The NSW Government has welcomed the Standing Committee on State Development’s report into beneficial and productive post-mining land use and supported all of its 13 recommendations.
Minister for Natural Resources, Courtney Houssos says the Government was committed to supporting coal-producing communities as the demand for coal declines over time. This work has already begun with the announcement of the Future Jobs and Investment Authority, as well as in-kind planning support for local councils to develop master plans on coal mine sites, she said.
“I thank the Standing Committee on State Development led by Emily Suvaal MLC for their important work during this inquiry,” said Ms Houssos.
“Mining is ultimately a temporary use of land. We need to make sure NSW has the right policy mix to keep employment and economic opportunities even after coal mining ends on those sites.
“Coal mines have energy, water and transport infrastructure ready to use – and it just makes sense to use existing infrastructure to support new jobs in the same communities.
“We need to find ways to have these sites, which supported jobs for generations, continue to provide employment opportunities for communities.”
The Minister said the work of the Committee will help inform the efforts of the recently announced Future Jobs and Investment Authority.
“The authority will provide a much-needed strategic approach to listen to what communities need and get on with the job of delivering for our coal-producing regions,” she said.
“We are focused on delivering projects that create long term economic opportunities. We look forward to legislating these changes in the coming months.”
The 2025-26 Budget included $27.3 million for the Authority, and legislation to create the authority will soon be introduced to parliament. The Government will also create the Future Jobs and Investment Fund, unlocking the Royalties for Rejuvenation fund which was frozen by the previous Liberal-National Government.
That fund will develop opportunities for mining land and infrastructure to be re-purposed for economically beneficial uses, supporting jobs in coal-producing regions for decades to come, said Ms Houssos.
Specific actions committed to in the response which will be delivered through the Authority in partnership with other agencies include to:
- review potential mine sites and existing infrastructure for new employment generating land use and retention of infrastructure (Recommendations 2 and 13)
- adopt a place-based approach to support coal regions through four local divisions (Recommendation 3)
- work across government and stakeholders to lead and facilitate in four coal mining regions (Recommendation 5)
- work with mine operators, councils and the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure to identify opportunities for new land uses on mining land (Recommendation 6)
- deliver a skills audit of the mining workforce in partnership with government and stakeholders (to deliver on Recommendation 7).
Several of the recommendations will also be delivered through ongoing work by NSW Resources including by continuing to:
- deliver effective rehabilitation outcomes and ensuring appropriate security is held to cover rehabilitation by reviewing and updating the Rehabilitation Cost Estimate tool (Recommendation 4)
- promote best practice mine rehabilitation techniques for sustainable outcomes and post-mining land use innovation (Recommendations 11 and 12).
