The New South Wales Planning Assessment Commission approval for Boggabri expansion comes as Whitehaven Coal continues to invest in the nearby Maules Creek thermal coal project and the longwall at its Narrabri longwall continues with its commissioning process.

But the development of the Gunnedah has raised the ire of some environmentalists, despite the PAC saying that impacts from the mine could be “offset” and “mitigated”.

Greens MP and environment spokeswoman Cate Faehrmann said approval for the Boggabri coal mine expansion is a “disgrace”

"The damage this coal mine will inflict is environmentally irresponsible on so many levels," she said. "For the Planning and Assessment Commission approval to pretend the impacts from this mine can be 'offset' and 'mitigated' is preposterous.

"The mine expansion will produce seven million tonnes of coal per year, raze 1300 hectares of Leard State Forest, including endangered woodland and habitat for threatened species, blight the local community with coal dust pollution and exacerbate carbon pollution.

"The NSW government had mapped this area as Tier 1 Biodiversity of high conservation significance and now the O'Farrell government sees fit to open it up to mining. The so-called offsets cannot possibly compensate for destroying 1300 hectares of intact forest and the biodiversity within, which will be lost forever.

"This mine is one of three pending that will carve up the Leard State Forest.

"The Planning and Assessment Commission offers the local community little protection from the health hazards of PM2.5 coal dust pollution except an excuse that there are no national standards in place and requiring only that it be monitored.”