Mt Arthur Coal Mine Transformation Precinct Master Plan
Client:
NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
Context
Urbis was engaged by DPHI as lead consultant to prepare the Mt Arthur Coal Mine Transformation Precinct Master Plan. This was a landmark project exploring the future of one of Australia’s largest coal mines as mining operations prepare to cease in 2030. The project establishes a long-term framework for the transition of approximately 5,400 hectares of strategically located mining land into a productive employment precinct that continues to support economic growth and regional prosperity in the Upper Hunter.
The master plan responds to a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reposition the site from a coal mining operation into a catalyst for economic diversification, leveraging its significant landholding, existing infrastructure, skilled workforce and strategic location within the Hunter Region.
Our Approach
Urbis led a multidisciplinary team of planners, urban designers, economists, engineers, environmental specialists, geotechnical advisors and infrastructure experts to develop an integrated and implementable vision for the site. Through a collaborative Enquiry by Design process, we worked closely with government agencies, BHP, technical specialists and regional stakeholders to test alternative futures, build consensus and identify practical pathways for implementation.
The project combined a constraints-first assessment with vision-led planning, ensuring future opportunities were grounded in environmental, rehabilitation, infrastructure and market realities while remaining flexible enough to respond to emerging technologies and industries.
"Urbis is proud to support this master plan which sets a clear future for the Upper Hunter’s evolution into a major industrial hub, supported by existing infrastructure and a skilled local workforce. "
Impact
The Mt Arthur Coal Mine Transformation Precinct Master Plan establishes a clear planning and land use framework that provides greater certainty for future investment and development. By identifying preferred land uses, infrastructure requirements, staging opportunities and key planning considerations upfront, the project helps reduce approval complexity and provides a streamlined pathway for future proponents. This creates a more investment-ready environment, allowing businesses to assess opportunities with greater confidence and reducing the time and risk typically associated with planning large-scale industrial and employment projects.
The project is helping establish a new model for post-mining land use in NSW, demonstrating how former mining land can be repurposed to support long-term economic resilience, employment generation and regional transition. The project has created a practical and transferable framework for managing economic transition in resource-dependent regions. It demonstrates how existing infrastructure, skilled workforces and rehabilitated landscapes can be leveraged to attract new investment, diversify regional economies and unlock productive uses for former mining land.
Read more about the project here.
