A new $950 million coal development received the nod to proceed.
The New South Wales Independent Planning Commission (NSW IPC) recently approved MACH Energy’s Mount Pleasant Optimisation Project in Muswellbrook, 138km northwest of Newcastle.
The regulatory decision means the proponent can extend the life of its coal operation until at least December 2048. Part of the open-cut mining area will be deepened by 85 metres and extraction rates doubled to 21 million tonnes (Mt) per annum. This will help extract a total of a further 247Mt of run-of-mine coal, bringing a total of 444 Mt throughout the mine’s lifespan.
The existing Northern Link Road will also be realigned and Western Link Road removed.
Up to 500 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs will be created during peak construction plus as many as 830 FTE positions during peak production.
“[The commission] determined to grant conditional development consent to the project. In coming to this decision, the commission finds that the application is consistent with the objects of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act,” NSW IPC said in a public statement.
“The project would have a net positive economic impact in relation to employment through the provision of up to an average of 447 direct and indirect FTE jobs in the Muswellbrook and Upper Hunter local government areas, 643 FTE jobs in the wider Hunter Valley region, and 444 FTE jobs elsewhere in NSW.”
Contractor Thiess Australia will continue to deliver mining services until at least 2026.
The following permanent full-time vacancies have been advertised:
- senior health and safety advisor
- electricians (multiple positions)
- maintenance superintendent
- human resources manager
- mining supervisor.
Click here to apply. Successful candidates will be offered dayshift, nightshift and weekend rosters of five on four off, four on five off, five on five off, and five on two off. A monthly rostered day off, AIA Vitality wellbeing program, salary continuance insurance, discounted Medibank health insurance, salary sacrificed flights and novated leasing are available.
An extra $5000 bonus applies if they refer a friend and he or she also secures work for the same business. Referred friends must pass the six-month probation period before the referrer receives the $5000 bonus.
Although Mount Pleasant was first approved in 1999, mining activity only began in 2018.
Click here to read the full decision.
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