For two days the commissioner’s will hear 124 speakers state their case either for, or against, the controversial expansion of the local mining operations at the Singleton Diggers Alroy Complex.

In its original and similar form, both the Land and Environment Court along with the Supreme Court ruled the expansions should not go ahead.

A packed room greeted Gordon Kirkby, Paul Forward and Garry West with chair, Mr Kirkby, making it clear a decision will finally be made after these proceedings.

Proceedings that were not required by law but viewed as necessary considering the heightened public interest surrounding the matter, and aimed at increasing the transparency of this “independent” decision making process.

Although he did mention if they needed to clarify any details, further meetings between the commissioners and Rio Tinto, Singleton Council or the Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association (BMPA) may occur.

The likelihood of this happening increased after the BMPA’s John Krey addressed the meeting.

He made some startling revelations in regard to the credibility of a report authored by EMM on behalf of Rio Tinto.

“That report stated that the impacts on Bulga were so significant the project should not proceed.  However the results of this consultation were rejected by Rio Tinto and replaced by a document which suited Rio Tinto’s required outcome,” he told the commissioners.

A spokesperson from the global miner says they are currently preparing a response to these claims.

The commissioners may also need to quantify information presented by researcher, James Whelan from Environmental Justice Australia.

He let them know the NSW Government, along with other state governments and the Commonwealth, is currently varying national air pollution standards to protect community health.

“The recommended conditions of consent are based on an interim NSW guideline of 30ug/m3  for annual PM10 average concentrations.  There is not yet a national standard for annual average PM10 concentrations,” he said.

“Australia’s environment ministers are currently considering three options: 12,16, and 20 ug/m3.  The least stringent of these three options is exceeded at most Hunter Valley monitoring sites most years.  In 2014, the annual average PM10 concentration at Mt Thorley was 21.5ug/m3 and at Warkworth 20.6ug/m3.”

Mr Whelan explained PM10 is particulate matter 10 micrometers or less in diameter and there is no threshold below which particle pollution does not contribute to cardiovascular and respiratory ailments – even at levels well below the national standards.

The meeting began at 1pm and will continue well into the evening with 38 speakers scheduled after 6pm - re-commencing at 8am in the morning.