1.2.3.1.3 Rocky Hill Coal Project

Gloucester Resources Limited are currently planning to develop Rocky Hill Coal Project, an open-cut coal mine 3.5 to 7 km south-east of the Gloucester urban area (RW Corkery and Co Pty Limited, 2013) within their licensed areas (Table 3). It is currently unclear when development may commence; currently several stages in the application and assessment process remain outstanding. After the environmental impact statement was provided for public exhibition (up to 28 October 2013) responses to issues arising were directed to the Department of Planning and Infrastructure who prepare an Assessment Report (not complete at the time of writing) (Rocky Hill Coal Project, 2014). The combined area of the three exploration licences covers approximately 112 km², however the mining area would cover an area of approximately 856 ha (RW Corkery and Co Pty. Limited, 2013). An on-site coal handling and preparation plant is also planned with an overland conveyor (approximately 3 km long) that would cross Waukivory Creek and the Avon River floodplains to the rail load-out facility that would be constructed as part of the development (RW Corkery and Co Pty Limited, 2013, p. ES–1, 4). Up to 2.6 Mt/year would be produced (RW Corkery and Co Pty. Limited, 2012, p. 5). Coal is planned to be extracted from four open pits from 70 to 190 m depth below surface, including two shallower and smaller sub-pits (RW Corkery and Co Pty. Limited, 2012, p. 33). Coal would be transported by rail to the Port of Newcastle.