Anglo American has written to the NSW Government offering a binding agreement that will exclude Anglo American from seeking to carry out any further open cut coal mining at the Drayton South site beyond the southern and western extremities of the proposal currently on public exhibition.
The proposal would ensure that there can be no future open cut coal mining beyond the second ridgeline, as was recommended by the Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) in its earlier assessment of the Project.
The exclusion zone would then be further established via amendments to planning instruments available to the NSW Government should the current Drayton South proposal be approved. Anglo American would cooperate fully with the NSW Government to enable this
to occur. This would prohibit any party from seeking development consent for open cut coal mining in the exclusion zone.
In addition, Anglo American will voluntarily offer to relinquish the area of Exploration Licence 5460 which encompasses coal deposits under the Golden Highway and the Coolmore and Woodlands (Darley) studs.
Anglo American Coal Chief Executive Officer, Seamus French, said the proposed measures would ensure that both the Coolmore and Woodlands (Darley) landholdings would never be directly impacted by any proposed or future open cut coal mining activities of
Anglo American.
“Anglo American’s position has always been that there is no need for the NSW Government to choose between protecting 500 jobs at Drayton South and the future of the local equine industry,” Mr French said.
“Both the Premier and the Planning Minister came to Drayton South earlier this year see first-hand how we plan to ensure that mining and agriculture continue to work side-by-side in the Hunter Valley delivering jobs and economic growth.
“The PAC made it clear Anglo American needed to stay behind the second ridgeline and our current proposal has done just that. In doing so, we have eliminated any chance of dust, noise and visual impacts on the horse studs.
“Our decision today to formally exclude areas beyond that ridgeline from any future open cut coal mining removes any doubt about ‘project creep’ and future impacts on the studs and reinforces our commitment to genuine co-existence.
“Our operations can continue alongside those of our neighbours as they have done so successfully for over 30 years, and this offer is a further demonstration of our commitment to this principle”.
Drayton South Project will deliver hundreds of millions of dollars in royalties and taxes to the NSW and Australian Governments, continue the direct employment of up to 500 people, and increase regional output in the Hunter Valley.
ENDS
Contact: Corporate Affairs, Vanessa Davies – 0400 927 185
Notes to editors:
Anglo American is a global and diversified mining business that provides the raw materials essential for economic development and modern life. Our people are at the heart of our business. It is our people who use the latest technologies to find new resources,
plan and build our mines and who mine, process and move and market our products – from bulk commodities and base metals to precious metals and diamonds (through De Beers) – to our customers around the world. Our diversified portfolio of
products spans the economic development cycle and, as a responsible miner, we are the custodians of precious resources. We work together with our key partners and stakeholders to unlock the long-term value that those resources represent for our shareholders,
but also for the communities and countries in which we operate – creating sustainable value and making a real difference. Our mining operations, growth projects and exploration and marketing activities extend across southern Africa, South America,
Australia, North America, Asia and Europe.
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