Latest news with #HVOContinuationProject
The Advertiser
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Environmental group launches legal challenge over coal mine expansion plans
Question marks over the level of scrutiny of coal mining expansion plans lay at the heart of legal action against the NSW State Government. Environmental group Lock the Gate Alliance launched legal action after the NSW Planning Department twice refused to release correspondence from coal company lawyers. The department released only two out of a suite of documents used by coal companies to justify the assessment of changes to coal mine developments as "modifications", rather than new developments. Lock the Gate's argument is that expanding coal mines via modifications means coal mine developers can avoid having their plans determined by the independent decision maker, the Independent Planning Commission. In November 2024, the Information Commissioner found the department's decision to refuse the information was not justified and recommended that the department make a new decision. However, that recommendation was ignored. The department has argued the documents were provided in confidence, and that consideration outweighed the public interest in favour of their release. The matter is now listed before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal for determination, starting with a directions hearing today (June 10). Lock the Gate's head of research and investigations, Georgina Wood, said the public had a right to know if big coal mine developers were influencing the NSW Minns Government and its Planning Department, leading to coal projects being assessed under a less transparent, less accessible process. "There are ten coal projects undergoing or awaiting assessment as modifications, and we want to make sure they are subject to the highest level of scrutiny available in NSW," Ms Woods said. They include the HVO Continuation Project, a Yancoal/Glencore joint venture near Singleton which, if approved, would be the single biggest coal expansion since the Paris Agreement. Other plans in the wings include the Rix's Creek north Continuation, also near Singleton, and the proposed four-year extension of BHP's Mt Arthur coal mine near Muswellbrook. The NSW Government must give full consideration to the impacts large coal mine expansions are having on communities, water, farmland, the environment, and climate and let the public participate in decision-making, Ms Woods said. "The continued expansion of coal mining and its greenhouse gas pollution is endangering the well-being of the public and the economic future of other industries right across NSW," she said. "These expanded coal mining proposals should not be snuck through the system without scrutiny and public debate about who is paying the cost for the coal mining industry pollution." The Alliance will be represented by the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) a leading public interest environmental law service. EDO managing lawyer Rana Koroglu said the alliance was simply taking this action to uphold community rights to access information held by their governments. "Public access to information and transparency of government decision making are cornerstones of our democracy. Public participation is built into the NSW Planning Act," Ms Koroglu said. "The weaker assessment of coal mine developments as modifications rather than new developments has serious implications for public participation. Any such decision requires close scrutiny. "Our client is taking this matter to the NCAT to ensure that decision-making is transparent and that public authorities can be held to account for their actions. "Our client rejects the Planning Department's assertion that information shared by coal mining companies with the regulator is subject to professional legal privilege and therefore exempt under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009. "Our client considers that it is in the public interest for this information to be released. That is why our client has decided to take the matter to the NCAT for a determination." Lock the Gate analysis of coal mine expansion plans reveals that only four of the nine being treated as modification plans provide estimated greenhouse gas emissions figures, and they come to 324 million tonnes of C02-e emissions. That is equal to two and a half times the volume of emissions produced in NSW in 2019, from just four coal mines that are not subject to independent scrutiny, Lock the Gate says. Question marks over the level of scrutiny of coal mining expansion plans lay at the heart of legal action against the NSW State Government. Environmental group Lock the Gate Alliance launched legal action after the NSW Planning Department twice refused to release correspondence from coal company lawyers. The department released only two out of a suite of documents used by coal companies to justify the assessment of changes to coal mine developments as "modifications", rather than new developments. Lock the Gate's argument is that expanding coal mines via modifications means coal mine developers can avoid having their plans determined by the independent decision maker, the Independent Planning Commission. In November 2024, the Information Commissioner found the department's decision to refuse the information was not justified and recommended that the department make a new decision. However, that recommendation was ignored. The department has argued the documents were provided in confidence, and that consideration outweighed the public interest in favour of their release. The matter is now listed before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal for determination, starting with a directions hearing today (June 10). Lock the Gate's head of research and investigations, Georgina Wood, said the public had a right to know if big coal mine developers were influencing the NSW Minns Government and its Planning Department, leading to coal projects being assessed under a less transparent, less accessible process. "There are ten coal projects undergoing or awaiting assessment as modifications, and we want to make sure they are subject to the highest level of scrutiny available in NSW," Ms Woods said. They include the HVO Continuation Project, a Yancoal/Glencore joint venture near Singleton which, if approved, would be the single biggest coal expansion since the Paris Agreement. Other plans in the wings include the Rix's Creek north Continuation, also near Singleton, and the proposed four-year extension of BHP's Mt Arthur coal mine near Muswellbrook. The NSW Government must give full consideration to the impacts large coal mine expansions are having on communities, water, farmland, the environment, and climate and let the public participate in decision-making, Ms Woods said. "The continued expansion of coal mining and its greenhouse gas pollution is endangering the well-being of the public and the economic future of other industries right across NSW," she said. "These expanded coal mining proposals should not be snuck through the system without scrutiny and public debate about who is paying the cost for the coal mining industry pollution." The Alliance will be represented by the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) a leading public interest environmental law service. EDO managing lawyer Rana Koroglu said the alliance was simply taking this action to uphold community rights to access information held by their governments. "Public access to information and transparency of government decision making are cornerstones of our democracy. Public participation is built into the NSW Planning Act," Ms Koroglu said. "The weaker assessment of coal mine developments as modifications rather than new developments has serious implications for public participation. Any such decision requires close scrutiny. "Our client is taking this matter to the NCAT to ensure that decision-making is transparent and that public authorities can be held to account for their actions. "Our client rejects the Planning Department's assertion that information shared by coal mining companies with the regulator is subject to professional legal privilege and therefore exempt under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009. "Our client considers that it is in the public interest for this information to be released. That is why our client has decided to take the matter to the NCAT for a determination." Lock the Gate analysis of coal mine expansion plans reveals that only four of the nine being treated as modification plans provide estimated greenhouse gas emissions figures, and they come to 324 million tonnes of C02-e emissions. That is equal to two and a half times the volume of emissions produced in NSW in 2019, from just four coal mines that are not subject to independent scrutiny, Lock the Gate says. Question marks over the level of scrutiny of coal mining expansion plans lay at the heart of legal action against the NSW State Government. Environmental group Lock the Gate Alliance launched legal action after the NSW Planning Department twice refused to release correspondence from coal company lawyers. The department released only two out of a suite of documents used by coal companies to justify the assessment of changes to coal mine developments as "modifications", rather than new developments. Lock the Gate's argument is that expanding coal mines via modifications means coal mine developers can avoid having their plans determined by the independent decision maker, the Independent Planning Commission. In November 2024, the Information Commissioner found the department's decision to refuse the information was not justified and recommended that the department make a new decision. However, that recommendation was ignored. The department has argued the documents were provided in confidence, and that consideration outweighed the public interest in favour of their release. The matter is now listed before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal for determination, starting with a directions hearing today (June 10). Lock the Gate's head of research and investigations, Georgina Wood, said the public had a right to know if big coal mine developers were influencing the NSW Minns Government and its Planning Department, leading to coal projects being assessed under a less transparent, less accessible process. "There are ten coal projects undergoing or awaiting assessment as modifications, and we want to make sure they are subject to the highest level of scrutiny available in NSW," Ms Woods said. They include the HVO Continuation Project, a Yancoal/Glencore joint venture near Singleton which, if approved, would be the single biggest coal expansion since the Paris Agreement. Other plans in the wings include the Rix's Creek north Continuation, also near Singleton, and the proposed four-year extension of BHP's Mt Arthur coal mine near Muswellbrook. The NSW Government must give full consideration to the impacts large coal mine expansions are having on communities, water, farmland, the environment, and climate and let the public participate in decision-making, Ms Woods said. "The continued expansion of coal mining and its greenhouse gas pollution is endangering the well-being of the public and the economic future of other industries right across NSW," she said. "These expanded coal mining proposals should not be snuck through the system without scrutiny and public debate about who is paying the cost for the coal mining industry pollution." The Alliance will be represented by the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) a leading public interest environmental law service. EDO managing lawyer Rana Koroglu said the alliance was simply taking this action to uphold community rights to access information held by their governments. "Public access to information and transparency of government decision making are cornerstones of our democracy. Public participation is built into the NSW Planning Act," Ms Koroglu said. "The weaker assessment of coal mine developments as modifications rather than new developments has serious implications for public participation. Any such decision requires close scrutiny. "Our client is taking this matter to the NCAT to ensure that decision-making is transparent and that public authorities can be held to account for their actions. "Our client rejects the Planning Department's assertion that information shared by coal mining companies with the regulator is subject to professional legal privilege and therefore exempt under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009. "Our client considers that it is in the public interest for this information to be released. That is why our client has decided to take the matter to the NCAT for a determination." Lock the Gate analysis of coal mine expansion plans reveals that only four of the nine being treated as modification plans provide estimated greenhouse gas emissions figures, and they come to 324 million tonnes of C02-e emissions. That is equal to two and a half times the volume of emissions produced in NSW in 2019, from just four coal mines that are not subject to independent scrutiny, Lock the Gate says. Question marks over the level of scrutiny of coal mining expansion plans lay at the heart of legal action against the NSW State Government. Environmental group Lock the Gate Alliance launched legal action after the NSW Planning Department twice refused to release correspondence from coal company lawyers. The department released only two out of a suite of documents used by coal companies to justify the assessment of changes to coal mine developments as "modifications", rather than new developments. Lock the Gate's argument is that expanding coal mines via modifications means coal mine developers can avoid having their plans determined by the independent decision maker, the Independent Planning Commission. In November 2024, the Information Commissioner found the department's decision to refuse the information was not justified and recommended that the department make a new decision. However, that recommendation was ignored. The department has argued the documents were provided in confidence, and that consideration outweighed the public interest in favour of their release. The matter is now listed before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal for determination, starting with a directions hearing today (June 10). Lock the Gate's head of research and investigations, Georgina Wood, said the public had a right to know if big coal mine developers were influencing the NSW Minns Government and its Planning Department, leading to coal projects being assessed under a less transparent, less accessible process. "There are ten coal projects undergoing or awaiting assessment as modifications, and we want to make sure they are subject to the highest level of scrutiny available in NSW," Ms Woods said. They include the HVO Continuation Project, a Yancoal/Glencore joint venture near Singleton which, if approved, would be the single biggest coal expansion since the Paris Agreement. Other plans in the wings include the Rix's Creek north Continuation, also near Singleton, and the proposed four-year extension of BHP's Mt Arthur coal mine near Muswellbrook. The NSW Government must give full consideration to the impacts large coal mine expansions are having on communities, water, farmland, the environment, and climate and let the public participate in decision-making, Ms Woods said. "The continued expansion of coal mining and its greenhouse gas pollution is endangering the well-being of the public and the economic future of other industries right across NSW," she said. "These expanded coal mining proposals should not be snuck through the system without scrutiny and public debate about who is paying the cost for the coal mining industry pollution." The Alliance will be represented by the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) a leading public interest environmental law service. EDO managing lawyer Rana Koroglu said the alliance was simply taking this action to uphold community rights to access information held by their governments. "Public access to information and transparency of government decision making are cornerstones of our democracy. Public participation is built into the NSW Planning Act," Ms Koroglu said. "The weaker assessment of coal mine developments as modifications rather than new developments has serious implications for public participation. Any such decision requires close scrutiny. "Our client is taking this matter to the NCAT to ensure that decision-making is transparent and that public authorities can be held to account for their actions. "Our client rejects the Planning Department's assertion that information shared by coal mining companies with the regulator is subject to professional legal privilege and therefore exempt under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009. "Our client considers that it is in the public interest for this information to be released. That is why our client has decided to take the matter to the NCAT for a determination." Lock the Gate analysis of coal mine expansion plans reveals that only four of the nine being treated as modification plans provide estimated greenhouse gas emissions figures, and they come to 324 million tonnes of C02-e emissions. That is equal to two and a half times the volume of emissions produced in NSW in 2019, from just four coal mines that are not subject to independent scrutiny, Lock the Gate says.
The Advertiser
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Legal challenge over refusal to release coal company correspondence with NSW Government
QUESTION marks over the level of scrutiny of coal mining expansion plans lay at the heart of legal action against the NSW State Government. Environmental group Lock the Gate Alliance launched legal action after the NSW Planning Department twice refused to release correspondence from coal company lawyers. The department released only two out of a suite of documents used by coal companies to justify the assessment of changes to coal mine developments as "modifications", rather than new developments. Lock the Gate's argument is that expanding coal mines via modifications means coal mine developers can avoid having their plans determined by the independent decision maker, the Independent Planning Commission. In November 2024, the Information Commissioner found the department's decision to refuse the information was not justified and recommended that the department make a new decision. However, that recommendation was ignored. The department has argued the documents were provided in confidence, and that consideration outweighed the public interest in favour of their release. The matter is now listed before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal for determination, starting with a directions hearing today (June 10). Lock the Gate's head of research and investigations, Georgina Wood, said the public had a right to know if big coal mine developers were influencing the NSW Minns Government and its Planning Department, leading to coal projects being assessed under a less transparent, less accessible process. "There are ten coal projects undergoing or awaiting assessment as modifications, and we want to make sure they are subject to the highest level of scrutiny available in NSW," Ms Woods said. They include the HVO Continuation Project, a Yancoal/Glencore joint venture near Singleton which, if approved, would be the single biggest coal expansion since the Paris Agreement. Other plans in the wings include the Rix's Creek north Continuation, also near Singleton, and the proposed four-year extension of BHP's Mt Arthur coal mine near Muswellbrook. The NSW Government must give full consideration to the impacts large coal mine expansions are having on communities, water, farmland, the environment, and climate and let the public participate in decision-making, Ms Woods said. "The continued expansion of coal mining and its greenhouse gas pollution is endangering the well-being of the public and the economic future of other industries right across NSW," she said. "These expanded coal mining proposals should not be snuck through the system without scrutiny and public debate about who is paying the cost for the coal mining industry pollution." The Alliance will be represented by the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) a leading public interest environmental law service. EDO managing lawyer Rana Koroglu said the alliance was simply taking this action to uphold community rights to access information held by their governments. "Public access to information and transparency of government decision making are cornerstones of our democracy. Public participation is built into the NSW Planning Act," Ms Koroglu said. "The weaker assessment of coal mine developments as modifications rather than new developments has serious implications for public participation. Any such decision requires close scrutiny. "Our client is taking this matter to the NCAT to ensure that decision-making is transparent and that public authorities can be held to account for their actions. "Our client rejects the Planning Department's assertion that information shared by coal mining companies with the regulator is subject to professional legal privilege and therefore exempt under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009. "Our client considers that it is in the public interest for this information to be released. That is why our client has decided to take the matter to the NCAT for a determination." Lock the Gate analysis of coal mine expansion plans reveals that only four of the nine being treated as modification plans provide estimated greenhouse gas emissions figures, and they come to 324 million tonnes of C02-e emissions. That is equal to two and a half times the volume of emissions produced in NSW in 2019, from just four coal mines that are not subject to independent scrutiny, Lock the Gate says. QUESTION marks over the level of scrutiny of coal mining expansion plans lay at the heart of legal action against the NSW State Government. Environmental group Lock the Gate Alliance launched legal action after the NSW Planning Department twice refused to release correspondence from coal company lawyers. The department released only two out of a suite of documents used by coal companies to justify the assessment of changes to coal mine developments as "modifications", rather than new developments. Lock the Gate's argument is that expanding coal mines via modifications means coal mine developers can avoid having their plans determined by the independent decision maker, the Independent Planning Commission. In November 2024, the Information Commissioner found the department's decision to refuse the information was not justified and recommended that the department make a new decision. However, that recommendation was ignored. The department has argued the documents were provided in confidence, and that consideration outweighed the public interest in favour of their release. The matter is now listed before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal for determination, starting with a directions hearing today (June 10). Lock the Gate's head of research and investigations, Georgina Wood, said the public had a right to know if big coal mine developers were influencing the NSW Minns Government and its Planning Department, leading to coal projects being assessed under a less transparent, less accessible process. "There are ten coal projects undergoing or awaiting assessment as modifications, and we want to make sure they are subject to the highest level of scrutiny available in NSW," Ms Woods said. They include the HVO Continuation Project, a Yancoal/Glencore joint venture near Singleton which, if approved, would be the single biggest coal expansion since the Paris Agreement. Other plans in the wings include the Rix's Creek north Continuation, also near Singleton, and the proposed four-year extension of BHP's Mt Arthur coal mine near Muswellbrook. The NSW Government must give full consideration to the impacts large coal mine expansions are having on communities, water, farmland, the environment, and climate and let the public participate in decision-making, Ms Woods said. "The continued expansion of coal mining and its greenhouse gas pollution is endangering the well-being of the public and the economic future of other industries right across NSW," she said. "These expanded coal mining proposals should not be snuck through the system without scrutiny and public debate about who is paying the cost for the coal mining industry pollution." The Alliance will be represented by the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) a leading public interest environmental law service. EDO managing lawyer Rana Koroglu said the alliance was simply taking this action to uphold community rights to access information held by their governments. "Public access to information and transparency of government decision making are cornerstones of our democracy. Public participation is built into the NSW Planning Act," Ms Koroglu said. "The weaker assessment of coal mine developments as modifications rather than new developments has serious implications for public participation. Any such decision requires close scrutiny. "Our client is taking this matter to the NCAT to ensure that decision-making is transparent and that public authorities can be held to account for their actions. "Our client rejects the Planning Department's assertion that information shared by coal mining companies with the regulator is subject to professional legal privilege and therefore exempt under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009. "Our client considers that it is in the public interest for this information to be released. That is why our client has decided to take the matter to the NCAT for a determination." Lock the Gate analysis of coal mine expansion plans reveals that only four of the nine being treated as modification plans provide estimated greenhouse gas emissions figures, and they come to 324 million tonnes of C02-e emissions. That is equal to two and a half times the volume of emissions produced in NSW in 2019, from just four coal mines that are not subject to independent scrutiny, Lock the Gate says. QUESTION marks over the level of scrutiny of coal mining expansion plans lay at the heart of legal action against the NSW State Government. Environmental group Lock the Gate Alliance launched legal action after the NSW Planning Department twice refused to release correspondence from coal company lawyers. The department released only two out of a suite of documents used by coal companies to justify the assessment of changes to coal mine developments as "modifications", rather than new developments. Lock the Gate's argument is that expanding coal mines via modifications means coal mine developers can avoid having their plans determined by the independent decision maker, the Independent Planning Commission. In November 2024, the Information Commissioner found the department's decision to refuse the information was not justified and recommended that the department make a new decision. However, that recommendation was ignored. The department has argued the documents were provided in confidence, and that consideration outweighed the public interest in favour of their release. The matter is now listed before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal for determination, starting with a directions hearing today (June 10). Lock the Gate's head of research and investigations, Georgina Wood, said the public had a right to know if big coal mine developers were influencing the NSW Minns Government and its Planning Department, leading to coal projects being assessed under a less transparent, less accessible process. "There are ten coal projects undergoing or awaiting assessment as modifications, and we want to make sure they are subject to the highest level of scrutiny available in NSW," Ms Woods said. They include the HVO Continuation Project, a Yancoal/Glencore joint venture near Singleton which, if approved, would be the single biggest coal expansion since the Paris Agreement. Other plans in the wings include the Rix's Creek north Continuation, also near Singleton, and the proposed four-year extension of BHP's Mt Arthur coal mine near Muswellbrook. The NSW Government must give full consideration to the impacts large coal mine expansions are having on communities, water, farmland, the environment, and climate and let the public participate in decision-making, Ms Woods said. "The continued expansion of coal mining and its greenhouse gas pollution is endangering the well-being of the public and the economic future of other industries right across NSW," she said. "These expanded coal mining proposals should not be snuck through the system without scrutiny and public debate about who is paying the cost for the coal mining industry pollution." The Alliance will be represented by the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) a leading public interest environmental law service. EDO managing lawyer Rana Koroglu said the alliance was simply taking this action to uphold community rights to access information held by their governments. "Public access to information and transparency of government decision making are cornerstones of our democracy. Public participation is built into the NSW Planning Act," Ms Koroglu said. "The weaker assessment of coal mine developments as modifications rather than new developments has serious implications for public participation. Any such decision requires close scrutiny. "Our client is taking this matter to the NCAT to ensure that decision-making is transparent and that public authorities can be held to account for their actions. "Our client rejects the Planning Department's assertion that information shared by coal mining companies with the regulator is subject to professional legal privilege and therefore exempt under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009. "Our client considers that it is in the public interest for this information to be released. That is why our client has decided to take the matter to the NCAT for a determination." Lock the Gate analysis of coal mine expansion plans reveals that only four of the nine being treated as modification plans provide estimated greenhouse gas emissions figures, and they come to 324 million tonnes of C02-e emissions. That is equal to two and a half times the volume of emissions produced in NSW in 2019, from just four coal mines that are not subject to independent scrutiny, Lock the Gate says. QUESTION marks over the level of scrutiny of coal mining expansion plans lay at the heart of legal action against the NSW State Government. Environmental group Lock the Gate Alliance launched legal action after the NSW Planning Department twice refused to release correspondence from coal company lawyers. The department released only two out of a suite of documents used by coal companies to justify the assessment of changes to coal mine developments as "modifications", rather than new developments. Lock the Gate's argument is that expanding coal mines via modifications means coal mine developers can avoid having their plans determined by the independent decision maker, the Independent Planning Commission. In November 2024, the Information Commissioner found the department's decision to refuse the information was not justified and recommended that the department make a new decision. However, that recommendation was ignored. The department has argued the documents were provided in confidence, and that consideration outweighed the public interest in favour of their release. The matter is now listed before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal for determination, starting with a directions hearing today (June 10). Lock the Gate's head of research and investigations, Georgina Wood, said the public had a right to know if big coal mine developers were influencing the NSW Minns Government and its Planning Department, leading to coal projects being assessed under a less transparent, less accessible process. "There are ten coal projects undergoing or awaiting assessment as modifications, and we want to make sure they are subject to the highest level of scrutiny available in NSW," Ms Woods said. They include the HVO Continuation Project, a Yancoal/Glencore joint venture near Singleton which, if approved, would be the single biggest coal expansion since the Paris Agreement. Other plans in the wings include the Rix's Creek north Continuation, also near Singleton, and the proposed four-year extension of BHP's Mt Arthur coal mine near Muswellbrook. The NSW Government must give full consideration to the impacts large coal mine expansions are having on communities, water, farmland, the environment, and climate and let the public participate in decision-making, Ms Woods said. "The continued expansion of coal mining and its greenhouse gas pollution is endangering the well-being of the public and the economic future of other industries right across NSW," she said. "These expanded coal mining proposals should not be snuck through the system without scrutiny and public debate about who is paying the cost for the coal mining industry pollution." The Alliance will be represented by the Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) a leading public interest environmental law service. EDO managing lawyer Rana Koroglu said the alliance was simply taking this action to uphold community rights to access information held by their governments. "Public access to information and transparency of government decision making are cornerstones of our democracy. Public participation is built into the NSW Planning Act," Ms Koroglu said. "The weaker assessment of coal mine developments as modifications rather than new developments has serious implications for public participation. Any such decision requires close scrutiny. "Our client is taking this matter to the NCAT to ensure that decision-making is transparent and that public authorities can be held to account for their actions. "Our client rejects the Planning Department's assertion that information shared by coal mining companies with the regulator is subject to professional legal privilege and therefore exempt under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009. "Our client considers that it is in the public interest for this information to be released. That is why our client has decided to take the matter to the NCAT for a determination." Lock the Gate analysis of coal mine expansion plans reveals that only four of the nine being treated as modification plans provide estimated greenhouse gas emissions figures, and they come to 324 million tonnes of C02-e emissions. That is equal to two and a half times the volume of emissions produced in NSW in 2019, from just four coal mines that are not subject to independent scrutiny, Lock the Gate says.
ABC News
24-04-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Mega Hunter Valley coal mine granted short-term extension of life
One of New South Wales's largest coal mines has been given a lifeline by the state government, two months before it was due to close. Hunter Valley Operations' mining approvals for HVO North, between Singleton and Muswellbrook, were due to expire by the end of June. The Yancoal-Glencore joint venture mine has been given an 18-month time extension while it continues its bid to mine out to 2050. HVO general manager Dave Foster said the short-term extension was crucial with more than 1,500 jobs at stake. "This time extension was necessary to protect the jobs of our workforce and give certainty to our contractors, community partners, and the businesses that rely on us for work in the region," he said. Mr Foster's relief was echoed by Upper Hunter MP, Dave Layzell. "This has been a really stressful time for all those workers," Mr Layzell said. "For each of those workers there are families involved in that so the impact of this extension is huge. " It's one of the most important mines in the Hunter Valley … it's a no-brainer it got extended. " Hunter Valley Operations hopes to extend mining until 2050. ( ABC News ) Local environmental activist group Rising Tide said the decision delaying the energy transition which was urgently needed. Organiser Alexa Stuart said it was upsetting to hear the news. "What we're seeing today is the result of our government's failure to plan, and it's meant that the Hunter has been put in an impossible position," she said. "Either 1,500 workers lose their jobs, or we're forced to continue extending mines which are going to be emitting more and more greenhouse gas emissions that we simply cannot afford in a climate crisis." In a statement, the NSW Planning Department said the impacts on the community and environment could be minimised and managed. "The modification would provide a range of benefits for the region and the state as a whole, including royalty payments and taxes, [and] continued employment for around 1,500 full time equivalent workers," the department said. Plans to 2050 continue The 18-month extension bid was Those plans are continuing in the background. "The proposed longer term HVO Continuation Project has been delayed in response to NSW Government requests for more detailed information as part of its assessment of our proposal," Mr Foster said. "We are undertaking additional modelling and mine planning to provide this information. "The HVO Continuation Project is now entering its fifth year of the project approval process. HVO has repeatedly stressed the need for regulatory clarity and consistency between the New South Wales and the Federal Governments to avoid duplication or unintended negative consequences with over 1,500 jobs in the Hunter at stake."
