On one hand we are told the blasts are unacceptable and on the other we are told that these blasts comply.

But then, the department goes on to say that it will remind the mine of the need to minimise fume in mine blasts.

One would hope that the mine is already aware of this fact given such blasts guarantee a public outcry and criticism.

The department’s own minister said in Singleton that they must be addressed.

If these blasts do comply, why bother minimising fumes? If they don’t pose a problem to the air quality, then the state government should come out and say it. It might be simplistic but when you get such trivial responses from the Department of Planning as the one this newspaper received in response to queries raised at a recent blast, then there is little hope for any meaningful dialogue to pave the way forward for the coal industry and the community.

The Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water seems to be heading in the right direction with a broader understanding of the issues, as is the Office of Public Health.

Step it up Department of Planning, your own minister said the blasts were not okay.