Boggabri Coal says an approval to changes for its Boggabri Coal Mine, 15km northeast of the town, will help it in "meeting the stringent environmental controls" of the project.
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On Monday, the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) signed off on modifications to five parts of the company's project approval for Boggabri Coal Mine, including a coal stockpile area, drilling and exploration in the approved disturbance area, and an extension on securing biodiversity offsets.
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A spokesperson for Boggabri Coal told Australian Community Media that the procedural amendments were "largely administrative in nature" and there would be "no change to the coal output as a result of these proposed amendments and no reduction in Boggabri Coal's environmental responsibilities".
"The modifications ... are about ensuring the day-to-day operations of Boggabri Coal can continue to run smoothly and we can continue meeting the rigorous environmental standards, which apply to our operations," they said.
"In fact, the amendments we propose will assist us in meeting the stringent environmental controls, which apply to this project."
[There will be] no change to the coal output ... and no reduction in Boggabri Coal's environmental responsibilities.
- Boggabri Coal
Boggabri Coal had put the application to the Department of Planning and Environment, which referred it to the commission due to the "high level of public interest".
In April, the IPC held a public meeting in Boggabri to hear residents' concerns, which included road transportation of coal, delays in securing biodiversity offsets, the assessment process, and impacts of drilling and exploration.
The Boggabri Coal spokesperson said the company was "committed to open and transparent engagement with our key stakeholders", such as through the Boggabri Coal Community Consultative Committee, which "facilitates open, transparent and robust dialogue relating to our mining operations performance and the impacts or potential impacts".
"The changes we have introduced will serve to strengthen the commitments we have already made," they said.
The IPC backed the department's assessment that there would be no change in approved transport methods for operational purposes; and no increase to the already approved mine footprint, maximum extraction rate, maximum transport rate or environment impacts.
