Lithgow Mayor, Cr Cassandra Coleman, has welcomed the Minns Labor Government's announcement to deliver on its election commitment to establish the Future Jobs and Investment Authority.
The Future Jobs and Investment Authority will partner with coal-producing regions across NSW to help guide the future economic development of the four coal mining regions - the Hunter, Central West including Lithgow, Illawarra, and North West - from coal production and coal-fired power generation towards other economic opportunities and employment.
The Minns Government has announced that the 2025-26 NSW Budget will include $27.3 million over four years to fund the Authority. The initiative is backed by the Future Jobs and Investment Fund, unlocking more than $100 million in funding which was held back under the previous Liberal-National Government's Royalties for Rejuvenation scheme. The Minns Government has also confirmed it will continue its existing commitment to deliver $22.5 million into the fund each year.
"The establishment of the Future Jobs and Investment Authority is an important step towards building economic resilience for communities such as Lithgow", Mayor Coleman said.
"Lithgow City Council has already committed significant investment to transition management by allocating $1.07m each year to support the implementation of the Lithgow Emerging Economy Plan (LEEP). The LEEP program is already actively delivering real, long-lasting benefits for our community through educational programs for our emerging and existing workforce to help prepare them for future employment opportunities, and making inroads in strategic land use planning, precinct development, and economic diversification."
Mayor Coleman noted that the groundwork is already underway as part of the LEEP could be harnessed to support the Future Jobs and Investment Authority to hit the ground running. Additionally, the Central West and Orana Regional Plan 2041 identifies that Lithgow has a key role to play in the future of the region, which makes it a natural and strategic location for the Central West Future Jobs and Investment Authority office.
"Lithgow City Council is committed to ongoing co-operation with the NSW Government, and all stakeholders, to ensure we are proactively positioned to support the jobs of the future", Mayor Coleman said.
"We look forward to working with the Future Jobs and Investment Authority and welcome discussions to commit funding to the existing work which is currently occurring in the Lithgow region under the LEEP."
