West Coast Council has used the release of significant windfall gains in mining royalties to state coffers, to highlight the lack of revenue that flows back to the region.
The State Government has announced that mining royalties have jumped by some $23 million to $84 million annually, yet West Coast Council receives less than $2 million in rates from the mining sector each year.
West Coast Mayor, Shane Pitt said while the West Coast generates the lion’s share of the state’s $3.1 billion mineral wealth each year, it is short-changed when it comes to mining royalties and returns from industry.
“Why is it that some $84 million in royalties can be generated by the mining sector, much of which is in the West Coast, yet very little of this flows back to us,” Mayor Pitt said.
“On the West Coast, we work hard to help do our bit for Tasmania, yet when it comes to the wealth we generate for all Tasmanians, we receive very little in return.
“It is important that local communities receive their fair share of the wealth generated in these important industries so they can continue to have a strong social license and be socially sustainable into the future.”
Mayor Pitt called on the State Government to come up with a more equitable model for the distribution and return of royalties to the regions that earnt them.