The Watermark coal project in NSW has been given the go-ahead by the NSW Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) subject to a number of provisions.
The project is earmarked for the Liverpool Plains near Gunnedah in northern NSW, and has faced strong opposition from locals who claim the tenement rests on valuable and highly fertile farming land.
According to news.com, the PAC says it is “…generally satisfied that the site of this proposal, on the less fertile, higher ground above the Liverpool Plains, should be able to be mined without significant impacts on the agricultural productivity of the Liverpool Plains”.
A review developed by the PAC will now be passed on to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment for consideration.
Project proponents, Shenhua Group, claims the mine could produce up to 10 million tonnes of coal a year over a lifetime of 30 years.
PAC’s review raises concerns over water modelling provided by Shenhua and has recommended, “…the mine lease be amended to ban mining from black soil areas, given their crucial agricultural significance,” according to news.com.
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