The eight-year hitch: controversial Shenhua Watermark coal mine to pass kill date

By Heath Aston
Updated October 18 2016 - 9:18pm, first published 8:45pm
The mine is opposed by green groups and National Party leader Barnaby Joyce.  Photo: Andrew Meares
The mine is opposed by green groups and National Party leader Barnaby Joyce. Photo: Andrew Meares
The proposed site for the coal mine. Photo: Louise Kennerley
The proposed site for the coal mine. Photo: Louise Kennerley
The disturbance area of the Shenhua Watermark coal mine is 1½ times larger than the City of Sydney. Photo: Fairfax Media
The disturbance area of the Shenhua Watermark coal mine is 1½ times larger than the City of Sydney. Photo: Fairfax Media

It has been 2916 days since controversial former state Labor minister Ian Macdonald issued China's state-owned Shenhua a licence to explore for coal in Australia's richest farming region, the Liverpool Plains, in return for a $300 million cash payment to the NSW government.

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