"Council has called a public meeting at Club Lithgow for 9.00am on Friday 14  August 2015 in relation to the Springvale Mine Extension Project" said Lithgow  City Council Deputy Mayor, Councillor Ray Thompson

"The Springvale Mine is  currently the lifeblood of the Lithgow community and now there are over three  hundred employees working at the pit whose futures are in jeopardy."

"Added to this the mine is now the only supplier of coal to the Mount Piper  Power Station which employs nearly another three hundred staff" said Deputy  Mayor Thompson.

"The Power Station also supplies up to 15% of the State's electricity  requirements".  

"We are all very well aware of the difficult time that the Lithgow community has  had and with so many jobs at risk we have government dilly dallying in making a  decision on the project."

"The community cannot wait any longer and a decision is needed now from the  NSW Planning Assessment Commission (PAC)."

"The public meeting is being called for the community to demonstrate its support  for the mine extension project.'

"We already know that the PAC has viewed the development positively, we also  know that the PAC recognises the importance of the jobs to our local area and  we know that the PAC recognises the importance of this mine to NSW but still  there is no sign of a decision being made."

"The workers, their families and the community need to know what the future is  going to hold for them."

"The mine workers have been told that they are going to be stood down at the  end of next week, the mine will then come to a stand still and if no decision is  made soon then the power station will also cease."

"We are calling upon the Lithgow community to come along to the meeting to  show its support for the mine."

"The Lithgow community needs this mine to be approved, and soon" concluded Deputy Mayor Thompson.