NSW public hearing on Hunter Valley Operation coal mine extension draws over 130 speakers

The NSW Independent Planning Commission held a two‑day public hearing at Branxton Community Hall on July 22‑23 to consider the Hunter Valley Operation (HVO) coal mine extension. Eighty‑six speakers were scheduled to address the three commissioners in person, with an additional 48 submitting statements online. The hearing follows 1,310 public submissions to date, of which only 84 were objections.

Key participants include former Australian chief scientist Dr Penny Sackett, representing the Environmental Defenders Office, who was allocated 20 minutes to argue for rejection of the project. If approved, the extension would allow extraction of 716 million tonnes of coal from HVO North and HVO South, extending mine life to 2045 and 2042 respectively, supporting about 1,500 jobs and contributing roughly AU$1 billion to the state economy, according to Glencere.