The department announced the approval of the modifications of Ashton underground mine and Ravensworth underground mine this week saying they will secure employment for hundreds of workers.

As part of the modification of Ashton underground coal mine it will build a 1.7km diversion of Bowmans Creek in two areas and redesign its mine layout so that no mining happens under the creek, including new diversions.

The existing underground mine layout approved in 2002 allowed for mining under Bowmans Creek.

That approval allowed for some of the mine’s longwall panels to have a very narrow width, or be located well below the surface, to reduce impacts on the creek. However the department’s assessment found it would have been both technically and economically difficult to mine beneath the creek in this configuration.

The Department’s major project assessments executive director Chris Wilson said the approval had followed a detailed assessment, which has involved working closely with state environmental and water management agencies.

“The creek diversions are designed to mimic the natural river environment, to create a variety of aquatic habitats,” he said.

“The approved modification will allow the diverted Bowmans Creek and the longwall panels to be kept separate.

“This compares to the current approval which would have seen Bowmans Creek sitting across the mining panel layout.”

The department of planning statement announcing the approval said the extension is not predicted to have any dust or noise impacts on Camberwell Village.

The second approval allows for an increase in the rate of coal production from 5 to 7 million tonnes per year and extending four longwall panels at the nearby Ravensworth underground mine.

This is not expected to result in a change to employment levels or the life or operating hours of the Ravensworth project.