Post Mining Land Use

A key priority for 2026 is planning for Post Mining Land Use, due to the scale of change facing our region:

• According to coal industry modelling shared with our Member Councils, 12,000 direct and indirect jobs are expected to be impacted by two coal mine closures by 2030.
• Expected global decline in coal demand will impact another 20 further coal mines with no mining approvals currently granted beyond 2048.
• Impacts across the Hunter will be close to 50,000 direct and indirect jobs in the Hunter region (FIJA Issues Paper, 2023). 

We’re calling for the Federal and NSW Governments to come together with Local Governments to collaborate on delivery, and provide a greater level of investment to support the Hunter region through this transformation and strategically plan for post mining land use opportunities.

The recent collapse and closure of just one Hunter Valley mine in 2025 demonstrated the enormous and imminent impact on local communities and businesses that will occur as mines close.

Mining royalties account for more than $3 billion in the NSW Government’s 2025/26 budget, but no direct funding is available to mining impacted communities to plan and action their economic transformation away from coal.

We acknowledge and appreciate the NSW Government’s full support for all recommendations arising from the “Inquiry into the Beneficial and Productive Post Mining Land Use”. The need to implement the recommendations and to stand up the NSW Future Jobs and Investment Authority is urgently needed to accelerate the reuse and redevelopment of mining related lands to create new industry and jobs in the Hunter.

Click the image to view the pdf.