Approval to expand a Rio Tinto open cut coal mine in the NSW Hunter Valley has been overturned.
In February last year the NSW Government approved the Coal and Allied expansion of the Warkworth mine near Bulga.
But today the NSW Land and Environment Court overturned the approval.
It comes after the Bulga-Milbrodale Progress Association launched a legal challenge against the decision, highlighting concerns the expansion would impact the community and environment.
Chief judge, Justice Brian Preston said the association’s appeal should be upheld due to the significant, diverse biological adversity, noise and dust and social impacts of the project.
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We congratulate the Campaign coordinators at Bulga/Milbrodale on a stunning victory in the L and E courts. We are at Jerrys Plains and Scone – fighting the same sort of battles and the win today gives all affected locals in the Hunter region hope for the future.
congratulations – Henry Plumptre managing director, Darley Australia
If they start over turning all these expansions all the small towns wont have money cause there will be know one living in them cause there wont be any jobs,maybe if they take a hard look at themselves and see what these mines put into back into the community maybe they should shout there mouths. If you dont like living near it well move away. This state is in enough trouble with there finances now and where going to be worse off cause of some whinging people.
Oh dear Paul. Why don’t you learn how to express yourself in a logical, coherent and literate way. You appear to be as ugly a person as your beloved open cut moonscapes are. I like living here and would rather the likes of you move far away from my beloved valley. You obviously have nothing of worth to contribute to a healthy society.
David,i have lived in the Hunter Valley all my life so why would i want move away from here. I bet you the coal mines have saved your town from going under. Your probably stuck behind a desk all day with your own PA. You wouldn’t know what a hard days work is. As far as calling open cut workers moonscapes i would like to see you get off your backside and give it a go. You probably work for the government which have no idea bit like yourself.
Paul.
It is not a very logical conclusion to come to, without any evidence, that I work at a desk all day for the government. I breed cattle and horses and don’t therefore live in a town. Oh and I do know what physical work is all about. Little towns like Bulga, Warkworth and Jerrys Plains were here before coal mining and were once nicer places for that fact. They will all cease to be if mining gets its way. Warkworth has already become deceased. Tell me why or how these places and their populations benefit from coal mining?
Sorry Paul I got my deciples mixed up. The message should have been directed to David.
Paul,
Can you breed cattle and make a profit?
Can you sell horses if no one bets in them?
Can you employ 1,300 more people in your industry? and pay them?
If Warkworth closes 1,300 direct jobs will be lost, an average population of 2,990 will evaporate from the surrounding area. The indirect population loss from this mine may reach 7,000. This is around 30% of the population of Singleton.
The ensuing housing price drops will see a shock felt throughout the wider community. This knee jerk reaction from our courts is not a decision to applaud.
As a community we must engage with our industries and realise without mining no one would be here. In a time when our State Governments are killing our Smelting (Iron and Aluminium industry) and Manufacturing we need somewhere to work.
his decision is unfortunate. The State’s new planning legislation makes any new coal mine development extremely difficult. Fortunately, the legislation allows for the preparation of extensions to existing operations such as Warkworth. This allows for the continuation of an industry that is vital to the continued prosperity of the Hunter. Without coal mining the Hunter economy will collapse.
The decision of the Land and Environment Court gives the clear message that NSW is closed for business. We will all be the poorer for this decision! All industries and residents of the Hunter Valley will be adversely affected. We can only hope that some compromise can be reached before the current approval runs out and the mine is forced to close.
I have camped on this land for the mine expansion when I was a kid. This land is not short of tiger pear thisles and has little agricultural value.