ICAC looks into Hartcher’s mine link

THE ICAC has launched a new investigation into Chris Hartcher and Nick Di Girolamo about a coal mine on the Central Coast.

Chris Hartcher is being investigated by the ICAC.

THE Independent Commission Against Corruption has launched a new investigation into former NSW resources minister Chris Hartcher and Liberal lobbyist Nick Di Girolamo’s role in the initial approval of a controversial $800 million coalmine on the central coast.

The Weekend Australian understands ICAC is investigating the lobbying by Mr Di Girolamo on behalf of Korean miner Kores, owner of the controversial Wal­larah 2 coalmine at Wyong.

The new investigation follows revelations in The Weekend Australian last week that Mr Di Girolamo and Mr Hartcher, in his capacity as resources minister, travelled to South Korea to discuss the Wallarah 2 mine with Kores’s chief executive in December 2012.

The mine has attracted heated debate over its environmental impact and was axed by the former NSW Labor government after concerns were raised by locals.

Both Mr Hartcher and former premier Barry O’Farrell were also fervently against the proposed mine in 2009, when they were in opposition, with both vowing it would not go ahead.

However, when elected, the Coalition government opened the way for the project to be reconsidered under a new independent approval policy.

Mr O’Farrell has admitted he “dropped in for five minutes to a meeting” with Mr Di Girolamo when he was lobbying on behalf of Kores in early 2012.

The NSW Department of Planning gave initial approval to develop the mine in February this year, and it is now awaiting final approval from the Planning Assessment Commission.

The Weekend Australian can reveal ICAC has this week been collecting evidence into Mr Hartcher and Mr Di Girolamo’s role in the Wallahra 2 approval process.

A source close to ICAC said it was possible there would be a ­separate inquiry as a result of the investigation.

The Weekend Australian spoke to a second source who had been interviewed by ICAC as part of the investigation into the mine.

An ICAC spokeswoman last night said she “could neither confirm nor deny” the investigation was taking place.

A spokesman for Kores denied any knowledge of ICAC’s investigation, saying none of its executives or other employees had been interviewed or had documents seized.

The Wallahra 2 mine was given initial approval almost a year after Mr Di Girolamo ceased working for Kores.

As opposition leader, Mr O’Farrell told a rally organised by Mr Hartcher in 2009 that “the next Liberal-National government will ensure mining cannot occur here ... no ifs, no buts — a guarantee.”

In October 2011, Wallarah 2 resubmitted a fresh application to the NSW government, six months before Mr Di Girolamo began working as a lobbyist for the ­company.

Mr Di Girolamo was at the centre of corruption allegations brought by ICAC, which examined payments made by his company, Australian Water Holdings, to a Liberal Party electoral slush fund controlled by Mr Hartcher’s staffer Tim Koelma.

The family of corrupt former Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid also had an interest in Australian Water.