Moolarben Coal Operations Pty Ltd Moolarben Coal Operations Pty Ltd

Stage 2 Project Approval & Modifications

The Moolarben Coal Project Stage 2 of the Moolarben Coal Complex has commenced and at full development will comprise one open cut mine (OC4), two longwall underground mines (UG1 & 2), and mining related infrastructure. Stage 2 coal will be handled and processed by the Stage 1 infrastructure.

The Stage 2 EA was originally prepared by MCM under Part 3A of the EP&A Act. MCM made a number of changes to the proposed layout and design of the Moolarben Coal Project Stage 2 in order to address issues raised by the Department of Planning & Infrastructure (now Department of Planning & Environment) and its independent technical reviewers, introduce additional impact avoidance measures and to enable the effective integration of Stage 2 with Stage 1. Changes to the Moolarben Coal Project Stage 2 were described in the Stage 2 PPR which was exhibited from 31 January 2012 to 24 February 2012.

The Moolarben Coal Project Stage 2 was approved under Part 3A of the EP&A Act by the NSW Planning Assessment Commission (as delegate of the NSW Minister for Planning) on 30 January 2015 (Project Approval 08_0135). Two Modifications to Project Approval (08_0135) have since been approved. The modifications were generally required to reconfigure the mine layout (e.g. extension to mining areas, relocation of coal handling infrastructure and water infrastructure) and were aimed to improve the efficiency and operation of the Moolarben Coal Complex and enable access to additional economically viable coal reserves. 

Further information on these modifications can be found below.

In April 2015, MCM submitted an application to modify Project Approval (08_0135) under section 75W of the EP&A Act enable more efficient access to the OC4 resource and management of waste rock in OC1. The modification was approved by the DP&E (as delegate of the NSW Minister for Planning) on 21 August 2015.

 

In June 2015, MCM submitted an application to modify Project Approval (08_0135) under section 75W of the EP&A Act to extract additional economically viable coal and improve mining and processing efficiencies associated with the underground operations. The modification was approved by the DP&E (as delegate of the NSW Minister for Planning) on 29 April 2016.

In October 2017, MCM submitted an application to modify Project Approval (08_0135) under section 75W of the EP&A Act to optimise the approved Stage 1 and Stage 2 operations at the Moolarben Coal Complex. The modification included an increase in run-of-mine (ROM) coal production from the Stage 1 and Stage 2 open cuts (OC1 to OC4), a minor extension to the OC2 pit limit, minor extensions and reductions of the OC3 pit limits, rehabilitation, water management and relocated/additional surface infrastructure.The modification was approved by the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) in June 2019.

In December 2022, MCM submitted an application to modify Project Approval (08_0135) under section 4.55(2) of the EP& A Act to incorporate changes to the mine layout for the approved underground mine (UG2). This modification was to extend two of the approved longwall panels, increase UG2 extraction height, revise the UG2 mining sequence, increase UG2 ROM coal production and capture the construction and operations of a remote services infrastructure area within the approved OC4 disturbance footprint to support UG2 operations. This modification was approved by the Department of Planning and Environment in December 2023.

In August 2024, MCO submitted an application to modify Project Approval (08_0135) under section 4.55(1A) of the EP&A Act. The modification was to accommodate construction and operation of Energy Corporation of NSW’s (EnergyCo) Central West Orana (CWO) Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) Transmission Project and other minor changes to the Moolarben Coal Complex.

The modification was approved by the NSW State Department of Planning, Housing and Industry Director in October 2024.