The Singleton Business Chamber, New South Wales, Australia, has announced details of a significant event designed to bring the community and the coal industry together in celebration of the mining sector’s contribution to the region’s success and prosperity. The Hunter Coal Festival 2015, a two-week festival from March 12-29, celebrates the role and contribution of the mining industry to the Hunter Valley community. To be held across Singleton, Muswellbrook and surrounding regions, the festival aims to highlight the value of the coal industry in Singleton, the wider Hunter region and the broader Australian community. It was launched before a large audience of community representatives, industry organisations, mining companies and suppliers, along with charity and community groups.
Developed by the Singleton Business Chamber, with support from Singleton Council, Muswellbrook Shire Council and Muswellbrook Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the festival would incorporate a wide-ranging program of community and industry events, said Hunter Coal Festival chair Peter Eason.
“These will include the inaugural Hunter Mining Show, a street parade, gala concerts, sporting events, school debates, information sessions and workshops, and an industry racing carnival at Muswellbrook Race Club.
“It provides an opportunity for stakeholders, businesses and the community to gain insights, interact and get the chance to know and understand everyone’s diverse interests.
“We all understand the impacts of mining, but the achievements are often kept in the shadow. The festival offers the opportunity for a loud shout out from the community – which is just the shot in the arm the industry needs right now,” said Eason.
“Over the past few months, we have put together an active and hard-working committee which is well advanced on the program and themes for the festival.
“We are now in the process of finalising our festival program, and we’ll be releasing details of these, and other developments in the coming months.”
Eason said an important element of the festival would be a three-day mining industry exhibition – the Hunter Mining Show – to be held in and around Singleton Council’s Civic Centre from March 12-14.
“The festival actually kicks off with the Hunter Mining Show – a trade show with a real difference through its focus on engaging with the broader community.
“This show will culminate with the Festival Community Day, which gives the whole community access to the show on the final day – including a street parade through the centre of Singleton,” Eason said.
“This resonates with the organisers who are intent of making that industry-community connection throughout the entire festival.”
Eason said the Hunter Coal Festival organisers had been delighted with the strong support for the concept from the local community, state and federal politicians, local businesses, as well as the wider mining industry.
“We’ve had our local schools, TAFE colleges and tertiary institutions, businesses, community groups and other organisations coming to us with offers of assistance, monetary and in-kind goods and services.
“And today, we are very pleased that the NSW Minerals Council has just announced it is supporting the Festival as one of our major sponsors – an indication of the importance the mining industry as a whole sees this event has for the region and the industry,” said Eason. www.huntercoalfestival.com.au
Photo courtesy of Rio Tinto Coal Australia