Bengalla and Moolarben extensions protect local jobs

Local jobs in the Upper Hunter and Mudgee have been protected as the Planning Assessment Commission yesterday approved extensions for Coal and Allied’s Bengalla project and Yancoal’s Moolarben project.

“The 362 mining workers and their families at Bengalla now have a certain future and up to 450 jobs at Moolarben have been protected,” NSW Minerals Council CEO, Stephen Galilee said today.  

“NSW has the most rigorous environmental compliance in Australia and these projects have been thoroughly assessed against that criteria. This is good news for the region and it’s good news for mining families,’ Mr Galilee said.     

In the past six years, assessment time frames for major mining projects in NSW have doubled – from an average of 500 days to more than 1000 days.

“The NSW Premier’s recent commitment to halve planning assessment timeframes for major mining projects, without relaxing existing stringent environmental standards, will help attract investment and create jobs in our state,” Mr Galilee said.