Hunter Mayors Unite to Push for Urgent Mining Land Redevelopment Plan

As the Hunter region braces for the loss of thousands of mining-related jobs in coming years, local leaders are calling for urgent government intervention to repurpose mining lands and support economic transition. In a united appeal, all ten Mayors of the Hunter region—through the Hunter Joint Organisation—are pushing for immediate funding commitments from both the NSW and Federal Governments to prevent widespread unemployment and economic disruption.

The region faces the potential loss of more than 10,000 jobs by 2030, with that number expected to balloon to 50,000 by 2050 as global demand for coal declines in favour of renewable energy. Chair of the Hunter Joint Organisation and Singleton Mayor, Cr Sue Moore, said mining lands must be redeveloped to continue providing employment opportunities. “Sites like Bloomfield mine in Maitland already have valuable infrastructure that could be repurposed for new industries,” Cr Moore said on Wednesday, 26 March 2025.

The group of Mayors is championing a $20.7 million funding proposal for four pilot projects aimed at mapping mine sites across the Hunter and identifying alternative economic uses. The proposal includes the development of a detailed Mine Closure Action Plan for Singleton and master plans for key sites in Lake Macquarie and Muswellbrook.

“If just 1% of mining royalties collected by the NSW Government were reinvested into mining-affected communities, that would deliver around $133 million over four years,” Cr Moore said. “That makes our request both strategic and reasonable.”

Port Stephens Mayor and Deputy Chair of the Joint Organisation, Cr Leah Anderson, highlighted the regional nature of the challenge, noting that many workers commute across council boundaries. “This goes beyond local borders. We need support now to properly plan and make these sites job-ready,” she said.

Newcastle’s Lord Mayor, Cr Ross Kerridge, echoed those concerns, pointing out that many businesses across the city are deeply connected to the mining supply chain. “The clock is ticking. Without immediate planning and investment, we risk missing a critical window to create new jobs and industries,” he said.

Muswellbrook Mayor, Cr Jeff Drayton, whose community is expected to be one of the hardest hit with the closure of Mt Arthur and Mangoola mines, described the situation as a crisis. “This isn’t a future concern. It’s happening now. What our governments do today will determine the future of our region.”

Cr Philip Penfold of Maitland stressed the importance of land availability for future businesses, while Cr Digby Rayward of Dungog warned against lengthy rezoning delays. “We can’t afford to wait a decade to make these sites usable. We need to act fast to create employment alternatives for local residents,” Cr Rayward said.

With strong infrastructure, a skilled population nearing one million, and proximity to Newcastle Port and Airport, the Mayors believe the Hunter is well-positioned to lead Australia’s transition to a net-zero economy. They argue that with the right investment, former mining lands could be transformed into thriving hubs for new industries.

The Hunter Joint Organisation, representing councils across Cessnock, Dungog, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, MidCoast, Muswellbrook, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Singleton, and the Upper Hunter, continues its 70-year legacy of collaborative regional leadership—now focused on ensuring a just transition for communities once reliant on coal.