Manildra Group, the owners of the Invincible and Cullen Valley mines, have put forward a Draft Planning Agreement to be used in the case the Invincible Mine extension is approved by the Department of Planning and Environment. 

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If so, Lithgow City Council will receive five cents from Manildra for each tonne of coal produced by the mine, which would potentially realise $16,875 per annum to go towards local community facilities. 

Over the eight year consent period for the mine extension this would amount to a total of $135,000.

Councillor Maree Statham moved the recommendation to approve the Draft Planning Agreement.

“Manildra is a very reputable group,” she said.

“I think this will be an outstanding weight against the position of the workforce. It’s a family company with great insight into what we need in Australia to keep things in Australia and shopping locally.”

Councillor Ray Thompson agreed. 

“I had no idea Manildra Group is as large as they are, it is a massive company,” he said. 

“I congratulate that group on the way they went about getting the plan up and running, although it’s not up and running yet. The way they approached not only the greens, but the community and everyone else – they went about everything in the right way and I think it will get up.”

Manildra Group, an Australian agribusiness, is waiting to receive a recommendation from the Department of Planning on whether the Invincible Mine can re-open with an extension to the site.

Manildra’s proposal to extend the already approved open-cut Invincible Mine southwards to include the Lithgow coal seam went on exhibition in September last year. 

Brett Moore, project manager of Castlereagh Coal, a group wholly owned by Manildra, said the proposal attracted 858 submissions with 550 in support of the project.

“The Southern Extension Project will stimulate economic and social activity in the Cullen Bullen, Lithgow, wider regional communities and broader New South Wales economy,” Mr Moore said.

“The associated benefits include local employment of up to approximately 35 full-time employees in the Cullen Bullen region.”

A Planning Agreement is an agreement entered into by a council and a developer. Under the agreement, a developer agrees to fund public amenities, services or infrastructure that may be required due to the development.