Coal news and updates

North Wambo coal mine gets green light from NSW Govt

The New South Wales Government says applying tough new rules to control the impact of subsidence on groundwater will allow a Hunter Valley coal mine to access additional coal resources.

Planning and Environment has approved the modification for the North Wambo underground allowing Peabody Energy to develop an additional longwall panel for mining.

To address concerns about the impact of subsidence on groundwater the size of the mining area has been reduced by almost 250 metres.

While less coal will be mined than originally proposed, extra coal deposits near Wambo's south-east corner can be extracted with the changes avoiding undermining the Wambo Creek channel.

The Department says it secures almost 230 jobs and averts substantial lay-offs.

The continuity of operations will take mining from North Wambo into the South Bates mine which is scheduled to commence in January next year.

Meanwhile, the Planning Assessment Commission has recommended Lake Macquarie's Mandalong southern extension be approved.

source: http://www.abc.net.au