The NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure said Stratford Coal was seeking planning approval to continue operations at its existing Stratford mining complex on Bucketts Way to give the operation an extra 11 years of mining life.

The applicant proposes to process a combined total of up to 4.8million tonnes per annum of coal from its nearby Stratford and Duralie coal mines and transport all product coal from the Stratford mining complex to the Port of Newcastle by rail.

It also wanted to develop associated infrastructure, realign two local roads and realign a powerline, the department said.

Additionally, rehabilitation of the site would be required.

“The department required the applicant’s environmental impact statement to specifically consider potential impacts on soil and land capability and other land uses such as agriculture, as well as impacts on water resources, biodiversity, heritage, air quality, noise, traffic and visual amenity,” it said.

Stratford first began production in June 1995 and employs around 120 people.

The Stratford open cut operations extract coal from upper and middle seams within the Gloucester Basin.

Run of mine coal from the Gloucester Basin mining operations is processed at the centralised Stratford coal handling and preparation plant.

The CHPP blends ROM coals for processing to produce the suite of Gloucester Basin coal products.