Project summary
*Figure 1 – Indicative Modification Layout
Introduction
Boggabri Coal Operations Pty Limited (BCOPL) has operated the Boggabri Coal Mine (BCM) on behalf of Idemitsu Australia (IA) and its joint venture partners since 2006.
BCM is located approximately 15 kilometres (km) north-east of the township of Boggabri in the North West Region of New South Wales (NSW) and is located wholly within the Narrabri Local Government Area (LGA).
The Modification
BCOPL is seeking to modify the existing Project Approval (now known as State Significant Development (SSD) Consent 09_0182) via an application under Section 4.55 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
A conceptual layout of the Modification is shown on Figure 1 and generally comprises the following:
- Increasing the approved maximum depth of mining down to the Templemore Coal Seam (and associated mine plan amendments) to recover an additional 61.6 Million tonnes (Mt) of Run of Mine (ROM) coal resource within the currently approved Mine Disturbance Boundary, resulting in a six year extension to mine life (i.e. from the end of 2033 to the end of 2039); and
- Construction of a specifically designed fauna movement crossing across the existing haul road between the rehabilitated overburden emplacement area and the western side of the regional biodiversity corridor. The establishment of the fauna movement crossing is proposed to improve the movement of fauna from the Leard State Forest through the Southern Rehabilitation Area. Detailed design of the Fauna Movement Crossing is currently being investigated. It is anticipated that the crossing may require minor disturbance of less than 1.21 ha to ensure it blends with the surrounding environment.
Various mine plan options and infrastructure designs have been considered to ensure operational efficiencies, whilst ensuring that environmental impacts are minimised.
Consultation
A Stakeholder Consultation Strategy has been developed for the Modification and is now underway, with the identification of key regulatory and community stakeholders along with the development of stakeholder engagement plans.
Community engagement is proposed to take the form of regular Newsletter updates to neighbours, personal discussions with affected stakeholders who request a briefing and regular presentations to the BCM Community Consultative Committee (CCC).
The most recent CCC meeting was held on 23 February 2023 and included a briefing in relation to the proposed Modifications being sought.
The main purpose of the Stakeholder Consultation Program is to identify any community concerns in relation to the Modification, so that they can be carefully considered in the planning and approvals process.
Current status of environmental approval pathway
- February 2021: the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment confirmed that the approval pathway for MOD 8 would be via an application to modify State Significant Development Approval 09_0182 under Section 4.55(2) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
- May 2021: the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) determined that the BCM MOD 8 would be a controlled action under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (reference: EPBC 2021/8875).
- The EPBC Act controlling provision for MOD 8 is:
- a water resource, in relation to coal seam gas development and large coal mining development (sections 24D and 24E).
- June 2021: Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) issued by NSW DPIE to address Commonwealth matters
- July 2021: BCM submitted the Boggabri Coal Mine Modification 8 to SSD 09_0182 Modification Report (2021 Modification Report) (Hansen Bailey, 2021)
- August to September 2021: The 2021 Modification Report was placed on public exhibition. During this period, a total of 60 submissions were received from both government agencies and the general public.
Subsequent to the public exhibition of MOD 8 and in conjunction with the 2022 Submissions Report, BCM amended the mine plan for the MOD 8 Application. The mine plan for the MOD 8 Amendment proposed a reduced level of production and various other changes which were assessed to result in a lesser environmental impact when compared with the previous MOD 8 mine plan described and assessed within the 2021 Modification Report (Hansen Bailey, 2021).
The 2022 Amendment Report was placed on exhibition from 14 December 2022 to 31 January 2023. During public exhibition, a total of 25 submissions were received.
Further amendment
In response to a number of submissions raised from the 2022/23 Public Exhibition, BCM has committed to removing the construction of the Fauna Movement Crossing, from the Modification Application. An Amendment Report (2023 MOD 8 Amendment Report) was prepared to describe and assess the potential environmental impacts for the removal of the Fauna Movement Crossing. The removal of the Fauna Movement Crossing will have no flow on impact to any technical assessment that was undertaken to assess the action of mining deeper and extension of life of mine by three years, as such will not impact on this aspect of the Modification Application.
Consequently, the MOD 8 Amendment will not cause any additional disturbance outside the currently approved Mine Disturbance Boundary. All other proposed changes to mining operations will remain wholly within the currently approved Mine Disturbance Boundary.
Amendment Report relating to removal of the Fauna Movement Crossing is located on the DPE Major Projects Portal: Boggabri_Coal Mine – Modification 8 (MP09_0182-MOD8) Amendment Report (nsw.gov.au)
The MOD8 (Amendment) response to submissions report was lodged with DPE in April 2023.
Contact Details
If you have any questions regarding the Modification please contact:
Amanda O’Kane
Project Manager – Idemitsu Australia
Phone: 1800 264 422 74
or by submitting an enquiry via link: Contact us.