State Matters – A Weekly Bulletin from Dave Layzell MP

Member for Upper Hunter – 1 June 2026

MERRIWA READY TO SHINE – ‘NOTHING EQUALS WOOL’ is the theme for this weekend’s Festival of the Fleeces at Merriwa.

The Golden Highway will be busy from Friday ahead of the opening night activities, then Saturday the main street hosts the annual Running of the Sheep and family fun day.

Merriwa Showground is the venue for the yard dog competition, vintage car display, whip cracking and later on Saturday fireworks will light up the night sky.

A woolshed tour on Sunday morning brings the 2026 edition of the festival to a close.

To plan your Festival of the Fleeces activities, check: https://festivalofthefleeces.com.au

DOUBLE DEMERITS – The King’s Birthday double demerit period will start on Friday morning, 5 June, with the enforcement period continuing until Monday night, 8 June.

Motorists driving near schools are advised that school zones do operate on Friday, 5 June, and additional penalties can apply for certain offences committed in school zones.

Double demerits apply for offences including speeding, using a mobile phone illegally, riding without a helmet, not wearing or incorrectly wearing a seatbelt or carrying passengers not wearing or  incorrectly wearing a seatbelt or restraint.

The demerit point system provides an incentive for drivers to improve their driving behaviour, obey road rules and comply with NSW traffic laws.

Motorists travelling any distance are encouraged to plan their journey with tips at: www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/plan-your-trip/holiday-driving/holiday-and-journey-planning

Looking to charge your EV, go to: www.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/electric-vehicles/charging-an-electric-vehicle/nsw-electric-vehicle-charging-map and for fuel prices: www.fuelcheck.nsw.gov.au/app

BROKE STRIKES GOLD – Congratulations Broke on being named Tiny Tourism Town category winner in the under 1,500 residents population category at this year’s NSW Tourism Industry  Council Awards.

Broke has previously received silver in the awards in 2024 and 2025, and was a finalist in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

As a Gold winner, the historic village will now go on to represent NSW at the national Top Tourism Town Awards later this year.

Gloucester collected silver in the Small Tourism Town category at the presentation held in Maitland, coming runner-up to Gulgong with Thirlmere collecting the bronze.

LEGENDARY STATUS – The Upper Hunter also experienced a gold rush at this year’s Hunter Valley Wine Legends Awards.

Wine Industry Living Legends inductees including John Hordern and Brett Keeping.

John’s contributions recognised as a grape grower, winemaker and business leader including established Horseshoe Vineyard and co-founder of Hunter Wine Services, Muswellbrook.

Brett Keeping was a driving force behind vineyard development and industry advocacy in the Upper Hunter for more than 30 years leading Two Rivers Wines, Denman.

Other award winners were Greg West from Boydell’s inducted as the Tourism Industry Living Legend, Andrew Thomas’ Mistletoe Lane winery crowned Cellar Door of the Year and Broke’s Ollie  Margan named Young Achiever of the Year.

HOSPITAL MILESTONES – The latest major milestone for the third stage of the Muswellbrook Hospital Redevelopment is nearing completion.

Finishing touches are underway on the new Community Health facilities with delivery anticipated to be completed next month.

Access to the new space will be via the hospital’s main entry with a lift down to the lower ground floor opening directly into the Community Health reception area.

Milestone three is coming up with the old operating theatres demolished to allow the project team to turn their focus to building the new Sterilisation Department.

A crane has been on site in recent weeks to assist with the establishment of scaffolding to safely and efficiently prepare for the next stage of the $45 million project. 

View delivery of the redevelopment at: www.nsw.gov.au/health-and-wellbeing/health-infrastructure-projects/muswellbrook-hospital-redevelopment

KIDS FREE! – All young people aged from 2 to 17 years in NSW are now eligible for the free nasal spray influenza vaccine after the state government expanded the eligibility criteria.

It is available for a limited time at GPs, Aboriginal Medical Services and community pharmacies until all stocks are exhausted.

Free influenza vaccine injections are available under the National Immunisation Program in 2026 for children aged six months to under five years, pregnant women, Aboriginal people aged six  months and over, people aged 65 years and over and people with certain medical conditions.

The community is reminded a few simple steps can protect against respiratory illness including staying home if unwell, wearing a mask if you need to go out, avoid crowded indoor spaces where  possible, and consider a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) before visiting people at higher risk of severe illness.

If an illness is not serious or life-threatening, such as a mild case of influenza, you are encouraged to call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222, for advice 24-hours a day.

For more information or to book your ‘flu vaccination, visit: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/respiratory/Pages/default.aspx

FLOOD RESPONSE REPORT – A NSW Parliamentary Committee has recommended increasing upfront disaster payments to primary producers and a complete overhaul of a grants system that has become overly bureaucratic.

The Joint Select Committee on the NSW Reconstruction Authority has tabled its final report into the authority’s response to the May 2025 East Coast severe weather event, which caused  widespread damage across the Mid-North Coast and Hunter regions.

The report includes two significant recommendations put forward by NSW Nationals’ committee member, Hon Scott Barrett MLC, directly targeting support for farmers following natural  disasters.

It acknowledges that recent changes to Emergency Grants increased complexity for applicants and reduced upfront payments available to farmers.

Another critical recommendation in the report was to raise the upfront primary producers grants above the current $5000 to provide more immediate support to the sector.

To read the report’s recommendations, check: www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/committees/reports/pages/reports.aspx

PORT TO NEREZ – EnergyCo is working with Transport for NSW to determine the most suitable route to transport renewable energy components from the Port of Newcastle to the New England Renewable Energy Zone (NEREZ).

The oversize overmass (OSOM) route from the Port to Muswellbrook via the Hunter Expressway and Golden Highway to Denman will operate as a common route for the New England and  Central-West Orana REZs.

OSOM vehicles travelling to the New England REZ will detour Muswellbrook and rejoin the New England Highway before continuing north.

Route planning continues this year, including investigation and design work around Muswellbrook and what upgrades our required for the highway near Aberdeen.

Road upgrades to unlock access to NEREZ will be subject to a separate planning approval process to the network infrastructure project.

Construction of the road upgrades is expected to commence in 2027 with the first OSOM vehicle movements to NEREZ expected from 2028. 

Further information is available at: www.energyco.nsw.gov.au/our-projects/enabling-projects/port-to-rez/muswellbrook-to-new-england-rez

LECC CONSULTS – The NSW Police Force’s independent oversight body, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC), is looking at ways to improve how officers respond to mental  health-related interactions.

There are two options for you to have your say, but you need to be aged 18 years or over to complete the survey or make a submission.

Your input will help to ensure NSW Police has reasonable and adequate policies, systems, and training in place to help officers effectively respond.

The Commission cannot make comments or recommendations about whether agencies other than police should be first responders in NSW.

The Commission acknowledges the importance of the lived experiences of children and young people, and values their voice with submissions on behalf of young persons welcomed and  encouraged.

Share your experience by 30 June at: www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/Mental-health-and-policing-interactions-in-NSW

DIGITAL RECORD – Hunter New England Local Health District Is one of the first NSW Health locations to implement the Single Digital Patient Record (SDPR).

The major transformation is changing the way healthcare is delivered by bringing a patient’s health information together in one secure place, helping support more connected care.

What it will mean for you is that your health information is all in one place, no matter where you receive care in the Health District your health information goes with you, and that personal health  information remains private, safe and protected.

The Single Digital Patient Record is also being used by NSW Health Pathology’s John Hunter Laboratory and Justice Health NSW.

Discover more about the digital record system: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/sdpr

WILD PIG SURVEY – Hunter Local Land Services is asking land managers to complete the Feral Pig Impacts Survey.

From Monday, 1 June, the month-long survey will gather reports on the impacts on feral pigs on properties for the last 12 months.

Share what you have seen on your property with the responses to help the LLS build a clearer picture of feral pig activity across NSW and support regional biosecurity planning and control efforts. 

To take the survey: www.nsw.gov.au/regional-and-primary-industries/biosecurity/pest-animals/vertebrate-pests/feral-pig-impacts-survey and report pest animals year-round through FeralScan: https://feralscan.org.au

For more information or tailored advice, contact your local biosecurity officer on 1300 795 299 or visit the LLS website: www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/local-land-services/lls-regions/hunter 

WATER SHARING PLANS – Submissions are being called for a review of the Hunter and Paterson regulated water sharing plans.

The Natural Resources Commission has been advised by the Water Group of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water of the intent to repeal the Water Sharing Plan  for the Hunter Regulated River Water Source 2016 before 30 June this year.

It will then merge into the Water Sharing Plan for the Paterson Regulated River Water Source 2019.

The Commission has been told that the amalgamation of the two water sharing plans is intended to be an administrative change only and will not alter individual plan provisions. 

Should the Water Sharing Plan be repealed and merged then the new expiration date of a merged water sharing plan will extend out to 30 June 2029.

Water users need to have their say by 29 June, at: www.nsw.gov.au/have-your-say/review-of-hunter-and-paterson-wsps

COUNCILS JOIN THE WELCOME! – The NSW Government’s Welcome Experience program will now support the state’s local government workers.

Since the pilot program commenced in 2023, over 3,000 frontline workers have made the move to the bush in key sectors such as health, aged care, education, veterinary services, policing,  emergency services.

The free service will now help local councils recruit essential roles for their regional communities including roles in road maintenance, town planning, engineering and childcare services for  communities.

To find out more about The Welcome Experience and the opportunities awaiting those considering a move to the regions, visit: www.nsw.gov.au/regional-nsw/welcome-experience 

POLICE REPORTS – NSW Police want us to make more use of our mobile telephone’s capabilities to report information to Hunter Valley and Port Stephens-Hunter Police Districts.

The NSW Police Community Portal allows the public to report crimes and provide other information at: http://portal.police.nsw.gov.au

Crimes that can be reported online via the portal include adult sexual assault, stolen vehicle reports, break and enter, lost property, intentional damage/graffiti, minor traffic crashes and fail to pay  fraud.

You can also access the link to Crimestoppers when crime need to be reported confidentially.

The community portal also accepts NSW Police checks, firearm applications and insurance-related NSW police event reports.

Call Triple Zero if a crime is happening now, the suspect is still at the scene, or when anyone is seriously injured or in immediate danger.

AFTER THE RAIN .. – Farmers and land managers are being encouraged by Hunter Local Land Services (LLS) to get a copy of the Managing drought, fire and flood guide. 

The publication from LLS and NSW Agriculture is a comprehensive guide tailored specially for producers navigating Australia's unpredictable and often challenging climate patterns.

It contains timely and practical drought management strategies, providing a useful resource to refer to when drought planning.

Pick up a printed copy at your nearest Local Land Services office or download as a PDF at: www.droughthub.nsw.gov.au/managing/managing-drought-resources

Not all land management advice online is created equal, so before you ask AI, ask the LLS.

The Hunter LLS team work on the ground across the region and can help tailor advice to your property and when it comes to managing land, local context matters, so visit: www.nsw.gov.au/lls

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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