It looks like Yancoal want to extract some more coal from their newly acquired Hunter Valley mining operations.
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In last week’s Singleton Argus there is an advertisement stating an Exploration Licence (EL) has been lodged by Mount Thorley Operations Limited – owned by Yancoal.
The Chinese miner bought Mount Thorley Warkworth and Hunter Valley Operations from Rio Tinto in September 2017. Yancoal also operate the Ashton undergoing mine near Camberwell.
The EL covers an area of approximately 1992 hectares, nearly 5000 acres, located 1.3 kilometres west of Singleton.
According to the map supplied in the advertisement the EL runs from Broke Road, adjacent to Putty Road then across Wallaby Scrub Road and then onto the outskirts of the Bulga village.
As Yancoal are seeking to have Wallaby Scrub Road closed for the expansion of their neighbouring Warkworth mining operations the EL appears to link the two open cuts. A Yancoal spokesman said the company was considering all options for the continuation of operations at Mount Thorley.
Bulga Milbrodale Progress Association president John Krey said “It was with disbelief that the residents of Bulga and Milbrodale read the notice in the Argus that Yancoal has submitted an Exploration License Application to investigate seams under an area directly in front of the of Bulga village.”
“Particularly when we read in recent weeks (Argus) the statement from Yancoal that the current property acquisitions by the mining company in Bulga are nothing to do with future expansion.
“ It is clear that the Yancoal plan is to purchase residences nearest their planned mine expansion to eliminate future objections. Whilst this application is not an application to mine coal, it is never the less a precursor to an expansion of the open cut pits advancing towards Bulga. “If the Warkworth expansion does not destroy Bulga, this new plan right at our front door step, will.”
The public can comment on the impacts of the exploration but they must be made within 28 days of the publication of the advertisement. For information regarding landholder’s rights go to the Department of Resources and Energy website or call the Division of Resources and Geoscience 40636600