Dartbrook Mine Approved to Reopen

TODAY the Independent Planning Commission approved the mothballed Dartbrook coal mine near Aberdeen to recommence operations using bord-and-pillar underground mining techniques.

Australian Pacific Coal, which owns the mine, has been approved to commence bord-and-pillar operations instead of longwall mining and to vary their coal clearance system to the coal handling plan, but was knocked back on their application for a five year extension to the current approval which ends on December 5, 2022.

The mine was placed into care and maintenance mode in 2006 due to operational difficulties and a drop in the coal price and faced strong community opposition to reopening operations, including from the Upper Hunter Shire Council, which opposes all coal mining activity within the Shire.

The Commission acknowledged the bord-and-pillar mining technique was “less intensive and environmentally-impacting activity than longwall mining.”

It also acknowledged seal a haul road to reduce dust was “reasonable and feasible” to reduce noise impacts and mitigate flood risks.

However, the Commission refused to give a five year extension for mining based on many reasons including, air quality, noise, subsidence, groundwater, greenhouse gas emissions and social impacts.