AMRC Chair and Wollondilly Shire Councillor, Col Mitchell

With 23 member councils across NSW, the Association of Mining Related Councils (AMRC) is the peak representative body for mining affected councils in NSW. The Deputy Premier, the Hon. Andrew Stoner and the Minister for Resources and Energy, the Hon. Anthony Roberts, will address its member council representatives at its upcoming quarterly meeting on Thursday, 27 February, in Sydney.

AMRC Chair, Cr. Col Mitchell of Wollondilly Shire said that he and his colleagues welcome the much anticipated acceptance of their invitation to the Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional Development, together with the Minister for  Resources and Energy.
“This will give our member councils the opportunity to hear the latest on mining related legislation and future policy directions from the NSW Coalition Government,” Cr. Mitchell said. “We also see this as an opportunity for our guests to engage with the Association and hear about member councils’ experiences with hard and soft infrastructure issues. We are at the coal face of mining impacts; it is important that the State Government hears and considers our input.”

“We’re about advocating for our communities, addressing and resolving issues. I commend our guest for accepting our invitation and am confident that they will be prepared to listen and collaborate,” Cr. Mitchell said.

AMRC CEO, Don Tydd said that the organisation is making progress because the communication channels are open, towards constructive dialogue and outcomes. “The big picture must be considered. There’s a lot of negativity around, with lobbyists saying mining is all bad. There are clearly socio-economic benefits, in what may have otherwise been (to varying extents) depressed regional communities. We’ve been hearing from the Opposition, the NSW Minerals Council, the NSW Office of Water and CSG (Coal Seam Gas), affected industries and mining operations in member LGA’s (Local Government Areas) and they’ve been listening to us.”

“A new structure and corporate strategic plan were developed over the past 12 months. Hearing from and communicating to such relevant influential figures and stakeholder organisations were flagged priorities.”

Mr Tydd said that the AMRC is making headway because it does listen. “The Association is keen to ascertain the facts, often obscured or even buried by the emotions that surround mining. We can be an effective conduit, conveying the details and the science to our communities at their grassroots levels; I’m sure that Deputy Premier Stoner and Minister Roberts appreciate that.”

The Association expects to get an update and clarifications regarding CSG policies, including expanded exclusion zones, recently announced by the Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. “We want to hear where the Government sees the CSG industry going and details on the gateway process for CSG approvals,” Mr Tydd said.
Caption: Association of Mining Related Councils Chair, Cr. Col Mitchell.

Media Release – Deputy Premier & Minister to meet AMRC (pdf)