Whitehaven Coal has welcomed the release of the NSW Government’s technical assessment for the Vickery Extension Project and its recommendation that the project can proceed.
However, mine opponents Lock the Gate Alliance have expressed ‘outrage.’
The Vickery Extension Project proposes the construction of a new open-cut coal mine and associated on-site infrastructure about 25 kilometres north of Gunnedah on the border with Narrabri Shire.
The government report will now be considered by the NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) which will hold a further public hearing on the project. The IPC must make a final determination on the project within 12 weeks.
Whitehaven Coal managing director and chief executive Paul Flynn said he welcomed the release of the report and looked forward to the next round of public hearings and consultation.
“A first round of public hearings into the project was held in early 2019, and attracted significant interest within the region.
“The Department of Planning and the IPC also sought and received written submissions as part of the initial EIS and first stage Public Hearing processes respectively.
“We know there is strong support for Vickery from the comprehensive community consultation process that has already been undertaken – 60 per cent of public submissions to the Department of Planning and 75 per cent to the IPC called for the Project to be approved,” Mr Flynn said.
“Vickery has the potential to be one of the most significant sources of employment and investment in North West NSW in the coming years and major infrastructure projects have a key role to play in the post-COVID-19 economic recovery, including for regional Australia.”
The mine will produce predominantly metallurgical coal for steel-making, with the balance being high quality thermal coal destined for export to countries that combine low impurity and low ash coal with high technology HELE generation to significantly reduce carbon emissions.
The proposal builds upon, and further optimises, an already-approved mine, on a site that has already been extensively and safely mined over many years, Whitehaven said.
Vickery is estimated to generate around 500 construction jobs and 450 operational jobs, growing Whitehaven’s existing 2400-strong workforce, around 75 percent of whom live locally.
The Environmental Impact Statement reveals Vickery is set to contribute $271 million in wages that will flow through the local district economy, and generate around 170 new jobs in locally-based supplier businesses.
“The Project will contribute a net economic benefit to NSW of $1.2 billion, including $656 million in royalty payments to the NSW Government – money that will help fund schools, hospitals, roads and other state government priorities,” Whitehaven said.
In a statement, Lock the Gate Alliance said the group was ‘outraged the NSW Planning Department has recommended the destructive Vickery coal mine project be approved’, and says the government has dismissed serious problems with the proposal.
“There are major concerns the mine could run out of water.
“ Coal mining is already competing with agriculture for water in this district and building another huge coal mine there will be a big mistake,” Lock the Gate Alliance NSW spokesperson Georgina Woods said.
“The department has also admitted there are concerns a large mine spoil pile could contaminate the Namoi alluvial aquifer.
“We’re shocked that the Department thinks this new coal mine should be approved even while admitting that in dry times there won’t be enough water in the Namoi district to supply it,” Ms Woods said.
“The local farming community and Narrabri Council have strenuously objected to the further erosion of the social fabric of Boggabri by this coal mine, but the Department of Planning has ignored these concerns.
“It’s up to the Independent Planning Commission to uphold the public interest and stop this new Whitehaven coal mine which will short-change future generations and come at the expense of the farming community of Boggabri.”
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