Coalmine Creep
Newcastle Herald
Tuesday September 19, 2006
COALMINING is the economic force that drives the Upper Hunter.
It was not always so. Forty years ago it was the rich coal seams of the mid-Hunter which were being plundered. As the winnable coal supplies ran out, mining companies moved onwards and, in the Hunter's case, upwards. Coalmine creep has moved into what was once valuable farming land. The lure of well-paid jobs in the mines has left many traditional employment sources short of manpower. And the money generated by those jobs has changed the face of the local economy. No longer reliant on the vagaries of the weather to ensure a healthy bottom line, service industries have shifted their focus to accommodate the wants and needs of the mining industry. The impact of coalmining has turned Singleton from a rural stronghold into a regional capital. Dairy farms have been left behind as the insatiable demand for coal has taken its grip. The Singleton local government area has the largest coalmining sector in NSW and that has attracted a vast array of support industries. The mines are a mix of open-cut and underground operations and are considered among the most modern and efficient in the world. The bulk of the coal is shipped by rail to the Port of Newcastle for export, while large quantities are also used in adjacent coal-fired power stations. While the mine sites are not visible from the Singleton residential area, they are all within a 30-minute drive and are the major employers in the area. The natural beauty and climate of the Upper Hunter has helped make it popular with tourists. An abundance of rolling foothills, boutique wineries and beautiful guesthouses captures the natural ambience of the Hunter Valley. There are many interesting townships among them Broke, Jerrys Plains, Scone and Muswellbrook. Throughout the Upper Hunter beautiful gardens, historical and cultural sites, horse and cattle studs sit alongside the technical sophistication of mining operations.
© 2006 Newcastle Herald
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