YANCOAL’S plans to expand its Stratford mine would bring capital investment of more than $75 million and increase the current workforce by an additional 180 jobs, the company says.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Speaking at last Wednesday’s PAC (Planning Assessment Commission) hearing into whether the mine should be expanded, Yancoal’s chief development officer Frank Fulham said the mine would operate for an additional 11 years should it be given the green light.
He said the expansion project would see the development of two new open cut pits and the extension of an existing pit, while there was also a proposed return to 24-hour mining.
“Significantly, the Roseville West Pit (the pit closest to Stratford village) would be a daytime only operation, operating between the hours of 7am and 6pm,” he said.
“Currently, there is day and evening consent for work in that particular area.”
Mr Fulham said no new infrastructure would be required for the project, which would see 250 on site jobs and 105 indirect jobs locally, according to Yancoal.
He said the State government would receive $130 million in royalties over the life of the project and predicted expenditure of $45 million per annum into the local economy.
Mr Fulham said the Bucketts Way would benefit to the tune of $51,000 each year as part of an annual contribution from the mine, while Yancoal would also pay Gloucester Shire Council $550 per person per year for those that worked at the mine as part of an ex-gratia payment.
The mine would provide 935ha in biodiversity offset areas, compared to 300ha of project disturbance, and would establish 300ha of agriculture land suitable for grazing.