Posted: 23.02.2022
The community will have its say on a proposed half-billion-dollar extension to an open cut coal mine in the state’s Hunter Valley next month.
Glencore Coal Pty Ltd (the Applicant) currently extracts up to 4.5 million tonnes of run-of-mine coal per annum from its Glendell Mine between Singleton and Muswellbrook. The mined resource comprises both thermal and semi soft coking coal.
The company has lodged a state significant development application to establish a new mining area to the north of the existing Glendell pit. It’s seeking to mine an additional 135 million tonnes of run-of-mine coal over 21 years at an increased maximum production rate of 10 million tonnes per annum. The coal would continue to be processed at the Mount Owen Coal Handling and Preparation Plant and transported by rail under present approvals.
A whole-of-government assessment undertaken by the Department of Planning & Environment has now been finalised; however, the Independent Planning Commission is the consent authority and must determine the application, as more than 50 ‘unique’ public submissions in the nature of objection were received.
Commissioners Dianne Leeson (Panel Chair), Professor Snow Barlow and Adrian Pilton will form the three-member Commission Panel that will determine the SSD application.
The Commission will seek public submissions on the mine extension during a two-day public hearing on Friday 18 March and Monday 21 March 2022. The Panel will conduct the hearing wholly remotely with registered speakers participating via tele- and/or videoconference.
The deadline for speaker registrations is 12pm AEDT on Monday 14 March 2022. Written submission can also be lodged via email, post or the ‘Have Your Say’ portal on the Commission’s website: www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/have-your-say.
Written submissions will be accepted until 5pm AEDT on Monday 28 March 2022.
Key issues identified in the Department’s assessment of the $515-million Glendell Continued Operations Project included cultural and heritage impacts, air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, noise, water resources, biodiversity, traffic and transport, rehabilitation and final landform, and economic and social impacts.
Commissioner Leeson said hearing from the community is important to the decision-making process.
“The Panel has the benefit of having access to all previous submissions made to the Department of Planning & Environment but it’s particularly helpful for us, as the decisionmakers, to hear directly from stakeholders about the Department’s assessment of the key issues and its proposed conditions of consent,” Commissioner Leeson said.
“I’d encourage anyone who wishes to have their say on the proposed mine extension to register to speak at the public hearing or by making a written submission directly to the Commission.”
Anyone wishing to have their say at the public hearing is required to pre-register via the Commission’s website: https://www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/projects/2022/02/glendell-continued-operations-project-ssd-9349.
The public hearing will be broadcast live online at www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/livestream.
We recognise the importance of community participation in our decision-making process. Using our ‘Make a submission’ form is the easiest way for you to make a submission on cases currently before the Commission.