BY DI SNEDDON
After years of debate, the future use of coal mine land has finally been set.
Thirteen recommendations put forward after the inquiry into beneficial and productive post mining land led by Emily Suvaal MLC, have been supported by the NSW Government.
Through the Future Jobs and Investment Authority funded in the 2025-26 Budget, the Minns Labor Government will support coal-producing communities to thrive as the demand for coal declines over time. The Authority’s work will include finding opportunities for mining land and infrastructure to be re-purposed for new, economically beneficial uses.
Previously conditions of consent for coal projects included a clause that all mine land must be returned to its original state.
This meant that all infrastructure on site including rail and power infrastructure, sheds and offices needed to be removed and not re-purposed.
Muswellbrook Mayor Jeff Drayton supported the outcomes of the inquiry and welcomed the NSW Government response.
“We appreciate that the NSW Government has listened to the concerns of our community and taken our needs seriously,” Mayor Drayton said.
“The huge amount of work required to be done by local, state and federal governments and industry shouldn’t be underestimated.”
Cr Drayton urged all levels of government to proceed with urgency for the future of Muswellbrook Shire and Hunter communities.
“Muswellbrook can’t just wait for our mines to close for new uses, new industries, and new jobs to be created in the region. It needs to happen now while the mines are still operating. That’s why we are prioritising working with government and BHP on the Pilot Project where we are identifying land where industry can set up now,” Cr Drayton said.
“This is not about letting mines off the hook, it is about creating a future for our community. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to provide industry, innovation, and manufacturing capability which will power the nation and create prosperity for future generations. If we can’t get it right in Muswellbrook there’s no chance we can get it right elsewhere.”
Singleton Mayor Sue Moore reiterated his sentiments however she says the devil is in the detail.
“We need to get past the conversation that this is about mines closing, this is about planning for future jobs and current best use of the land after mining,” Cr Moore said.
“I support the government’s findings and it is encouraging that the State government is now seeing what we have been talking about for years.”
In brief the recommendations are:
- A comprehensive review of the post-mining regulatory framework and processes to provide flexibility for future use.
- A comprehensive program of reform of current land uses and opportunities for future uses of mine land after mining.
- A framework that can receive expressions of interest from community, industry, landowners, and local government for future land use and opportunities for economic development.
- Evaluate if current security deposits are sufficient for rehabilitation requirements.
- Elevate the leadership of regional resource and energy transition to a ministerial and senior departmental working group to work across government to drive economic development.
- Investigate immediate opportunities to deliver demonstration projects to identify practical impediments and associated regulatory changes.
- Relevant government agencies, including the Future Jobs and Investment Authorities and the Net Zero Commission, deliver a skills audit of the mining workforce in New South Wales to identify skills, gaps and required upskilling.
- Invest in training and economic development opportunities.
- That the Government collaborate with relevant stakeholders to identify and map legacy sites and make this information publicly available.
- That the Government investigate the appropriateness of adopting the International Organisation for Standardisation’s ‘Managing Mining Legacies’ standard for New South Wales, with a view to implementation to help manage the environmental, social and governance challenges associated with legacy mines.
- Explore how mine operators and lease holders could better work with visionary and creative thinkers in relation to post-mining land use and consider how policy frameworks could encourage this collaboration.
- That the Government consider incentivising post-mining land uses that leverage the reuse of essential infrastructure, such as transmission lines, rail lines, workspaces and utilities, to provide a return on closure expenses, and reduce decommissioning costs and waste.
