BY CHARLIE PROUDLOCK
The state Government has granted a six-year extension to the controversial Dartbrook coal mine in Muswellbrook, sparking debate amongst local political figures.
It comes just a month after a it was revealed potential conflicts of interest took place within the site's financial operations.
The facility has been running with a skeleton staff since it collapsed into insolvency last year, after it defaulted on a $202 million loan.
Another $5 million is still owed to unsecured creditors, including local operators who have reported to be at risk of bankruptcy if the lost funds are not re-couped.
Upper Hunter MP Dave Layzell has labelled the decision a lost opportunity, arguing the extension should have been used as a bargaining chip to ensure that missing funds were repaid.
He said while he does welcome any extension, Dartbrook's future operators are on thin ice.
"I think what the whole region is hoping is that the mine does continue, but that it continues under new ownership," he said.
"At the moment it's under administration.
"We're really hoping that a reputable company comes in, buys the mine, the mining licence, takes over the mine and runs it properly."
Meanwhile, Muswellbrook mayor Jeff Drayton is hopeful the facility's extension will benefit the local community.
"It may not have been approached as well as we might have wanted it to be, but hopefully someone who steps in is a miner," he said.
"When I say a miner, I mean someone who has been the industry a while and knows what they're doing.
"I think if that happens, it'll be a successful mine, and if it's a successful mine, we have local jobs and local procurement, which is certainly a win for the community."
Over the course of this six-year extension, it's believed the mine will be able to extract an additional 36 million tonnes of coal.
Picture: Mining and Energy Union
