NSW Greens call on Labor to close Peabody-owned Metropolitan Mine at Helensburgh

A sludge spill into the Hacking River led to calls for change. (ABC Illawarra: Nick McLaren)

The NSW Greens will push the new Labor government to start a transition plan to close a major coal mine in the northern Illawarra that has been operating since 1887.

Greens environment spokeswoman Sue Higginson said the Peabody-owned Metropolitan Mine at Helensburgh could not manage its pollution in line with community expectations in terms of environmental controls.