Fixing the NSW Planning System, better infrastructure for mining communities and greater protection from illegal access safety risks headline the NSW Minerals Council plan to strengthen NSW mining beyond 2015, launched in the lead up to the state election.

 

The plan outlines the policy priorities needed to ensure mining is able to deliver jobs in Sydney and across NSW, as well as deliver for the state economy and regional communities.

“This plan provides a clear policy direction for whoever governs NSW after the March election and the message is clear - if you hurt Mining, you hurt NSW,” NSW Minerals Council CEO, Stephen Galilee said today.

 

“The top priority is to fix the broken NSW planning system and restore confidence in NSW as a place to invest. This will help reverse the job losses we’ve seen in mining over the last two years - over 4,500 across the state.”

“Fixing the planning system must include streamlining the process and shortening assessment timeframes, including for modifications. It must also include reform of the PAC process, and returning democratic accountability by restoring Ministerial decision making on State Significant Development,” Mr Galilee said.

 

“We’ve had a commitment from the Premier that the planning system will be fixed, and some progress is being made, but there’s much more to do. We also need a commitment from Labor to ensure a bipartisan approach that puts the long term interests of NSW first,” Mr Galilee said.

NSW Mining is also calling for stronger protection from the safety risks posed by the illegal access of mine sites by extreme anti-mining protesters. Other measures outlined in the NSW Minerals Council’s election plan include policies that support mining exploration, and the expansion of the Resources for Regions program to ensure more mining communities are eligible to apply for funding.