AN EXTRA 800,000 tonnes of coal will be extracted each year from two south Lake Macquarie mines under new limits approved by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.
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LakeCoal successfully applied to the department to raise the coal extraction limit from 1.5 to 2.1 million tonnes per year at its Chain Valley Colliery, and 1.1 to 1.3 million tonnes per year at its Mannering Colliery.
This is expected to create another 60 full-time jobs at Chain Valley.
Mannering Colliery’s completion date has been extended to 2022 and the extra coal from Chain Valley will be transported to the Vales Point Power Station via the nearby Mannering site, just two kilometres away.
The proposals were exhibited for community feedback in July.
Eight submissions were received from government agencies and another submission from the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council.
The Chain Valley proposal received three public submissions in favour of the increase.
Sonay Lunney, of Bateau Bay, said it would benefit the mine’s employees, contractors, suppliers and the wider community.
“With the horrific state of the economy, approving the application will ensure some growth for the region,” Mr Lunney said.
Mannering Colliery received one submission for and one against the proposal.
Narelle Stokes, of Mannering Park, said she believed the increase in production would negatively affect the area.
Speaking on behalf of local residents, Ms Stokes said she was concerned about an increase in dust and subsidence as well as a surge of extra traffic along Ruttleys Road.
“Mannering Park is a quiet lake side suburb, not impacted from industry except the coal mine and power station,” she said.
“Increasing production will affect the local living conditions.”
A key concern raised from both proposals was the environmental impact of clearing vegetation around the mines to create bushfire buffer zones.
LakeCoal is working with the Office of Environment and Heritage to create biodiversity offsets – a system used to compensate for impacts on flora and fauna associated with economic development.
Provisions must be put in place within a year of the department’s approval to increase the coal extraction limits.
LakeCoal is also required to update its biodiversity management plan for Chain Valley and its land management plan for Mannering.
The site will be subject to ongoing audits and site inspections by the department’s compliance officers.
The department can issue hefty on-the-spot fines for non-compliance.
Companies can also be prosecuted in court, with the most severe breaches attracting penalties of up to $5 million.
