NSW Minerals Council review finds mining proposals up on COVID period
New research has revealed there are 35 mining projects currently at various stages in the NSW planning system.
The NSW Minerals Council has completed its fourth annual review of potential mining projects in the pipeline for NSW. The analysis identified 35 mining projects in various stages of the planning and development phase in NSW, up from 28 in 2018, and 32 in both 2021 and 2022.
The 35 projects identified in 2022 include a range of new projects as well as extensions to existing operations, with the potential to generate significant economic activity for NSW.
Importantly, 15 of the 35 projects identified are for new metals and minerals mines, reflecting increasing global demand for gold, silver, copper, cobalt, zinc and other commodities needed for a range of applications, including for electronics, manufacturing, defence industries, and energy.
Potential combined economic benefits from the 35 projects include:
- Over $13.1 billion in direct capital investment in NSW, driving economic activity across the State, including in regional areas - over $8.5 billion from metals projects alone
- Creating or maintaining almost 21,000 direct construction and operation jobs, along with tens of thousands more jobs in businesses that support the mines
- Almost $4 billion in royalties for NSW and hundreds of millions more through other taxes and local community contributions to help fund schools, hospitals, police, infrastructure and other services across the state
The potential regional economic benefits include:
- In the Hunter, over $3.2 billion in capital investment and around 9,600 jobs
- In the Illawarra, over $250 million in capital investment and around 550 jobs
- In the Central West, over $4.1 billion in capital investment and over 3,400 jobs
- In the Far West, over $4.2 billion in capital investment and around 5,100 jobs
- In the Lithgow/Mudgee Region, over $150 million in capital investment and over 600 jobs
- In the Gunnedah region, over $1 billion in capital investment and over 1,400 jobs
