THE man overseeing the newly approved Wallarah 2 coal mine on the Central Coast said risks to the environment posed by the mine were low, but benefits for the community were real and “immense”.
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Kenny Barry, the project manager for Wyong Coal, said the company had made a compelling case in gaining approval for the $800-million mine.
The NSW Planning Assessment Commission on Wednesday approved the controversial project which has been at the centre of a 22-year saga.
The underground mine will be built at Bushells Ridge, near the Central Coast border with Lake Macquarie, west of Wyong.
The commission approved the project despite conceding it posed a risk of serious and irreversible damage to the Central Coast’s water supply.
Mr Barry said the approval had been hard earned.
“This approval justifies the significant amount of scientific investigation, impact modelling, and community consultation undertaken by our team over many years which, combined, provided the platform of a meticulously prepared and detailed environmental impact statement and subsequent amendment to the development application,” Mr Barry said.
“The risks to the environment are low whilst the benefits to the community are high.
“Given that Wyong is one of the most economically depressed areas within the state, with significant unemployment levels and very limited opportunities, the benefits to the community will be immense.”
The mine has been opposed at every step by local councils, state and federal MPs, some residents, and the action group Australian Coal Alliance who is planning a legal challenge to stop the mine proceeding.
Mr Barry said opposition to the mine had been over-stated.
News of the company’s win had been welcomed by many locals, he said.
“The congratulations [we have] received over the past several days from local residents and companies certainly indicates that statements like ‘the community is overwhelmingly against the mine’ are grossly exaggerated,” he said.
“It is difficult to appease opponents who are politically or philosophically opposed to coal mining even when presented with the facts.”
The Planning Assessment Commission approved the mine to produce up to five million tonnes of coal for 25 years.
The coal would be exported to Korea and used in “local domestic power stations”, it said.
Apart from the environmental concerns around the mine, the commission also noted demand for coal for 25 years and the acceptability of greenhouse gas emissions from coal use were “significant uncertainties for the project”.
The commission acknowledged the risk of subsidence of up to 2.6 metres beneath a state forest area; increased flooding impacts for more than 170 property owners; and increased flooding impacts affecting 15 bridges and roads.
Central Coast mayor Jane Smith said council was disappointed the mine had been approved.
“Council remains opposed to the mine and believes the mine poses significant environmental risks including impacts on the Coast’s water supply.
“Council is closely and urgently reviewing the conditional consent and reasons issued by the commission, and will make further comment once the review is complete.”
Mr Barry said construction of the mine could start as early as 2019.
