The Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts is seeking public comment on the project and made the environmental documentation available on Friday.

The multi-seam Ravensworth North pit will mine up to 16 million tonnes per annum of run-of-mine coal using dragline and truck and shovel methods.

Existing mine infrastructure will be upgraded or expanded while the operation will receive a new ROM coal conveyor system and raw coal stockpile.

Expansion of the coal handling and preparation plant along with the Ravensworth Coal Terminal will enable the processing and export of up to 20Mtpa of product coal.

New access roads will be built along with new surface infrastructure facilities and a workshop building north of Davis Creek.

As part of the project, Xstrata plans to expand clean water and mine water management systems, including the development of a new storage dam.

The company will also realign the existing 330-kilovolt transmission line.

Xstrata’s major revision to its earlier conceptual plans was to revise the proposed mining and overburden emplacement areas to avoid disturbing Davis Creek, deemed a significant breeding habitat for the green and golden bell frog.