Shenhua’s more than six-year struggle to seek approval for its Watermark mine could see a result in little more than a week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt is expected to announce the final decision on the controversial mine before July 9 this year.
The huge $1.2 billion mine is proposed for a site 3km west of Breeza.
It would extract up to 10 million tonnes of coal each year for 30 years.
Shenhua has been plagued with controversy since the project was first proposed, with many anti-mine submissions included in both the NSW Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) hearings held in Gunnedah last year, protest marches, social media campaigns and rallies.
The protest has continued right up until the eleventh hour, with a petition started by the Caroona Coal Action Group gathering 6821 signatures at the time the NVI went to print today.
“Over 5000 people have joined together and signed the petition to stop this mine - thanks to every one of you!” the group posted online on June 24.
“The Federal Environment Minister, Greg Hunt, is due to give his decision, the final decision, on Shenhua’s Watermark Coal Project before July 9, so that date is fast approaching!!
“If you have not already, please share this petition with your family, friends and social media channels and keep Australia’s food bowl safe from coal mines!”
The mine is also facing a legal challenge by the Upper Mooki Landcare group who are claiming the project could leave 262 koalas homeless.
The group has appealed the NSW government approval through the NSW Environmental Defenders Office in the Land and Environment Court.
The Watermark mine has already made it through a lengthy and complicated approval process, with the PAC finding the project could be approved, and the NSW government signing it off ahead of this year’s election.
Mr Hunt had asked for further information ahead of the final decision.
The mine, which will employ more than 400 people full-time during operation, has met with opposition from farmers, conservationists and Indigenous representatives.
Shenhua Watermark project manager Paul Jackson has said the science showed mining and farming could co-exist.