Wallarah 2 Coal Mine gets the green light with mining leases

Wallarah 2 could be operational within three years after the State Government granted the controversial project its mining lease.

Wallarah 2 coal mine is starting to advertise for 300 jobs. Picture by Mark Scott

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The “ultimate objective” of the Wallarah 2 Coal Mine has been achieved, allowing the mine to finally move forward.

Two mining leases have been approved by the State Government for the controversial longwall mine to be built underneath the Yarramalong and Dooralong valleys. The project is expected to extract up to 5 million tonnes of export thermal coal per year.

Wyong Coal Pty Limited project manager Kenny Barry told the Express the team were thrilled following the news.

Project Manager Kenny Barry. Picture: Mark Scott

“The mining leases were really the ultimate objective, allowing us to go forward and start to construct and build,” he said. “We are really happy with that.”

Mr Barry said the next step was the finalisation of management plans prior to the start of construction.

“We’ll be working to refine those plans to move the mine forward over the next six to 12 months. Hopefully all things being equal we will be on coal by late 2021, more likely 2022.”

He said the project had been ongoing for the past 24 years. The Australian Coal Alliance has been the strongest objectors to the mine, claiming it will harm the coast’s water supply.

“It’s been a long process with countless challenges,” Mr Barry said.

“There’s been ups and downs throughout the long and rigorous process. But we have hung in there.

The entrance to the Bryant Dr, Tuggerah site. Picture: Sue Graham

“The mining leases are a testament to our management plan. Everything that we have put together, and the science that went into all of the assessments, was rock solid.”

The CFMEU Mining and Energy northern district president Peter Jordan said the mine ticked all the regulatory boxes.

“Our industry needs fair rules that are consistently applied to give operators, investors and workers some certainty,” Mr Jordan said.

He said the decision recognised the “rigorous assessment process the Wallarah 2 project has been through”.

“The community has been waiting for a long time for the jobs that will flow from this project,” he said.

The mine received State Government approval in January 2018, and Federal Government approval in 2019. A Land and Environment Court case against the mine, lodged by the ACA, was recently thrown out of court.