Mining projects giving drought-affected farm families second stream of income

Mining has emerged as a saviour of drought-stricken regional communities in NSW. And it has the opportunity to do even more to insulate the state if regulators approve $11 billion worth or projects.

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Mining has emerged as a saviour of drought-stricken regional communities, supporting more than 160,000 jobs at a time when employment has dried up.

And it has the potential to do even more to insulate the state if regulators approve $11 billion worth of projects, creating thousands of new jobs, on the drawing board.

Many farmers are currently relying on mining dollars as a secondary income stream, while towns with multiple revenue streams such as agriculture, mining, healthcare and the public service are more protected from the financial impact of the drought.

Mining is saving rural communities as employment begins to dry up. Picture: Aaron Bunch/BHP

NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee said mining presently supported 40,000 direct and 120,000 indirect jobs across NSW, including more than 7000 mining supply businesses.

“There are dozens of towns and communities across the state that are absolutely dependent on mining for their economic future,” he said.

Mr Galilee said there were 25 mining projects, extensions and modifications in the NSW planning system pipeline that could deliver more than 13,000 jobs over the next two decades, the vast majority in rural and regional communities.

He said the projects should be considered for approval on their merits, without political or activist interference, or essential economic benefits would be lost for regional NSW.

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With farm exports down by one-fifth this year, solutions will be discussed at The Daily Telegraph’s Bush Summit in Dubbo on July 18.

Mr Galilee said mining contributed 20 per cent of total economic activity in the Hunter, 8 per cent in the Illawarra, 11 per cent in the Central West and up to 30 per cent in Far West NSW.

“Mining is providing opportunities for families, towns and communities for a more diverse regional economy, particularly during times of drought when the agriculture sector is challenged,” he said.

“Having a strong agricultural sector alongside a strong mining sector means that there are opportunities at different times of the commodity cycle for those industries to work together.”

Farmer Max Davis, who works on the farm during the day and coal mine at night, said the mine is keeping young people in town. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Sheep and cattle farmer Max Davis works the land on his an 1100-acre property near Narrabri during the day while driving a coal mine shuttle bus in the morning and evening.

“At the moment the bus is my drought relief. I work seven days on, seven days off ferrying workers to and from the Maules Creek coal mine,” he said.

Mr Davis said the coal mine had been a jobs creator for Narrabri and was keeping young people in the town.

“Anything to keep young people in Narrabri and keep them employed. I see it out at the mine there, a lot of young people that used to leave town are staying in Narrabri,” he said.

“Without these sorts of things, Narrabri will die.”

Originally published as Mining projects giving drought-affected farm families second stream of income