This week, PAC found the project was not in the public interest.

NSW Minister for Planning Pru Goward said the matter was closed as far as she was concerned.

“I am satisfied the PAC has considered all the issues and exercised its duty as the independent decision-maker,” she said.

Anglo American, in response  to the review, has said it was looking at its options but the company cannot lodge a legal appeal against a PAC decision.

In its 20-page determination, the PAC – chaired by Garry Payne – stated the project would negatively impact on two of the country’s leading thoroughbred studs Coolmore and Darley and put at risk the operations of the entire Hunter Valley thoroughbred industry.

“The evidence supports the view that the mining industry will continue in the Hunter Valley, regardless of whether Drayton South is approved or not, given the recent approval of the Mt Arthur Coal Project and other existing mining operations and exploration works in the region,” the PAC review said.

“However, if Coolmore and Darley decide to relocate, the equine industry in this region would decline as it would be extremely unlikely those studs would be replaced by others with a similar international reputation.”

The review described the equine industry as vibrant, growing and sustainable, adding it was in the public interest to maintain and develop a diversified economic base for the region and the state.

Drayton South Coal Project was first lodged in 2011 by its owner Anglo American and, according to the company, the proposal was designed to extend the life of its existing Drayton mine where almost all coal approved by the current approval, which expires in 2017, has been extracted.

The company had argued the continuation of its operations to the south, utilising their existing infrastructure, would save the 500 jobs of the existing Drayton workforce.

Their first mine proposal was rejected by a PAC review in December 2013.

That determination stated the open cut mine should not proceed at the planned scale in the location proposed and called for the highest level of protection of the Equine Critical Industry Cluster (that includes Coolmore and Darley studs) from the impacts of impact.

In March, Anglo American submitted a retracted mine plan that would extract up to seven million tonnes of ROM coal a year for 21 years.

The Department of Planning and Environment report on the retracted plan said the project should proceed as it strikes the right balance between protecting the interests of the horse studs and realising the significant economic benefits that would flow from the project.

However, PAC found a precautionary approach should be adopted and that determines that the application not be approved as proposed.

One option could be that Anglo American submits another retracted mine plan but that issue was also canvassed in the PAC review, saying it raised concerns about the project’s economic viability.

PAC also commented on Drayton’s existing rehabilitation program, saying it was a significant concern to the commission at the lack of progress with rehabilitation of the existing (Drayton) mine when mine operation is expected to ceases in December 2017.

PAC added if they gave consent to the new mine, Anglo American would then be allowed to defer its rehabilitation responsibility for virtually the life of the approval (21 years). 

HUNTER Thorough-bred Breeders Association president Cameron Collins said the industry would now looked forward to building a strong, diverse and sustainable future for the region.

“The independent Planning Assessment Commission gave very careful consideration to the Drayton South Project as did the first PAC review and the Independent Gateway Panel,” he said.

“In the PAC’s recent decision it found the mining industry will continue in the Hunter Valley, as demonstrated by the recent approval of the expansion of Mt Arthur and other existing mining operations, regardless of whether Drayton South is approved. 

“However, it also found that this one mine would risk the future of an entire sustainable industry which employs thousands of people and is important to the Hunter region, NSW and Australia. 

“This has been a long and stressful process for all involved.  The independent umpire has made its decision.”

ANGLO American has called on the NSW Premier to urgently step in to save 500 jobs 

hanging in the balance as a result of the Planning Assessment Commission’s (PAC) report on the Drayton South project, in which they made the 

ruling that the critical project should not go ahead.

CEO of Anglo American’s Coal business Seamus French has asked Mike Baird to overturn the PAC’s recommendation to protect the 500 families and local businesses now facing an uncertain future.

“Anglo American does not believe the PAC took Drayton South seriously,” he said.

“The feeling among the Drayton mine workforce at site is that the government has caved into threats from the horse studs, who as the 

government’s own experts said, would not move anyway if Drayton South was to proceed.

“All expert advice, including the government’s own Department of Planning and Environment report recommending the retracted mine plan be approved in the public interest, was ignored throughout the eight-week assessment.”

l Meanwhile, a new campaign is being launched in The Singleton Argus today calling on the local community to stand up for Hunter jobs.

The impact of the Drayton South decision is already having a big impact on the community. 

And, the NSW Minerals Council wants to make sure the government understands the human cost of the decision.

Five-hundred hard-working Hunter miners face unemployment due to the NSW Government’s failure to approve the Drayton South project.

“I​t's​ a real blow,​ ​made worse by the fact the 

decision was insensitively leaked to media before it was officially announced,” Stephen Galilee said.

“And these miners have 1300 colleagues down the road at Mount Thorley Warkworth whose jobs are also at risk - and they are right to be asking ‘will my job be next?’

“We're calling on the people of Singleton to tell the NSW Government that abandoning hundreds of hard-working people is not acceptable.

“Take 60 seconds to email the Premier and his Ministers now at voiceformining.com.au”