The Wallarah 2 coal project on the NSW Central Coast has been granted two mining leases by the state government after more than a decade of controversy and scrutiny.
The NSW government confirmed on Friday it had approved two coal mining leases to Kores Australia, a subsidiary of Korea Resources Corporation.
The $800 million mine is expected to create more than 1700 direct and indirect jobs over a 28-year lifespan, according to the Department of Planning and Environment.
The statement said conditions had been implemented to prevent and minimise environmental impacts from the mine.
The Environmental Defenders Office NSW unsuccessfully challenged the mine earlier this year.
EDO chief executive David Morris said his association will scrutinise the government's decision.
“We’ll have a look at it to make sure there aren’t any legal irregularities in respect of the lease which has been approved today,” he said.
The mine was first proposed in 2006 and later rejected by the NSW Labor planning minister Tony Kelly in 2011 due to issues relating to the impacts on drinking water.
The Coalition had promised to block the mine before the 2011 election, with then-Opposition leader Barry O’Farrell donning a red ‘water not coal’ t-shirt.
However, the O’Farrell government recommended the project be approved under strict conditions three years later.
The project hit another delay when negotiations broke-down between Kores and the Darkinjung Aboriginal Land Council over a planned agreement for rail access.
More details from Australia SPECTRUM.
