Australia’s New South Wales (NSW) Impartial Planning Fee has turned down Glencore’s proposal to develop its Glendell coal mine citing its potential to break heritage values.
Following proof from numerous stakeholders, the Fee conceded that the growth ‘is just not within the public curiosity, regardless of its doubtless advantages’.
The stakeholders who supplied the proof are representatives from native Aboriginal teams, the Division of Planning and Atmosphere, Heritage NSW, the NSW Heritage Council, Singleton Council and Glencore.
The mine is positioned within the Ravensworth Homestead advanced within the Higher Hunter Valley of New South Wales (NSW), Australia.
This advanced is within the mine website’s centre and contains colonial buildings and would should be relocated for the challenge to advance.
The influence may very well be evaded utilizing a buffer zone across the advanced the place mining is restricted, however such a buffer is claimed to consequence within the financial unfeasibility of mining operations.
In keeping with the fee, the mine’s influence on the heritage values of this advanced can be “vital, irreversible and unjustified”, and elimination of the advanced and associated heritage can be a “vital loss” to future generations.
Nonetheless, the Fee additionally mentioned that the challenge would result in employment, financial and social advantages.
It additionally mentioned that main associated points may very well be managed if the heritage influence might have been prevented.
These points embrace water and biodiversity impacts, visitors and transport points, noise, vibration, air high quality, and greenhouse gasoline emissions, amongst others.
Expressing its disappointment with the choice, Glencore mentioned: “We’ll rigorously evaluate the IPC’s willpower and assertion of causes after which determine if any additional plan of action is required.”
The miner had spent $25m in research on the challenge, which was anticipated to create greater than 600 jobs.
