Hinton in flood, May 2025 (Image: Chris Pillige)
The National Climate Risk Assessment Report released 2025 is blunt: Regional and coastal communities of the Hunter and NSW are highly-exposed to coastal inundation, flooding, storms, bushfire, drought and the cascading social impacts wrought by increasing disasters, environmental degradation and social disruption.
The community, ecosystem health and economy of Port Stephens are all exposed to increasing climate risk and impacts.
The cost of living has shot up and is hitting the Hunter hard - food and home insurance costs will continue to rise as we face increasing instances of wild weather and natural disasters, reaping damage to homes and ecosystems. Rising heat will see lost days of work, increased strain on our health sector and our household energy bills - a viscious cycle is in the making which threatens our ways and quality of life.
Coal pollution is the major cause of climate change and it effects everyone – this is why we’re asking the people of the Hunter to stand with us when it comes time for the largest coal mine project in NSW history – Hunter Valley Operations – to be decided in June this year at an Independent Planning Commission (IPC) meeting in Singleton.
Climate policy and the courts are catching up to coal companies intent on massive expansions. Last year, a landmark NSW Court of Appeal judgment (DAMSHEG vs. MACH Energy) against the climate impacts of the Mt Pleasant mine expansion - said the local impacts of climate change, both environmental, social and economic, must be considered by planning bodies deciding coal mine applications.
When the IPC comes to decide the future of Hunter Valley Operations mine this year, we need the experiences of people from the Hunter paying the price for coal’s climate pollution to be heard in the process.
We hope you’ll join us for a meet-and-greet and a briefing about the HVO campaign and why we need people to speak up for their community and environment at this crucial moment at Fly Point Park on Friday May 22nd.
BYO snacks and picnic blankets.
We also invite you to take the SURVEY: Counting the costs of coal pollution on the Hunter to share your experiences about the rise in cost-of-living, wild weather and how these factors may be influencing your life and decisions.
