NSW Government Grants Six-Year Extension to Hunter Valley Coal Mine Amid Legal Fight
The state government approved a six-year extension for the Mount Pleasant coal mine, allowing operations to continue while its larger expansion awaits a High Court ruling.
The New South Wales state government has authorized a six-year continuation of operations at the Mount Pleasant Coal Mine near Muswellbrook, extending the mine’s licence that was due to expire in December. The approval raises the permitted annual extraction from 10.5 to 12.5 million tonnes and safeguards more than 500 local jobs, a point highlighted by Upper Hunter MP Dave Layzell. MACH Energy sought the extension after a local environmental group, the Denman Aberdeen Muswellbrook Scone Healthy Environment Group (DAMSHEG), succeeded in overturning a 22-year expansion plan in the New South Wales Court of Appeal on climate grounds.
The company is now awaiting a High Court of Australia decision on whether the larger expansion can proceed to 2048. DAMSHEG president Wendy Wales expressed disappointment, saying the extension pre-empted the court’s ruling. MACH Energy said it will operate within existing conditions while pursuing all options to ensure continuity for staff and the community.
Why it matters
The decision preserves hundreds of jobs while a major coal expansion faces a crucial court test on climate impacts.
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