THE Hunter Valley and Illawarra will face severe economic dislocation as a result of moves to slash greenhouse gas emissions.
Mines are likely to close, and possibly Port Kembla steelworks, leading to severe social and community upheaval.
Papers tabled yesterday in State Parliament indicate significant concerns within Government over the economic fall-out from reductions.
Such initiatives received further endorsement this week from the G8 meeting in Italy, which has pledged to cut 80 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
In the documents, the NSW Government has been warned to expect mine closures, and severe pressure on local communities in key parts of the state as a result of the Federal Government's carbon trading proposal.
As many as 11 mines are facing closure in NSW, with the loss of 2300 direct jobs.
Coalmines in NSW with a high gas content would be the most exposed in the southern coalfields, Newcastle and Hunter Valley coalfields, the Government was told. SMH
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