Government department supports mine extension project

The NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment has supported an extension to the Narrabri underground coal mine.

However, the project has been referred to the Independent Planning Commission which will have the final say on the development.

The project to extend Whitehaven Coal’s Narrabri mine will also be subject to a public hearing due to be held in February.

If approved by the IPC, the development will see Whitehaven Coal able to continue longwall mining until 2044.

In its state significant development report, the department said it considers the major economic and social benefits for the local area and to NSW outweigh the potential impacts of the project.

It said the development is approvable subject to recommended conditions.

“The department considers that NCOPL [Narrabri Coal Operations Pty Ltd] has designed the project in a manner that achieves a good balance between maximising the recovery of a coal resource of state significance and minimising the potential environmental impacts,” the department’s report read.

The department said its detailed assessment of the project has been informed by expert advice from government agencies, the Independent Advisory Panel for Underground Mining and the Commonwealth Independent Expert Scientific Committee.

During the public exhibition of the development, the department said it received 67 submissions, including six from special interest groups and business entities.

“Sixty-three of these submissions (94 per cent) supported the project, primarily because of the ongoing and additional employment opportunities that would be provided at
the mine,” the department’s report read.

“The three special interest groups which objected to the project are local community landholder and environmental groups. No individuals lodged objections.

“The department also received a small number of additional representations after the exhibition, mostly from landholders near the project who were mainly concerned about groundwater impacts.

“Apart from four special interest groups, all submissions supported the project because of its positive socio-economic benefits, especially the ongoing employment opportunities for the existing mine workforce.”

The department said it also received advice from 14 government agencies and related entities and from the two local councils most affected by the project – Narrabri and Gunnedah.

Among the assessment issues, the reported noted that as it was an extension and not a new project, as such, many of the key issues have been subject to previous assessment.

“The mine has been operating for over a decade with a range of measures to control or reduce impacts (with no major issues or
complaints),” the department report read.

“The project does not involve any changes to the proposed rate of coal extraction or processing, and very limited changes to the mine’s key surface facilities.”

The report did, however, acknowledge the longwall panels would be some of the longest (10 km) and widest (400 m) in Australia.

“This would lead to relatively high levels of subsidence, a highly fractured zone above the mine workings, and associated impacts on water resources,” the report read.

“The Narrabri mine is also a relatively ‘gassy’ mine, which would lead to ‘fugitive’ GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions.

“The combination of these two features – very long and wide panels, and the ‘gassy’ nature of the mine – means there is a need for extensive ventilation infrastructure at the surface, which leads to the need for clearing of land and associated impacts on biodiversity.”

The report noted that the key issues for this assessment are the potential impacts on groundwater, surface water and biodiversity, and greenhouse emissions.

Correspondence from the department to the IPC said Narrabri Coal Operations lodged a project amendment report in May last year.

The letter, addressed to IPC chair Professor Mary O’Kane, said the amendment removed 31 hectares from the surface development footprint, relocated some surface components to reduce impacts on a threatened plant species, and incorporated flaring of pre-mining drained gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Professor O’Kane and two other panel members will ultimately be the decision-makers for the development. While the IPC has said it will hold a public hearing for the development, it will be conducted remotely due to current COVID-19 risks.