Economic Transformation

economic transformation

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

  • 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).

 

Hunter JO Chair and Mayor of Singleton, Cr Sue Moore, said 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 come together with Local Governments to collaborate on delivery, and provide a greater level of investment to support the Hunter region through this transformation.

With our population approaching one million, and an economic output over $90 Billion annually, this will have enormous social and economic ramifications for the Hunter region and the NSW economy more broadly, including a decline in coal royalties currently contributing over $3 Billion annually to the NSW budget.  Without urgent intervention, the scale of disruption to communities and the regional economy will be profound. 

We know from international experience that successful transition of mining regions requires all levels of government to effectively collaborate to deliver shared plans and objectives. We’re advocating for the Federal and NSW Governments to come together with Local Governments in agreeing on a set of commitments and to work together on their delivery to assist the Hunter region and its people, jobs and businesses.

Revenue from mining royalties currently contributing over $3 Billion per year to NSW Government provides an opportunity to catalyse investment to support mining impacted communities above the $25 Million that is already committed to support all coal mining regions in NSW.  

Objectives for the Hunter would include:  

  • Creating 50,000 new jobs to offset those expected to be lost from the global decline in coal over the coming decades, and consideration might be given to job creation targets. 
  • Business incentives and investment attraction. 
  • Reskilling our mining related industries for future industries. 
  • Repurposing mining lands to create the new industry and jobs to drive the Hunter’s ongoing contribution to the State and National economies, noting that the New South Wales Government has accepted all recommendations of the inquiry into beneficial and productive post-mining land reuse by the Standing Committee on State Development, and pilot projects are currently underway in the City of Lake Macquarie and Muswellbrook Shire. 
  • Planning partnerships to support housing growth to meet the NSW targets. 
  • Long-term Federal, State and Local Government agreement and clear governance arrangements, and direct government intervention.
  • Streamlined and integrated delivery of cross government support services to mining impacted communities.

Click the image to view the pdf.