The modification application proposes to increase the approved maximum production rate at the project from 2.95 million tonnes to 5Mtpa.
It will also seek to modify the coal handling and preparation infrastructure for delivery of water and coal for processing and allow for disposal of coal processing waste, either at the redundant North East Open Cut mine area or in the proposed South East Open Cut mine area.
The Department had previously placed the proposal on public consultation, with eight submissions received from government agencies and 35 from the community.
It had recommended Yancoal’s modification request be approved with strict conditions that generally align with the Land and Environment Court’s 2015 approval of the Ashton South East Open Cut project, a separate but related proposal.
The updated recommendations for the Ashton Coal project will see the two mining projects integrated, creating an Ashton Mine Complex.
This will ensure any overlapping conditions or management plans between the two projects are cohesive.
The proposed updated conditions for the Ashton Coal project include generally replicating noise and air quality conditions and operational conditions for the project with those for the South East Open Coal project; updating conditions governing the project’s environmental management plans; and removing or updating conditions from the original 2002 consent which have become redundant or outdated over time.
