Coal news and updates

Wollongong Coal to go through new approval process for its Russell Vale mine

The Planning Assessment Commission is to conduct another review of Wollongong Coal's application to expand its Russell Vale coal mine.

The PAC completed a review into the impact the mine's expansion in April this year raising issues to be addressed around subsidence and water impacts.

The NSW Government then changed its planning policy in relation to mine approvals, to give equal weighting to environmental, social and economic considerations.

Wollongong Coal's Operations Manager, Rhys Brett, says the second review will have to take those changes into consideration.

"The government has made changes to the way mining projects are assessed and they want those changes taken into account," he said.

"We were expecting the PAC would hold public meetings and that is what the department has confirmed."

Mr Brett says he believes the company met previous mine assessment requirements, despite not gaining final approval.

"Wollongong Coal has responded to all of the recommendations that were raised in the original PAC review and we believe we have fulfilled all the requirements," he said.

The Russell Vale mine was put into care and maintenance and around 80 jobs suspended in September this year.

Illawarra Residents for Responsible Mining believe the new review into the mine will result in welcome additional scrutiny.

Spokeswoman Dr Alison Edwards says continuing delays with the mine approval is occurring because the company didn't perform due diligence checks in the first place.

"They didn't do their paper work and get their applications in in a timely fashion," she said.

"This process has been dragged out and the community has been put through reviewing these applications repeatedly."

The company confirmed it's also waiting for approval for an extension to its other mine at Wongawilli which is also in care and maintenance.

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