The expansion demonstrates the department’s commitment to compliance reporting and enforcement, as well as engagement with local communities, executive director Chris Wilson said.

“Since the Singleton compliance office was set up in 2010 to oversee the cluster of mines in the Upper Hunter, its compliance activities have expanded to Gloucester in 2013 and now Mudgee in 2014,” Wilson said.

“Our locally-based compliance offices allow us to respond faster to community concerns and provide us with more effective environmental outcomes through the relationships we build with communities and mine operators.”

Compliance officer Ben Harrison will lead the expansion of the Northern Region team.

Harrison said he is “looking forward to working with the community to ensure a high-level of environmental performance for the mines operating in the region”

“I’ve worked in the Singleton compliance team for the past three years and seen the benefits a local presence brings,” Harrison said.

“Communities understand the important role these projects can play in the local economy, but they want to be sure that operations comply with the rules that have been set in place.

“Having a local dedicated presence will provide further confidence that mine operators are doing all that they should, as well as providing a single, known point of contact between the community and the department.”

Planning and Infrastructure has monitored and enforced compliance on approved projects in NSW since 2003. Specialist compliance teams conduct audits, respond to complaints, investigate potential breaches and enforce action where breaches are confirmed.

Monthly compliance activity reports advise the community and other stakeholders of the latest compliance initiatives and outcomes