A MINE blast at Coal & Allied’s Hunter Valley Operations resulted in an orange fume that could be seen from as far as Maison Dieu.
One Jerrys Plains resident also told The Singleton Argus they watched for 20 minutes as the cloud drifted over the village at around 5pm last Tuesday.
A Coal & Allied spokesperson said the fume was unavoidable for safety reasons and that wind speed and direction were considered to favour dissipation of the fume over Hunter Valley Operations.
The explosive had been placed in the ground in suitable weather conditions and was then impacted by heavy rainfall on Monday, March 14.
“Senior staff made the decision to detonate the blast to avoid the potential for increased safety risks, including a more severe blast fume or a failed detonation that could have left a live explosive in the ground,” the spokesperson told The Singleton Argus.
Five phone calls were received by the Department of Planning’s compliance unit about the intense orange cloud that erupted into the sky on March 15.
The compliance team inspected the mine the next day and is continuing its investigations into the blast and the circumstances which may have contributed to the fume.
A NSW Department of Planning spokesperson said the mine’s approval includes a condition to implement best practice to minimise fume and the compliance officers’ investigation will focus on whether the blast complied with this condition.
Coal & Allied said its procedures to prevent blast fume also include dewatering drill holes where required, product selection and blast pattern design.
“All of these steps were followed, however an internal investigation will be conducted to identify any further preventable steps that could reduce the likelihood of this happening again,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said the mine apologises to its near neighbours for the blast fume.
Hunter Valley Operations will submit a report with details of the blast to the Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water.
“There is a considerable amount of concern around this issue and we are taking it very seriously,” a DECCW spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said DECCW is already investigating three other blasting issues concerning excessive dust, overpressure and fume drift from other Singleton mines.
The air quality index level of the Singleton PM2.5 monitor remained very good following the blast.
Sedgefield truck depot
SINGLETON councillors were to consider a truck depot proposed for Sedgefield at last night’s council meeting.
The plan included parking for six semi-trailers at 14 Big Ridge Lane, Sedgefield.
Council’s planning department recommended approval for the truck depot despite four letters of objections from nearby neighbours during public exhibition in September last year.
A letter of support was also received.
In a report presented to councillors, author Amanda Power said the plan did not require any site works with no servicing or repair work to be carried out on the trucks from the premises.
Man assaulted
A 26-YEAR-OLD Singleton man was allegedly assaulted in Singleton on Friday.
The man sustained a swollen nose with Singleton ambulance paramedics called to treat him however he refused treatment and transport to hospital.
The incident is believed to have occurred in Old John Street just after midnight.
Two car accident
A 62-YEAR-OLD Maitland man was taken to Singleton Hospital for observation following a two car accident early Friday morning.
The accident occurred at the corner of Queen Street and the New England Highway off ramp about 6.30am.
Singleton ambulance paramedics were called and transported the man to hospital for further care.
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