In a rare display of company and union co-operation, both sides welcomed the news by federal environment minister Greg Hunt to allow approval for Springvale’s extension.

Centennial Coal executive GM external affairs Katie Brassil said: “It has been eight long weeks since we were forced to stand down the majority of our Springvale workforce.

“This has been a hugely disruptive, costly and frustrating time for our people, their families, the local community and we as a company.”

Construction Forestry Mining and Energy NSW south western district vice president Graeme Osborne said Centennial Coal had been forced to stand down the majority of the coalmine’s 350 local workers on 21 August due to delays in the approvals processes of the New South Wales government and the federal government.

“It’s been tough, but this is a big win for our community,” he said.

“It has been a trying time for Lithgow mineworkers, their families and the entire community.

“A lot of anxiety for local people was caused by the uncertainty and the delays around the mine extension approval and I’d like to give a huge pat on the back to employees and site representatives for the control and discipline they displayed – particularly in the last eight weeks.

“We’d like to thank the whole community for getting behind mineworkers at Springvale – for rallying in support of the mine and attending the Planning and Assessment Commission hearings.

“Thanks to the support of the community and the dedication of the mineworkers, their partners and their families, these jobs have now been secured and hundreds of families in Lithgow can now go on with their lives and plan their futures.

“The Springvale coalmine has been part of our community for more than 20 years and we’re looking forward to many more years of good, permanent, local jobs.”

Lithgow City Council under the stewardship of Mayor Maree Statham and Deputy Mayor Ray Thompson, and local MPs Paul Toole and John Cobb, have proven to be “ferocious local champions throughout this process”, Brassil said.

“Whilst our people welcome the opportunity to return to work as much as we need them to get back to work, we are very disappointed that it was a broken NSW Planning system that placed us in such a deplorable position in the first place,” she said.

“Our people will now get back to work and do what they do best – safely cutting coal and keeping the lights on in NSW.”