Gloucester Shire Council is a member of the Association and Mayor Geoff Slack is a member of the Executive of the Association.

“This will be an election issue for Regional NSW and we will be seeking a commitment from all sides of politics at a meeting to be held at Parliament House in February,” Cr Slack said.

Adapted from the Western Australian model, the Association of Mining Related Council’s initiative is for 30%, or half of one percent of royalties collected by the State to be returned into areas where exploration and mining activity occurs. This will provide additional funding to NSW’s population living on the edge of Sydney and coastal zones, as well as to those communities in the central west and north western regions.

“State and Federal Governments receive significant benefits from mining, not only through royalties but company tax and flow on economic activity. Local Government does receive some direct benefits through rates and property prices increases generated by resource driven population growth, but realistically, they receive very little benefit from mining activity in their regions,” Cr Slack said.

The amount of royalties collected by NSW Government in 2008/09 was $1.28 billion, over $985 million in 2009/10 and a projected $1.768 billion for the ensuing year.

In acknowledgement of the diversity of local councils across the State and the infrastructure backlogs affecting the sustainability of some regions, Mining Related Councils calls upon the Government and Opposition to recognise the financial pressures faced by Local Government and adopt a more equitable and flexible revenue framework to redistribute a very small proportion of royalties.”

Further information on the proposal can be obtained from Council or by accessing Councils Web site. www.gloucester.nsw.gov.au