Mining communities in regional NSW deserve quality local infrastructure to support local economies and to ensure that we have liveable towns and regions for local residents.
The mining industry directly supports local infrastructure in a range of ways.
Mines enter into Voluntary Planning Agreements with local councils to help pay for community infrastructure and pay rates each year to local councils. Altogether, the mining industry pays more than $60 million to local councils each year.
Mines also directly fund roads upgrades and support community groups to undertake their activities including sporting teams, social services, health services, and arts and environmental programs. Support for community groups totalled more than $7 million in 2017-18.
While hard infrastructure helps keep our economy moving, adequate social infrastructure is essential for towns and regions that expand or contract as a result of mining activity.
That’s why the right policies must be in place and the right investments made by governments and industry to ensure that mining towns are attractive places to live, and that services like health, schools and childcare keep pace with the changing needs of regional NSW.
The NSW Government makes a commitment to local communities in mining regions through a range of programs including a mining-related program called ‘Resources for Regions’.
The NSW Minerals Council supports this program which has delivered more than $268 million to over 50 projects in mining communities across NSW since 2012.
This important contribution is used to fund essential services and infrastructure to support the economic and social growth of communities in regional mining areas.
Economic infrastructure includes roads, rail, facilities that improve the movement of freight, airports, local water and sewerage projects and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment and businesses.
Social infrastructure includes recreational facilities, childcare services and other social infrastructure related to the delivery of community services.
The Upper Hunter Mining Dialogue is a community and industry initiative established in 2010 by the region’s miners, in coordination with the NSW Minerals Council.
The purpose of the Upper Hunter Mining Dialogue is to identify and address the community concerns around the impacts of mining, including land rehabilitation, water, air quality, economic diversification and local procurement.
This collaborative program has seen enthusiastic participation by the community, industry and government over the years to help shape a number of important programs and changes to the way mines operate and provide information to the community and government regulators.
Visit miningdialogue.com.au for further information and reports.