LITHGOW Council is calling on the State Government to free up the coal leases held by Xstrata so that other companies can re-open the now mothballed Baal Bone mine.
The closure did not come as a surprise as the company’s plans had been announced months earlier when voluntary redundancies were offered.
But it’s the reason for the closure which has angered the unions and the Council.
There are apparently 20 million tonnes of quality steaming coal remaining in the Baal Bone leases but this coal is beneath the Gardens of Stone National Park.
Longwall mining is not permitted beneath the national park and Xstrata is not willing to employ a conventional bord and pillar mining method as is used in many other mines.
The longwall system permits faster extraction of coal. It is understood Xstrata has rejected overtures from other mining companies interested in acquiring Baal Bone and has instead placed the mine on care and maintenance.
According to claims in Lithgow Council this week the ‘care and maintenance’ means that technically the mine is not closed and this prevents authorities re-allocating the leases.
And it is on this issue the Council wants the government to act.
Full story on page two of today's Lithgow Mercury
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