The NSW government will amend a state environmental planning policy which deals with mining, petroleum production and extractive industry to effectively reinforce its earlier commitment to prohibit open cut mining at Dartbrook coal mine in the Upper Hunter.
A pre-feasibility study of potential open cut mining operations was conducted by Dartbrook in 2018, but the state effectively ruled out any future plans for such operations in April last year when it indicated it would prohibit the action, though it would not stand in the way of plans for further underground operations expected to commence in 2023.
