In its monthly auditing and compliance activities, the department’s Singleton office said it had carried out a general audit of the Duralie coal mine in November, to assess compliance with the requirements of the mine’s consent conditions and management plans.

The audit found the mine was found to be generally compliant with consent requirements.

However, on November 18 the department issued a $3000 penalty infringement notice to the Duralie mine for failing to lodge a conservation bond with the department, in accordance with its conditions of approval.

The conservation bond is required to secure the implementation of the offset strategy contained within the mine’s biodiversity management plan.

 A warning letter was also issued to the mine on November 6 for a separate incident relating to a blast that exceeded the relevant air-blast overpressure (sound) limit on October 18.

The blast exceeded the relevant criteria at one monitor, recording 121.1dB.

The breech was found to have occurred because of a lack of confinement in one section of the blast area.

The department said the mine had amended its procedures to reduce the risk of a reoccurrence.

The department’s compliance officer for the Gloucester region Ben Harrison met with representatives from Stratford and Duralie as well as community consultative committees (CCC) and community representatives in November.

The department also met with councillors and senior staff from Gloucester Shire Council to introduce compliance staff and discuss council related issues.