The Hunter region is advocating for a new foundation to assist with the creation of jobs and economic growth in response to scheduled power station and thermal coal mine closures over the coming decades. The Hunter JO has been working on this project for quite some time, through its Regional Economic Transition Committee, with the Hunter 2050 Foundation to guide the region not only in responding to economic challenges, but to proactively safeguard the future of the Hunter.
The Foundation will work to ensure new investment, new industries and new employment opportunities are scaled up, as thermal coal mining and energy are scaled down, as well as responding to the challenges faced in the region right now due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
“This is about safeguarding the future of the Hunter region,” said Cr Bob Pynsent, Chair of the Hunter JO and Mayor of Cessnock. “The Hunter has faced this sort of challenge before, with the closure of BHP operations in the 1990s. What we learnt then was that we need to start dealing with this potential crisis immediately.”
Media engagement with the Hunter 2050 Foundation has been positive, with coverage in both local and national outlets over the past two weeks.
A collection of this coverage is included below;
- The Australian: Hunter Valley Councils Build Foundations of a Post-coal Future
- Newcastle Herald: $15 million Hunter 2050 Foundation needed to offset coal, power changes
- Sky News: Early investment pipelines ‘essential’ for Hunter region amid changing global economy
- Singleton Argus: Hunter 2050 Foundation would help the region take control of its future by giving communities, businesses and industry the time and tools they need to adapt and diversify
For more information on the Hunter 2050 Foundation, please visit:https://www.hunter2050.org.au/