Ninety-two submissions were received for the development which will be taken into account by the PAC in its assessment of the potential impacts and merits of the mine.

It will also provide recommendations and advice, with its findings to be delivered to Planning Minister Brad Hazzard by December 16.

Aston Resources wants to establish the open-cut mine in the Leard State Forest, about 15km north-east of Boggabri.

The mine will operate for 21 years and is expected to produce an average of 10.8 million tonnes of coal per year.

The site is the fourth-largest metallurgical coal deposit in Australia and the seventh-largest overall. It will mainly produce metallurgical coal (used to make steel) for export to Asia. The environmental application found two houses would experience significant impacts on air quality and noise, but both have since been acquired by Aston Resources.

According to two independent parties, the mine will have no effect on irrigation bores, with the exception of seven privately owned bores. These bores will experience some impact, in which case the company will substitute the supply of water.

Aston Resources chief executive officer Todd Hannigan said 470 people would be employed full-time by the mine, and a further 4000 direct and indirect jobs would be created statewide. It is expected to generate $8.6 billion in income for Australia throughout its life and provide $2.8 billion in royalties to the NSW government.

The mine will include a coal-handling and preparation plant, tailings-drying areas, a mine access road, administration and workshop facilities, a power transmission line and related infrastructure, water pipeline, pumping station and infrastructure for access to water from the Namoi River, and a rail spur, rail loop and load-out facility.