The Maxwell Underground Mine has opened in New South Wales, with the project transitioning into long-term production.
The project, which secured approval from the NSW Independent Planning Commission in 2020, has confirmed around 430 direct, ongoing roles, with the workforce predominantly drawn from local communities including Muswellbrook, Denman, Aberdeen, Scone, and Singleton.
Malabar Resources is the operator of the mine, which secured approval from the NSW Independent Planning Commission in 2020.
At least 75 per cent of the coal produced at the Maxwell facility will be high-quality metallurgical coal destined for steelmaking.
Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley noted that the 430 long-term positions represent more than just statistics for the region.
“Coal mining has played a central role in our state’s economic development for more than a century, and that contribution is not behind us, it is still being made today.”
The mine’s launch aligns with the state government’s newly implemented Coal Industry 2026-2050 strategy, a long-term framework designed to provide certainty to mining regions while acknowledging coal’s enduring role in the NSW economy for decades to come.
Currently, the state’s mining sector supports over 30,000 direct jobs.
The Hunter is one of Australia’s most important mining regions, with generations of local workers helping supply the energy, steelmaking and industrial resources that have supported growth across NSW and globally.
Malabar Resources Executive Chairman Wayne Seabrook thanked the local employees, contractors, and suppliers who drove the project from the planning phase through to active production.
Muswellbrook Shire Council Mayor Jeff Drayton also lauded the opening, branding it a significant milestone that provides long-term confidence for Upper Hunter businesses and families alike.
“Maxwell is now a working underground mine, supporting hundreds of long-term jobs and creating ongoing opportunities for people and businesses across the Upper Hunter,” Drayton said.
