HVO Continuation Project Divides Hunter At IPC Hearing

 BY SARAH BOTRILL

The future of one of the Hunter’s largest coal mines is now in the hands of the Independent Planning Commission (IPC), with supporters and opposition presenting arguments this week over the proposed Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) Continuation Project. 

The project, jointly owned by Yancoal and Glencore, would extend the life of the existing open-cut operation near Singleton to 2045 at its northern site, and 2042 at HVO South. 

The NSW Department of Planning referred the project to the IPC after receiving more than 50 objections. 

Supporters argue that the extension is crucial for protecting jobs and regional communities, while environmental groups contend it would undermine New South Wales’ legislated climate targets. 

Mining and Energy Union (MEU) Northern District President Robin Williams said the mine is one of the Hunter's final chances to remain a float while heading into the renewable energy transition. 

"We're supporting the expansion of the Hunter Valley Operations mine… It's about protecting 1,500 direct jobs at that mine," Mr Williams said.

"Then there's a large group of supporting contractors, suppliers. 

"Thousands of families will be impacted if this extension doesn't go ahead for that mine.

"We need this operation to continue so that we can have some form of rational transition from where we are today to where we might need to be in the future."

Environmental advocacy group Lock the Gate Alliance urged the Commission to reject the proposal, arguing the project is incompatible with the state's climate commitments.

NSW Coordinator Nic Clyde said climate change was already affecting communities and that extending coal mining would increase greenhouse gas emissions.

"It's very clear that we need to transition away from coal mining and that our entire planet and our community are suffering as a result of unmitigated climate change," Mr Clyde said. 

Mr Clyde said the Hunter's economy was already beginning to diversify through industries such as green steel manufacturing, pumped hydro energy storage and train manufacturing.

"The challenge ahead is to plan for the future, look after workers and have an orderly closure of these mines as coal demand inevitably reduces," he said.

The Department of Planning has identified key issues including greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity, water resources, air quality, noise, social and economic impacts, Aboriginal cultural heritage and mine rehabilitation.

The Independent Planning Commission will consider evidence presented during the hearings, along with written submissions from the public, before making its determination later this year.

Picture: Lock The Gate Alliance

Anti-Coal Protest At Sandgate Lands Nine People In Court

 BY IAN CROUCH

Nine people are set to front court today over an anti-coal protest in Newcastle.

The group stopped a coal train on Maitland Road at Sandgate at about 10.00am on Wednesday.

Police arrested four men aged between 24 and 69 and five women aged  between 18 and 66.

They were charged with stopping the train and entering enclosed lands with a serious safety risk.

They've been held in custody pending their appearance in Newcastle Local Court on Thursday morning.

Protesters stopped a coal train at Sandgate. Picture Rising Tide

Whitehaven Proposal Gains Planning Approval

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Whitehaven Coal's underground Narrabri mine has received planning approval for its proposed extension. 

The proposal will see the mine's longwall operations extended, and the life of the site will be prolonged by 13 years until 2044. 

The company says the move will be a lifeline for hundreds of jobs in the region, while also allowing royalty payments to the NSW government to continue for more than a decade. 

However, opponents of the project, including the Lock the Gate Alliance, say the extension will also be responsible for nearly half a billion tonnes of carbon emissions.

National Coordinator for the Lock the Gate Alliance, Georgina Woods, said the expansion of the Narrabri mine will make the site responsible for the highest volume of direct and indirect carbon emissions of any coal project regulated by the Independent Planning Commission. 

"We simply can't afford to lock in further methane and carbon dioxide emissions in the form of a coal mine expansion on this scale, especially when people in Australia are suffering the really terrible consequences of extreme climate change," she said. 

Ms Woods also expressed concern for farmers in the region, noting the impacts of drawn-down groundwater on the surrounding area. She said there is expected to be "at least eight or nine" farm bores affected by the coal mine, however local farmers believe this number to be much higher. 

"The underground mine also goes beneath the Pilliga Forest, which is a really crucial habitat refuge for threatened species, and because the longwall panels are so wide and so long, it's going to cause significant disruption on the surface and require clearing in the forest," she said. 

The project will go before a public hearing of the state's Independent Planning Commission on February 14. 

"We are now relying on the Independent Planning Commission to review this mining project in detail and hear from the local community, just how poor a record Whitehaven Coal has. They need to reject this coal mine expansion, not just in the interest of preventing climate change, but also to safeguard the groundwater resources that farmers in the Namoi rely on for their livelihoods," Ms Woods said. 

Image: Whitehaven Coal website

 

Mine Rehabilitation Reform Needed: Lock the Gate

CHELSEA EDWARDS

A report released by Lock the Gate Alliance has found fixing mine rehabilitation shortfalls could create jobs in the Hunter.

The report concludes more than 1200 jobs could be created if the state government implements mandatory rehabilitation targets for mines.

The Hunter is home to the nine largest coal mines in the state, with only 9302 hectares of 30,192 disturbed hectares currently under rehabilitation.

NSW Coordinator for Lock the Gate Alliance, Georgina Woods says NSW taxpayers are at risk of having to pay the bill for mine rehabilitation.

"We want to make sure that mining rehab is being done while the mine its self is operating, so it's keeping up with the mine and being done while there is still money around," she said

"We need to make sure there are mandatory targets for every mine site."

Image from: Newcastle Herald. 

Time for crackdown on Valley mines following dusty blast

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

Hunter Valley winemakers are furious at the owner of two of the region's biggest mines, following a blast on Friday which sent pollution over pastures.

Local landholders say just before midday, Yancoal conducted a planned blast at the Mount Thorley Warkworth mine, which sent a plume of thick orange dust flying through the air and onto grape crops.

Tony Bainton of Bainton Family wines said it's an ongoing issue which residents shouldn't have to grapple with anymore.

"It's about the health of residents living in the Valley," Mr Bainton said, "the mines don't seem to have any respect for the residents living around them. "

He said state government measures to bring Yancoal in line with licence regulations have so far proven ineffective. 

"Even when they do catch them out, they fine them such a small amount of money...it's pocket money to them and they don't care."

Local landholders have written to the Department of Planning, asking for Yancoal to be investigated and have its licence suspended until they demonstrate they can operate without causing pollution.

Georgina Woods from Lock the Gate Alliance is supporting the plea, saying its time to enforce protections to safeguard the vital Hunter wine industry.

"There have been many days over the last few months," she said, "dozens of days where air quality in that part of the Hunter Valley has breached national standards."

"That's not a good look for one of our key tourism industries," Ms Woods continued, "it's up to the state government to get control of the mines and ensure they're not impacting on the surrounding industry."

Lock the Gate believe a key way to restore the balance is to create a no-go buffer zone to protect the vineyards and horse farms.

"There is a need for an exclusion zone around the strategic farmland that was mapped for the wine and horse industries," said Georgina Woods, "we can't allow the mines to continue coming closer and closer."

An orange plume lingers in the air following a blast at Yancoal, 11:53am Friday March 13.