The Independent Expert Scientific Committee (IESC) yesterday released the advice it has provided federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt to help guide his final decision on whether the controversial open-cut mine at Breeza should proceed.

In February, Mr Hunt requested the IESC review key aspects of Shenhua’s plan, in particular what impact the extraction of 260 million tonnes of coal over 30 years would have on the region’s groundwater, before he makes his final decision.

The IESC, which was established by independent MP Tony Windsor to advise state and federal government regulators on the potential water-related impacts of large coal and coal seam gas projects, addressed 22 specific questions over the project.

It concluded the mine’s effect on the “highly productive Upper Namoi alluvium groundwater resource” that feeds the region’s irrigation industry was “likely to be less that those predicted” in Shenhua’s own environmental impact statement.

Shenhua Watermark project manager Paul Jackson hailed the finding as vindication for the company’s stance, in the face of fierce opposition from Liverpool Plains farmers and environmentalists, that the mine and local agriculture industry could co-exist.

“The IESC advice comprehensively demonstrates that the concerns about groundwater, raised by the farming and irrigation communities, are unfounded,” he said.

“It provides the community with final, irrefutable and independent confirmation that the project will not harm the region’s valuable irrigation groundwater.”

Mr Hunt, who upon receipt of the IESC’s report extended the assessment deadline until July 9, said in a statement his decision would be based on the “best available scientific information”.

“The advice was sought following a meeting with representatives from the local community and included the questions and issues that they wanted to be addressed,” he said.

“The IESC’s advice will now be considered as part of the assessment of this project under national environment law.

“To ensure there is adequate time to properly consider the advice, the timeframe for assessment has been extended for 40 days.”

Shenhua, which has spent seven years and about $700 million developing the project to this point, says the proposed mine will create 1200 jobs and generate about $1.5 billion in royalties to the NSW government.

The state’s independent Planning Assessment Commission concluded in January the project could proceed subject to “stringent requirements”, however, that ruling is now the subject of an upcoming judicial review in the NSW Land and Environment Court.

The Leader contacted several members of the Caroona Coal Action Group, which has been leading the resistance against the mine, but was told they needed more time to digest the report before making comment.