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History of Development

 

The Colliery has been in continuous operation since the 1950’s. Operations prior to the 1950’s were intermittent, with underground operations commencing in 1923 and open cut operations in 1946.

(history)
Approved Mining Operations
and Modifications

Over time, the operation has been subject to a number of development consents and areas within the current DA area have been owned and operated by a number of different companies.

In 2001, Liddell Coal lodged a development application with Planning NSW (now the Department of Planning) to continue operations within the colliery holding. The Minister for Planning granted development consent (DA 305-11-01) on 20 November 2002.

In July 2007, Liddell Coal was granted a modification to their development consent (DA 305-11-01). A summary of the approved modifications to the Liddell Coal DA include:


  • increase the maximum total ROM coal production rate from 4.5 to 8 million tonnes per annum, including an associated increase in product coal transport by rail;
  • increase the mining footprint within the approved South and Barrier Pits by a total of 47 hectares;
  • construct and operate a new preparation section of the CHPP and minor upgrades to the ROM receival and product coal facility;
  • establishment of a new supplementary coal stockpile;
  • receival and delivery of up to 1.5 Mtpa of coal to and from Cumnock No.1 Colliery;
  • increase the transportation of reclaimed tailings up to 0.5 Mtpa to Macquarie Generation;
  • realignment of an approved access road and services corridor route from the Old New England Highway;
  • relocate and construct the open cut mining offices, workshops and associated infrastructure to the southern portion of the Liddell DA;
  • construction of a bridge over the Main Northern Railway to provide for more efficient movement of coal and overburden between open cut pits;
  • modification to the footprint of the approved Dam 13B with a capacity of 1,500 ML; and
  • construction of a new desalination unit adjacent to the existing CHPP area for the treatment of mine water.