The company said it had considered abandoning the project after the NSW government rejected its first application but decided against this because it “would result locally in a loss of employment opportunities and socio-economic benefits in addition to a loss of benefits and royalties or other payments to both the federal and NSW state government”

“An extensive exploration program and detailed feasibility studies have been carried out in order to identify the most efficient and environmentally responsible mining operation possible to extract the coal reserves.

“This process included the consideration of numerous mine plans and operational alternatives.”

With the Wallarah 2 project application, a strong emphasis was being put on informing the community that the project’s economic benefits could be delivered without compromising the environment or water security, the company said.

In its referral of proposed action to the federal Department of Environment, Kores outlined its options for longwall mining 150Mt of coal from within the total extraction area within 42 years, with the majority of this resource will be extracted within the initial 28 year period approval.

“It will maximise the social and economic benefits from the development whilst minimising impacts on environmental features such as surface water and groundwater, ecology, Aboriginal archaeology, and soils,” Kores said.

The company is proposing to construct and operate an underground mining operation extracting up to 5Mtpa of export quality thermal coal by longwall methods at a depth of between 350m and 690m below the surface within the underground extraction area.

An underground drift would be constructed from the coal seam beneath the Buttonderry site to the surface at the Tooheys Road site.

Mining and related activities would occur 24 hours a day, seven days a week for a period of 28 years.

The company is proposing to construct Tooheys Road site surface facilities between the Motorway Link Road and the F3 Freeway which will include (at least) the construction and operation of a rail loop and spur, stockpiles, water and gas management facilities, workshop and offices.

There would be Buttonderry site surface facilities at Hue Hue Road between Sparks Road and the WSC Buttonderry waste management facility. This facility would include the main personnel access to the mine, main ventilation facilities, offices and employee amenities.

The company is also proposing the capture of methane for treatment initially involving flaring as practicable for greenhouse emission management and ultimately for beneficial use of methane such as electricity generation at the Tooheys Road site.