NEW Mount Thorley Warkworth (MTW) general manager Mark Rodgers has confirmed the mine will not be going underground in the near future after being questioned at Monday night’s council meeting.
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“It could be considered, technically it’s not progressed enough and economically a lot of money has been sunk into the expansion of the aboveground operations, it’s not the best option and requires a huge cost upfront,” Mr Rodgers said.
Mr Rodgers was speaking about the Warkworth Mine expansion at Singleton Council where councillors were to vote on a report submission to the planning department about the issues of the mine’s two applications.
They propose to extend the footprint of current operations to the west through Saddleback Ridge thereby extending the life of the operation by 21 years. The economic significance of the resource attributable to Warkworth Mine includes the continuation of approximately 1,187 jobs on average in the long-term, the payment of $567million in royalties to the state and the making of approximately $75million in additional income in net present value terms (NPV) and additional employment of 57 full-time people in the Singleton LGA.
He said the development has a long, complex and emotive history but the approval is essential for 1300 MTW employees, of which 35 per cent live in the local government area and the vast majority of the remainder are from the Upper Hunter.
Singleton Chamber of Commerce president Ryan Fitzpatrick said that the mine will give extensive economic employment not just with the core 1300 staff but also contractors, he also spoke about the flow on effects to region.
“The last 18 months have been tough and this project will install confidence,” he said.
Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association president John Krey said that the application was déjà vu for the village of Bulga.
“It’s clear to us the new application is exactly the same to the one that was rejected by the Land and Environment Court it’s the same mining footprint,” Mr Krey said.
“Now that the value of coal has been made far more valuable in the planning processes than anything else and the government has removed the right to appeal, we can never repeat what the community of Bulga did before (successful appeals to the Land and Environment Court and NSW Supreme Court).”
“It’s 1300 jobs but at what cost?”
Mr Krey said that if approved Singleton will lose 400 residents who will pack up and start again, if they can sell their property, he asked that councillor’s considered their duty of care to villages in the local government area.
Councillor Tony McNamara echoed the thoughts of Mr Krey and moved an amendment to change the council’s position on the mining expansion to oppose it.
“This development rides high on the saddle of deceit, the deed to protect the Saddleback Ridge has been disregarded,” Cr McNamara said.
“The rules have been changed, the goal posts moved it’s a blight on democracy in Australia that there’s no more right of appeal.”
The amendment was put and lost and the report compiled by Singleton Council officers was approved by councillors.
Both Mr Krey and Mr Rodgers said that council’s report submission was fair and comprehensive.