The women of Drovers Run are stunned to discover their property is one of six possible sites for a toxic waste dump. With the testing due to start immediately, they set about mobilising opposition, only to find Phil Rakich, the mayor and most of the local council are pro-dump. Regan is thrown to find her ex-lover, Lyle, is in charge of the hydro-geological testing. Lyle is married, and Regan broke off the affair when she found she could not cope with the deception. She tries to keep their interaction purely business, but when Grace discovers their past, she refuses to trust Regan. Grace invites Lyle to dinner, but evening goes horribly wrong. Grace cannot conceal her contempt for Lyle, and Marcus also tries to bribe him. Lyle confesses he still loves Regan and has only taken the job to win her back. They spend the night together and resume their affair. Forced to examine her disapproval, Grace has to face her feelings about her parents’ difficult marriage.

Alex and Stevie’s wedding date has been set. There’s only one problem: Alex has forgotten to post their marriage licence application. It has to be lodged by tomorrow or their wedding won’t be legal. Alex and Riley make a dash to the Office of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Fisher, but Riley insists on helping some attractive female PR consultants with their broken-down minivan. Alex arrives in Fisher too late. To make sure there are no more slip-ups, Alex and Riley stay the night. Watching Riley rebuff Ava, one of the PR consultants, Alex realises that Riley is still not over his love for Jodi. Next morning, at the office, Alex and Riley are held to ransom by Mr Singh, an officious clerk whom Alex inadvertently offended the night before. Alex is forced to give an impassioned speech declaring his love for Stevie, convincing Mr Singh to let Alex lodge the form in time. Back in Gungellan, Ava recognises Alex, blowing his secret. He is forced to come clean to Stevie. While Riley, inspired by Alex’s impassioned speech, realises he’s ready for love again and asks Ava out.

Moira thinks she’s succeeding in changing Phil’s pro-dump stance by cooking him a special meal made purely from local fresh produce. She lets him stay the night. Discovering that he’s still pro-dump, she feels used and dumps a load of scrap metal at the truckstop in retribution.

Phil finds himself in a pay dispute with Patrick. Patrick quits and Tayler refuses Phil’s offer to step into the gap . But with her car desperately needing repairs, Tayler secretly starts working for Phil again. Patrick is furious when he discovers her duplicity, but forgives her when he finds a baby joey and realises just how much Tayler needs her car.

Lyle completes his testing and is forced to recommend Drovers as an ideal site. Seeing him as the enemy, Grace won’t to allow him back on the property. Refusing to stay in a house where her lover is not welcome, Regan packs her bags and leaves Drovers Run to live with Lyle. With the sisters alienated, the Drovers women vow to continue the fight against the toxic waste dump.