NSW Department of Planning and Environment makes a rare decision to recommend the refusal for the development of an open cut coal mine - Rocky Hill near Gloucester.
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Although the final determination on the project’s future will be in the hands of the Planning and Assessment Commission (PAC) those opposed to the mine, to be located on the edge of Gloucester, are celebrating this unusual but much longed for recommendation by the Department.
In making its final decision, the independent Commission will consider the Department’s assessment report recommending that the development is refused.
The proposal by Gloucester Resources Limited (GRL), is for an open cut coal mine located about one kilometre from the southern fringes of the town of Gloucester. The Department’s Executive Director of Resource Assessments and Compliance, Dr Oliver Holm, said “We have carefully weighed up the community benefits and concerns and found the potential impacts to the community and environment are too great for this project to be recommended.
“The proposed project site is not suitable for an open cut coal mine, it is just too close to residential areas. There are many important matters that simply cannot be resolved, such as significant visual, noise and social impacts and risks to water quality,” Dr Holm said.
The Department considers that the amended proposal should be refused because of the following key issues:
- Visual impacts would be significant;
- Incompatibility with the land use zoning objectives for the site; and
- Many additional residents would be affected by noise emissions, if the proposed noise mitigation proved ineffective.
The final decision whether to approve or refuse the development is a matter for the Commission, acting under delegation from the Minister for Planning. It must be remembered that because there was no PAC merit review the proponent GRL’s merit appeal rights remain in place should the project be rejected.That is something that concerns those opposed to the development of the mine.
Gloucester Groundswell, spokesperson Julie Lyford said the Department’s opinion of the mine was also supported by the MidCoast Council’s Mayor David West.
“However our local member Michael Johnsen is supportive of the project which is appalling, it shows he is not listening to the local community,” she said. “His pro-mining bias is clear and means he doesn’t understand the serious health impacts faced by our community should the mine proceed something which our Council and the Department of Planning obviously comprehend .”
Louise Nichols
From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM.
From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM.
