Hunter Renewal

The Hunter region is vulnerable to global changes in the market for coal and this could leave thousands of people jobless, landscapes unrehabilitated and the region in economic recession if there are no plans and actions in place to stimulate job creation in alternative industries.

The Hunter region can prosper regardless of declines in the coal industry, but the region needs support and investment to diversify before coal declines. Sign up below if you support a roadmap for renewal which includes government funding for new industries, support for affected workers, and a community-driven plan for diversifying the region.

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The region has expertise in energy, civil engineering, manufacturing, food production, wine growing, tourism and agriculture. It connects to the world via the Port of Newcastle and the rail line that can deliver Hunter products for export. It has exceptional natural beauty, biodiversity and water resources and vibrant towns and villages.

Together we can protect our region, create new jobs and produce a diverse economy that can withstand shocks and uncertainty in mining, be they short-term declines or longer term trends.

Past experiences of structural change in mining and energy industries from Australia and around the world provide us with the lessons we need to ensure a positive transition for our region to protect us against declines in coal. Key elements of successful transitions include:

Early preparation well in advance of change
Strong community leadership and participation
Consistent and clear policy support from governments
Allocation of substantial public finances
Worker retraining and re-employment
Detailed economic diversification plans

We seek support from local, state and federal government, business and civil society for:

A policy framework at the state level to support a positive transformation and create more jobs, inc:

Create a community-driven process that builds on the Hunter region’s strengths and has strong community participation embedded in the process.
Maximise support for any workers affected by mining decline and the provision of training and alternative employment in well-paid and fulfilling jobs.
Immediately prioritise allocation of existing programs such as renewable energy development and education and skills training towards the Hunter.

At least $2 billion from the Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund or other sources dedicated to coal mining regions with an emphasis on infrastructure upgrades for energy generation, grid connectivity, manufacturing, transport and communications.

A Hunter Regional Diversification Taskforce with representatives from the community, unions, employers and government to coordinate the transformation of our region, create new jobs and facilitate community participation processes.

A Hunter Regional Diversification Plan building on existing strengths and encouraging development of industry clusters, labour-intensive projects and education, training and technology hubs.

Strengthened laws for rehabilitation of mines and power stations to increase financial bonds and improve standards, boosting the jobs available now and into the future in environmental restoration.

This roadmap is a living document and will evolve to reflect the community-driven renewal plan.

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