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Media Releases |
Media Release - Department of Planning Sydney: 16 December 2008 770 JOBS CREATED FROM UPPER HUNTER MINING APPROVAL The NSW Government has approved a $320 million underground coal mine extension south of Muswellbrook, which will generate 770 construction or operational jobs.
Mount Arthur Coal Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of BHP Billiton, is proposing to develop a new underground mine to add to the existing Mt Arthur open-cut mine eight kilometres south of Muswellbrook.
This new mine will extract eight million tonnes a year over the next 21 years.
Extracted coal would be processed in Mt Arthur Coal’s existing coal handling facilities and then transported to market using existing rail loading and conveyor facilities.
Department Major Projects Assessments executive director Chris Wilson said the Mount Arthur approval was a logical extension of existing mining operations.
It will create 470 construction jobs and 300 operational jobs.
Key environmental issues examined by the Department in its assessment of the project included water resources, noise, air quality, flora and fauna and traffic.
As part of the approval conditions, the Mount Arthur mine is required to secure and conserve 449 hectares of vegetation including the 295 hectare Saddlers Creek Conservation Area and the 154 hectare Edderton Rd revegetation area.
“The mine approval has been subject to rigorous assessment and imposition of strict conditions addressing all environmental impacts.” Mr Wilson said.
The mine will be required to monitor, and if necessary, mitigate any noise impacts.
Furthermore, the Department’s assessment is that the project would not have a significant impact on water availability and water sharing in the locality.
Approval conditions require Mt Arthur Coal to review and update existing water management plans and monitoring programs, including requirements to compensate any bore or other water supplies affected by the project.
The Department’s assessment also indicates that the existing road and rail infrastructure is adequate to service the project.
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