The Independent Planning Commission (IPC) report said there were several issues that needed "detailed consideration", including project justification, groundwater, noise and blasting, air quality, traffic and transport, public interest, biodiversity and rehabilitation.

Boggabri farmer David Watt was encouraged by the IPC's report, which he said listed almost every problem raised by the community as an issue worthy of further investigation.

"It's reassuring they are taking it seriously, and looking in to it, rather than just listening to the spin from Whitehaven," Mr Watts said.

"I just hope they back it up when it comes time to make the final recommendation."

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Whitehaven also welcomed the report, and said it was "confident there is strong community support for the project".

"We will ensure the technical issues it lists that have not already been addressed in the comprehensive EIS are resolved through the response to submission process and the project evaluation the Department of Planning will undertake," a Whitehaven spokesperson said.

Lock the Gate spokeswomen Sally Hunter said she was "heartened" to see the serious issues raised by the community reflected in the IPC report.

"Particularly the risk to water resources, the displacement of farming and our towns, and the question of inter-generational equity," Ms Hunter said.

"The proof of how seriously the Independent Planning Commission takes its consideration of these issues will come down the track."

The project will now be assessed by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, with IPC's report guiding the government's investigation.

Once the department has finalised its report, the final decision will rest with the IPC.

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- Strategic context and project justification

- Groundwater

- Surface water and flooding

- Water balance

- Noise and blasting

- Air quality

- Project infrastructure area

- Biodiversity

- Rehabilitation, final void and final landform

- Heritage

- Social and economics

- Visual amenity

- Traffic and transport

- The public interest