ENVIRONMENT

Stokes refers Russell Vale expansion proposal to IPC

NEW South Wales Planning Minister Rob Stokes has referred the proposed expansion of Wollongong Coal’s Russell Vale colliery to the Independent Planning Commission with the requirement that a public hearing into the proposal be conducted within 12 weeks of receiving the planning department’s assessment report.

 Underground at Wollongong Coal's Russell Vale mine.

Underground at Wollongong Coal's Russell Vale mine.

The Russell Vale Underground Expansion Project will allow for a five-year extension for mining the Wonga East area of the mine, using the first workings mining method.

Wollongong Coal said work had continued to address the surface and underground mine assets in preparation for the restart work program, which would begin following the government approvals.

It said the decommissioning of the mine's Bulli seam workings and targeted catchment assets was completed in the June quarter, delivering efficiencies and cost savings for the ongoing operation.

Lock the Gate Alliance NSW spokesman Nic Clyde said the project should never have reached this point because the company was a "financial basket case".

"Wollongong Coal is likely trading while insolvent, has a multi-billion dollar debt problem, and would struggle to financially cover the rehabilitation of their existing mine site, part of which is underneath Sydney's drinking water catchment," he said.

"Whatever the true cost of rehabilitation, this company has so little capital, it recently applied to be de-listed from the ASX because it couldn't continue paying basic listing fees.

"It has also been suspended from trading since December 2018.

"The IPC must reject this terrible proposal, because there is clearly too great a risk for Wollongong Coal to be trusted with Sydney's precious water resources."

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Monthly Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Monthly Intelligence team.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Digitalisation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations that use digitalisation technology to drive improvements across all areas of mining production

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Automation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations using autonomous solutions in every region and sector, including analysis of the factors driving investment decisions

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2023 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of current exploration rates, trending exploration technologies, a ranking of top drill intercepts and a catalogue of 2022 Initial Resource Estimates and recent discovery successes.