A new mine with approval to extract seven million tonnes of coal a year could be built near Muswellbrook if an application to the state government is given the go-ahead.
Mining company Anglo American has lodged a project application for the Drayton South Project, located 13 kilometres south of Muswellbrook.
The mine would replace the current Drayton mine, which will close by 2016.
A preliminary environmental assessment has been developed for the project, with a detailed environmental impact study to be completed in the second half of this year.
A spokeswoman for Anglo Coal said Drayton South would continue to offer employment for more than 500 Drayton mine employees.
“The replacement mine will use the existing Drayton mine infrastructure, including the coal handling preparation plant, rail loop and associated loadout infrastructure, workshops, bath houses and administration offices,” the spokeswoman said.
Coal would be extracted by both open cut and highwall mining
operations.
“Drayton South saves jobs, replenishes coal capacity and will not add to the cumulative impacts in the Hunter valley as it simply replaces the existing Drayton
operation,” the spokeswoman said.
“The project will also adopt best-practice dust and noise management processes.”
If approved, there would be a period where Drayton mine and Drayton South operate at the same time, with Drayton mine to
continue under its existing project approval.
The project application may be inspected on the NSW planning department website, www.plan ning.nsw.gov.au, or by phoning Anglo American on 07 3834 1333.
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