Beyond the void: When mining towns start planning for life after coal

Coal has powered the Hunter Valley for decades. Now the region faces a defining question: what comes next and who gets to decide? As some mines approach closure – and proposals to extend other operations are debated – communities are grappling with what the future looks like. In this episode, we explore the economic, environmental and cultural voids that will be left from open-cut coal mining. Through the voices of Dr Hedda Askland, fourth-generation farmer Sophie Nichols and Wonnarua woman Kerri-Ann Taggart, we uncover the hopes, fears and aspirations shaping the region's future. This is a story about transition, connection and resilience – and the people trying to create a new future against the backdrop of uncertainty. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.