Commission approves mine extension

The Independent Planning Commission has approved a 19-year extension of the Hunter Valley Operations mine in New South Wales, the largest coalmine in the state's history.

Mine will produce massive emissions

The extension will result in 809 million tonnes of greenhouse gas pollution. The commission acknowledged this will materially worsen global warming, citing CSIRO findings on climate change impacts.

Economic case overrides climate

The commission found that the mine's revenues, its centrality to the Hunter's regional economy, and livelihoods of 1,500 people outweighed the climate impacts of continuing coal extraction.

Closure would have caused hardship

Had the extension been refused, the mine would have closed at the end of this year. More than 1,000 people would have been stood down and local suppliers would have lost business in Singleton and Muswellbrook.

Hardship could have been managed

Columnist Georgina Woods argues the region could have been supported through closure. The difficult task of supporting the Hunter through mine closure is nothing to the task of adapting to catastrophic global heating.

“The difficult task of supporting the Hunter through mine closure is nothing to the task of adapting to catastrophic global heating.”

Public faith in institutions shaken

Woods says the approval reveals Australia's governance systems are failing to meet the climate crisis. Polling by Lock the Gate shows 85 percent of Hunter residents experienced extreme weather in the last five years.

Crisis of confidence deepens

Woods says the approval broke her faith in public institutions to serve the public interest. Young people understand their governments are failing to stop coal pollution from fuelling rising heat, prices and collapsing ecosystems.