Hunter community advocates welcome the release of the Post-Mining Land Use report, but say questions remain concerning rehabilitation and biodiversity, including whether the NSW taxpayer will be forced to foot bills that big coal companies should pay for.
Released yesterday, the NSW Legislative Committee report investigated the threats and opportunities for the Hunter Region in light of shifting global demands for thermal coal.
Lock the Gate Alliance spokesperson Steve Phillips said while the inquiry brought important issues to the surface, it was undermined by the Minns Government’s blindspot for the economic benefits of environmental restoration.
“The Minns Government continues to treat post-mining jobs and environmental restoration as separate issues, but the next era of prosperity for the Hunter region rests on the community, the land, habitat, and the river being given priority. The Hunter Valley has the potential to lead the world in post-mining landscape recovery, exporting valuable skills, knowledge, and services, but that future will vanish if the mining companies are allowed to cut and run.
“Swift action must be taken to ensure the Hunter Valley has healthy waterways, thriving communities, new economic opportunities, and space for nature as mines close. This report falls short of what is urgently needed, but that shouldn’t limit our ambition for the region."
Mr Phillips said it was concerning that the committee made no recommendation about the gap in NSW law which left the public exposed to the financial risk of long term degradation of land signed-off as rehabilitated.
“There are huge questions about how the Hunter Valley landscape will be restored and who will pay for decades of ongoing environmental care that will be needed. There’s very little time before some of the large open cut mines start closing and the New South Wales Government must prioritise this,” he said.
“Would-be developers of post-mining lands and NSW taxpayers are both at risk of having to pay for the legacy damage of coal mining.
“Multinational coal companies have made a fortune mining Hunter coal and we can’t afford to let them cut and run, leaving the NSW public to pick up the damage bill.”
ENDS