The New South Wales Planning Assessment Commission has approved the construction of the new open cut coal mine in the State’s Hunter Valley region, almost a year after it was first rejected by the Commission.

 

The approval comes after the PAC rejected the proposal in December last year, due to a number of concerns raised over health and water impacts, but was soon referred back to the Commission following an appeal by Ashton Coal in the Land and Environment Court.

 

The mine will include the construction of an open cut mine, an underground mine, a Coal Handling and Preparation Plant and a rail sliding and is adjacent to a number of other major open cut mines. The facility is expected to produce around 16.5 million tonnes of coal over the coming seven years.

 

NSW Greens MP David Shoebridge said the approval flies in the face of community demands.

 

“This shows the community will always lose out when matters go before the planning assessment commission regarding mines,” Mr Shoebridge told the ABC.

 

The Ashton Coal operation is an unincorporated Joint-Venture between Yancoal Australia Ltd (90%) and Itochu Corporation of Japan (10%).