The coal resource development pathway (CRDP) is a fundamental concept in bioregional assessments (BAs), and an important initial step in the model-data analysis component of any BA. It defines the most likely future that includes all coal mines and coal seam gas (CSG) fields commercially producing as of December 2012 (known as the baseline), as well as those expected to commence production in the foreseeable future. The difference in results between the baseline and the CRDP is the change that is primarily reported in a BA, and this is due to the additional coal resource development. The additional coal resource development is defined as all coal mines and CSG fields, including expansions of baseline operations, that are expected to begin commercial production after December 2012.
The general input data and analysis required to develop the CRDP are outlined in companion submethodology M04 (as listed in Table 1) for developing a CRDP (Lewis, 2014). This section explains the specific application of this BA submethodology to the Namoi subregion, and builds upon the coal and CSG resource assessment provided in companion product 1.2 for the Namoi subregion (Northey et al., 2014). The CRDP for the Namoi subregion consists of 16 baseline and additional coal resource developments (Table 11). The locations of these baseline and additional new development projects are shown in Figure 33.
There are six baseline coal mines in the Namoi subregion, five of which are operational coal mines: Boggabri Coal Mine, Narrabri North Mine, Rocglen Mine, Tarrawonga Mine and Werris Creek Mine. The Sunnyside Mine is no longer operational and was placed in care and maintenance in October 2012. The future time frame for this mine to become operational again (if at all) is currently unknown.
Ten additional coal resource developments are included in the CRDP for the Namoi subregion. Of these, nine are new coal mine developments or expansion projects in the Namoi subregion: the Boggabri Coal Expansion Project, Caroona Coal Project, Gunnedah Precinct, Maules Creek Mine, Narrabri South, the Tarrawonga Coal Expansion Project, Vickery Coal Project, Vickery South Coal Project and Watermark Coal Project (Table 11). The Vickery Coal Mine originally operated from 1986 to 1991 as an underground mine and from 1991 to 1998 as an open-cut mine. The site was reopened in 2008 for exploration, environmental monitoring and rehabilitation and put into care and maintenance in 2012. However, the mine was recently given approval by the New South Wales Government (NSW Government) to be reopened. The Vickery Coal Mine is therefore considered to be an additional coal resource development. There is one CSG project, the Narrabri Gas Project (Table 11), that is included in the CRDP as an additional coal resource development. Summary information about each coal resource development included in the baseline and the additional coal resource development is provided in Table 11, including company name, total identified resources, and expected start year and duration of mining. Further details about each of these coal resource developments, including plans of several mine sites, are available in companion product 1.2 for the Namoi subregion (Northey et al., 2014).
There are three developments that are both baseline mines and additional coal resource developments on this map: Boggabri, Tarrawonga and Narrabri North are the baseline mines. Boggabri expansion, Tarrawonga expansion and Narrabri South are the additional coal resource developments. The coal resource developments in the CRDP are the sum of those in the baseline coal resource development (baseline) and the additional coal resource development.
ACRD = additional coal resource development, CRDP coal resource development pathway
Refer to Table 11 for a list of all baseline and additional coal resource developments in the CRDP.
The coal seam gas projects extent includes the exploration lease area.
Data: Geoscience Australia (Dataset 1), NSW Trade and Investment (Dataset 2)
Table 11 Summary of baseline and additional coal resource developments included in the coal resource development pathway as of December 2015
The primary activity in bioregional assessments (BAs) is the comparison of two potential futures: (i) the baseline coal resource development (baseline), a future that includes all coal mines and coal seam gas (CSG) fields that are commercially producing as of December 2012; and (ii) the coal resource development pathway (CRDP), a future that includes all coal mines and CSG fields that are in the baseline as well as those that are expected to begin commercial production after December 2012. The difference in results between CRDP and baseline is the change that is primarily reported in a BA. This change is due to the additional coal resource development – all coal mines and CSG fields, including expansions of baseline operations, that are expected to begin commercial production after December 2012.
|
Name of coal resource development |
Coal mine or coal seam gas (CSG) operation |
Company |
Included in baseline? |
Included in CRDP? (modelled or commentary) |
Start of mining operations or estimated project start |
Expected end date of commercial operations |
Tenement(s) |
Total coal resources (Mt)a (for coal mining) or 2P gas reserves (PJ)b (for CSG) |
Comments |
|
Boggabri Coal Mine |
Open-cut coal mine |
Idemitsu Australia Resources, Chugoku Electric Power Australia Resources, NS Boggabri |
Yes |
Yes – modelled |
2006 |
2012 |
CL 368 |
NA – resource estimate provided for expansion projectc |
Operational mine as of December 2015, merged with expansion project. |
|
Narrabri North Mine |
Underground coal mine (longwall mining) |
Whitehaven Coal, J Power, EDF Trading, Upper Horn Investments, Daewoo International and Korea Resources Corporation |
Yes |
Yes – modelled |
2010 |
2035 |
ML 1609, EL 6243 |
730 Mtd |
Operational mine as of December 2015. Total coal resource for Narrabri North and South is 160 Mt measured, 390 Mt indicated and 180 Mt inferred. Coal information in Whitehaven Coal (2015). |
|
Rocglen Mine |
Open-cut coal mine |
Whitehaven Coal |
Yes |
Yes – modelled |
2009 |
2019 |
ML 1620 |
15 Mte |
Operational mine as of December 2015. Total coal resource for Rocglen resource is 7 Mt measured, 7 Mt indicated and 1 Mt inferred, however this includes both open-cut and underground resources. There is no further information regarding the underground coal resource, so development of this resource is not included in the CRDP and will not be modelled. Coal information in Whitehaven Coal (2015). |
|
Sunnyside Mine |
Open-cut coal mine |
Whitehaven Coal |
Yes |
Yes – modelled |
2008 |
2012 |
ML 1624 |
na – mine closed |
Mine is under care and maintenance as of October 2012. No plans for an extension or re-opening of the mine have been made. |
|
Tarrawonga Mine |
Open-cut coal mine |
Whitehaven Coal |
Yes |
Yes – modelled |
2006 |
2012 |
ML 1579 |
NA – resource estimate provided for expansion project |
Operational mine as of December 2015, merged with expansion project. |
|
Werris Creek Mine |
Open-cut coal mine |
Werris Creek Coal (subsidiary of Whitehaven Coal) |
Yes |
Yes – modelled (SW)/ commentary (GW) |
2005 |
2020 |
ML 1563, ML 1672 |
22 Mt |
Operational mine as of December 2015. Total coal resource is 18 Mt measured and 4 Mt indicated. The Werris Creek Mine is located in the Werrie Basin, to the east of the Hunter-Mooki Thrust Fault System, and consequently the mine is not included in the geological or hydrogeological model. However, the alluvium and the surface water system are connected over the Hunter-Mooki Thrust Fault System, so the mine is able to be modelled in the surface water model. Coal information in Whitehaven Coal (2015). |
|
Boggabri Coal Expansion Project |
Open-cut coal mine |
Idemitsu Australia Resources, Chugoku Electric Power Australia Resources, NS Boggabri |
No |
Yes – modelled |
2013 |
2033 |
CL 368 |
576 Mt |
Approval for expansion finalised in February 2013, preliminary construction works started November 2014. Total coal resource for Boggabri is 576 Mt (Geoscience Australia, Dataset 1). |
|
Caroona Coal Project |
Underground coal mine (longwall mining) |
NSW Energy Coal (BHP Billiton) |
No |
Yes – modelled |
2020 |
2045 |
ELA 6505 |
260 Mtf |
In August 2016, BHP decided to discontinue its proposed development of the Caroona Coal Mine and sell the exploration licence back to the NSW Government. However, as per the companion submethodology (as listed in Table 1) for developing a CRDP (Lewis, 2014), once the CRDP is determined, it is not changed in this iteration of the BA. This means that the timeline described for the project will continue to form the basis for the groundwater modelling. |
|
Gunnedah Precinct |
Open-cut and underground coal mine |
Whitehaven Coal |
No |
Yes – commentary |
Unknown |
Unknown |
CCL 701, ML 1624, EL 5183 |
307 Mt |
Total coal resource for Gunnedah Precinct resource (includes open-cut and underground) is 9 Mt measured, 185 Mt indicated and 113 Mt inferred. Not able to be modelled in this iteration of the BA for the Namoi subregion as there are no development plans or information available. Coal information in Whitehaven Coal (2015). |
|
Maules Creek Mine |
Open-cut coal mine |
Whitehaven Coal, ICRA MC, J Power Australia |
No |
Yes – modelled |
2015 |
2035 |
CL 375, AUTH 346, EL 8072 |
650 Mt |
Total coal resource is 330 Mt measured, 270 Mt indicated and 50 Mt inferred. Coal information in Whitehaven Coal (2015). |
|
Narrabri South |
Underground coal mine (longwall mining) |
Whitehaven Coal |
No |
Yes – modelled |
2030g |
2054 |
EL 6243 |
NA – see estimate for Narrabri North |
Total coal resource for Narrabri North and South is 160 Mt measured, 390 Mt indicated and 180 Mt inferred. Coal information in Whitehaven Coal (2015). |
|
Tarrawonga Coal Expansion Project |
Open-cut coal mine |
Whitehaven Coal for Tarrawonga Joint Venture |
No |
Yes – modelled |
2015 |
2031 |
ML 1579, EL 5967, ML 1685, ML 1693 |
118 Mth |
Total coal resource (for Tarrawonga plus expansion) is 58 Mt measured, 33 Mt indicated and 27 Mt inferred. Coal information in Whitehaven Coal (2015). |
|
Vickery Coal Project |
Open-cut coal mine |
Whitehaven Coal |
No |
Yes – modelled |
2018i |
2047 |
CL 316, AUTH 406 ML 1464, ML 1471, ML 1620 |
735 Mtj |
Total coal resource for Vickery is 230 Mt measured, 260 Mt indicated and 245 Mt inferred. Coal information in Whitehaven Coal (2015). |
|
Vickery South Coal Project (also known as Vickery expansion) |
Open-cut coal mine |
Whitehaven Coal |
No |
Yes – commentary |
Unknown |
Unknown |
EL 7407, ML 1718 |
111.2 Mt |
Not able to be modelled in this iteration of the BA for the Namoi subregion – insufficient information available. Resource likely to be combined with the Vickery Project. Total coal resource for Vickery South is 91 Mt measured, 0.2 Mt indicated and 20 Mt inferred (Geoscience Australia, Dataset 1). |
|
Watermark Coal Project |
Open-cut coal mine |
Shenhua Watermark |
No |
Yes – modelled |
2018 |
2047 |
EL 7223 |
291.5 Mtk |
Project approved in 2015. |
|
Narrabri Gas Project |
CSG |
Santos Ltd |
No |
Yes – modelled |
2017 |
2042 (25 year life span) |
PEL 238, PAL 2, PPL 3 |
186 PJl |
EIS in preparation. |
aThis is the most recent economically demonstrated resource estimate (measured, indicated, inferred) reported as being compliant with the Joint Ore Reserve Committee (JORC) Code, unless otherwise stated.
bThis is based on the Petroleum Resource Management System of the Society of Petroleum Engineers code 2P, which refers to estimated quantities of proved reserves plus probable reserves.
cA JORC compliant estimate was not available for this project. An updated estimate is provided for the Boggabri expansion.
dThis resource estimate is for Narrabri North and South, defined by Whitehaven Coal as Narrabri underground.
eThis resource assessment includes Rocglen open-cut and Rocglen underground.
fJORC compliant estimate is not available for Caroona. This is an estimate of the production of run-of-mine coal over the life of the mine (BHP Billiton, 2014).
gNarrabri South is presumed to start once Narrabri North has been mined out and mined at the same rate as Narrabri North.
hThis resource assessment is listed as including Tarrawonga open-cut and Tarrawonga underground.
iWhitehaven Coal have indicated it will start the Vickery Project when the Maules Creek Mine is at full production, which is predicted to be in 2018.
jThis is reported as the total resource for Vickery open-cut and Vickery underground.
kGHD and Hansen Bailey (2013).
AUTH = authorisation, BA = bioregional assessment, CCL = consolidated coal lease, CL = coal lease, CRDP = coal resource development pathway, CSG = coal seam gas, EIS = environmental impact statement, EL = exploration licence, ELA = exploration licence application, GW = groundwater, ML = mining lease, NA = not available, na = not applicable, PAL = petroleum assessment lease, PEL = petroleum exploration licence, PPL = petroleum production lease, SW = surface water
Full company names are: Chugoku Electric Power Australia Resources Pty Ltd (Chugoku Electric Power Australia Resources), EDF Trading Limited (EDF Trading), Idemitsu Australia Resources Pty Ltd (Idemitsu), J Power Electric Power Development Co., Ltd (J Power), NS Boggabri Pty Ltd (NS Boggabri), Shenua Watermark Coal Pty Limited (Shenhua Watermark), Upper Horn Investments Pty Ltd (Upper Horn Investments), Werris Creek Coal Pty Ltd (Werris Creek Coal), Whitehaven Coal Limited (Whitehaven Coal).
2.3.4.1.1 Quantitative assessment of hydrological changes under the coal resource development pathway
The CRDP for the Namoi subregion describes the most likely future for coal resource development, based on the Assessment team’s analysis of publicly available information and expert consultation undertaken in early 2015. This CRDP forms the basis for the subsequent hydrological modelling for the BA (of both surface water and groundwater), which attempts to quantify the hydrological changes of the expected coal resource development. However, in order to undertake the numerical hydrological modelling specified for the BAs (see companion submethodology M06 for surface water modelling (Viney, 2016) and companion submethodology M07 for groundwater modelling (Crosbie et al., 2016)), there are minimum levels of data and information required for each coal resource development in the CRDP.
The data requirements for both surface water and groundwater modelling in BAs are outlined in companion submethodology M04 (as listed in Table 1) for developing a coal resource development pathway (refer to Table 9 in Lewis (2014)). Information required for hydrological modelling in BAs includes details of the type of coal resource extraction operation (e.g. open-cut, underground or combined development mine), time series of the progression of mining and associated infrastructure areas (both in area and with depth), and the nature of the mine-site stratigraphy and depth to watertable.
Of the 16 coal resource developments in the CRDP, 13 coal mines and one CSG project are considered by the Assessment team to have sufficient information available to be quantitatively assessed through numerical modelling. The coal resource developments being modelled are Boggabri Coal Mine and Boggabri Coal Expansion Project, Caroona Coal Project, Maules Creek Mine, Narrabri Gas Project, Narrabri North Mine, Narrabri South, Rocglen Mine, Sunnyside Mine, Tarrawonga Mine and Tarrawonga Coal Expansion Project, Vickery Coal Project, Watermark Coal Project, and Werris Creek Mine (surface water modelling only). The scheduling of these coal mines and the CSG project is shown in Figure 34. These coal resource developments are the most advanced in the Namoi subregion in terms of progressing through the various environmental and mining-related approvals processes that apply under relevant NSW and Australian Government legislation. Most of these mines have previously undertaken detailed planning and development studies to determine optimal mining and production methods. Importantly, much of the required information for BA modelling purposes has been made publicly available as part of environmental impact statements (EISs), or similar documents, for the individual coal resource developments.
A decision by the NSW Government (11 August 2016) to buy back the Caroona mining exploration licence from BHP Billiton effectively means that future development of coal mining in this lease area near the township of Caroona (Exploration Licence 6505) is highly unlikely. However, it is important to state that, as per companion submethodology M04 (as listed in Table 1) for developing a coal resource development pathway (Lewis, 2014), once the CRDP is determined, it is not changed for this iteration of the BA, even in cases such as this where BHP Billiton have now discontinued their exploration operations in the Namoi subregion.
2.3.4.1.2 Qualitative assessment of hydrological changes under the coal resource development pathway
Of the ten additional coal resource developments in the CRDP, two coal mines are currently much less advanced in their mine development planning and assessment studies under the relevant regulatory approvals processes; these are the Gunnedah Precinct and the Vickery South Coal Project. They have been included in the CRDP, consistent with the methods outlined in companion submethodology M04 (as listed in Table 1) for developing the coal resource development pathway (Lewis, 2014). However, as there is scant information publicly available about the nature and time frame of future development plans for these additional coal resource developments, these two mines have been excluded from the hydrological modelling for the BA. The assessment of the impacts of the Gunnedah Precinct and Vickery South Coal Project will be limited to qualitative assessment in companion product 3-4 (impact and risk analysis) for the Namoi subregion.
Finally, it is worthwhile to note that not all projects listed in the catalogue of potential coal resource developments (see Table 6 and Table 7 in Section 1.2.4 of companion product 1.2 for the Namoi subregion (Northey et al., 2014)) have been included in the CRDP. For some coal resource developments in the Namoi subregion, development planning may not yet have been undertaken, and there remains a high level of uncertainty around the likelihood, scope and nature of any future operations. This may be due to various reasons, such as the coal resource having only been recently discovered and thus requiring significant further appraisal of the magnitude, quality and suitability for mining. In other cases, there may be compelling economic or company-specific evidence that supported the Assessment team’s rationale for not including the project in the CRDP.
In these cases, the Assessment team has considered that, on the basis of available information, it is not likely that future commercial production from these potential coal resource developments will occur within the next 10 to 15 years. Of course, this does not imply that these resources will not be mined at some stage in the future, particularly if further assessment studies are undertaken to better understand the geology of the deposit and the economic feasibility of extraction. Table 12 provides a summary of salient information used by the Assessment team to develop and justify the CRDP for the Namoi subregion. This table provides information that was used to exclude some additional coal resource developments from the CRDP, as well as information relevant to decisions to include these projects in hydrological modelling for the BA.
The expected timelines for the coal resource developments that will be modelled in the BA are shown in Figure 34. It should be noted that some of the timelines for the coal resource developments are dependent on market conditions and, in the case of some developments owned and/or operated by Whitehaven Coal, other developments occurring in the subregion. These coal resource developments will be the focus for the later-stage numerical modelling of the BA including surface water modelling (product 2.6.1), groundwater modelling (product 2.6.2), receptor impact modelling (product 2.7), and impact and risk analysis (product 3-4).
Table 12 Coal resource developments considered for the coal resource development pathway (CRDP) for the Namoi subregion
|
Coal resource development |
Company |
Included in CRDP? |
Reasons for including or not including in CRDP |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bibblewindi and Dewhurst Gas Exploration Pilot wells |
Santos Ltd |
No |
Any proposal to convert the pilot wells into production wells will be included in the Narrabri Gas Project. |
|
Boggabri Coal Mine |
Idemitsu, Chugoku Electric Power Australia Resources, NS Boggabri |
Yes – modelled |
The Boggabri Coal Mine has been in operation since 2006. Sufficient information is available about the development to enable inclusion in the CRDP and numerical modelling for the BA for the Namoi subregion. Mine development plans and scheduling information for the Boggabri Coal Mine are available to the Assessment team from information and datasets publicly released as part of the environmental assessment (EA) documentation, as well as data gathered for annual reporting requirements. |
|
Boggabri Coal Expansion Project |
Idemitsu, Chugoku Electric Power Australia Resources, NS Boggabri |
Yes – modelled |
The Boggabri Coal Mine received NSW and Australian Government approval to expand operations in 2013. This expansion is now operational. Sufficient information is available about the development to enable inclusion in the CRDP and numerical modelling. Mine development plans and scheduling information for the Boggabri Coal Expansion Project are available to the Assessment team from information and datasets publicly released as part of the EA documentation, as well as data gathered for annual reporting requirements. |
|
Caroona Coal Project |
NSW Energy Coal (BHP Billiton) |
Yes – modelled |
BHP Billiton submitted an application to the NSW Mining and Petroleum Gateway Panel for the Caroona Coal Project in 2014 and received a conditional certificate, allowing BHP Billiton to proceed with the development application (BHP Billiton, 2014). BHP Billiton was at the stage of compiling information for the environmental impact assessment. However, in August 2016 BHP decided to sell the Caroona exploration licence back to the NSW Government so it is highly unlikely that mining will occur in this area in the foreseeable future. As previously stated, once the CRDP is determined, it is not changed in this iteration of the BA, as per companion submethodology M04 (as listed in Table 1) for developing a CRDP (Lewis, 2014). Therefore, given there is sufficient information available for the Caroona Coal Project, it is included in the CRDP and numerical modelling of the BA for the Namoi subregion. |
|
CCL 711 |
Curlewis Coal and Coke |
No |
Curlewis Coal and Coke is seeking renewal of this consolidated coal lease, which is part of the Preston Extended deposit. There is no publically available information for this lease and no coal resource is yet defined in accordance with the JORC Code for the Preston Extended deposit. Consequently, due to lack of current geological understanding about the deposit economics and geology, it is considered unlikely that CCL711 will be developed within a 10–15 year time frame. |
|
Goonbri Exploration Lease Area |
Goonbri Coal |
No |
The Goonbri Exploration Lease Area is approximately 1000 ha and is located immediately to the east of the Tarrawonga Mine. There is no publicly available information available for the area under the Goonbri exploration licence (EL). No coal resource is yet defined in accordance with the JORC Code and there is no documentation available for the site. Consequently, due to lack of current geological understanding about the deposit economics and geology, it is considered unlikely that Goonbri will be developed within a 10–15 year time frame. There is also no information available on the Goonbri Coal Company Pty Ltd who holds the Goonbri Exploration Lease Area (EL 7435). |
|
Gunnedah Precinct |
Whitehaven Coal |
Yes – commentary |
The ‘Gunnedah Precinct’ lease areas are held by Whitehaven Coal and have a total coal resource of 307 Mt (includes open-cut and underground resources), however only 9 Mt of this is measured, with 185 Mt indicated and 113 Mt inferred, indicating the deposit needs considerable further work to improve geological understanding and determine the potential for economic development. The project area largely sits within an area previously mined (the Gunnedah Colliery). Future development of this area is possible at some stage, however there is currently insufficient information available about how the resource would be developed, and the timing/schedule/life span etc. of any possible development, for it to be included with any appropriate degree of certainty or confidence in this iteration of the numerical modelling process. |
|
Kahlua and Glasserton Pilot tests |
Santos Ltd |
No |
Santos has undertaken pilot well testing near Kahlua and Glasserton in the south of the subregion, however it has indicated there are no further activities proposed for these exploration areas. |
|
Maules Creek Mine |
Whitehaven Coal, ICRA MC, J Power Australia |
Yes – modelled |
The Maules Creek Mine received NSW and Australian Government development approval in 2013 and the mine is now operational, ramping up to full production. The Assessment team considers sufficient information to be available about the development for inclusion in the CRDP and numerical modelling for the Namoi subregion. Mine development plans and scheduling information for the Maules Creek Mine are available to the Assessment team from information and datasets publicly released as part of the EA documentation, as well as data gathered for annual reporting requirements. |
|
ML 1662 |
Whitehaven Coal |
No |
This mining lease is held by Whitehaven Coal and is part of the Rocglen Mine. |
|
ML 1671 |
Werris Creek Coal |
No |
This mining lease is held by Werris Creek Coal (a subsidiary of Whitehaven Coal) and so forms part of the Werris Creek deposit. |
|
Narrabri Gas Project |
Santos Ltd |
Yes – modelled |
Santos is currently at the stage of compiling information for EIS assessment after having submitted a Preliminary Environmental Assessment to the NSW Government and a Referral under the EPBC Act to the Australian Government in 2014. There is a good understanding of the CSG resource and well-advanced plans for the proposed operations. Consequently, the Narrabri Gas Project will be part of the CRDP and numerical modelling for the BA for the Namoi subregion. |
|
Narrabri North Mine |
Whitehaven Coal, J Power, EDF Trading, Upper Horn Investments, Daewoo International and Korea Resources Corporation |
Yes – modelled |
The Narrabri North underground mine has been operational since 2010. The combined project (Narrabri North and South) has a listed probable recoverable coal reserve of 94 Mt and a probable marketable reserve of 75 Mt, indicating the resource is likely to be exploited in the future. The Assessment team considers there is sufficient information for the Narrabri North underground mine to be included in the CRDP and numerical modelling for the BA for the Namoi subregion. |
|
Narrabri South |
Whitehaven Coal |
Yes – modelled |
The Narrabri South exploration tenement (EL 6243) is directly south of the Narrabri North Mine. Narrabri South is included in the CRDP for the Namoi subregion as it has an economic demonstrated resource (EDR) and is part of a larger resource position held by Whitehaven Coal Limited (Whitehaven Coal) in the Namoi subregion – suggesting likely future development at some stage. The combined project (Narrabri North and South) has a listed probable recoverable coal reserve of 94 Mt and a probable marketable reserve of 75 Mt, indicating the resource is likely to be exploited in the future. The Assessment team has assumed that the Narrabri South project would go ahead once the Narrabri North resource is exhausted, predicted to be in about 2030. The Assessment team has obtained a longwall design concept plan for the Narrabri South exploration lease and has assumed that the rate of mining at Narrabri South would be similar to that at Narrabri North, approximately one longwall panel per year. The Assessment team considers there is sufficient information for Narrabri South to be included in the CRDP and numerical modelling for the BA for the Namoi subregion. |
|
Rocglen Mine |
Whitehaven Coal |
Yes – modelled |
The Rocglen Mine has been operational since 2009 and is classified as a baseline mine. Mine development plans and scheduling information for the Rocglen Mine are available to the Assessment team from information and datasets publicly released as part of the EA documentation and annual updates provided by Whitehaven Coal, who owns the mine. Consequently, the mine is included in the CRDP and the numerical modelling. |
|
Sunnyside Mine |
Whitehaven Coal |
Yes – modelled |
The Sunnyside Mine was given approval to commence production in 2008. In October 2012, mining operations at the site were suspended indefinitely and the mine is currently under ‘care and maintenance’. The mine had approval to operate until September 2015. The Sunnyside Mine is classified as a baseline mine and can be included in the CRDP and numerical modelling using historical information about the mine development, phases and closure procedure. |
|
Tarrawonga Mine |
Whitehaven Coal |
Yes – modelled |
The Tarrawonga Mine has been in operation since 2006. The Assessment team considers sufficient information to be available about the development for inclusion in the CRDP and numerical modelling for the Namoi subregion. Mine development plans and scheduling information for the Tarrawonga Mine are available to the Assessment team from information and datasets publicly released as part of the EA documentation, as well as data gathered for annual reporting requirements. |
|
Tarrawonga Coal Expansion Project |
Whitehaven Coal |
Yes – modelled |
The Tarrawonga Coal Expansion Project received NSW and Australian Government approval to expand operations in 2013. This expansion is now operational. The Assessment team considers sufficient information to be available about the project for inclusion in the CRDP for the Namoi subregion and numerical modelling. Mine development plans and scheduling information for the Tarrawonga Coal Expansion Project are available to the Assessment team from information and datasets publicly released as part of the EA documentation, as well as data gathered for annual reporting requirements. |
|
Vickery Coal Project |
Whitehaven Coal |
Yes – modelled |
The Vickery Coal Project received NSW approval in 2014; Australian Government approval was not required. The Assessment team considers sufficient information to be available about the development for inclusion in the CRDP and numerical modelling for the Namoi subregion. Mine development plans for the Vickery Coal Project are available to the Assessment team from information and datasets publicly released as part of the Preliminary Environmental Assessment and EIS documentation, as well as data gathered for annual reporting requirements. Whitehaven Coal has indicated that the start-up for the Vickery Coal Mine will depend on the market but will not commence prior to the Maules Creek Mine ramping to 13 Mt. The Assessment team has therefore inferred the scheduling of the Vickery Coal Project in accordance with this. |
|
Vickery South Coal Project |
Whitehaven Coal |
Yes – commentary |
Vickery South Coal Project is included in the CRDP for the Namoi subregion as it has an EDR and is part of a larger resource position held by Whitehaven Coal in the Namoi subregion – suggesting likely future development at some stage. However, there is currently insufficient information available about how the Vickery South coal resource would be developed, and the timing/schedule/life span etc. of any possible development, for it to be included with any appropriate degree of certainty or confidence in the numerical modelling for the BA for the Namoi subregion. |
|
Watermark Coal Project |
Shenhua Watermark |
Yes – modelled |
The Watermark Coal Project has passed EIS and EPBC Act approvals processa, and (from an approvals process view) now only needs its mining lease to be granted and final NSW environmental authority for construction to commence. The Assessment team considers sufficient data and information to be available about the mining development to allow for its inclusion in the CRDP and numerical modelling. Required mine development plans and scheduling data for the Watermark Coal Project are available to the Assessment team. |
|
Werris Creek Mine |
Werris Creek Coal (subsidiary of Whitehaven Coal) |
Yes – modelled (SW only)/ commentary (GW only) |
The Werris Creek Mine has been operational since 2005 and received approval to extend operations in 2011, allowing for an increase in production and an extension for 20 years to 2031. The Assessment team considers sufficient information to be available about the development for inclusion in the CRDP for the Namoi subregion. Mine development plans and scheduling information for the Werris Creek Mine are available, however the mine lies in the Werrie Basin to the east of the Hunter-Mooki Thrust Fault System, and is hydrogeologically isolated from the groundwater flow systems in the Gunnedah Basin strata. However, it will be included in surface water modelling as the Werrie Basin is part of a larger catchment within the surface water model. |
aindicate the different resource classes that may combine to form the total resource tonnage – typically these are reported in accordance with the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) Code. For example, the different JORC resource classes of measured, indicated and inferred resources could be shown (or whichever combination of resource classes is applicable for each project). BA = bioregional assessment, CRDP = coal resource development pathway, CSG = coal seam gas, EA = environmental assessment, EDR = economic demonstrated resources, EIS = environmental impact statement, EL = exploration licence, EPBC Act = Commonwealth’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, GW = groundwater, ML = mining lease, SW = surface water
Full company names are: Chugoku Electric Power Australia Resources Pty Ltd (Chugoku Electric Power Australia Resources), EDF Trading Limited (EDF Trading), Goonbri Coal Company Pty Ltd (Goonbri Coal), Idemitsu Australia Resources Pty Ltd (Idemitsu), J Power Electric Power Development Co., Ltd (J Power), NS Boggabri Pty Ltd (NS Boggabri), Shenua Watermark Coal Pty Limited (Shenhua Watermark), Upper Horn Investments Pty Ltd (Upper Horn Investments), Werris Creek Coal Pty Ltd (Werris Creek Coal), Whitehaven Coal Limited (Whitehaven Coal).
These timelines have been used in the bioregional assessment numerical modelling for the Namoi subregion in 2016.
The coal resource developments in the coal resource development pathway (CRDP) are the sum of those in the baseline coal resource development (baseline) and the additional coal resource development.
Baseline = a future that includes all coal mines and coal seam gas (CSG) fields that were commercially producing under an operations plan approved as of December 2012
CRDP = a future that includes all coal mines and CSG fields that are in the baseline as well as those that are expected to begin commercial production after December 2012
Additional coal resource development = all coal mines and CSG fields, including expansion of baseline operations, that are expected to begin commercial production after December 2012
There are two additional coal resource developments (Vickery South and Gunnedah Precinct) that cannot be modelled due to insufficient data, hence they are not shown on this timeline.
