Newcastle City Council recently resolved to advocate for the Federal Government to establish a National Climate Compensation Fund, financed through a proposed levy on coal, gas and oil companies, to support climate adaptation, resilience and disaster recovery. Muswellbrook Mayor Jeff Drayton said the debate highlighted a growing disconnect between councils advocating for additional costs on the mining industry and the regional communities that host it. Mayor Drayton said thousands of people who work in mining in Muswellbrook Shire live in communities across the Hunter, including Newcastle, where their wages support households and businesses. He said around 20,000 vehicles travel through Muswellbrook every day, placing pressure on local roads and infrastructure the council is responsible for maintaining. “Decisions that hurt mining communities like Muswellbrook ultimately have consequences for Newcastle too.”