Community, or social infrastructure supports our standard of living through services and facilities that we often take for granted such as schools, hospitals, housing, emergency services, law and justice, recreation facilities and libraries. These social assets complement the physical infrastructure of transport, telecommunications, energy and water supply to help maintain the economic and social prosperity of Australia relative to many other countries.
The benefits of community infrastructure are typically long term, for the assets can endure across generations. Good community infrastructure attracts people to the cities and towns of NSW and encourages businesses such as mining companies to invest in new activities and jobs in even the remotest of areas.
The minerals industry in NSW contributes to the community infrastructure of the state not only through Royalties paid to the NSW Government ($360 million in 2004-05) but through direct investment in mining projects and associated road and rail works which provide employment opportunities in rural and remote regions and a significant cash boost to local economies throughout the start up and operational cycles of the business. Many communities also benefit from the community involvement activities undertaken by minerals companies to enhance community facilities and interests.