EPA COAL REVIEW
THE NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has commenced a statewide consultation on the regulation of coal mines.
Coal communities are being asked to provide feedback to ensure licences are operating as intended, to protect the health of the community and environment.
A community drop-in event will be held on Tuesday 17 September, 5-7pm at the Singleton Youth Venue, corner of Pitt and Bathurst Streets, Singleton.
To register your interest in attending, please visit: https://forms.office.com/r/ADUK3MD8iZ
EPA Chief Executive, Tony Chappel, has advised that the authority’s is continually working closely with mine licensees to ensure they are complying with strict licence requirements, including limits on noise, dust and water quality.
The current community feedback will complement the statutory five yearly reviews of coal mine licences with many licences due for review this year.
Public consultation is open until 2 October and you can access the public consultation and the Have Your Say survey at: https://yoursay.epa.nsw.gov.au/state-wide-coal-mine-consultation.
TOCAL DAIRY UPGRADE
Tocal College, Paterson will benefit from a NSW Government program worth more than $60 million to enhance animal welfare and research.
Tocal is earmarked for a state-of-the-art dairy facility that enables the highest animal welfare standards through an efficient and modern system using robotics.
Seven research facilities and five emergency response sites across regional NSW will receive investment to deliver the upgrades.
The government has also appointed former NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer, Professor Mary O’Kane to chair a panel of independent experts to develop a renewed Primary Industries Research Strategy which ensures world class research now and into the future.
The panel will consult with stakeholders, experts and the community with an initial report to government on the panel’s work is expected by the end of this year.
HOSPITAL TENDER AWARDED
Richard Crookes Constructions has been appointed by the NSW Government as the building contractor for the $45 million Muswellbrook Hospital Stage 3 Redevelopment project.
It’s anticipated that construction activities will commence on site by late-2024 with completion forecast for 2027.
Stage 3 of the project includes a new operating theatre suite, new central sterilising department and relocation of Community Health clinical spaces into the existing hospital.
Later this year, the project team, hospital managers and the builders will host an event on site ahead of work starting on site.
Further details at: https://hneinfra.health.nsw.gov.au/projects/muswellbrook
WELCOME SUCCESS!
Muswellbrook can be proud of itself with the Welcome Experience program to now be rolled out to 52 local government areas across the state.
The Upper Hunter Electorate shire was one of eight pilot locations to provide extra support for teachers, healthcare professionals and police to relocate to regional NSW.
The NSW Nationals and Liberals in government originally launched the Welcome Experience in November 2022 with the goal of rolling it across more locations in 2024.
Close to 1,800 workers inquired about the pilot locations with 511 essential workers helped to relocate and settle into their new communities including 38 to Muswellbrook.
Further information on the free service supporting essential workers is available at:
FIVE NEW RECRUITS
Five new Probationary Constables have started at their new home stations in the Hunter Valley Police District.
Class 363 recently attested at the Goulburn Police Academy following eight months of training in the Constable Education Program (CEP) with four months spent training at the Academy.
The new officers now undertake 12 months of on-the-job training as a Probationary Constable.
NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb APM encouraged all the attesting probationary constables to seize every opportunity, never stop learning, and to take pride in the uniform they wear every day.
CORRECTIVE SERVICES CHANGES
Corrective Services NSW will become a standalone public service agency on 1 October.
The NSW Government has initiated change following the Astill Special Commission of Inquiry which highlighted the systemic workplace culture, leadership, and other organisational issues in Corrective Services NSW.
Under the changes, the Commissioner of Corrective Services will be the head of the agency appointed directly by the Minister for Corrections and will report directly to the Minister.
It brings the Commissioner of Corrective Services role into line with other frontline Commissioner roles in the NSW Government, such as Fire and Rescue NSW, the NSW Rural Fire Service and the NSW State Emergency Services.
SERVICES COME TO TOWN
Service NSW Mobile Service Centres are back in the Upper Hunter Electorate from later this week.
Similar services to the service centre offices are offered including driver licence, photo card applications and renewals, Driver Knowledge Tests, Working With Children Checks applications for birth, death and marriage certificates and the Savings Finder program,
On Friday 30 August, the Mobile Service Centre is at 62 Cowper Road Stroud, 8.30am-12.30pm.
Murrurundi Visitor Information Centre is the venue on Tuesday 3 September, 9am-3pm.
Driver testing appointments are scheduled for Scone when the mobile centre sets up at Upper Hunter Shire Council on Wednesday 4 September, 9am-3pm.
On Thursday 5 September Clarence Town hosts the mobile centre in Grey Street, 9am-12pm and then 1pm-4pm its at John Tucker Park, Prince Street Paterson.
For the latest visit: www.service.nsw.gov.au/campaign/mobile-service-centres
THINKING CAPS ON!
A heads-up from the Premier’s Department that planning is underway for the next Community Building Partnership (CBP) round.
In the meantime, organisations are encouraged sign up for alerts to be notified when the next round will open.
The NSW Government invests in infrastructure projects through CBP to deliver positive social, environmental, and recreational outcomes, while also promoting community participation, inclusion and cohesion.
Incorporated not-for-profit community organisations and local councils are eligible to apply for grants of between $5,000 and $150,000.
Projects with contributions from the applicant’s own, or other sources, will be considered favourably.
Local councils, including their section 355 committees, are required to provide matched funding to the CBP grants.
For alerts go to: www.nsw.gov.au/grants-and-funding/community-building-partnership
DUNGOG ROAD FUNDING
Dungog Shire Council will receive close to $9 million as part of the Regional Roads and Transport Recovery Package jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
As part of the funding, a new 76-metre concrete bridge will be built across the Paterson River, Gresford to allow for all-weather access for the community and better economic opportunities for rural producers to use larger vehicles.
Work will also be carried out on 21 river crossings targeting rural, predominantly low-level causeways and small bridges across the region.
Pavement strengthening on Hooke and Lord Streets, Dungog will receive funds from the package to improve resilience and reduce ongoing maintenance costs for council.
CLINGING VINE
As we head outdoors this spring, local weeds officers are asking us to be alert for a high priority weed in the Hunter region.
Bridal veil creeper is a clingy vine that climbs up trees and fences as well as being known for smothering native plants within its reach, spreading quickly and creating dense curtains of vines.
If you are seeing this weed spread or having impacts from its presence, go to NSW WeedWise for more information.
Planning your management is key to good long-term results with physical removal of small infestations done by hand digging the roots out and removing larger infestations with mechanical equipment.
Check the NSW Weedwise website: https://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au/Weeds/BridalVeilCreeper
or contact your local council Weeds Officer: https://hunterregionalweeds.net.au/index.php/weed-officer-contact
MULLINS PRIZE WINNER
Sydney’s Merilyn Fairskye has been named as the winner of the 2024 Mullins Conceptual Photography Prize.
The Australian Photographic Society and the Muswellbrook Regional Arts Centre (MRAC) recently announced the three adjudicators choice at the official opening of the finalists’ exhibition.
Merilyn receives the $30,000 cash prize for the winning work which will be acquired and join all previous Mullins Prize winners in MRAC’s permanent collection of post-war contemporary paintings, ceramics and photography.
The photograph entitled Focus Infinity IV is part of Merilyn Fairskye’s ongoing Long Life Project with her current work looking at Australia and its looming nuclear future.
The exhibition of the winning work and the 34 other finalists continues at MRAC until 12 October.
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