BY JOSEPH GIBSON
Years of discussion have now lead to the approval of the Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) Continuation Project by the state's Independent Planning Commission (IPC).
The HVO facility is an already pre-existing multi-pit open cut coal mining operation situated 24km northwest of Singleton.
The IPC have approved an extension of mining works in the facility's north pit to 2045 and south pit to 2042.
The project will also include an upgrade to approved mining areas, as well as permission to mine deeper coal seams.
Mining and Energy Union (MEU) Northern Mining and NSW Energy district president Robin Williams said the approval is a major win for workers.
"It's a great relief for the 1500 mine workers around the Hunter and their families, giving them more certainty for the future," he said.
MEU general president Grahame Kelly said it will support local businesses and the state's economy moving forward.
"This project deserved approval, and the Commission has made the right call," he said.
"Workers have waited a long time for this decision.
"Today they can finally look ahead with more confidence."
However, concerns over the environmental impacts have surfaced with an estimated 950 hectares of land affected including approximately 185 hectares of native vegetation.
"The approval of the HVO Extension is the largest climate policy failure in NSW history," said Rising Tide spokesperson Campbell Knox.
“According to two published studies on the mortality impacts of carbon pollution, a conservative death toll for this project’s emissions is 87,000."
HVO has proposed measures to limit their impact on local biodiversity, with the IPC granting the approval with strict conditions to mitigate environmental impacts.
Meanwhile, the state's Department of Planning concludes that the economic benefits would be considerable, whilst acknowledging environmental impacts.
The project is now pending approval from the federal government.
