Premier Coal will move its Collie mine to day shifts only, a change the Western Australian government says it is disappointed by. Unions say the move could cut about 40 per cent of the workforce, or around 150 jobs. Management has handed out forms for voluntary redundancies. The Australian Manufacturing Workers' Union says redundancy payments will be calculated at day shift rates, removing the night shift component. An energy analyst says the change should not cause power blackouts in the state.
The NSW Labor government will introduce a law to let MACH Energy expand output at its Mount Pleasant coal mine in the Upper Hunter. The move responds to a High Court ruling that invalidated the expansion approval, finding the NSW Independent Planning Commission failed to consider regional pollution and downstream emissions. Premier Chris Minns says the law would guarantee 400 direct jobs until 2032. Environmental group DAMSHEG and Greens MLC Sue Higginson have criticised the move, while the Minerals Council welcomed it. Retired judge Anthony Whealy has called for an independent review.
South32 plans to spend $100 million to pump water from its Northern Territory manganese mine into the ocean as it tries to keep the site open. The mine's operator, GEMCO, has faced major financial difficulties after ongoing flooding in its pits on Groote Eylandt. The plan would involve about 12 kilometres of pipelines discharging up to 80 gigalitres a year into Milner Bay. Traditional owners support the plan, and the NT government has approved it with strict environmental conditions. Work cannot begin without traditional owner consent, and talks are continuing.
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Barrister Geoffrey Watson has condemned the New South Wales government's plan to introduce special laws allowing more coal production at the Mount Pleasant mine near Muswellbrook. The High Court earlier ruled the mine's approval was invalid. Premier Chris Minns said the bill would let MACH Energy raise output by 32 per cent and save 400 jobs. Watson and former judge Anthony Whealy said the move overrides a court decision. The NSW Greens questioned the job claims, and the government said any compliance investigation is a matter for the regulator.
NSW Premier Chris Minns has announced laws to let the Mount Pleasant coalmine in the Hunter Valley keep operating at expanded rates, despite a recent High Court ruling against its approval. Retired Supreme Court judge Anthony Whealy said the move obliterated the legal process and called for an independent review. The government says the laws will protect 400 jobs while court proceedings continue. Greens MP Cate Faehrmann accused the government of state capture. The planning department is also investigating the mine over alleged breaches of its coal production limits.
The Victorian Farmers Federation has lodged a complaint with Resources Victoria over dust from the demonstration pit at Gippsland Critical Minerals' proposed Fingerboards mine. The group wants an investigation into whether the site met its work plan and licence conditions. It also wants stronger dust controls and the incident considered in the final environment effects statement. Farm group president Ryan Milgate says the dust could carry traces of rare earth minerals onto nearby horticultural crops. Mine Free Glenaladale, which opposes the project, says dust travelled beyond the buffer zone.
The NSW government plans to introduce legislation allowing MACH Energy to lift annual coal output at its Mount Pleasant mine from 12.5 million to 16.5 million tonnes until 2032. Premier Chris Minns says the move would protect 400 jobs that he says are at risk before Christmas. The change follows a High Court ruling that invalidated the mine's expansion approval over the failure to consider downstream emissions. Minns says the mine would need to meet Scope 3 limits and sell only to Paris Agreement signatories. The Greens and a local environment group have criticised the proposal.
The NSW government will introduce legislation allowing MACH Energy to raise annual coal output at its Mount Pleasant mine near Muswellbrook by 4 million tonnes, to 16.5 million tonnes, until 2032. Premier Chris Minns said the bill was needed to protect 400 jobs before Christmas. The move follows a high court ruling that the approval of an expansion at the mine was invalid. Environmental groups and a lawyer who acted in the case criticised the plan, saying it bypasses the planning process and the court's decision.
The NSW Government will introduce legislation to protect around 400 jobs at MACH Energy's Mount Pleasant coal mine near Muswellbrook. The move follows a High Court decision that created legal uncertainty for the mine's operations. MACH Energy has agreed to a job guarantee, committing to keep its current permanent workforce until 2032. The proposed law would allow annual production of up to 16.5 million tonnes until 2032 and require existing staffing levels to be maintained. Premier Chris Minns said the intervention protects regional workers and their families before Christmas.
Climate activists have condemned a New South Wales government move to protect jobs at the Mount Pleasant coal mine in the Hunter region, calling it dangerous political interference. The High Court had backed a challenge by community environmentalists, upholding a finding that planning bodies must weigh the climate effects of downstream emissions. Premier Chris Minns said the one-off intervention was needed to avoid production cuts and protect at least 400 jobs, adding that he had agonised over the choice. Lock the Gate and Greens MP Sue Higginson argued the legislation would allow significant unassessed climate pollution.
The Federal Court has overturned an Aboriginal protection order placed over part of the McPhillamys goldmine site near Blayney in New South Wales. Justice James Stellios found the decision-making process was fundamentally flawed. The order, made by former environment minister Tanya Plibersek in 2024, protected headwaters and springs of the Belubula River, where a tailings dam was planned. Justice Stellios said a new application should have been treated as a fresh process, including public consultation. The matter now returns to the federal government for redetermination. The Albanese government says it remains committed to reforming the legislation.
Residents and experts have told the NSW Independent Planning Commission that a proposed silver, lead and zinc mine near Lue could pose health risks. A University of Queensland professor recommended moving Lue Public School, two kilometres from the site, citing potential lead dust exposure. The mine's proponent, Silver Mines Limited, says predicted health risks are very low and that the project has been independently reviewed. Concerns about water supply and drainage were also raised. The commission is due to make its determination by December 9.
A Federal Court decision has set aside a federal Aboriginal heritage protection order that had stalled a $1 billion gold mine near Blayney in central western NSW. The order, issued in 2024, rejected a proposed tailings dam site at Regis Resources' McPhillamys Gold Project. The matter will now return to the federal government for reconsideration. Regis Resources said it was eager to move forward, while NSW Premier Chris Minns backed the mine. Blayney's mayor said the town lost up to $8 million in rates revenue during the delay.
Plans for a $1 billion silver and lead mine in Central West New South Wales are being reassessed, as opponents protested in Mudgee with tractors. The NSW Court of Appeal voided the original approval in August 2024, ruling the planning commission should have examined the environmental impacts of the project's transmission line. The Independent Planning Commission has begun three days of hearings. Silver Mines Limited says the project's merits are now stronger. Protesters, including sheep and cattle farmer Tom Combes, oppose the mine, and 97 speakers are scheduled to give evidence. A determination is expected by December 9.
A Federal Court decision has set aside a federal Aboriginal heritage protection order that had stalled a $1 billion gold mine near Blayney in central western NSW. The order, issued in 2024, rejected a proposed tailings dam site at Regis Resources' McPhillamys Gold Project. The matter will now return to the federal government for reconsideration. Regis Resources said it was eager to move forward, while NSW Premier Chris Minns backed the mine. Blayney's mayor said the town lost up to $8 million in rates revenue during the delay.
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A magnitude 2.3 earthquake struck beneath the Cadia Valley gold and copper mine in New South Wales at about 10.25am on Friday 9 October, according to Geoscience Australia. The tremor was felt at 10 locations, all reporting weak or light shaking. Mine operator Newmont said the event caused no disruption to operations and no effects on personnel or infrastructure. It is unclear whether the quake was linked to mining activity. Earlier this year, a magnitude 4.5 quake shut underground operations at the site for days.
More than 580 local workers are expected to benefit as Tahmoor Mine prepares for a restart in December. GM 3 completed its acquisition of the mine last week and is ramping up operations to return to longwall production by the end of the year. Recruitment and onboarding will continue in stages until the workforce reaches full capacity. GM 3 chief executive Peter Baker said the company aims to build a sustainable operation that provides stable employment for many years. The mine, in the Wollondilly region, primarily produces premium steelmaking coal.
A $10 million loan from the Tasmanian government to the King Island tungsten mine, converted into shares, is now worth $75 million, the government revealed on Tuesday. Premier Jeremy Rockliff said the mine's revival had exceeded expectations. Of the windfall, $50 million will reduce state debt, $20 million will seed a regional fund to strengthen communities facing economic disruption, and $5 million will go to the island's school. The shares will be sold gradually, as Mr Rockliff said holding mining stock is not the government's role.
