This week we learnt that the bedrock of coal mining in the fair state of New South Wales, the Hunter Valley, will suffer more job cuts.

Many miners in the Valley are still reeling from the decision by the Planning Assessment Commission last year that Anglo American’s proposed southerly extension of the Drayton mine would not go ahead.

Apparently it ruined the aesthetics of the nearby horse studs, owned by a motley crew of assorted billionaires who like to fly up from Sydney by helicopter and check on their expensive thoroughbreds.

Meanwhile 500 Drayton miners face a bleak and uncertain future.

Now, crews at Glencore’s Bulga mine have been informed by the company that it is preparing to lay off staff, including deputies, after the completion of development at the longwall mine.

Glencore is continuing consultation with Bulga underground employees following the decision to place the mine's Blakefield North project on hold, according to a company spokesman.

“The decision means that Bulga Underground will stop production in 2017,” he said.

“The consultation currently focuses on positions associated with development work at the mine, which will be completed this year.”

Operations at Glencore’s Blakefield South underground mine will continue as planned until 2017, when its final longwall panels have been mined.

“Glencore is one of the most efficient longwall miners in Australia, but we are not immune from the ongoing market challenges,” the company said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, the current market does not support the proposed project and we have decided to place Blakefield North on hold until we see improvement in the economic climate.”

About the same time this week, Hogsback discovered that Yancoal’s Donaldson underground coal mine will move to care and maintenance in June, following a reduction in mining activities and the start of new feasibility studies, in a move that will see the loss of 92 jobs.

Yancoal has also referenced the ongoing global market challenges in its decision to put the mine on care maintenance and it considers the future development of new underground working areas.

From 14 March, the Donaldson operation will reduce its current mining activities from the running of three mining units to two at its Abel underground mine, directly affecting 10 existing roles.

Donaldson currently operates with 103 employees, including staff. It is anticipated 11 fulltime roles will be required to support the operation as it moves to care and maintenance and continues feasibility studies in June.

NSW mining companies directly spent $4.8 billion in the Hunter region in 2014-15, according to a survey by the NSW Minerals Council.

This was over 40% of total mining spending in NSW and the biggest regional share of mining spending during the survey period.

This $4.8 billion in direct mining spending in the Hunter included more than$1.4 billion in wages to 11,200 full-time employees, the survey found.

Hogsback hopes that this investment doesn’t dry up soon or the Hunter – resilient and tough as it is – may be finally reduced to a shadow of its once proud self.