Ashton Coal are seeking approval under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 for the South East Open Cut Project (SEOC). The SEOC and associated facilities are to be located approximately 2.5km south-east of the ACP processing plant, immediately to the south of Camberwell Village. To download a copy of the Environmental Assessment click here.
The project will comprise;
- An open cut coal mine (SEOC) east of Glennies Creek and south of the New England Highway producing up to 3.6 Mtpa of ROM coal;
- Infrastructure and facilities to support the SEOC; and
- Coal handling facilities that will integrate with the existing ACP coal handling, preparation and train loading facilities.
The SEOC straddles two Exploration Licences, EL4918 and EL 5860A, both held by White Mining Pty Limited (a subsidiary of Felix Resources Limited). Authorisation 81 held by Navidale (Camberwell Mine) exists to the east of EL 5860A where it is proposed to construct out of pit emplacements, water management facilities and infrastructure.
The SEOC will be operated as part of the Ashton Coal Project (ACP) and utilize the coal handling, preparation and loading facilities, and other office and surface facilities approved by the Ashton Development Consent (DA) 309-11-2001-i. In order to allow the effective integration and combined operation of the SEOC with the existing ACP an application to modify the existing ACP Development Consent under Section 75W of the EP&A Act will also be lodged. ACOL seeks to modify the existing ACP Development Consent in the following manner:
- Increase the through put of the CHPP and rail loading facilities to cater for approximately 8.6Mtpa of ROM coal (or an additional 2.3Mtpa of product coal);
- Modification of the existing CHPP facilities to allow the receipt of coal from the SEOC;
- Disposal of coal tailings from the existing underground coal mine in the SEOC final void;
- Increased coal extraction rate from 2.95Mtpa ROM to 5.0Mtpa ROM coal in the existing underground coal mine; and
- Associated modifications to the conditions of (DA) 309-11-2001-i to facilitate the above changes.
A single Environmental Assessment Report will be prepared to address both the Major Project application for the SEOC and the application to modify the existing ACP Development Consent.
The SEOC will produce up to 2.4 Mtpa of product coal from the proposed 3.6 Mtpa of ROM coal to be extracted. The mine will commence approximately 3 months prior to the completion of the Barrett Pit within the North East Open Cut to ensure continuity of employment for mine workers and coal production.
Environmental studies undertaken for the project have identified the following key environmental planning issues:
- Impacts upon the residents of Camberwell Village (social and environmental);
- Land use allocation;
- Groundwater effects; including those to the Glennies Creek alluvium;
- Surface water effects;
- Dust and noise effects on the air and acoustic environment;
- Greenhouse gas emissions and ecologically sustainable development;
- Impacts on critically endangered ecological communities and threatened species;
- The rehabilitation and final land use after mining with respect to the Synoptic Plan: Integrated Landscapes for Coal Mine Rehabilitation in Hunter Valley of NSW;
- Management of archaeological and heritage sites;
- Closure / relocation of the Camberwell Village ‘Common’;
- Cumulative impacts with respect to air quality, noise and vibration, groundwater, surface water, flora and fauna; and
- The positive socio-economic impacts associated with the project.
