

Powering the region
Vickery will deliver more jobs and a stronger future for North West NSW
The Vickery Extension Project (Vickery) is a proposal to construct an open-cut coal mine and associated on-site infrastructure about 25 kilometres north of Gunnedah. The mine will produce a majority metallurgical coal for steel-making, with the balance being high quality thermal coal destined for premium export markets in our region.
The proposal builds upon, and further optimises, an already-approved mine, on a site that has already been extensively and safely mined over many years. The proposal will make Vickery and our neighbouring operations more efficient and sustainable over the longer term.
In August 2020, Vickery was approved by the Independent Planning Commission NSW.
$1.2b
net economic benefit to NSW
950
jobs during construction and operations to be created
$700m
capital investment

JOBS
Benefits accruing locally
Vickery has the potential to be one of the most significant sources of employment and investment in North West NSW over the coming years.
The Project will create approximately 500 jobs during the construction phase and 450 jobs during operations. We estimate it will generate approximately 170 new jobs in locally-based supplier businesses.
500
construction jobs
450
operational jobs
75%
of workforce locally-based
$271m
in wages that will help support local businesses
Register your interest
If you’re interested in supplying goods or services to Whitehaven Coal, please complete the following form.

Environment
Respecting the local environment
We have comprehensively studied the potential impacts of the proposal to ensure environmental impacts are minimised, mitigated or offset.
The results of these studies are outlined in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which incorporates some 18 specialist assessments from independent scientific and technical experts, and shows that noise, air quality and visual impacts of the mine are similar or better than what is already approved.
18
Major assessments from scientific and technical experts
Noise, air quality and visual impacts same or better than what is already approved
No mining in the ‘Blue Vale’ pit
Assessment process
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Submission
Whitehaven submits the Development Application, including the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), for assessment.
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Review
NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) reviews the EIS and prepares for public exhibition.
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Public exhibition
EIS placed on public exhibition, and submissions are lodged. Commonwealth Independent Expert Scientific Committee reviews EIS.
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Preliminary issues report
The DPIE assesses the EIS and publishes a report outlining preliminary considerations.
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Independent Review if required
The NSW Minister for Planning may direct the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) to undertake an independent review of the Project.
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Public comment
The IPC holds public hearings and calls for public comment on the Project.
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Response to submissions
Whitehaven prepares a response to submissions made during the exhibition period and public hearings.
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Whole of Government review
DPIE delivers its whole-of-Government assessment of the Project, to be considered by the IPC.
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Additional public hearings
The IPC may hold additional public hearings into the Project.
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IPC determination
The IPC will make a determination. If the Project is approved, conditions will be imposed.
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Commonwealth determination
Commonwealth Government determination – if approved, conditions are likely to be imposed.
Timeline
Larger scale open cut mining undertaken
at the former Vickery Coal Mine, owned by Rio Tinto
Mining at the former Vickery Coal Mine ceased
Rehabilitation works commenced
Whitehaven acquired CL316 from Rio Tinto
Whitehaven submits a Development Application and EIS for the Vickery Coal Project
NSW Government approves Vickery Coal Project area
Whitehaven submits a Development Application and EIS for the Vickery Extension Project
Approvals
Environmental Management, Monitoring & Compliance
VIC-Environmental Impact Statement- Executive Summary
4122KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement- Table of Contents
84KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement- Section 1 – Introduction
2209KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement- Section 3 – Consultation and Community Initiatives
1011KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement- Section 4 – Environmental Assessment – Part 1
9228KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement- Section 4 – Environmental Assessment – Part 2
7816KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement- Section 5 – Rehabilitation and Mine Closure
4316KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement- Section 6 – Planning Framework and Project Justification
1108KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement- Section 7 – Summary of Management, Mitigationm Monitoring and Reporting
1457KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement- Section 8 – References
958KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement- Section 9 – Abbreviations and Acronyms and Glossary
965KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement-Appendix A – Groundwater Assessment – Part 1
8002KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement-Appendix A – Groundwater Assessment – Part 2
14402KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement-Appendix B – Surface Water Assessment – Part 1
7960KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement-Appendix B – Surface Water Assessment – Part 2
10214KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement-Appendix B – Surface Water Assessment – Part 3
9058KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement-Appendix B – Surface Water Assessment – Part 4
7119KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement-Appendix C – Noise and Blasting Assessment
5046KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement-Appendix I – Aboriginal Cultural Heritage – Assessment Part 1
2890KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement-Appendix I – Aboriginal Cultural Heritage – Assessment Part 2
12282KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement-Appendix J – Non Aboriginal Heritage Assessment
3395KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement-Appendix K – Socio Economic Assessment
1472KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement-Appendix L – Geochemistry Assessment
1880KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement-Appendix M – Environmental Risk Assessment
1388KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement-Appendix N – Preliminary Hazard Analysis
1278KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement-Appendix O – Land Contamination Assessment – Part 1
8551KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement-Appendix O – Land Contamination Assessment – Part 2
12742KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement-Appendix O – Land Contamination Assessment – Part 3
12302KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement-Attachment 1 – Director Generals Requirements
2576KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement-Attachment 2 – Development Application Area and Real Property Descriptions
1067KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement-Attachment 3 – Relevant Environmental Planning Instruments
1135KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement-Attachment 4- Potential Interactions between Project and other Majors Projects
1001KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement-Attachment 5 – Water Licensing Requirement
1135KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement-Attachment 6 – Community Information
1895KBVIC-Environmental Impact Statement-Attachment 7 – Peer Review Letter
1369KBVIC-Vickery Coal Project – Project Description and PEA
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