Bickham Coal general manager David Foster told The Newcastle Herald that if the coal was deemed useable, the company would consider an application to mine the estimated 25 to 30 million tonnes of coal in the reserve.
An environmental factors report was submitted to the public last week and is awaiting government and public submissions.
Public concern has been voiced over the mine’s water usage. Bickham said the operation would use 16 mega-litres of water for extraction of the bulk sample, The Newcastle Herald reported.
