way to have their say on planning decisions.

Key changes include extending minimum consultation timeframes on significant state-level strategic planning initiatives from 45 days to 60 days, and standardising the process for notification of  Complying Development across the state and giving neighbours seven days notice before any works begin.

Public exhibition requirements will be made clearer for different types of local development so that councils do not need to exhibit things like new single or two storey houses or sheds and pools  that already meet planning controls.

Councils will still be able to tailor their own community engagement strategies to suit local needs and feed into other council plans and policies.

The draft Community Participation Plan and discussion paper are on exhibition until Wednesday 3 June.

To have your say, visit the NSW Planning Portal: https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/draftplans/exhibition/have-your-say-proposed-statewide-community-participation-plan

EWON RETURNS – Bring your bills and seek advice from the Energy and Water Ombudsman of NSW (EWON) at Raymond Terrace next week.

If you are concerned or confused about any of your utility bills you can speak with the EWON team, who can talk you through them and suggest payment plans and solutions.

EWON’s Energy Transition team will be among the organisations on hand to offer support and services including Legal Aid NSW, the NSW Ombudsman, NSW Fair Trading, Service NSW,  Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman, Hunter Water and Services Australia.

So, to check your rebate entitlements and for tips to save energy in your home and reduce your bills be at Port Stephens Council, Thursday 23 April, 10am-3pm, with more details at: www.ewon.com.au/page/media-center/events/consumers/bring-your-bills—raymond-terrace

POWERING AHEAD – Cassilis will receive an update this Friday, 17 April, on the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (CWO REZ).

The ACEREZ Community Information Van will be the focal point in Buccleugh Street, 9am- Noon, during a community coffee drop-in session. It comes as construction commences in and around  the Bayswater substation as part of upgrades to the CWO REZ Network. 

The raft of works managed by Transgrid will occur on land solely owned by AGL, with the Bayswater project including an upgrade of the 330kV transmission line network between the Bayswater  Power Substation and the existing Liddell Power Station.

The substation to enable increased power flows from the CWO REZ to the main load areas.

For more on the network upgrades, check: www.transgrid.com.au/projects-innovation/central-west-orana-renewable-energy-zone-network-upgrades/

PORT TO REZ ROADWORK – Motorists are being advised of night roadwork for the Port of Newcastle to Renewable Energy Zones (Port to REZ) project over three nights during this month. 

Work will continue at the intersection of Jerry Plains Road (Golden Highway) and Denman Road, Denman to remove the current asphalt on Denman Road and Jerrys Plains Road and lay new  asphalt on both roadways.

Scheduled for three nights between Monday 13 April and Thursday 30 April 2026, the night shifts will be scheduled between Sunday to Thursday, 6pm-7am, weather permitting.

For the latest updates on Port to REZ roadworks, call 132 701 or visit: www.livetraffic.com

NEW ENGLAND REZ UPDATE – Field investigations to support and inform the planning and design of the New England REZ are planned to continue until June.

Workers are carrying out geotechnical investigations, surveys, traffic counting, site inspections and other activities at various locations between Muswellbrook and Armidale, including Rouchel,  Gundy, Pages Creek and Barry.

Much of the work will be carried out in publicly accessible areas, such as road reserves.

Where investigations need to be carried out on private property, EnergyCo will only access the land, including flying drones over it, with the permission of the landholders.

Meantime, the public consultation feedback report for the revised Muswellbrook-Walcha transmission line corridor study is now available.

EnergyCo will refine the 3km wide study area to a narrower 140 metre wide path for the transmission lines.

The ‘have your say’ period between October and December last year attracted 481 submissions.

View the feedback report by going to: www.energyco.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-04/Feedback%20report%20%28April%202026%29.pdf

SINGLETON FISH KILL – Water quality tests conducted by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) have shown pesticides were present at the time of the recent Hunter River fish  kill near Singleton.

The EPA has shared an update on the 20 March incident with the tests indicating the presence of pesticides in the Hunter River between Gowrie and Luskintyre.

Whilst chemicals were detected in the water, it is not clear if they were the cause of the fish deaths with the authority awaiting formal fish autopsy reports to confirm cause of the deaths.

There is no risk to human health, and all indications so far point to this being caused by a specific incident, not an ongoing situation.

Investigations continue and being treated as a high priority, with EPA teams conducting water sampling and following up leads in the community.

See the full EPA update at: www.singleton.nsw.gov.au/Council/Media-Centre/News/EPA-Community-Update-Hunter-River-Fish-Kill

RACING PROJECTS – Scone and Muswellbrook racecourses now have new facilities funded from the former NSW Nationals and Liberals Government’s Racing for the Regions program.

A state-of-the-art, all-weather synthetic training track, new stables and infrastructure are part of the $20 million state government investment at Scone racecourse.

The Muswellbrook racecourse grandstand has undergone $4.2 million upgrade to provide improved viewing, an expanded multi-purpose function centre, enhanced male and female jockeys’  facilities and improved steward facilities.

A further $11.5 million is being spent at Cessnock racecourse for the transformation into a premier dedicated pre-training facility with a new sand-based training track, stables and associated  infrastructure.

The Racing for the Regions program was announced in the 2021-22 NSW State Budget with projects based on a Racing NSW business case.

FUEL PROTECTION TIPS – NSW Police Rural Crime Prevention Team has given farmers and landholders four tips to protect their fuel supplies.

To be more resilient against fuel theft, the advice is – Lock it. Move it. Watch it. Protect it. 

Crime prevention strategies include locking your fuel bowser, don’t leave farm machinery in the paddock, maintain records of deliveries and fuel usage, place mobile fuel tanks in line of sight of the farmhouse and strategically place surveillance cameras around your fuel tanks.

If you are a victim of fuel theft report it immediately as well as any suspicious vehicles especially those carrying fuel drums on the back – call your local police station or Crime Stoppers NSW on  1800 333 000.

Remember, if police don't know about the crime, they can't act to reduce the crime – so work with police to stop thieves.

ADVISE BEFORE BURNING – The 2025-26 Bush Fire Danger Period has come to an end for local government areas across the Upper Hunter Electorate as attention starts to turn to hazard  reduction burns.

NSW Rural Fire Service is advising landholders that if you are planning a burn, remember to Notify First to reduce the possibility of unnecessary emergency calls.

Burn notifications are mandatory all year round, must be submitted at least 24 hours before any planned burns and are now valid from application until 30 September.

In addition to notifying the RFS, you should also tell your neighbours about your intention to light up.

Lodge your burn notifications on the RFS website: www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/notify and report all unattended fires to Triple Zero (000).

UNI VISIT – Registrations are open for the University of Newcastle Hunter Industry Open Day at Muswellbrook in early May.

The event is an opportunity for industry leaders, researchers, and educators to come together to explore partnerships that can drive the Hunter region's growth and innovation.

As the region continues to evolve and thrive, the open day will explore opportunities for research collaborations, developing future talent and building professional networks.

Muswellbrook Tertiary Education Centre is the venue on Wednesday, 6 May, 9am-2pm, with registration to close on 21 April, or when capacity is reached: https://events.humanitix.com/hunter-industry-open-day

PLAY HER WAY! – Sporting organisations can apply for a share of $500,000 in NSW Government funding for innovative initiatives that will increase participation in sport by women and girls. 

The Play Her Way Innovation Program will provide funding to recognised NSW State Sporting Organisations and State Sporting Organisations for People with Disability for initiatives that  enhance career pathways, build cultures of diversity and inclusion, and increase participation. 

Sporting organisations can partner with sporting academies or organisations that work with women and girls or under-represented communities to deliver the initiatives.

Grants of $3,000-$45,000 are available across the four streams which include Career Activations, Career Offerings, Participation and Capability.

Applications close Thursday, 30 April with further information available at: https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/grants/play-her-way-innovation-program

BAND GRANTS – Create NSW is inviting Regional Community Bands to apply for grant funding by 19 May.

The Regional NSW Community Bands Program supports the work of community bands through an annual small grants of up to $2,500 to support their activities.

Intended outcomes of the program include increased access to music activities and education in regional communities, a stable or increased number of active regional community bands and  increased youth engagement and participation in regional NSW community bands.

Further details on the Regional NSW Community Bands Program can be found at: www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/%e2%80%8b%e2%80%8bregional-nsw-community-bands-program%e2%80%8b

PEST CONTROL – Hunter Local Land Services is encouraging absentee residents and landlords to make themselves aware of the responsibilities that go with their rural property.

Many people, including some in the Upper Hunter electorate, own a little piece of paradise they can escape to, using it as a weekender, for birdwatching or other recreational pursuits.

They may not live there fulltime, but pest animals and weeds could be, and owners of rural properties have a responsibility to manage them.

Learn your General Biosecurity Duty and protect your acres from pest animals and weeds by calling the LLS on 1300 795 299 or check-in at: www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/dpi/biosecurity/managing-biosecurity/general-biosecurity-duty

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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