1.2.3.1.7 Goonbri Exploration Project

Exploration Licence (EL) 7435, which is held by Goonbri Coal Company Pty Limited, covers an area of 984 ha, 18 km north-east of Boggabri. It is possible that an open-cut or underground coal mine could be developed within EL 7435 in the future, subject to approval. A Review of Environmental Factors for the project has been submitted to the NSW Department of Trade and Investment (Resource and Energy), which proposes to develop a series of exploration boreholes (Hansen Bailey, 2012). Although it is possible that an open-cut or underground coal mine could be developed in future, according to the NSW Department of Planning, no submissions have been made for development of the coal resources on EL 7435 as of September 2014. The Goonbri EL 7435 is close to the Maules Creek and Boggabri mines and adjacent to the Tarrawonga coal mine.