In February, the NSW Department of Planning and Environment told The Leader it had engaged an independent ecologist “to ensure the strategy is completed by April”. 

Almost five months later, the strategy has not been finalised.

The Regional Biodiversity Offset Strategy is supposed to be a coordinated effort to reduce the environmental impact of the three neighbouring Maules Creek coal mines.

The Department say it was continuing to work with the independent ecologist, the two mining companies (Whitehaven Coal and Idemitsu), and other state and local government agencies to finalise the strategy.

“Given the complexity of the strategy and the importance of ensuring adequate consultation with the various stakeholders, the development of the strategy is taking longer than first anticipated,” a spokeswoman said.

Leard Forest Alliance spokesman Phil Sparks said the two and a half year delay was "just not good enough".

"Particularly considering the three mines have gone ahead with clearing the forest, with no big picture assessment of how their conservation measures are going to work together in a way that will adequately compensate for the lost of the forest,” Mr Sparks said.

In April, the Department held a working group meeting to “progress the strategy”, and in May met with the joint Community Consultative Committee for the three Leard Forest mines to provide an update.

“The Department will shortly be commencing further consultation with the Community Consultative Committees to obtain feedback on the draft documents,” the spokeswoman said.

Mr Sparks said conservationists were lobbying for a position on the working group.