Farmer sees red as controversial coal mine expansion gets green light

A coal mine within the NSW Hunter Valley has been thrown a five-yr lifeline, after the Self reliant Planning Price (IPC) accredited an expansion of the Mangoola mine come Muswellbrook, self-discipline to 179 prerequisites.

Glencore had sought planning approval to create a brand recent pit to the north of the recent space within the Wybong Valley, and mine a further 52 million tonnes of coal.

The existing Mangoola mine already has approval till November 2029, nonetheless Glencore claims coal reserves would maybe be exhausted by 2025, and the establishment of the recent pit is serious to continue operations.

The project “represents a reasonable ‘brownfield’ extension of the present Mangoola Coal Mine that might maybe enable the industrial and helpful reuse of existing infrastructure and an clear and financial spend of land,” the IPC stated in a press release.

“On steadiness and when weighed against the impacts under the recent protection and regulatory framework, the project would generate compile obvious social and financial advantages for the local dwelling, Hunter space and to NSW.”

‘A scar that might maybe never be healed’

Native cattle farmer Keith Googe stated he was disenchanted by the choice, and is exciting it can maybe maybe additionally alternate the complexion of the Wybong Valley.

“I assume that last void is a scar that might maybe never be healed, and the larger it is, the more well-known attain it has to the amenity of the house,” he stated.

“Mangoola absorb executed a vast job with their recent mine, [but] a future extension?

The mining union has championed the choice as a bewitch for jobs.

“This info comes as a vast aid to the 400 straight employed mine workers at Mangoola mine,” stated the CFMEU Northern Mining and NSW Power District president Peter Jordan.

By-election candidates react

The choice comes as campaigning within the fundamental Larger Hunter by-election enters its third week.

Labor candidate Jeff Drayton stated the choice would maybe be a purchase for the local team.

“It [Mangoola] has the perfect percentage of local staff, it is entirely important economically to those areas,” he stated.

Self reliant candidate Kirsty O’Connell stated the approval strengthened the must reform the planning machine.

“Our planning companies don’t seem like in a position to exhaust into legend the cumulative impacts that now we absorb experiencing as a neighborhood. They’re assessing these mines on a case-by-case basis and unfortunately it would no longer predicament us well for the future,” she stated.

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers candidate Sue Gilroy stated the IPC were correct to categorise the project as a ”brownfields” extension.

“They’re the utilization of existing infrastructure and it is shut to the current mine,” she stated.

‘Tiny contribution’ to emissions

In recommending the project for approval, NSW Department of Planning stated greenhouse gas emissions from the project would “comprise a extremely cramped contribution in direction of local climate alternate at every the national and world scale”.

The expansion will generate $129 million in royalties and provide ongoing employment for 400 folks, Glencore stated.

“The project has efficiently met every step of the NSW environmental assessment requirements.

“We check out ahead to a well timed execution of federal authorities and Muswellbrook Shire Council approvals,” a firm spokesperson stated.

Muswellbrook Shire Council took the uncommon step of opposing the proposal in some unspecified time in the future of a meeting with the IPC, arguing the proposal lacked key important aspects about ecological impacts and management of the last void, and was no longer within the public pastime.