POST-MINING LAND USE REPORT LACKS ‘URGENCY’

Member for Upper Hunter Dave Layzell has expressed his concern at the ‘lack of urgency’ to address post-mining land use in his electorate following release of a NSW Parliament report.

“This report gets a 10 out of 10 for statements of the obvious – anyone who has been working with me for almost three years on future options for Upper Hunter mining land will find nothing new in this report,” Mr Layzell said.

“The clock is ticking, there are prospective investors looking at opportunities in the Muswellbrook and Singleton local government areas, but the land required for reuse is no closer to being unlocked.”

The Legislative Council’s Standing Committee on State Development has now released its report on ‘Beneficial and productive post-mining land use’ almost a year after Minister for Finance, the Hon Courtney Houssos MLC referred terms of reference for the inquiry.

It made five findings including that ‘regional communities are on the cutting-edge of the post-mining transition and that current land-use planning and mineral lease setting are not well-suited to adapt or respond to rapidly changing circumstances.’

There are 13 recommendations, such as the NSW Government reviewing post-mining regulatory framework and processes, and three recommendations for further investigations.

“I thank the committee for acknowledging that ‘the current regulatory framework is not entirely fit for purpose’ and that ‘it was disheartened to hear of the complexity and uncertainty of the regulatory framework’,” Mr Layzell said.

“But the harsh reality of impending mine closures is that more than 2,000 workers will leave BHP’s Mount Arthur coal mine when operations cease by 2030 – everyday that reality draws one day closer yet the only big, local infrastructure project on the horizon which could utilise some of those skilled workers in the New England Highway bypass of Muswellbrook.”

Mr Layzell today renews his call for Premier Chris Minns to pick up the report, read what needs to be done and gets the wheels of government moving on addressing the impediments to new investment and job creation.

“Premier, the planning approvals that allowed the industrial development of the Upper Hunter coalfields are now out of date and urgently need reform to address the reality now facing the industry as it prepares to exit the region,” Mr Layzell added.

“Coal royalties are currently contributing around $3 billion to the NSW Government’s coffers so help the Upper Hunter prosper now rather than when a regional rescue package is needed.”

PICTURE CAPTION: Open cut coal mining near Muswellbrook.

PICTURE CAPTION: Mine rehabilitation work near Jerrys Plains.