A PROPOSED $48.5 million miners' accommodation village at Werris Creek was given the green light yesterday.
The Joint Regional Planning Panel (JRPP) unanimously approved the MAC Services Group development after having deferred its decision at last month's meeting due to a legal issue.
GrainCorp, which operates a storage and transport facility 250m south of the proposed development site, lodged a legal objection that held the development was not permissible under Liverpool Plains Shire Council's (LPSC) local environment plan. It also raised concerns the noise and dust from the facility would prompt complaints from the miners' village residents, which would subsequently interfere with its operations.
At last month's meeting the JRPP requested the council clarify the issue.
Legal advice sought by the council deemed the development was, indeed, permissible but a number of consent conditions have now been imposed on the MAC Group to minimise any potential impacts from the GrainCorp site.
The development will be pushed back a further 180m to increase the distance between it and the GrainCorp site and a 1.8m-high landscaped bund will stretch across the front of the site to reduce noise.
The windows in the buildings at the front of the site will also be double-glazed to minimise any noise and the airconditioning units will have appropriate dust-filtering systems.
JRPP chairman Garry West said prevailing winds also tended to take dust and noise in the opposite direction of the village, so these should not be a concern.
"Council recommended that it be approved so, obviously, we're happy the development is likely to go ahead because it has a large economic benefit for the town of Werris Creek in terms of business and employment opportunities," LPSC general manager Robert Hunt said.
The village will provide accommodation for up to 1500 people and include a commercial restaurant, indoor recreation facilities and a caravan park.
It is expected the facility will create up to 150 permanent and casual jobs once operational.