Approval granted for Narrabri mine extension

Whitehaven Coal has been granted conditional approval for the stage three extension of its Narrabri underground coal mine.

The Independent Planning Commission announced the project’s conditional development consent on Friday, however, said the project would be required to comply with strict performance measures. A three-member panel issued 152 conditions for the development’s approval.

“The commission finds that, on balance, the application is not inconsistent with [ecologically sustainable development] principles, and that the project would achieve an appropriate balance between relevant environmental, economic and social considerations,” the commission’s statement of reasons for decision reads.

The commission has set strict performance measures to curb the intensity of the mine’s scope one and scope two greenhouse gas emissions, which Whitehaven must comply with during the life of the mine.

Conditional approval for the mine extension follows the commission’s series of public hearings as well as extensive submissions both in favour and opposition to the development.

Whitehaven has welcomed the project’s approval saying it enables mining to continue until 2044 as well as $317 million of direct wages into the community. Environmental groups, however, have voiced concern with the development’s impact on carbon emissions.

Whitehaven Coal managing director and chief executive officer Paul Flynn said last week’s approval was a great outcome for the company and the hundreds of employees working at the mine.

“Big investments like Narrabri stage three are about lives and livelihoods and it’s no surprise the majority of submissions from the local area and wider region supported the proposal, as the IPC itself acknowledged,” he said in a statement.

“While today is a great result for Whitehaven, it’s fantastic for the Narrabri region too – last financial year Whitehaven spent nearly $50 million with around 81 suppliers based in the Narrabri LGA.”

The company said it noted last week’s approval is subject to the company meeting a range of conditions imposed by the IPC. The company said it further noted that IPC conditioning in relation to carbon dioxide emissions aligns with its intention to reduce carbon emissions at the mine over time together with the implementation of emissions mitigation technology and measures.

In response to last week’s announcement, environmental action group Lock the Gate said the underground expansion would produce nearly half a billion tonnes of carbon emissions.

The organisation said the development would drain at least nine water bores relied on by local farmers and cause subsidence in the Pilliga Forest.

Boggabri farmer Sally Hunter said locals would bear the cost in terms of drained water bores and degraded landscapes.

“This is a disgraceful decision by the Independent Planning Commission and will haunt our region and New South Wales for generations to come,” she said.

The Independent Planning Commission said it had put in place measures to ensure local groundwater users affected by the mine’s expansion receive adequate compensation.

“The commission is of the view that should any groundwater users be affected by the project, the proposed make good provisions and contingency measures would then apply… and would be sufficient in adequately compensating affected groundwater users,” the commission said in a statement.

“The applicant must provide a compensatory water supply to any landowner of privately owned land whose rightful water supply is adversely and directly affected … and must also provide an alternative long-term supply of water that is equivalent, in quality and volume, to the loss attributable to the development.”