Upper Hunter Shire Council

03/06/2026

🐑🎉 Merriwa Festival of the Fleeces 2026, is just around the corner! 🎉🐑

Are you ready for a weekend filled with laughter, joy, and the quintessential spirit of our beloved Merriwa?

🗓️ The grand celebration runs, June 5, 6 & 7. This years theme is “Nothing Equals Wool” ✨🐑

This year's highlights include:
🐑 The iconic Running of the Sheep
🎊 Grand parade, Yard dog trials and Dog high jump
🍔 Vibrant entertainment, Market Stalls & Street food
✅ Free rides, shearing demonstrations, Fireworks and so much more!

The Festival of the Fleeces is more than just fun - it's a tribute to our agricultural heritage. By attending, you're also supporting wonderful local causes such as the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and the Merriwa and District Volunteer Rescue Squad. 🚁👩‍🚒

Make sure to set the dates, organise your weekend, and prepare for an unforgettable time! 🌟🎊

👉 Check out the full programme: https://festivalofthefleeces.com.au/full-programme/

03/06/2026

🔌💰 Smart Money Money Moves for All Electric Homes 🔌💰

Upper Hunter Shire Council has partnered with several leading experts, ready to answer all your questions about smart sustainable actions you can take @‌HOME. The next FREE online event focuses home electrification and practical ways to transition to all electric living.

Event Details:
🗓️ Wednesday, 10 June
⏰ 12:00pm - 1:00pm

In this session, Trent Jones, founder of All Electric Homes will share practical tips on how you can transition your household to clean, energy efficient, all-electric living. With over 20 years of electrical industry experience, he specialises in solar, heat pumps, EV chargers, and energy‑efficient home upgrades.

Sign up for @‌HOME here: https://tinyurl.com/UpperHunterathome 🌿

02/06/2026

📣 Cassilis Library will be closed tomorrow 3 June 2026 👇

Cassilis Library will be closed Wednesday 3 June. Apologies for the inconvenience.

02/06/2026

📣 Closure Notice for Kings Birthday, June Long Weekend 📣

We'll be closed Monday, 8 June for the Kings Birthday Long Weekend. Normal operating hours will resume on Tuesday, 9 June.

🏢 Affected Facilities:
🏛️ Administration Buildings
📚 Libraries
👶 Early Learning Centre
🗑️ Waste Management Facilities (kerbside bin services will run as per normal)
🗺️ Visitor Information Centres will remain open.

📞 Need to get in touch? Our after-hours call service will still be available at 02 6540 1100, or you can report an issue anytime at https://www.upperhunter.nsw.gov.au/Residents/Report-an-issue

Wishing everyone a wonderful long weekend! 🎉

You can report most issues online. In some cases we need more information and request you contact us directly in these instances.

02/06/2026

📣 Update: Event is now fully booked. Please head to the link to join the wait list for future Hunter Learner Night Drives: https://www.trybooking.com/1589756

🚗🌙 Upper Hunter Shire Council's Hunter Learner Night Drive – Back again! 🌙🚗

It’s back! Learner drivers are invited to join us for a night of real-world driving experience in a safe, practical and supportive setting at Scone Memorial Airport.

📅 Friday 12 June 2026
⏰ 5:30pm
📍 Scone Memorial Airport
🎟️ $20 per vehicle
What’s included:
⭐ Drive the track at night alongside NSW Police
⭐ Practise stationary and mobile breath tests
⭐ Reverse parking, vehicle manoeuvring drills
⭐ Mock vehicle rescue demonstration thanks to VRA Merriwa
🌭 Sausage sizzle included

👥 Who can join?
Learner drivers of any age with a supervisor (25+). Bring your Learner's Licence and your supervisor’s Unrestricted Civil Road Licence.
This event aims to foster interaction between learner drivers and police, providing a safe environment to learn about driving on country roads.

Proudly brought to you by Upper Hunter Shire Council, Hunter Valley Highway Patrol, Hunter Valley PD, Bengalla Mining Company, JBS Australia – Scone Abattoir, Bower’s Heavy Haulage, Transport for NSW, Muswellbrook Shire, and Singleton councils.

This is a great chance to build confidence, pick up real-world skills, and interact with local police in a relaxed, learner-friendly setting.

🚦 Spots are limited — secure your place now: https://www.trybooking.com/1589756

02/06/2026

🚗 The Service NSW Mobile Service Centre is returning to Murrurundi & Scone 🚗

Murrurundi:
⏰ Tuesday, 16 June 2026 from 9am - 3pm
📍113 Mayne St, Murrurundi

Scone:
⏰ Wednesday 17 and Thursday 18 June 2026 from 9am - 3pm
📍Upper Hunter Shire Council, 135 Liverpool St, Scone

The Mobile Service Centre offers similar services to physical sites including:
✅ Driver licence, photo card applications and renewals
✅ Driver Knowledge Tests
✅ Working With Children Check applications
✅ Applying for birth, death and marriage certificates.

For more information about upcoming mobile service centre locations please head to: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/mobile-service-centres

01/06/2026

⚡ Works Commencing at Campbells Corner Carpark ⚡

From today, civil and electrical works will begin at the Campbells Corner carpark as part of the installation of 4x NRMA EV Fast Chargers.

Works are expected to continue onsite for approximately 10 to 15 days. With further works in July.

🚗 The existing charging station will remain available to drivers throughout the works.

🚧 Temporary perimeter fencing will be in place to ensure public safety. The fencing footprint will be minimised during inactive periods where possible to reduce impacts on surrounding parking areas.

Council appreciates the community’s cooperation while these works are carried out.

01/06/2026

🎨🏓🍓 There has been plenty happening across the Youth Centres recently!

Young people got hands on making pikelets with a range of toppings, painted pots for National Children’s Gardening Week, and enjoyed the usual favourites including pool, table tennis, basketball and gym activities.

A brand new pool table was also recently delivered to the Merriwa Youth Centre, adding another great activity for local young people to enjoy, with action photos to come soon!

It’s great to see the centres continuing to provide welcoming spaces for local young people to connect, learn new skills and have fun.

01/06/2026

🌱 Sustainable thinking is growing across the Upper Hunter 🌱

This week, Upper Hunter Shire Council’s Sustainable Schools Program hosted its first STEM Workshop for 2026, bringing together students from Scone Public School and St Mary’s School for a day of hands on learning and collaboration.

Students explored the STEM tools they will use throughout the year to help measure and improve their school’s sustainable footprint, while also developing ideas to support more sustainable practices within their communities.

As part of the workshop, students created a shared mantra to guide their goals for the year ahead:

“Reducing our impact to become stewards for our community.”

Council also congratulates Hope Rogers and Maddie Eather from Scone Public School, along with Evie Clydsdale and Jackson Ellis from St Mary’s School, who were elected as the first Sustainable Student Ambassadors for 2026. We look forward to seeing the ideas and leadership they bring to the program throughout the year.

A big thank you to all students and teachers for your enthusiasm and participation and Georgia from EnviroCom for facilitating the day. We can’t wait to see what’s achieved through this year’s program 🌿

29/05/2026

☔ Wet Weather Closures ☔

All Council Fields, Ovals, Reserves, Playgrounds and Showgrounds are closed over the weekend. Recent rainfall has made these areas unsafe for use. They will stay closed until it’s safe to reopen. Council will issue an update on Monday 1 June 2026.

For updates on ground closures, please visit our website 👇

Find out if any Sportsgrounds, Facilities & Roads in the Upper Hunter Shire are currently closed.