The federal government approval provided Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities signoff on the extension’s environmental offsets package, Mount Thorley Warkworth general manager operations Cam Halfpenny said.

While the approval offered an additional level of certainty to Mount Thorley Warkworth’s 1300 workers, it was not a “green light” for mining to commence, he said.

“We welcome the federal government’s environmental approval of the Warkworth extension,” Halfpenny said.

“The extension is important to our business, our employees and to the many other businesses in Singleton and across the Hunter Valley who supply us with goods and services.

“We continue to work on revising our management plans and our mining operations plan is with the NSW Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services, Resources and Energy division, which is required before any mining can commence.”

Coal & Allied is continuing work to meet its commitments under the development consent, which has been active since the NSW Planning Assessment Commission’s approval in February.

This includes establishing a community consultative committee, of which Dr Col Gellatly has been appointed as the independent chair, which was endorsed by the Department of Planning and Infrastructure.

“We welcome the wealth of experience Dr Gellatly will bring to the committee from his distinguished career in government, which included serving as the State’s most senior public servant while director general of the Premier’s Department,” Halfpenny said.

“We will look forward to working closely with the new committee to keep the community informed about our operations.”