The Hunter Valley as a region, is strategically very important for the Australian economy due to its connectivity to the existing electricity network, port and transport infrastructure, its water availability and the region's ties to first class educational facilities. 

Having spent most of my life immersed in agriculture and the natural environment, I can see immense opportunities for food and fibre production on post-mining landscapes.  

To achieve such agricultural opportunities, a long-term strategy is needed to properly transition post-mining landscapes in the Hunter Valley.

If the transition is managed properly, the Hunter will drive wealth for generations to come. However, I fear, if the transition is not managed well, a mishmash of developments, land use conflicts and long-term inefficiencies and inequalities both for community and industry, will ensue. 

But, if we get the right plan and framework up and running, I genuinely believe that the Hunter is well placed to drive long term prosperity for NSW and more broadly, Australia.  

We should look at the strategic whole of region investment Australia made to the Snowy Mountains Scheme 70 years ago and the way it has now reinvested into the Scheme in the context of renewal energy. The Australian Government and NSW Government ought to coinvest in the procurement of large swathes of post-mining land and then facilitate orderly redevelopment over the next decade and beyond.

We are seeing some large corporations divest themselves from coal and the mine ownership with mines going to companies which may themselves as having nothing to lose from irresponsible end-of-life era management of mines. The risk is that short-term opportunist decisions are made resulting in land use which is not conducive to realising the potential of the region.

 Dr Cameron Archer AM is a leading agricultural educator having spent 40 years at Tocal College (NSW Department of Primary Industries), including 28 years as principal, where he oversaw many changes and innovations in agricultural education, and heritage conservation. Dr Archer is a former Conjoint Professor, University of Newcastle, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, and serves on a number of boards and committees relating to the environment, history, heritage and education.