Declaration of Dendrobium Mine as State Significant Infrastructure

December 4, 2021

Statement from NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee

The NSW Government’s decision to declare the Dendrobium Extension Project as State Significant Infrastructure is a bold and positive step that will help protect thousands of jobs, and help secure the long term economic future of the Illawarra region.

This important project will deliver around $1 billion in investment for NSW. It will also protect up to 10,000 local jobs, including around 700 direct jobs at the Dendrobium mine, thousands of jobs with local suppliers and contractors, and thousands more jobs at the BlueScope Steelworks at Port Kembla that relies on coal supplied from the mine.

The NSW Government should be congratulated for taking this decision, which is in the best interests of NSW. It is a welcome demonstration of the willingness of Premier Perrottet and his Government to act to protect jobs and the economy. 

It is also important to note broad political support received in the NSW Parliament earlier this year for a motion moved by One Nation MLC Mark Latham on this issue. 

The motion called on the NSW Government to take the action announced today, and was supported by the Liberals, the Nationals, the Labor Party, One Nation, the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party, and the Christian Democrats.