MUSWELLBROOK mayor, Steve Reynolds, is calling for a genuine focus on future employment in the region as the nation awaits a return to the polls.
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"This is the biggest federal election that they're going to have for a long time and the seat is open," Cr Reynolds said.
"But really they're not talking about jobs and that's what we want to hear."
Cr Reynolds - who worked in the mining industry until 2016 when he suffered a permanent injury on site - points to a regional reliance on the coal industry for jobs, saying now is the time for Muswellbrook to start expanding its portfolio.
"I need to say that I don't see the export market going anywhere for some time," he said.
"But we have really got the opportunity for agribusiness, tourism, manufacture and if Newcastle airport becomes a major terminal we can go straight from the paddock to plate in the Asian market.
"Our main aim at the moment is to drive that conversation and have businesses look at Muswellbrook as the viable option."
![Have to capitalise: Muswellbrook mayor, Steve Reynolds, says he is looking to ensure a future for the region post-mining. Picture: Peter Lorimer Have to capitalise: Muswellbrook mayor, Steve Reynolds, says he is looking to ensure a future for the region post-mining. Picture: Peter Lorimer](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/127686685/80719a44-5ec1-48c3-9417-45918caecdb3.JPG/r407_293_3000_1986_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
In the 2019 to 2020 financial year, the NSW government received around $1.5 billion in royalties from the coal mining industry.
According to the Minerals Council of Australia, with research from Deloitte Access Economics, mining companies paid over $24 billion of tax in the same year.
As the Newcastle Herald reported on Monday, more than half of coal in NSW comes out of the Hunter.
While the NSW Government does set aside a portion of revenue for their Royalties for Rejuvenation fund, Cr Reynolds argues the federal government should be doing more to future-proof mining regions.
"You look at the amount of money our mining industry has put into the state and federal coffers and wonder if Scott Morrison actually knows where Muswellbrook is," he said.
"We don't need any more money spent on studies and we don't need any more money spent on lip service. We need money spent on the actual shovel-ready things that we have ready to go."
![Diversity: Wayne Williams recounts the range of industries Muswellbrook once had. Picture: Peter Lorimer Diversity: Wayne Williams recounts the range of industries Muswellbrook once had. Picture: Peter Lorimer](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/127686685/64e3a836-9463-47e6-aec0-aff2fe03be86.JPG/r0_127_3000_1814_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Wayne Williams is a shot firer at Mangalore coal and has worked in the industry around Muswellbrook since 1986.
While he understands the need for a shift to renewable sources of energy generation, Mr Williams said coal mining in the region "will be around for a while to come".
But he said, for better or for worse, council are taking steps to look beyond mining.
"They definitely seem to be trying to do something to look at life after mining. But I just don't think it'll generate the amount employment that mining does," he said.
Looking back at industries before the mining boom, Mr Williams said, could be a way forward for the region.
"You used to have a lot of wineries around this area and now they're also based in Pokolbin. I don't know why, whether it was maybe a factor of mining," he said.
"We used to have a fair bit more diversity than what we have now."
Since he took the mayoral role in January, Steve Reynolds has been working with existing mines to achieve the economic diversity Mr Williams mentioned.
"Post-mining we have to capitalise. It comes down to being at the table here and now to make sure that resources and farmland are best utilised."
This report appears as part of the Newcastle Herald's 'Power and the Passion' special report investigating the Hunter's energy transition away from coal-fired power to renewable energy alternatives. Read the full series here, and listen to the Voice of Real Australia podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your preferred platform.
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