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The NSW Independent Planning Commission has approved the HVO extension, the largest coal mining proposal in state history, causing 800 million tonnes of emissions over 19 years. Environment groups criticised the decision as a climate failure.
The NSW Independent Planning Commission has approved the largest coal mining proposal in the state's history, saying the 800 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions it will cause will have impacts on the Hunter Valley but can be managed with the conditions it has applied.
The decision approves extensions of two sections of the Hunter Valley mining operation, known as the HVO extension, for 19 years. The north and south Hunter Valley Operations mines were seen from above in a Google Maps image. In approving the extension, the commission said it directed the owners, miners Yancoal and Glencore, to export the coal only to countries that have measures in place to limit emissions in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement.
The companies must also develop a plan to reduce emissions from the mining operation itself. In its ruling, the commission said: The commission finds that the residual impacts of the project are, on balance, outweighed by its benefits to the Hunter region and NSW, including continued employment, economic activity, support for local business, ongoing royalties and taxation revenue. Environment groups responded furiously to the approval.
Lock the Gate Condemns Coal Extension Approval
Georgina Woods, NSW co-ordinator for Lock the Gate, said it was a betrayal of the Hunter Valley community and evidence of institutional failure in a state that is already off-track to meet its own legislated emission reductions of 50 per cent by 2030 and 70 per cent by 2035. Burning the coal produces the pollution that causes the warming, Woods said. The only way to prevent that from happening is not digging up the coal and burning it.
Nature Conservation Council chief executive Jacqui Mumford described the decision as Premier Chris Minns' biggest climate failure. This decision shows the NSW government's complete inability to appropriately respond to the ever-growing climate crisis, she said. Mumford added: Today's approval protects the interests of two multinational coal companies at the expense of everyone else, as our hope for a safe climate future is eroded one coal mine approval at a time.
Last year, a court overturned the approval of another Hunter Valley coal mine, ruling that the IPC must take into consideration the local impact on residents of coal from the region being burnt overseas. During deliberations over the HVO extensions, residents and environmental groups made the case that extreme weather caused by climate change was already having an impact.
Residents Highlight Climate Change Impact on Region
There have been fires and fires in the last five years in the Hunter Valley, we are losing beaches on the coast, there are people in the Hunter Valley who cannot insure their homes due to climate change, Woods said. More to come.
theage 
smh:Largest coal mining proposal in state’s history wins approval 
brisbanetimes:Largest coal mining proposal in state’s history wins approvalThis story was compiled and edited by the HeadTopics newsroom and HT AI from the reports above.
Hunter Valley Coal Mining NSW Government Greenhouse Gas Emissions Climate Change Environmental Groups Hunter Valley Coal Extension NSW Independent Planning Commission Yancoal And Glencore Climate Emissions Environment Groups NSW Coal Mine Extension HVO Extension Approval Independent Planning Commission Hunter Valley Emissions Climate Criticism
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