Approval of biggest coal project in NSW planning commission’s history described as ‘infamous betrayal’

Aerial views of the Hunter Valley Operations. The Independent Planning Commission (IPC) has greenlit the HVO’s Continuation Project after a contentious assessment that drew in climate and environment groups, unions, state authorities and more than 10,000 public submissions. Photograph: Lock the Gate

The New South Wales independent planner has approved the biggest coalmine project to ever go before it, allowing mining to continue until 2045 at a Hunter Valley project described by climate groups as a “carbon bomb”.

The Independent Planning Commission (IPC) has greenlit the Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) Continuation Project after a contentious assessment that drew in climate and environment groups, unions, state authorities and more than 10,000 public submissions.