WILL it be third time lucky for global miner AngloAmerican when it comes to the Drayton South Project?
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Anglo Management announced on Friday they will submit another expansion plan to the NSW Government in the new year.
The news came as a surprise to both the CFMEU and the mines 500 employees after a retracted plan was rejected by the Planning and Assessment Commission (PAC) in October.
PAC argued it would have too greater impact on the region’s leading internationally renowned thoroughbred studs Coolmore and Darley.
The company's original mine proposal was rejected in December 2013 for basically the same reason.
It was widely anticipated the topic of the discussions was going to be job losses.
AngloAmerica’s latest move appears to be somewhat of a backflip after telling PAC at the two previous hearings it was not economically viable to retract their plans.
Re-submitting the proposal has been a costly process with a representative from the company confirming the total cost was $60 million.
Anglo American’s head of open cut operations Mark Heaton travelled to the mine site to speak with their 500 employees and said they are working hard to maintain employment continuity for as many people as possible by seeking approval for a new Drayton South project.
“Looking first at the coal we have left at Drayton, we have developed an interim mine plan that would allow operations to continue until early next year which satisfies our immediate employment challenges, however for ongoing employment continuity we require a speedy resolution for the Drayton South project,” he said.
“We will submit this application as soon as possible with the aim to receive an approval with urgency early next year.
“We believe the revised project plan and conditions will address the PAC concerns in a fair and reasonable manner in line with the Government’s stated policy on industry coexistence.
“We ask the NSW Government to honour their recent comments about the need for planning reform and shorter project assessment periods, act on their statements about supporting the industry and approve the revised Drayton South proposal when it is lodged to avoid pending job losses.”
CFMEU Northern District president Peter Jordan said the announcement was unexpected but a welcome relief for the workforce.
“The new plan will keep the mine behind the ridge line and away from the horse studs,” he explained.
“Another revision will of course reduce the mine's life span but it is better than the mine just shutting next year.”
They have about six months up their sleeve when it comes to retaining employees and getting the necessary approvals, Mr Jordan said.
Mr Heaton said, in the meantime, they would continue to assess the resourcing requirements for Drayton mine and notify employees of any changes as soon as possible.
“Unfortunately for our workforce, despite some recent encouraging words from the government regarding the need for planning reform, we cannot be more definitive at this point in time and the period of prolonged uncertainty continues,” he said.
“Understandably, our people are very concerned about their employment options after the beginning of next year and are looking to the Government to find a solution.
“From our end we are looking at all options to secure the Drayton South project and a future for Drayton employees, and we’ll work with our employees every step of the way.”
.
