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Media Releases |
Media Release - Department of Planning Sydney: 18 December 2008 178 JOBS FROM UPPER HUNTER MINING APPROVAL The NSW Government has given approval for the Glennies Creek coal project which is expected to generate up to 178 new and continued jobs and inject over $7 million into the Upper Hunter area.
The approval will allow a new open cut coal mine to add to the existing open cut and underground mining operations at the Integra mining complex, 12 kilometres north-west of Singleton.
The approval will enable 7.7 million tonnes of coal to be extracted over the next 10 years.
At the same time as announcing the Glennies Creek approval, the Department has announced an independent review of cumulative impacts from existing and future mining operations around Camberwell village – more details about this are below.
Department Major Projects Assessments executive director Chris Wilson said that the project is a logical extension of existing mining operations.
“The mine approval has been subject to rigorous assessment and imposition of strict conditions addressing all environmental impacts.” Mr Wilson said.
Conditions for the project addressed issues such as air quality, noise (including blasting), flora and fauna, greenhouse gas emissions, heritage values and traffic impacts.
The mine will be required to create and protect substantial conservation areas to compensate for clearing on the mine site.
The Glennies Creek mine is required to protect and enhance 287 hectares of biodiversity areas both within and outside the mine site, along with rehabilitating a further 135 hectares once mining has completed.
The mine will also be required to undertake regular monitoring of potential impacts such as noise and dust.
The Department’s assessment of the Glennies Creek mine has shown that Camberwell Village will not be significantly affected by the project, even taking into account cumulative noise and dust emissions.
Nevertheless, there have been community concerns about the impacts of mining around the village and a potential future expansion of mining.
As a result, the Department will be commissioning independent experts to examine the impacts of mining on Camberwell Village.
Mr Wilson said the experts will focus on the impacts of noise, dust and potential for contamination to drinking water from mining activities.
The review will involve consultation with residents of Camberwell, and should be completed in mid-2009.
The Department of Planning believes the review will provide a sound basis for future decision making about mining in this area.
Under its terms of reference the experts are required to: 1) consider and advise on the following impacts of mining on Camberwell Village and surrounds: • noise; • dust; and • potential for contamination of drinking water supplies; 2) consider and recommend appropriate measures to minimise and mitigate any identified impacts from existing mining operations; 3) consider and advise on any particular issues which should be considered during the assessment of future mining proposals; 4) consult with the local community, Singleton Council, relevant government authorities (including Department of Primary Industries, Department of Environment and Climate Change and NSW Health) and mining companies during the carrying out of the review; and 5) identify and comment on any other significant issues raised during the course of the review.
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