The huge Narrabri coal seam gas project is set to be delayed due to fears of coronavirus slowing the development application process.
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But a green group said its concerned the independent planning commission will hold public hearings for the project despite the virus.
The $3.6 billion project is nearing final approval stage.
But first the NSW Department of Planning needs to issue an "assessment report", which will establish the process for conducting public hearings, among other things.
After it receives the report, the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) will have 12 weeks to decide whether or not to approve the mines.
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It's expected that hundreds of residents will want to have their say on the mega-project, which involves drilling over 850 coal seam wells in the Pilliga Forest, near Narrabri.
But with Australia's strict social distancing rules, it's still unclear how they will get the chance to do that safely.
Green group Lock the Gate, which opposes the project, said it wants the approval process paused until the COVID-19 pandemic has passed.
"Lock the Gate Alliance is deeply concerned that NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes may force the IPC to conduct a public hearing during the coronavirus health crisis, which will mean many people struggle to take part in the process and be heard, and some may be excluded altogether," NSW coordinator Georgina Woods said.
She said an online hearing wouldn't suit many of the people who would be directly affected by the project. Many opponents are elderly and may not possess the computer literacy skills to participate fully, she said.
In a statement, the IPC said public health and safety is its first priority.
"The Commission is aware of the significant community interest in this Project and is committed to ensuring interested individuals and groups can have their say on issues important to them," the statement read.
"The Commission will provide more information in due course."
The IPC "will be guided by state and federal health authorities" it said.
A spokesperson for the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment said that the IPC is "currently developing practices and procedures to enable interested stakeholders to have their say on projects, via video conferencing and written submissions, for example."
The NSW planning department received nearly 23,500 submissions about the scheme's development application including 18,000 objections to to the project. It's the largest number of submissions ever received by the department regarding a DA.
Santos chairman Keith Spence told shareholders last week that they should expect a decision on the project sometime this year.
The company had previously indicated it expected the process to be completed by June.
The project was referred to the IPC by Planning Minister Rob Stokes in March.
He directed the IPC to hold public hearings and make a decision within 12 weeks of receiving the assessment report from the NSW Department of Planning.