Legislation review promises to unlock Hunter’s post-mining potential
The NSW Government has accepted all 13 recommendations from a parliamentary inquiry into post-mining land use, setting in motion legislative reviews and local coordination that could reshape how former coal sites in the Hunter region are redeveloped and re-used.
The NSW Government has agreed to act on all 13 recommendations from a recent parliamentary inquiry into post-mining land use, with changes expected to directly affect the Hunter region—one of the state’s most coal-dependent areas.
Business Hunter has welcomed the government’s response, which includes a full review of three key laws—the Mining Act, Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, and Protection of the Environment Operations Act—to remove barriers to repurposing mine sites. These legislative reviews are due to be completed by June 2026.
“Perhaps of most immediate significance is that the NSW Government has agreed to review three key pieces of legislation… to ensure they facilitate opportunities for post-mining land use,” said Business Hunter CEO Bob Hawes.
“It has agreed to complete this review by June 2026. This provides a pathway forward to untangle some of the complex issues identified by the committee to ensure we can unlock opportunities for economically beneficial reuse of mining and related lands in future.”
The inquiry was led by Hunter MLC Emily Suvaal through the NSW Parliament’s Standing Committee on State Development. Its findings not only acknowledged the complexity of transitioning mine sites to new uses but also outlined how communities could be involved in shaping those futures.
A new body—the Future Jobs and Investment Authority—will be responsible for leading much of the work. This includes conducting land audits, facilitating planning approvals, engaging communities, and coordinating with government departments. Four local divisions will be set up across coal-producing regions, with the Hunter and Central West identified as the first areas for rollout.
The Authority will also work on pilot projects in collaboration with local councils and mine operators. In the Hunter, this includes planning around buffer lands near Mount Arthur and West Wallsend coal mines, supported by $5 million in Commonwealth funding.
Mr Hawes said the Authority was well-positioned to coordinate this work due to its mandate and statutory structure.
“The actions from this report will provide the new Future Jobs and Investment Authority with plenty of tasks and responsibilities,” he said.
“Business Hunter and other stakeholders in our region will be keeping a watching brief to ensure the Authority continues to be resourced to get on with the job in timely fashion.”
A separate initiative will see a skills audit of the NSW mining workforce to help match current skills with future opportunities in industries like advanced manufacturing and renewable energy. The results of this audit will guide investment in retraining and job development.
“This is really important work to ensure our transition programs are aligned with both the existing skills base and future workforce needs,” said Mr Hawes.
“We hope to see bipartisan support for the reforms and actions outlined in the report.”
The government has also committed to making information about legacy mine sites publicly available and will look at new ways to manage final voids and infrastructure reuse. Other recommendations include incentivising businesses to repurpose mining infrastructure like rail and power lines, and supporting innovative partnerships for commercial or environmental uses of old mine land.
With work now underway, the Hunter will likely serve as a testing ground for how NSW navigates the complex shift from active coal mining to long-term alternative land uses that support jobs and regional development.
