One hundred and twenty speakers will address a Planning Assessment Commission hearing in Singleton over the next two days, regarding the proposed expansion of Rio Tinto’s Mount Thorley Warkworth mine.
Changes to the state’s mining policy, that will see equal weight given to a project’s financial, environmental and social impacts, are at the heart of this hearing.
The mining giant wants to extend the life of the mine by 21 years, to mine another 358 million tonnes of coal.
But by 2031, the mine would come within 2.6 kilometres of the Bulga township, which is strongly against the proposal.
For five years the small community has been fighting to stop the expansion, defeating Rio Tinto twice in court over the original plans.
The hearing will continue tomorrow.
