Ms McBride, the federal member for Dobell, and Mr Harris, the state member for Wyong, said “the future of the Central Coast’s drinking water” now sat with the federal government.

The federal government would assess the Wallarah 2 Coal Project proposal under the Environment, Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, following the Planning Assessment Commission’s determination on Wednesday, they said.

Approval for the project will depend on Mr Frydenberg’s decision about the mine’s impact on threatened species and water resources, Ms McBride said.

Ms McBride said she received a letter from the Minister saying consideration would include advice from a 2013 independent expert scientific committee report which stated:

There are significant risks associated with the proposed project having a detrimental and long-lasting effect on an already stressed water supply catchment.

“Minister Frydenberg has the chance to stop this mine,” Ms McBride said.

“If he doesn’t, he’s not only ignoring our community, he is ignoring the advice of experts that clearly say this mine is a threat to our water catchment.

“Minister Frydenberg, do the right thing and reject this mine.”

Mr Harris said the community and Labor opposed the mine, but the NSW Liberals had so far done nothing but break their promise to the Central Coast.

“If Gladys Berejiklian won’t stand up for the Coast, hopefully her colleague at the federal level will,” Mr Harris said.