Hunter residents woke to a raft of new fees and taxes implemented by the state government from today.
Along with an increase in train fares, the coal mining industry must now pay higher royalties to the government.
Open cut coal mining royalties have been raised from 7 per cent to 8.2 per cent, while underground mining has shifted from 6 to 7.2 per cent.
Meanwhile the Hunter Valley Coal Chain has achieved two milestones, delivering 92 million tonnes of export coal to the Port of Newcastle this year.
The coal chain also set a new daily rail record on December 27, dispatching 340,000 tonnes of coal.
