Stage 1 Major Project Approvals

A number of major project approvals have been granted for the operation of Moolarben Coal. These approvals are available for download below, along with corresponding environmental assessments and responses to public submissions.

Stage 1 Environmental Assessment

The original Environmental Assessment (EA) for the site that was the basis for the granting of the Project Approval by the NSW Department of Planning & Infrastructure can be downloaded below.

Stage 1 Project Approval

Approval for Stage 1 of the Moolarben Coal Project was granted by the NSW Department of Planning & Infrastructure in September 2007. The Project Approval, including all modifications up to February 2011, is available to download below.

NSW Project Approval (27.9MB)

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act Approval

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is the central piece of Commonwealth environmental legislation, providing a legal framework to protect and manage nationally and internationally important flora, fauna, ecological communities and heritage places, which are defined in the Act as matters of national environmental significance.

Approval for Moolarben Coal under the EPBC Act was granted by the Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities in October 2007, and is available for download below.

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act – Commonwealth Approval (1.8MB)

Stage 1 Modification - 1

The application for Modification 1 was made to the NSW Department of Planning & Infrastructure to make administrative changes and to rearrange specific items of approved infrastructure so as to improve operational efficiency and provide improved conservation outcomes. Approval for Modification 1 was given in November 2008.

Application to Modify the Project Approval (38KB)
Environmental Assessment (3.8MB)
Modification Approval (980KB)
Response to Submissions (443KB)

Stage 1 Modification - 2

The application for Modification 2 was made to the NSW Department of Planning & Infrastructure to allow preliminary construction activities to commence prior to completion of required mine access road works. Approval for Modification 2 was given in December 2008.

Application to Modify the Project Approval (2.8MB)
Assessment Report (3.5MB)
Environmental Assessment
Modification - 2 Approval (405KB)

Stage 1 Modification - 4

The application for Modification 4 was made to the NSW Department of Planning & Infrastructure to change the configuration of the rail loop from a figure-8 to a balloon loop layout. Approval for Modification 4 was given in June 2009.

Notice of Modification (3.8MB)
Appendix 1 - Approval (3.1MB)
Appendix 2 - Air Quality (472KB)
Appendix 3 - Acoustics (61KB)
Appendix 4 - Flora and Fauna Assessment (4.1MB)
Appendix 5 - Archaeology (11.1MB)
Appendix 6 - Visuals (481KB)
Assessment Report (3.0MB)
Modification for Stage Rail Loop (3.2MB)

Stage 1 Modification - 5

The application for Modification 5 was made to the NSW Department of Planning & Infrastructure to relocate the Run Of Mine (ROM) coal facility and develop a water sharing pipeline from Ulan Coal Mines Limited. Approval for Modification 5 was given in October 2009.

Stage 1 Modification - 6

The application for Modification 6 was made to the NSW Department of Planning & Infrastructure to make a minor adjustment to the location of the rejects bin and to increase its throughput. Approval for Modification 6 was given in January 2010.

Stage 1 Modification - 7

The application for Modification 7 was made to the NSW Department of Planning & Infrastructure to enable the development and operation of a dewatering and water supply borefield. The application also made amendments to the Stage 1 Vegetation Offset Strategy. Approval for Modification 7 was given in February 2011.

Environmental Assessment - Part A (950KB)
Environmental Assessment - Part B (8.7MB)
Environmental Assessment - Part C (1.3MB)
Notice of Modification (1.8MB)

Stage 1 Modification - 8

The application for Modification 8 was made to the NSW Department of Planning to allow for a 100,000 tonne ROM stockpile at the approved ROM coal facility. Approval for Modification 8 was given in May 2010.

Stage 2 of the Moolarben Coal Project

Stage 2 Environmental Assessment

All files are in PDF format. To view PDF files, please download the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader.