Name of the Project
Dendrobium extension project.

Location
Near Wollongong, in New South Wales, in Australia.

Project Owner/s
South32.

Project Description
The New South Wales Independent Planning Commission blocked the expansion plans for the project in February 2021.

The proposed project included an additional 78-million tonnes of run-of-mine coal recovered from two new areas,

Areas 5 and 6, comprising 21 long-wall panels, and would have extended the mine life until the end of 2048.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
A$956-million.

Planned Start/End Date
Coal production from Area 5 was expected to start in 2024, with Area 6 production to follow about 19 years later.

Latest Developments
The New South Wales Independent Planning Commission has found that the proposed mine design risks long-term and irreversible damage to greater Sydney and the Illawarra’s drinking water catchment.

Significant concerns were raised about the proposed mine design, subsidence, ground- and surface-water impacts, biodiversity and upland swamps, Aboriginal cultural heritage and greenhouse-gas emissions on February 5, 2021.

An assessment by the Department of Planning, Industry & Environment initially concluded that the extension project was “approvable”, finding that its benefits significantly outweighed its residual costs, and that it was in the public interest.

However, the commission decided on February 5 to refuse the state significant development appli­cation, finding that the risks of adverse impacts on the environment were high, and that those impacts were not appropriately manageable and were likely to be irreversible.

The commission further noted that South32 had not appropriately addressed concerns with regard to the proposed mine design.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
South32, tel +61 8 9324 9000.