The miner has had its application with the New South Wales Department of Planning approved for modifications to its original development consent.

Werris Creek is an open cut coal mine in the Liverpool Plains which currently has a coal crushing and screening facility and rail load-out facility.

The mine is allowed to produce up to 2 million tonnes per annum and averages output of 1.6Mtpa.

Up to 50,000t are approved for road transport but the majority is railed to Newcastle Port.

Whitehaven has been given approval to widen the advancing northern highwall of the open cut area, increasing the mine’s footprint by 14 hectares and allowing it to follow the alignment of the G seam.

The extra area will involve open cut mining through the underground workings of the old Werris Creek Colliery.

The mine will dewater the old workings with the groundwater to be stored in up to four dams with a combined capacity of 370 megalitres to the southwest of the open cut.

The dewatering will involve the removal of 330ML of brackish and near neutral pH water before the open cut gets within 50m of the old workings.

The mine also plans to extend the out-of-pit overburden emplacement by 11ha.

An additional 350t train loading bin and conveyor will also be constructed at the rail load-out facility to facilitate the separation of product coal for specific markets and increase the efficiency of train loading.

The modifications will not increase the mine’s production or life but will increase efficiency for the next three years.

Beyond three years, Whitehaven will investigate a further northerly extension of the mine.