The major coal resources of NSW are located in the 500 km long, 150 km wide Sydney-Gunnedah Basin. It extends from south of Wollongong to north of Newcastle and north-westerly through Narrabri into Queensland.

Minor coal resources are located in the Gloucester and Oaklands Basins. The coal measures in the Sydney-Gunnedah Basin are bituminous in rank and Permian in age and consist of a large variety of coal types ranging from low-volatile, hard coking coals to high quality thermal coals. There are five major coalfields within the basin: Hunter, Newcastle, Southern, Western and Gunnedah.

A major factor in the economic development of NSW has been easy access to coal as an energy resource for the State’s main industrial centres. Continued development of these resources needs to take into account competing land uses and various environmental issues.

NSW recoverable coal reserves total over 12 billion tonnes and include those resources where conceptual mine planning has been undertaken, in both Mining Leases and Exploration Licence areas.

Coal mines in NSW produced a record 131.3 Mt of saleable coal in 2006-07 worth around $8.1 billion.

Map of NSW coalfields