Coalpac still under a cloud
THE bid by Coalpac for approval for its ‘consolidation project’ at Cullen Bullen appears to have encountered another hurdle, and this time from an influential source.
Lithgow Council was told this week NSW Health has now joined the organisations voicing concerns at the potential impacts of the project.
Coalpac wants to ‘consolidate’ its Invincible and Cullen Valley Colliery operations for a very large-scale mining operation centred around the village of Cullen Bullen.
The proposal, before government planning agencies, was initially opposed by Lithgow Council on the grounds previous promises to move to underground mining rather than open cut had not been honoured.
The council, however, later had a change of heart after submissions from the company based largely on job creation and offered conditional support.
But at this week’s meeting council was told NSW Health has entered the debate with concerns about health factors.
NSW Health in its submission on the proposal identifies a number of long-term health effects from dust, emissions from blasting and noise effects for the people of Cullen Bullen and the local school.
Read what NSW Health have to say in Today's Lithgow Mercury