Voices of the Hunter Valley Workshop cards

The recommendations and suggestions in the VOHV workshop cards are derived from more than 30 plans, proposals or reports addressing the Hunter’s future planning and diversification.

From these 30 reports, 155 proposals or ideas were drawn that were then narrowed and distilled into 22 concepts in four broad categories:

Planning and coordination
Growing and diversifying the economy
Supporting the community through change
Supporting workers through change

#	TEXT ON CARDS	EXPLANATION
PLANNING & COORDINATION
1	A local authority to coordinate and fund job creation and community support	This coordinating authority would be funded by the state and/or federal government and would be aimed at ensuring that planning for the Hunter’s future happens equitably, efficiently, and sustainably. Something like the Latrobe Valley Authority but uniquely for the Hunter. Ideally it would be led by local, Hunter people and would consult regularly with local business and community groups on their plans. The authority would be responsible for creating a Regional Diversification Plan. SOURCES: Hunter Renewal, Hunter Jobs Alliance, Hunter Joint Organisation, European Union, NSW Energy Inquiry, University of Newcastle
2	Government-led programs to involve the community in planning for the future	TOP-DOWN APPROACH. Fund community outreach programs to make sure planning information reaches the wider community. Activities funded might include big public summits, mailouts/e-newsletters, regular Q&A sessions run by the authority. SOURCES: Hunter Renewal, Hunter Jobs Alliance, NSW Government Energy Inquiry, Local Councils
3	A long term fund for land and water management after mine rehabilitation	We know how important it is that money is put aside for environmental monitoring and management after rehabilitation is complete and security deposits returned. This fund would cover that, along with other means to restore the function of the catchment as a whole to maximise resilience and productivity. SOURCES: Hunter Renewal, BZE, Local Councils, European Union, Hunter Joint Organisation, NSW Government
4	A community reference group to advise the coordinating authority	BOTTOM-UP APPROACH. The NSW government has announced the creation of an expert panel to advise them on the structural planning needed for the Hunter’s future. We think it is important that this group is made up of a diverse set of Hunter organisations and that they regularly consult with representatives of community organisations. This way we can make sure that the ideas that are created and funded are what the community really needs. SOURCES: Hunter Renewal, Hunter Jobs Alliance, NSW Government Energy Inquiry
5	Fund land use assessments for new industries	One barrier to the introduction of new industries is balancing the requirements of various planning controls. For example, land that can be used for farming has different controls than, say, land that can be used for recreation. By funding or guiding businesses through the planning system, it should make it simpler for them to work out how they can use Hunter land for new industries. SOURCE: Local councils
6	Free up mine buffer land for new enterprises	Make better use of mining ‘buffer’ land for new enterprises. Land could be leased temporarily at below market rates so that businesses could pilot their ideas. SOURCE: Local councils, NSW Government, Local councils

DIVERSIFYING BUSINESS & INDUSTRY
7	Market the region to potential investors	Fund and resource a, ‘one stop shop’ for potential investors in the region. Such a service would provide rapid information, demonstration projects, and intensive support of key investor needs such as land availability, workforce skills and demographics, available incentives, and land use planning systems. SOURCE: Hunter Jobs Alliance, NSW Government, Local councils, University of Newcastle
8	Grants and training for local businesses to diversify	Support both start-ups and existing businesses with grants, training, marketing support and incubator programs. This will strengthen and develop new small to medium sized local businesses that are not only significant employers, but are more likely to reinvest profits into the local community. SOURCE: NSW Energy Inquiry
9	Decarbonise energy-intensive industries like aluminium	Help the state’s Net Zero targets by reducing the emissions involved in manufacturing aluminium and steel. These could be used to build wind turbines and electric buses. Links with university research would help to boost development through open access laboratories, testing facilities and demonstration plants. SOURCE: BZE, University of Newcastle
10	Incentives and cheap loans to attract new industry	Larger businesses can be attracted to the Hunter through mechanisms such as subsidies, cheap loans, and other financial incentives. SOURCE:NSW Energy Inquiry, Hunter Jobs Alliance
11	Fund Aboriginal-led initiatives in business, tourism, and culture	Grants for training and business development for new and existing Aboriginal-led, Hunter-based organisations to help them grow and reach new markets. SOURCES: Hunter Renewal, Hunter Jobs Alliance
12	Build pilot projects for new industries such as fly ash reuse	Fund pilot projects into potential uses for fly ash from coal-fired power stations, or for local businesses to explore potential uses for existing energy grid infrastructure such as micro-grid renewable energy systems. These grids would allow people to use the existing grid in smaller, community energy grids. This would also enable peer-to-peer energy trading SOURCES: Hunter Environment Centre, Hunter Jobs Alliance, BZE

SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY THROUGH CHANGE
13	Advocacy, counselling, and connection services for affordable housing and homelessness	Advocate for greater diversity, supply, and affordability of housing. Establish a service for local residents to get counselling and connections to services related to housing and homelessness. SOURCES: Upper Hunter Futures report, NSW Energy Inquiry
14	Grants for local artists and arts organisations	Investments that help organisations to build, program, and operate cultural facilities, as well as grants for individual artists and collectives to reach their creative potential. SOURCES: NSW Government
15	Expand TAFE and vocational education	Retain and expand TAFE and vocational education and create courses that meet the needs of new and growing employers.Examine education/training requirements for “future industries” and incorporate these into current and future TAFE/post-school training opportunities. SOURCES: Hunter Renewal, NSW Energy Inquiry, NSW Government, Local councils
16	Grants for community organisations to support people through change	Grants to community organisations for programs related to supporting the community through change. Focusing on affected groups, such as low-income households, workers and communities, and energy-intensive trade exposed industries. Appropriate equity measures to assist those most affected should be included. SOURCES: NSW Energy Inquiry
17	Start community-owned energy networks	Grants to fund training and technical support for Hunter communities wanting to set up community-owned energy initiatives. Like what the Hepburn community have done in Victoria. SOURCES: Local councils, European Union, NSW Energy Inquiry

SUPPORTING WORKERS THROUGH CHANGE
18	Create rules for mining and power companies to protect workers during retrenchment	So that we don’t get caught out like the Latrobe Valley, we need to develop standards and rules that create clear expectations of companies undertaking large scale closures and retrenchments in the Hunter. These would include things like minimum notice, comprehensive redundancy packages, perhaps a duty to assist with retraining. SOURCE: Hunter Jobs Alliance
19	Career and financial advice/counselling for workers	Establish a high quality, accessible, permanent ‘bricks and mortar’ Worker Support Service providing face-to-face career advice, referrals, and financial advice. Provide a range of financial and practical support to workers, including a one-stop-shop to facilitate access to employment and other services. SOURCES: Hunter Jobs Alliance, NSW Energy Inquiry, European Union
20	Fund flagship projects that create jobs in new industries	Investment in flagship projects that provide jobs to local people. This will help demonstrate the opportunities that exist for new industries. Projects could be retrofits of solar and insulation to housing and schools. SOURCES: NSW Energy Inquiry
21	Fund skills development for high school students	Establish teaching centres where every school student can access cutting edge technology and learn skills for the modern workforce, like exists in regional Victoria. SOURCE: Hunter Jobs Alliance
22	Free TAFE courses for retrenched mine and power station workers moving into new roles	To support mine and power station workers through change, they should be provided with free courses that can help them bridge their skills to new roles in industries of the future. SOURCES: Hunter Renewal, Hunter Jobs Alliance