An amendment to a state mining and planning policy means no open-cut mining will be allowed on Drayton South.
The NSW Government announced the change today, which they say brings certainty to both the industry and the community in the Upper Hunter.
Minister for Planning and Housing Anthony Roberts announced the amendment which will "protect the valuable and world-renowned horse studs in the area".
The State Government has approved underground mining for the site though, which looks to be getting undertaken by Malabar Coal.
The company expects to finalise their purchase of the project for exploration on the site in the coming months and say they've already surrendered part of the previous license that had extended south of the Golden Highway encroaching on horse studs.
But Georgina Woods from Lock the Gate Alliance believes it falls far short of what's needed in the area.
"It's good to see this formalised but really we are disappointed with the narrowness of the decision. It's actually condemning the farming and horse breeding industries of the Hunter Valley to have to continue to fight for their survival against the government who seems to have ears only for the coal industry."
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