The state government's shoring up of its promised prohibition on open cut mining at Dartbrook coal mine in the Upper Hunter was welcome news to farmers and the region's thoroughbred breeders at the weekend, but it came in the shadow of more significant developments in the local mining industry over recent months.
Upper Hunter farmer Michael White, who spent 13 years at BHP's Mount Arthur coal mine near Muswellbrook - including eight as operations and general manger - said that he was pleased the state government and Upper Hunter MP Dave Layzell had made good on a by-election commitment to prohibit open cut mining at Dartbrook, but said the move needed to be placed in the context of broader mining operations in the region.
