Residents of Cobar have welcomed the official opening of a new memorial paying tribute to the Miners who lost their lives in the 1980 Cobar CSA Mine Fire.

The Cobar Miners Memorial - based at Heritage Park - cost almost a million dollars to set up, with construction commencing in September 2020 and completed in April 2021.

It was then officially opened on Friday 18 June with multiple stakeholders in attendance.

This project received $349,777 in funding from the Australian Government under the Building Better Regions Fund, $225,950 from the Cobar Shire Council, $360,028 from the NSW Government under the Stronger Country Communities Fund and $36,000 from the NSW Government Premier’s Grant to complete.

The new memorial has been praised by state and federal government representatives who were involved in securing funding for the project.

Federal Member for Parkes Mark Coulton said the memorial was designed to commemorate and safeguard Cobar’s mining history and that he looked forward to seeing it become an important community monument.

“The new memorial will be a drawcard for tourists, educating visitors to the area about past tragedies that have occurred within the mines,” Mr Coulton said.

“It will also bring locals together for services and community gatherings.”

NSW Member for the Legislative Council Sam Farraway said that in addition to the new ‘community reflection structure’, the state government's investment would support the town's economy.

“By supporting three jobs in construction and attracting visitors, this project will help bring economic prosperity to Cobar for many years to come while commemorating a sad chapter in the town’s rich history,” Mr Farraway said.

Mayor of Cobar Shire Council Peter Abbott said the memorial project was driven by volunteers who were already looking at other ways to use the infrastructure to commemorate Cobar miners.

“The memorial will host an annual Lost Miners Event to remember those who have lost their lives in mines,” Mayor Abbott said.