Narrabri Shire Council will reject a $2.712 million voluntary planning agreement offer by Whitehaven Coal and instead request $14.87 million.
If Vickery Coal Mine Extension Project is approved, it is likely that the proponent will be asked to enter into a voluntary planning agreement with Council.
The current VPA offer from Whitehaven Coal is a $2.712m one-off upfront payment upon commencement of construction. Council is yet to respond to this offer.
At Council’s July meeting, it resolved to engage with the Boggabri community with the aim of gaining their input into the drafting of a VPA that Council would accept if it were made by Whitehaven Coal.
“It’s negligible, one-and-a-half cents to the tonne – it’s nothing,” said Councillor Ron Campey following the July meeting.
“It’s an insult to the people of the Narrabri Shire, it wouldn’t even fix the potholes in the gravel road,” said Cr Campey.
“The Boggabri community will feel the greatest impacts from the proposed mine over the next 25 years,” said Mayor Cathy Redding.
Council said about thirty people attended three community engagement sessions in September with the following projects identified as the net community benefit the community requires Vickery to deliver: an industrial subdivision and development in Boggabri; an upgrade to the Boggabri Pool; community meeting and multi-purpose space; retirement units; main street improvements; riverbank and showground embellishments; a contribution to a community development role in Boggabri and contribution to a mining planner.
Council said that ‘with the full understanding that an agreement may not be reached with Whitehaven those attending the sessions were in unanimous agreement that the current VPA offer from Whitehaven Coal of $2.712 million should be rejected’.
The Narrabri Shire Council is holding an extraordinary meeting this evening, Thursday October 17 at the Boggabri Golf Club.
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