The NSW Department of Planning has recommended the conditional approval of Rio Tinto’s Mount Thorley Warkworth Mine for a second time.
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The recommendation has once again been referred to the independent Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) for a final determination.
In a statement issued by the Department at lunchtime on Monday, a spokesperson said the conditional approval has been made because it believes the impacts of the open-cut coal operations can be managed.
“The applications have been put under the microscope through multiple, extensive reviews involving analysis by independent experts and community consultation.
“Approving the proposals would mean ongoing employment for the mine’s 1,300 workers, as well as around $617 million in royalties for NSW, which would be spent on services such as hospitals, school and roads,” a Department spokesperson said.
The Warkworth proposal involves a westward expansion, increasing the amount of coal that can be mined and allowing it to operate for an additional 21 years.
The Mount Thorley proposal involves extending the mine's operating life for 21 years.
In its referral to the Planning Assessment Commission, the Department has instructed the Commission to consider:
- paying $11 million to Singleton Council over the life of the project for local services and infrastructure, focusing on Bulga village and surrounds;
- reducing the size of the final void left by mining and progressively rehabilitate the site to native woodland;
- strict limitations on noise and dust emissions from the site and the implementation of stringent noise and air quality monitoring programs;
- completion of a $30 million program to reduce the noise of mining equipment on the site by the end of 2016; and
- setting aside almost 3000 hectares of land for conservation, including more than 1000 hectares next to the Goulburn River National Park.
The Planning spokesperson said impacts to the nearby village of Bulga have been closely examined and the Department does not support the PAC’s initial review recommendation to relocate the village.
“Our assessment found dust and noise impacts on the village would not be significantly greater than what Bulga is already experiencing.
The Department of Planning concedes noise criteria may be exceeded for some landowners, so it's advising the mine's operators to provide further mitigation to affected properties.
The PAC has confirmed it is yet to finalise the make-up of its determination panel, or if there will be any further public hearings.
A spokesperson said the NSW government's referral recommendation for Mt Thorley Warkworth arrived at the Commission last Friday.