Strong Support for Mining in Upper Hunter region – Majority support for Mount Thorley-Warkworth mine extension

New research has confirmed strong support for mining in the Singleton/Muswellbrook region of the Upper Hunter, and majority local support for the Mount Thorley-Warkworth mine expansion.

The ReachTel survey of 514 residents across Muswellbrook and Singleton LGAs found support for mining at 78 per cent with opposition at 11 per cent.

89 per cent of those surveyed believed mining was important to a strong economic future for their local community, compared to just 6 per cent who believed it was not important.

77 per cent believed jobs should receive the ‘highest’ or ‘high’ priority when assessed in relation to impacts on the environment and local communities, including 55 per cent who believed jobs should be the ‘highest’ priority.

58 per cent of respondents said they would be more likely to vote for a party that supports mining, compared to 16 per cent who said they would be less likely.

“While these strong results in support of mining in the Upper Hunter are welcome, local miners understand the need to continue to work hard to address genuine local community concerns,” NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee said.

The 311 respondents from the Singleton Council area were also asked if they support the proposed Mount Thorley-Warkworth mine expansion near Singleton. 57 per cent supported the expansion compared to 30 per cent opposed. 

“This project has generated a lot of attention and like most projects, genuine local concerns have been expressed. In response, many conditions were placed upon the project as part of the initial approvals received from the state and federal governments. These results show that while the project is opposed locally by some, it is supported locally by many,” Mr Galilee said.

These strong results in support of mining in the Upper Hunter reflect broader community support for the industry across NSW.

A separate recent ReachTel survey of over 1700 people across NSW found that 78 per cent of respondents believed that jobs should be the ‘highest priority’ or a ‘high priority’ when major projects like mines are assessed.

And 79 per cent of those surveyed state-wide also agreed that mining was important to a strong economic future for NSW, compared to just 13 per cent who felt mining was not important at all.

Download the ReachTEL research here.

Contact: Brad Emery bemery@nswmining.com.au or 0450 620 254