Held at Club Singleton last week the event attracted a diverse range of people from the across the Hunter keen to hear what the two organisations had garnered from a series of online forums and surveys on what the future economy of the region could look like in a post coal dominant era.

Those in attendance and guest speakers stressed the need to establish the right training environment to ensure workers have the skills needed for the new economy.

And this took the discussion back to the state of the TAFE system and in particular the need to ensure a vibrant and well resourced TAFE capable of providing the necessary vocational training.

One attendee suggested TAFE should return to offering night classes so those currently employed could learn new skills while still being employed rather than wait until redundancies were being offered to take up training.

Of great concern to Singleton residents is the perceived threat to the Singleton TAFE campus despite assurances from local member Dave Layzell that it wont be sold.

The other main topic was the need for flagships projects that create jobs in new industries.

Dr Ingrid Schraner one of the guest speakers spoke about the recycling of the coal ash waste from power stations.

She said it could be turned into gravel and artificial sand to make cement and from that pre-cast lightweight concrete.

The attraction of this type of industry was not only was it recycling a waste product but the same equipment and skills used in the mining industry can be used in this type of manufacturing industry, Dr Schraner said.

"The technology from mining can be used here and it can happen right now," she said.

To assist with the development of such projects and ensure the community has a strong a strong voice in these discussions about its economic future Hunter Renewal and Hunter Jobs Alliance are keen to see the program Royalties for Rejuvenation, announced in May during the Upper Hunter by-election, to become established as soon as practicable.