State Matters – A Weekly Bulletin from Dave Layzell MP

Member for Upper Hunter – 18 November 2024

PRIORITISE ROADWORK – THE FINAL sitting fortnight of the NSW Parliament has commenced and I am pressing the case for several significant road projects to be prioritised in the Upper  Hunter Electorate.

Last Wednesday, I used a Private Members Statement to call for the NSW Government to urgently start planning for an upgrade of the Denman bridge and to commence construction of the Muswellbrook Bypass.

The eight upgrades for the electorate under the federal and state government’s Port to Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) program are simply not enough for the big loads of wind turbines, solar  panels and batteries expected to head in our direction.

We need proper traffic studies completed that show the impact on our Upper Hunter community from these movements and true plans that will show how we will manage traffic when the oversize and overmass loads travel through.

Currently in the media, the REZs are being spoken about as fasttracking, but how can we fasttrack the energy grid if we are in the slow lane for infrastructure?

PROJECT DELIVERED – Grant funding allocated by the former NSW Nationals and Liberals Government has delivered again for the Singleton community.

The Stronger Country Communities Fund (SCCF) provided $773,544 of the $1.3 million for the new Singleton Track and Field amenities building at Cook Park before the fund was axed by the  NSW Labor Government.

The project officially opened last weekend was one of the SCCF Round 4 recipients announced in December 2021.

The new amenities building includes canteen space, storage room, meeting room, change rooms and improved toilet facilities comes on-line with the new athletics season now underway.

BUSES REPLACE TRAINS – The Australian Rail Track Corporation will this week carry out its final essential maintenance and improvement works scheduled for 2024 on the Hunter Line.

During the work the track is closed between Kooragang and Muswellbrook, west to Ulan and north to Narrabri between 6.30am Tuesday 19 November and 6.30am Friday 22 November. 

The replacement of a second crossover at Branxton will mark the final stage of a significant rail infrastructure upgrade at a critical location on the Hunter Valley rail line.

Coaches replace NSW TrainLink services, Hunter Line passenger services to Scone and Dungog will be impacted with customers to visit https://transportnsw.info or call 13 22 32 for assistance to plan their journey.

Signage and traffic control will be in place at any 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 www.livetraffic.com

CERVICAL SCREENING – Eligible people aged 25 to 74 are encouraged to ensure they are up to date with their Cervical Screening Tests.

A campaign has been launched by the Cancer Institute of NSW to remind people to put their health first after it was revealed more than 40 per cent of eligible people are falling behind.

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers with a screening test needed every five years.

More than 70 per cent of cases involve people who have never been screened or are not up to date with their cervical cancer screening.

Screening checks are available at medical centres, community health centres or sexual health clinics: www.cancer.nsw.gov.au/prevention-and-screening/preventing-cancer/campaigns

POLICE PAY DEAL – The NSW Nationals and Liberals are calling on the state government to ensure NSW Police resourcing such as station and equipment upgrades are now prioritised so that  officers have the ability to do their job effectively.

The Government has provided a wages offer that will help to recruit and retain NSW Police officers, with a four year pay agreement, as well as a one-off payment and improvements to allowances and pay-scales.

The reform under the Government’s mutual gains bargaining framework is funded by reforms to police insurance.

If agreed to the Police Association and NSW Government deal will provide a 19 per cent base pay increase to non-commissioned officers plus accelerated pay scales and allowances which will  enhance the base pay rise. 

A one-off, $5,400 Leadership Retention Payment will be paid to senior officers who undertake a leadership and wellbeing training program focused on supporting and rehabilitating injured  officers.

ATTENTION LEARNER DRIVERS! – Hunter Learner Night Drive is back with bookings open for the limited spots available on Friday night 13 December at Scone Memorial Airport.

Organised by Hunter Valley Highway Patrol, Hunter Valley Police District and Upper Hunter, Muswellbrook, and Singleton Councils the free community event is being held 5.30–9.30 pm.

It aims to promote interaction between young drivers and police by offering a safe environment for learning and education on driving safely on country roads.

Learner drivers of any age, accompanied by a licensed supervisor aged over 25 will participate in night track driving practice, breath test practice, reverse parking and manoeuvring exercises.

Local rescue teams will also provide a vehicle rescue demonstration for participants.

Secure a spot today: www.hunterwarbirds.com.au/events/hunter-learner-night-drive

For more information contact Hayden Vella: hvella@upperhunter.nsw.gov.au or check council social pages: www.facebook.com/upperhunter.shirecouncil www.facebook.com/@muswellbrookshirecouncil www.facebook.com/@SingletonCouncil

WATER CHANGES – Draft amendments to the Water Management (General) Regulation 2018 are currently on public exhibition.

The NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is consulting on proposed changes designed to significantly enhance water resource management while making it  quicker, easier and cheaper for many water users to comply.

The amendments are part of a broader suite of actions to ensure 95 per cent of licensed water entitlement in NSW is accurately metered by December 2026.

Online information sessions will be held on Thursday 21 November and Tuesday 3 December, Noon-1pm.

Submissions to the Have Your Say survey close on Sunday 8 December at: www.nsw.gov.au/have-your-say/non-urban-metering-regulation-amendments

RESPIRATORY ILLNESS UPDATE – NSW Health has reported some increase in COVID-19 activity and Pertussis, or whooping cough, over the last week. 

Hunter New England Local Health District’s COVID-19 Notifications for the week ending 9 November reflected the rise, up from 136 the previous week to 178 cases, with the Year-to-Date total  now 9,851.

Pertussis can be life-threatening for babies, so pregnant women, parents and carers of infants and other people in close contact with infants should be vaccinated to protect babies from severe  disease.

Meantime, infants will be able to receive a free immunisation to protect them against serious illness from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), under a new prevention program to begin next year.

From early 2025, pregnant women will be offered a free vaccine, recommended at 28-36 weeks of pregnancy, under the National Immunisation Program, which will in turn protect their newborn infant from RSV.

For further information on RSV visit the NSW Health website: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/respiratory-syncytial-virus.aspx#

ENERGY BILL ASSISTANCE – Eligible holders who receive the Pensioner Concession, Commonwealth Senior Health and Veteran Gold cards are urged to check that they are receiving energy  rebates.

Whether you rent or own, live in an apartment or a house, you can ease cost-of-living pressures by visiting the NSW Government’s Energy website or Service NSW.

Residents with solar panels can also access state government battery incentives which are now available.

To take advantage of these incentives you will need to work with a local installer that is partnered with an accredited supplier.

You can access a discount on installing a battery in your home or small business with an existing solar system, or have the discount priced into a quote for a combined solar system and battery installation.

If you already have a battery installed, you can receive an incentive by connecting it to a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) to sell some of the excess stored energy in your battery when there’s high  demand on the electricity grid.

Discover more at: www.energy.nsw.gov.au

TAFE ENROLMENTS – Prospective students considering studying at TAFE NSW can now enrol for Semester 1, 2025. 

Hundreds of courses are available with flexible study options, industry experienced teachers and nationally recognised courses to ensure students are job-ready for a successful career.

To address skill shortages in priority areas, TAFE NSW is establishing Centres of Excellence in Manufacturing, connecting industry and education partners to deliver innovative Microskills,  Microcredentials and Higher Apprenticeships.

The Centres of Excellence in Manufacturing is a joint initiative between the Australian Government and NSW Government under the National Skills Agreement.

TAFE NSW’s Net Zero Manufacturing Centre of Excellence based at the Tighes Hill, Newcastle campus will provide training on net zero and sustainable manufacturing.

Students can also prepare for a career in tourism, hospitality or events with a TAFE NSW Advanced Diploma, then pathway into a bachelor's degree at the University of Newcastle.

Further details at: www.tafensw.edu.au

INSIGHT INTO MPs – An invitation to join Parliament Unpacked: Reflections on Representation this Thursday 21 November, either at Parliament House, Sydney or online via livestream.

From 5.30pm, a panel of upper and lower house members of parliament from across political parties and independents will explore the three-fold role of MPs: Representative, Legislator and Scrutineer of government.

Parliament Unpacked is an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities elected representatives face making laws, holding the government to account and advocating for the  people they represent.

For details on how to view the discussion visit: www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/news/Pages/parliament-unpacked-reflections-on-representation.aspx