Changes have been made to the proposal to extend an Upper Hunter coal mine following public feedback.
Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) wants to extend mining at the North and South open-cut sites to 2050.
General Manager Dave Foster said feedback on their draft E-I-S has prompted a rethink in a number of areas including a major road.
A total of 1,060 submissions were made on the EIS following its public exhibition in February this year. More than 90 per cent of submissions were supportive of the proposal.
“The overwhelming support for the proposal highlights the many benefits it offers to local people, businesses and the economy,” Mr Foster said.
“We’ve listened and refined the proposal based on that feedback.”
Mr Foster said proposal changes include altering the route of the Lemington Road realignment and bringing forward the construction of a low permeability groundwater barrier wall to improve water management. HVO undertook 12 new technical studies, assessments and reviews to provide more information about its proposal and assess the impacts and benefits of its amendments.
