Centennial Coal plans to reopen mining operations at Newstan Colliery at Fassifern

An environmental activist has slammed the proposed reopening of a Lake Macquarie mine. He believes mine subsidence, and impacts to waterways and habitats are major concerns.

An environmental activist has slammed the proposed reopening of the Newstan Mine Extension project and said it could potentially cause “catastrophic” impacts and damage to property, habitats and threatened species.

Lake Munmorah resident and administrator of the ‘Save Our Lake Mac’ Facebook page Gary Blaschke said plans to recommence operations at the Fassifern site, after it has been closed for more than seven years, is just a “blatant grab” to extend the lifespan and profits of mine owners.

“The proposal may be under the letter of the law, a State Significant Development, but is to the detriment of the thousands of residents who have already made the region their home and the well over 100,000 proposed new residents in the future,” he said.

In 2014, the underground mine site saw more than 100 employees made redundant after it was placed into care and maintenance due to poor market conditions. It followed the nearby Awaba Colliery which also ceased operations earlier in 2012.

A development application is now lodged to reopen the underground mine, which would extract up to 25.9 million tonnes of coal over a 15 year period, expected to boost full-time jobs by more than 300 and inject around $80 million into the NSW economy.

But Mr Blaschke said it’s approval could spell disaster for nearby communities due to the potential mine subsidence.

“What is proposed by Newstan clearly shows in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) of impacts of subsidence up to 3,250 mm, cracking and sinkholes,” he said in a recent detailed letter to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, also shared with The Newcastle News.

“Subsidence is a major problem throughout the Hunter Valley, Lake Macquarie and Central Coast regions, with many old coal mines crisscrossing under the land and lakes.

“It devalues the biggest investment of every home owner in the region, without many understanding or realising that the mines actually exist.”

He also believes the proposal is likely to significantly affect threatened species, including the Lake Macquarie Green Turtle and Grey Nurse Shark, their populations and habitats, whilst impacting local waterways.

“Ecosystems are under immense pressure with pollution and erosion, public safety and security, access to and use of the natural and built environment and aesthetic value and amenity of where they call home,” Mr Blaschke said.

“There is no mention of the former Wangi Coal Ash Dam which is also in the immediate region of this proposed project.

The Newstan Colliery on Fassifern Road, Fassifern, near Newcastle.

“It jeopardises the stability of the ash dam and its containment of over 40 million tonnes of stored coal ash which was the catalyst for the closure of the Myuna Bay Sport and Recreation Camp.”

Furthermore he noted it does nothing to enhance the welfare of the local region.

“The proposed project ignores the health and well being which includes physical and mental health especially for people vulnerable to social exclusion or substantial change, psychological stress resulting from pressures and change,” Mr Blaschke continued.

The Lake Munmorah resident is now proposing the decision on the project be put aside for at least 12 months to allow for adequate investigation and assessment, including further community consultation.

In response, Centennial Coal said it had prepared a technically detailed and scientifically robust EIS which is currently on public exhibition.

“We encourage comment and feedback through this process,” a Centennial Coal spokesperson said.

“Centennial will then provide a response, that will be publicly available, to the no doubt myriad of issues raised by local community stakeholders and interest groups.”

Earlier

Proposal to revive underground mine to boost jobs

An old underground mine site at Lake Macquarie which has been closed for more than seven years, and saw more than 100 employees made redundant, could be revived and many more jobs restored.

There’s a proposal to reopen and continue coal mining at Centennial Coal’s Newstan Colliery at Fassifern, which has been operating for more than 130 years in the region.

The Newstan Extension Project — which is currently on public exhibition — proposes to extract up to 25.9 million tonnes of coal over a 15 year period, at about four million tonnes per year, injecting around $80 million into the NSW economy.

The project site encompasses Newstan Colliery — which was placed into care and maintenance in August 2014 due to poor market conditions — and the Awaba colliery entry site which ceased operations in early 2012.

The capital investment value is estimated to be more than $129 million and set to create 320 jobs, with another 50 in its construction phase.

Independent Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper said it’s planned reopening will be a “good thing” for local jobs, but the global market and demand for coal will always dictate what happens to the coal industry.

“Inexorably, there will be a decline in the coal export market over time, but while ever there’s a market and the mining of coal in Lake Macquarie is underground, I will support the industry,” he said.

“The Newstan mine was running in the local area for many years before it was mothballed a few years ago.

Greg Piper member for Lake Macquarie said it would be a “good thing” for local jobs.

“These mines require a massive investment in infrastructure so it makes sense for them to be reopened when demand for coal returns, as opposed to building and opening new mines from scratch.”

In the last couple of years Centennial Newstan established feasibility investigations to recommence mining at the site, with the proposed project set to enable supply once again to domestic markets, as well as export coal products.

An environment impact statement (EIS) concluded the project would ensure the ongoing security of supply for domestic electricity generation.

It also stated it would provide flow-on effects to the local, regional and state economies, with $28 million in employee benefits.

The entrance to the Newstan Colliery at Fassifern.

“This project is a logical continuation of the mining operations, within existing mining tenements and using established operational surface facilities at Newstan,” a Centennial Coal spokesperson said in a statement.

“The EIS includes a detailed assessment of the potential environmental, social and economic impacts of the project and outlines a range of measures to manage, mitigate and offset these impacts.

“By using varying levels of extraction, subsidence can be managed to protect surface features, which has been a key focus during development of the project.

“Newstan represents a significant coal reserve in close proximity to two power stations and is only 25km by rail to the Port of Newcastle.”

Currently on public exhibition, people can give their feedback on the project until October 19.