Some new prospects have emerged for workers laid off by a Cobar mine that's cutting production, as the town braces for the future.
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CBH Resources announced on July 17 its Endeavor mine would reduce 161 full-time employees and 40 contractors by 130 positions, leaving just 71 people at the operation.
NSW government agencies, TAFE, Training Services NSW and representatives from three mining companies combined to hold an information day for retrenched workers on July 25.
The resources were deployed to provide support to identify future opportunities.
In anticipation of the production cut having a ripple effect through the town's economy, local businesses were also invited.
On Thursday Cobar Shire Council general manager Peter Vlatko gave an update of the aftermath of the production cut decision.
He praised the government for swinging into action and said the information day had some positive outcomes, even though it did not get "too many people to turn up".
"I know that one mine for example put six people on," he said.
"And I know that Cobar mines, together with Endeavor is talking together about, because they're always looking for employees.
...it's not all doom and gloom...
- Cobar Shire Council general manager Peter Vlatko
"So there's a potential there, it's not all doom and gloom, for those that really want a job, hopefully there is something there."
Mr Vlatko said Endeavor's cut in production would have a wider impact, stacking up on top of drought.
"As I said we're a mining town, and the reality for us is that it still hurts," he said.
"That's a significant amount of people...
"If they haven't got a job they've got to go and find a job, and if that's in another town, and they take their families with them, well it hurts everything from our schools, to our hospitals to our shops at the moment, which are continuing like most small towns, suffering for a lot of reasons.
"This doesn't help."
Mr Vlatko said the town needed to continue to survive and grow.
"...and when times are tough we've just got to make sure people still see the benefit of living in a place like Cobar," he said.
"Because it's so easy to drop your bundle, but we can't, we've still got to make the town a positive town for people who want to live here, to remain here.
"And you never know when it might turn around again... It's a cycle we have to live with."
It's the second time in little more than three years that there's been mass redundancies at the Endeavor mine, located about 50 kilometres north of Cobar.
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Faye Wheeler
I have been a journalist for more than a decade and in that time I have been keeping Daily Liberal readers up to date about issues affecting them and what's happening in their community. Throughout my career I have covered a range of rounds and most recently I have been focusing on the business round.
I have been a journalist for more than a decade and in that time I have been keeping Daily Liberal readers up to date about issues affecting them and what's happening in their community. Throughout my career I have covered a range of rounds and most recently I have been focusing on the business round.
