State Matters – A Weekly Bulletin from Dave Layzell MP

Member for Upper Hunter – 2 February 2026

MORE BUS SERVICES – UPPER HUNTER electorate commuters in the northern suburbs of Maitland have started to benefit from improved public bus services which are now hitting the road. 

The NSW Government has announced from January 27 that school and regular public transport buses are operating between Lorn and Largs. 

A new route 2802 service connects students directly from Maitland High School to High Street Maitland, where it will become a new 185 service transferring students and the broader community to Lorn, Bolwarra, Bolwarra Heights and Largs. 

The services have been introduced to meet rising demand, reduce overcrowding and to carry students to school and home again, safely, smoothly and on time.  

The local community also has better weekend services, with Route 185 connecting Maitland to Largs and Gresford, via Lorn and Bolwarra, boosted by three additional Saturday services and eight additional Sunday services. 

Further information about the new school bus and route services are available at: https://transportnsw.info/trip#/trip

DRIVER LICENCE REFORMS – Further NSW Government reforms to driver licensing loopholes and strengthening foreign licence conversion arrangements came into effect from Sunday, 1 February.

The reform builds on earlier state government action requiring long-term residents to convert overseas licences within six months of moving to NSW and brings NSW in line with other states and territories, ensuring consistent national standards.

From this week, a further group of overseas drivers and riders aged 25 years and over from a broader selection of countries will now be required to pass a knowledge test and a driving test before converting their overseas licence to a NSW licence. 

The changes close long-standing inconsistencies that allowed drivers from ‘List B’ countries and jurisdictions to obtain a NSW licence without this testing.

Drivers under 25 from ‘List B’ countries are already required to pass knowledge and driving tests, and that requirement will remain unchanged.

The list of impacted countries and testing requirements can be found at: www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/driver-and-rider-licences/visiting-or-moving-to-nsw/moving-your-overseas-licence/knowledge-and-driving-test-exemptions

DOUBLE THE SERVICE! – Port Stephens–Hunter Police District will join Service NSW when the Mobile Service Centre visits Paterson and Clarence Town on Tuesday 17 February. 

Inspector David Donovan and Sergeant Brian Taylor will meet with local residents to discuss what matters most in the two communities.

Service NSW and NSW Police will be at John Tucker Park, Paterson 8.30-11.30am and Grey Street, Clarence Town 12.30-3.30pm

Stroud is also on the Port Stephens–Hunter PD radar, with a planned community engagement barbecue being rescheduled for a new date to be announced soon.

Stay up to date at the PD’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/PortStephensHunterPD

NEW RFS KIT – Three Upper Hunter electorate Rural Fire Service brigades have taken delivery of new tankers during January.

Howes Valley, Goorangoola and Scotts Flat brigades are now equipped with new Category 7 fire trucks.

The medium size tankers can be used to access challenging terrain such as narrower trails that larger tankers cannot fit down.

The new firefighting appliances will ensure that crews are better equipped to safeguard lives, property, and the environment with significantly enhanced local firefighting and emergency response capabilities. 

Discover more about joining your local RFS brigade at: www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/volunteer/join-the-nsw-rfs

TIME TO LAUGH! – Tickets for the NSW Seniors Festival Comedy Show are available online on Tuesday morning 3 February. 

This year’s Seniors Festival highlight is headlined by Peter Berner and also features comedians Fiona Cox, Anisa Nanduala, Cam Knight, Chris Wainhouse, Jake Howie and Mick Meredith. 

The Comedy Show spotlight will shine on centre stage at Sydney Town Hall on Tuesday 3 March at 11am. 

Book your seat from 10am Tuesday on the NSW Seniors Festival Comedy Show webpage: www.nsw.gov.au/arts-and-culture/seniors-festival/whats-on/nsw-seniors-festival-comedy-show

BE ALERT! – Summer 2025-26 will undoubtedly be remembered for the extreme heatwave conditions that have been experienced across the Upper Hunter electorate over recent months. 

Wednesday 4 February is Extreme Heat Awareness Day with the Australian Red Cross reaching out to at risk communities and expanding practical support to help people stay safe. 

Extreme heat can be deadly, so knowing how to prepare can save lives.

Start with four simple steps which include staying informed, connect with others, know where to go when it gets hot, and pack a cool kit. 

Then, take a moment to check in on someone who may be vulnerable to heat stress, because a call can make a real difference.

Learn more: https://www.redcross.org.au/heatwaves

INFORMATION SESSIONS – Two information sessions will be held next week on a hard rock quarry being proposed north of Branxton. 

The Bluestone Hardrock Quarry Project (formerly Pittman Quarry) would be a new quarry established to extract, process and transport hard rock products at a rate of up to one million tonnes per annum (1Mtpa) for a period of 30 years. 

The development proposal involves two properties located at Blind Creek Road, Glendon Brook and Springvale Road, Elderslie supplying aggregate and conglomerate suitable for road base and concrete batching to Sydney, the Hunter and Central Coast. 

Information sessions are at Elderslie Hall on Wednesday 11 February, 3-7pm, and Branxton Community Hall on Thursday 12 February, 10am-2pm. 

Further information is available on the NSW Planning portal: https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/bluestone-hardrock-quarry-project-formerly-pittman-quarry and https://bluestonehardrock.com.au/#faqs

ROAD UPDATES – Brunners Bridge on Gresford Road, Mitchells Flat has returned to the road network after a $7.2 million upgrade to replace the previous ageing structure. 

Singleton Council received funding from the NSW and Australian Governments for the project, with the crossing now having a heavier load limit of 68.5 tonnes, which improves truck access to the Hunter Regional Livestock Exchange. 

To the east of Elderslie, Kilfoyles Bridge on Stanhope Road, Stanhope has also been completed with Australian and NSW Government Disaster Recovery Funding in response to the 2022 floods. 

Meantime, construction of all six bridges for the Singleton Bypass is nearing completion and road pavement construction has recently commenced between Whittingham and McDougalls Hill. 

The latest NSW Government update forecasts 15,000 vehicles a day will avoid five sets of traffic lights through Singleton when the bypass opens to traffic later this year.

SINGLETON LUNG CLINIC – The NSW Government’s Lung Health Mobile Clinic will visit Singleton on 20 April to provide free lung screening checks. 

A $2.5 million, state-of-the-art facility, can be lifesaving for workers by ensuring early detection and treatment of dust diseases like asbestosis, silicosis and mesothelioma. 

The process includes chest X-rays to detect abnormalities or damage and lung function testing to assess respiratory performance. 

Consultation with a specialist doctor, will interpret the results and provide tailored advice and referral for a CT scan, if required, to get a better image of the chest and lungs. 

Lung health checks are painless and only take around 30 minutes. 

Workers can also arrange a free lung screening at icare’s Sydney clinic, or with local providers regionally when the lung bus is not in the region, by contacting icare on 1800 550 027. 

VALE, DAME MARIE BASHIR – A State Funeral will be held on Wednesday, 4 February, 10.30am at St James’ Church, Sydney for former NSW Governor, Professor the Honourable Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO. 

Dame Marie was the first woman to be appointed to the role, serving the state with distinction as the 37th Governor of New South Wales from March 2001 to October 2014. 

Dame Marie, who deliberately chose not to extend her tenure because she did not wish to surpass Sir Roden Cutler as the longest-serving Governor, passed away in Sydney on 20 January. 

A large screen will be available in Martin Place, Sydney for the people of NSW who held the former Governor in great respect and affection to pay their respects and watch the State Funeral. 

The service will also be available to watch online on the NSW Government website: https://www.nsw.gov.au/mariebashir

ROAD SAFETY TIPS – NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Command has warned speed, distraction and poor decision-making continue to put lives at risk after six people lost their lives on the state’s roads over the Australia Day long weekend 

Officers are reminding motorists to alert to the signs of fatigue, because fatigue-related crashes can happen on any trip, no matter how long or short or what time of day. 

if you are affected by alcohol or other drugs after a night out ensure you have a Plan B to get home safely, with police warning that trying to drive or ride home puts you and other road users in danger. 

Motorcyclists are also encouraged to plan their ride, especially if you are travelling with a group of friends. 

Ride to your own skill level and the conditions, discuss with your mates where you are going and places to stop, grab a coffee and manage your fatigue. 

For more safe riding tips: www.ridetolive.nsw.gov.au

REZ GRANTS – Cassilis Community Centre will host an upcoming information session on the ACEREZ Community Grants Program. 

ACEREZ, is the partnership of ACCIONA, COBRA and Endeavour Energy, appointed by EnergyCo as network operator to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Central-West Orana REZ transmission network. 

The information sessions will provide an overview of eligibility criteria and will help guide the application process for small community grants of $3,000 to $50,000 and significant community grants of $50,000 up to $1 million.

Cassilis is the location on Thursday 12 February, 5-7pm, with RSVPs to be lodged at: www.eventbrite.com/e/acerez-community-grants-program-information-session-cassilis-tickets-1980524115945 

Further information is available at the ACEREZ website: www.acerez.com.au/community, email cwo.community@acerez-acjv.com.au or call the community information line on 1800 298 379.

LLS HAVE YOUR SAY – Local Land Services’ (LLS) draft 10-year Statement of Strategic Intent and 5-year Implementation Roadmap is out for public feedback until 27 February. 

The LLS Board is required to have a State Strategic Plan that sets the vision, priorities and overarching strategy for Local Land Services, including the 11 local boards. 

Once finalised, the publication and rollout will be subject to the approval of the Minister for Agriculture, Regional NSW, and Western NSW.

The NSW Government encourages the community, landholders and other interested stakeholders to provide feedback by making a submission on the draft plans.

Submissions may be made public on the LLS website unless clearly marked ‘confidential’.  

To participate in the consultation process, go to: www.nsw.gov.au/have-your-say/local-land-services-strategic-plan

NOMINATIONS OPEN – NSW Tourism Association is calling nominations for the state’s Top Tourism Town awards program. 

Nominations are to be submitted by 26 February, with final submissions due by 25 March. 

The awards bring a focus to regional tourism, highlighting gems from coast to country, outback, mountains and river communities, and the tour guides that bring these towns to life.

Local Councils, Accredited Visitor Information Centres and Local Tourism Associations are encouraged to nominate their town in one of the three categories for Top Tourism Town, Small Tourism Town and Tiny Tourism Town. 

All gold category winners go on to compete in Australia’s Top Tourism Town in the national program to celebrate the best of the best!

Discover more at: https://nswtourismassociation.com.au/top-tourism-town-2026

ARCHIES IN MUSWELLBROOK – Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre has the 2025 Archibald Touring Exhibition on display until 7 March.

Australia’s iconic, and sometimes controversial, portrait award brings together artists from across the country and Aotearoa New Zealand.

The exhibition has well-known public figures, personal relationships and moments of introspection, offering a unique perspective on the people who shape our culture,communities and everyday lives.

As a bonus, the Young Archie Muswellbrook features a selection of finalists chosen from submissions by children and young people aged 5 to 18, who created a portrait of someone special to them.

Entry to MRAC is free Monday to Saturday, 10am-4pm, to view the Archibald Prize 2025 touring exhibition: artgallery.muswellbrook.nsw.gov.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