Mayor of Singleton calls for return of vital funding program
Published on 18 October 2023
Mayor of Singleton, Cr Sue Moore has called on fellow mayors of mining-affected communities across the state to support her push for the NSW Government Resources for Regions Program to be reinstated.
In a Mayoral Minute to last night’s Council meeting, Cr Moore said it was vital the funding program be restored in its current format, following news the program was omitted from the recent State Budget, handed down in September.
Cr Moore said having seen the positive impact the Resources for Regions had on mining communities including Singleton, and following Council’s strong advocacy for the program to continue beyond 2023, it was absolutely crucial that the government reconsider its decision.
The Mayoral Minute, which was unanimously carried by Council, will see the Mayor and the General Manager continue to make representation to the government for the continuation of the program as an acknowledgement of the significant economic contribution mining communities make to the prosperity of NSW and the daily impacts residents are required to live with. Cr Moore will also collaborate with the mayors of other mining-affected councils to lobby for the funding program to be reinstated.
“The Resources for Regions must continue in the same format, as a minimum, so our councils can continue to work with the State Government to deliver what our communities need and deserve,” Cr Moore said.
“Resources for Regions has proved to be a successful mechanism to deliver a fair return to our community for the daily and unavoidable impacts of mining. Issues including air quality, traffic congestion, visual impairment and reputation are matters that affect us so much more as a result of being where the mining activity actually occurs.
“It’s important that State Government funding flow back into mining-affected communities as an acknowledgement of the integral role we play in the continued prosperity of NSW, and to help us on the path to the economic and social evolution for generations to come, building our region for a time when mining may be a smaller component of our economic output.
“Considering the significant amount of royalties generated from mining regions, and given the government will raise coal royalties by an estimated $2.7billion over the next four years, it’s only fair that communities like Singleton, who are so affected by this industry, are adequately compensated.”
Through its Advocacy Agenda, Singleton Council proactively lobbied for changes to the Resources for Region program which included the removal of a co-contribution and benefit costs ratios, a fixed percentage of the total pool for mining-affected communities based on the level of actual mining activity occurring within an area, and the introduction of programs alongside infrastructure projects which provided opportunities for employment and skills training for job seekers, assistance for small businesses and community support.
Singleton and Muswellbrook account for a combined total of 43 per cent of NSW’s coal mining output, which in 2021 amounted to more than $18billion of the State’s mining output total of almost $40billion (Remplan Economic Output Estimates 2021 Release 3).
$25.29million was injected into the Singleton local government area through Rounds 7, 8 and 9 of the Resources for Regions program.