Post-mining land use in the spotlight

Coal mining will continue to provide jobs and economic strength to NSW well beyond the next decade, especially for our coal mining communities.

Coal is our state’s most valuable export commodity worth over $55 billion dollars in the last financial year alone.

The latest coal export figures show ongoing strong demand for our high-quality NSW coal, which is expected to continue.

This strong export demand continues to support around 25,000 coal mining jobs across our state and around 38 coal mines currently, with many approved to operate well into the 2030s and beyond.

While most of the coal we produce here in NSW is exported to more than 20 countries globally, here in Australia, some coal is still needed as part of the current energy mix even as we transition toward a more diversified electricity grid.

Our coal is also needed as a vital input into the steelmaking process too.

At the same time, some mines in NSW will reach the end of their productive life sometime in the next decade and enter the closure phase. A few have already done so.

With advances in technology, particularly in relation to renewable energy generation there is the potential for new uses for post-mining land, such as pumped hydro and solar farms.

Given the facilities in place on mine sites, there are also other potential beneficial uses for mining land once operations cease, including tourism, agriculture, and local manufacturing.

Many mining companies and local communities wish to explore these opportunities. However, the planning rules are currently very restrictive, making it difficult to do so.

In response, the NSW Government recently announced a Parliamentary Inquiry into post-mining land use to examine whether current regulations around mine closures take into account new innovations that could deliver more beneficial land use outcomes.

The Parliamentary Inquiry will provide a welcome opportunity for our industry and the wider community to contribute new ideas and manage changes to post-mining land over the long term, opening our mining regions to new and valuable land uses.

Stephen Galilee

CEO, NSW Minerals Council