Jobs and environment win in $11M coal clean-up
Please note - This news release has now been archived and may contain outdated information.
A massive coal waste clean up is about to begin in the Hunter Valley, following the Carr Government’s renewal and transfer of a mining lease for the rehabilitation of the former Hebburn No 2 Colliery site near Cessnock.
The $11 million project will substantially improve the local environment.
East Maitland-based Hunter Enviro-Mining Pty Ltd proposes a program involving the clean up of about 1 million tonnes of coal waste from the former colliery, located approximately five kilometres south of Kurri Kurri.
The removal and clean up is expected to take up to two years. The waste will be processed through a washery on-site to recover saleable coal to fund the program and rehabilitation.
Product coal will then be exported via the Port of Newcastle.The project will provide employment for about 30 people.
Once the coal waste has been removed the land will be rehabilitated and revegetated with native species.
The recovery process will separate chitter (coal reject) from dirt and waste material, a procedure previously thought to be uneconomical.
The lease for the Hebburn No 2 Colliery, which commenced operation in 1921 and closed in 1971, was formerly held by Coal and Allied Operations.