Government curbs open cut mining at Dartbrook

THE NSW Government’s Future of Coal Statement will be amended to show that open-cut coal mining at the Dartbrook site would not be supported but has not ruled out extending underground mining there.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said it was clear in the Upper Hunter, locals do not oppose the underground mine at Dartbrook, however, an open-cut mine is not in line with extensive community consultation.

“By amending the Future of Coal map we will rule out open-cut mining, without impacting the proposed extension for the underground mine,” Mr Barilaro said.

Mr Barilaro said the NSW Government remains committed to supporting responsible development of the state’s high-quality resources and providing a balanced approach to the future of coal mining in NSW.

One Nation candidate for the Upper Hunter seat Dale McNamara said underground mining has worked well at Dartbrook in the past and an extension to underground mining would work well again.

“Dartbrook has worked well within the mining industry as an underground mind and can continue to do so and work well with the agricultural and equine industry. There has to be a balance with the different industries,” Mr McNamara said.

“No mining company wants to impact any town or any equine or agricultural or cause any problems to the people in the area and the NSW mining industry is the most regulated and safe industry so when they do things, they do it very well, they do it very safely,” he said.

Mr Barilaro announced the Future of Coal Statement last year to provide certainty to industry and communities “by mapping out where coal projects will or won’t continue and both of these decisions reflect that commitment,” Mr Barilaro said.

“We want to make sure that coal mining can take place in areas where it makes sense,” he said.

“Coal mining generates jobs for communities and royalties that can be used for essential public services and infrastructure and regional economies will depend on coal mining as a key industry for decades to come.

“Make no mistake, coal mining has a strong future in this state, but to ensure stability for the long haul we are setting aside funds so those coal mining communities, which produce such a valuable resource for our state, can plan what their future looks like,” Mr Barilaro said.

At a time when the NSW government announced that millions of dollars worth of coal mining royalties will be set aside each year to go back into mining communities such as those in the Upper Hunter, the funds have been met with skepticism by the Miner’s Union, considering the $1.1 billion injected into NSW state coffers.

“Making announcements about not proceeding with an open-cut is really taking the focus off the real game which is to get that Dartbrook underground back up and running.” CFMEU Northern Mining and NSW Energy District President Peter Jordan said.

“I just get annoyed and so do our members when the Nationals are running around using the coal industry as a political football. If there wasn’t a by-election happening in the Upper Hunter, we wouldn’t be hearing any of these announcements. If there ever was an application made for an open-cut in the future, it should meet environmental requirements and community,” Mr Jordan said.

“The support mining provides to our regions should not be underestimated, it provides career opportunities for young people, brings families into towns and keeps money flowing to support other businesses,” he said.

For more information on where candidates stand: Voting 101: Upper Hunter by-election.