LITHGOW district mineworkers are this morning rallying against irresponsible NSW Government delays to Springvale mine approval.
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The NSW Government is putting hundreds of jobs in the Lithgow area at risk by stalling the approval of the Springvale mine extension, the miners’ union said yesterday.
Mineworkers and their families were scheduled to rally in Lithgow’s Cook Street Plaza at 8.30am today in support of the mine extension.
Speakers listed to have a say included federal president of the union (Tony Maher), Graeme Osborne (CFMEU Mining and Energy Division NSW South Western District Vice President), Centennial Coal’s CEO David Moult and Springvale CFMEU lodge president Curtis Jones.
Mr Osborne said yesterday the company had been seeking an extension of the mine since 2012 but because of the NSW Government’s ‘confusing and convoluted planning process’ they were still waiting.
“Mineworkers, their families and the Lithgow community have been left in the lurch for far too long as the government panders to green groups at the expense of workers,” said Mr Osborne.
“The Springvale coal mine has been a part of the Lithgow community for more than 20 years and directly employs almost 400 local workers.
“We are already starting to see the very real effects of this irresponsible behaviour.
The first stand downs of Springvale mineworkers took place on Friday evening and many more workers will be stood down in the coming weeks.
“We’re calling on the local Nationals representative Paul O’Toole to stand up for local workers instead of standing by and allowing Planning Minister Rob Stokes to play politics with our jobs and the future of our community.”
Mr Osborne said that without the mine’s approval many hundreds more local mineworkers will be out of work by the end of September when Centennial Coal will be forced to stop production and place the mine into care and maintenance.
Mr Osborne said the Springvale mine is the sole provider of coal to the Mount Piper Power station and if the mine extension is not approved it is likely the power station will also be forced to close, taking hundreds more local jobs with it.
“In the Lithgow area 20 per cent of all jobs are tied to coal mining and power generation.
Our region has already been hit hard by hundreds of job losses when the Wallerawang power station closed and Centennial’s Angus Place coalmine was placed into care and maintenance last year.
“Unemployment in the Lithgow area is now almost 10 per cent – a rate well above the regional NSW average.
“If this approval is not granted it will have a devastating impact on our tightknit community in Lithgow.”
Both NSW Planning Minister Rob Stokes and local MP Paul Toole were invited to attend this morning’s rally.
