Economic Transformation

economic transformation

A key priority for 2026 is Economic Transformation, where the scale of change facing our region is significant:

  • According to both the State and Federal Governments, we are expecting a global decline in coal demand over the next couple of decades (Commonwealth Treasury, 2025).
  • The expected global decline in coal demand will impact a further 20 coal mines, with no mining approvals currently granted beyond 2048.
  • The impacts across the Hunter are expected to affect close to 50,000 direct and indirect jobs in the Hunter region (FIJA Issues Paper, 2023).

 

Hunter JO Chair and Mayor of Singleton, Cr Sue Moore, said a successful transition in mining regions requires strong collaboration across all levels of government.

“The ten councils of the Hunter Region are firmly committed to working in partnership with both the Australian and NSW Governments to support our communities, protect jobs and businesses, and ensure a successful transition away from coal.”

We’re calling for the Federal and NSW Governments to work with Local Government to deliver a coordinated approach and provide greater investment to support the Hunter region through this transformation.

With the Hunter’s population approaching one million and an economic output of more than $90 billion annually, this transition will have enormous social and economic ramifications for the Hunter region and the NSW economy broadly. Coal royalties currently contribute more than $3 billion annually to the NSW Budget, and without urgent intervention, the scale of disruption to communities and the regional economy will be profound.

We know from international experience that the successful transition of mining regions requires all levels of government to collaborate effectively in delivering shared plans and objectives. We are advocating for the Federal and NSW Governments to work with Local Government to agree on a coordinated commitments and support their delivery to assist the Hunter region, its communities, jobs and businesses.

Revenue from mining royalties, which currently contributes more than $3 billion each year to the NSW Government, provides an opportunity to catalyse investment in mining-impacted communities beyond the $22.5 million annually committed to support all coal mining regions across NSW.

 

Objectives for the Hunter include:

  • Creating 50,000 new jobs to offset those expected to be lost from the global decline in coal over the coming decades, with consideration given to job creation targets.
  • Business incentives and investment attraction.
  • Reskilling mining-related industries for future industries.
  • Repurposing mining lands to create new industries and jobs that will drive the Hunter’s ongoing contribution to the State and national economies, noting that the NSW Government has accepted all recommendations of the Inquiry into Beneficial and Productive Post-Mining Land Use by the Standing Committee on State Development, with pilot projects currently underway in the City of Lake Macquarie and Muswellbrook Shire.
  • Planning partnerships to support housing growth in line with NSW housing targets.
  • Long-term Federal, State and Local Government agreements with clear governance arrangements and direct government intervention.
  • Streamlined and integrated delivery of cross-government support services to mining-impacted communities.

 

In June 2026, the NSW Government released the NSW Budget 2026–27, which includes a number of significant investments across the Hunter. While these investments are welcome, they represent a mixed response to the scale of economic transformation occurring in coal mining regions such as ours, and the dedicated focus it deserves as the global transition to renewable energy continues to reduce demand for coal.

Click the image to view the pdf.