The government has the power to cancel Shenhua’s exploration licence, as eight years have pasted without the “substantial development” of a mine.

Shenhua has requested it be except from the deadline, which was October 22, 2016.

When quizzed on the exemption in parliament, Resource Minister Don Harwin refused to shed any light on the matter.

“The company submitted an application for renewal of its exploration licence,” Mr Harwin told the parliament.

“This will be assessed by my department before a recommendation is made to me to consider in due course in accordance with normal protocols.”

In August, the government started negotiations with Shenhua to buy back parts of the mine that encroached onto the black-soil plain, but Mr Harwin offered no update to the parliament.

Labor’s Tamworth spokesperson, MLC Daniel Mookhey, criticised Mr Harwin, saying he ducked his responsibility at the first opportunity.

“Even though we’re told we have a new mining minister with a new attitude, the same culture of secrecy continues in NSW,” Mr Mookhey said.

Caroona Coal Action Group (CCAG) has placed renewed pressure on Mr Harwin and Premier Gladys Berejiklian to resolve the situation, particularly given the precedent set by the government when it bought back the neighbouring BHP Caroona coal mine. CCAG president Susan Lyle said after 10 years and six premiers, the people of the Liverpool Plains were still living in limbo.

“With so much at stake, everyone nation-wide, must understand the damage that will occur to both ground and surface water, agricultural production and of course the loss that will occur to the Aboriginal sacred sites and the endangered koala population,” Mrs Lyle said.

“This is not the place for a thirty year whim. It is now time to extinguish this non-compliant licence”