The Project

About Bloomfield Colliery

Mining has been carried out at the site since the late 1850’s, with Bloomfield taking over the Mining Lease in 1937. For the past 86 years, Bloomfield has maintained continuous operations on the site. Underground mining operations on the site ceased in 1992. Open-cut mining operations began in 1964 and are ongoing.

The Bloomfield Colliery has approval to operate 24 hours per day, seven days per week. It currently employs 93 personnel over 15 standard shifts a week across its operations, including the mining, administration and maintenance areas.

A range of real-time and predictive environmental monitoring is undertaken at the Colliery to minimise impacts on local communities, with the results regularly reviewed and reported annually.

In line with the approved final land use, substantial cattle grazing occurs on rehabilitated sections of the site today.

About the Project:

Approval of the project will allow a continuation of mining in the current area.

Mining is proposed to occur in two locations, as shown on the project map (which is included in the latest community newsletter): the Creek Cut Area and the Workshop Area.

The continuation of mining does not involve an increase in production, additional equipment or additional infrastructure. In fact, the proposed approved annual production level will be reduced.

The natural topography to the west and north of the proposed operations will continue to mitigate noise and visual impacts, and mining will not occur any closer to residential areas than has previously occurred.

Project Benefits:

Improved final landform: The proposed modification would result in beneficial changes to the currently approved post mining landform by reducing the size of the final void and reducing rehabilitated slope angles supportive of the final land use (cattle grazing).

Opportunity to address legacy matters associated with the site: Mining has been carried out at the site since the late 1850’s. This project provides the opportunity to mine an area of shallow historic underground workings, thereby removing the potential for subsidence and voids to occur at the surface and providing improved long term stability benefits for the final landform.

Employment and economic benefits for the local community, the State of NSW, and Australia: Continued mining will mean ongoing employment and additional taxation payable to both the State and Commonwealth Governments from the additional years of mining. Royalties will also be paid to the State on the additional resource that will be mined. These royalties contribute to funding NSW hospitals, schools, essential services, and infrastructure projects.

Community Consultation

Community engagement is an important component of the project’s planning and assessment process, and there are opportunities for communities to learn about and provide input into the project, including:

• Updates to our Community Consultative Committee
• Project newsletters
• The Bloomfield Group website
• Engagement with Registered Aboriginal Parties

Community Survey

We have undertaken a community survey to better understand how local communities view potential impacts and benefits that may result from the continuation of Bloomfield’s operations. The results of the survey will inform the Social Impact Assessment and EIS. The survey closed on 29 February 2024.

Community Consultative Committee Membership Opportunities

The Bloomfield Colliery Community Consultative Committee (CCC) generally meets three times per year, with the aim of keeping the community informed regarding the progress of the operations and environmental performance. The CCC is an important forum for open discussion between the community, local government, stakeholders and Bloomfield Colliery representatives. If you are a community member or a local stakeholder group and would like to enquire about joining the CCC, please contact the Independent Chairperson, Lisa Andrews at lisaandrews.ic@gmail.com.

Further information

If you have any questions about the project, please contact:

Geoff Moore
Chief Development Officer
Bloomfield Collieries Pty Limited
Phone: 02 4930 2600
Email: bloomfieldcontinuation@bloomcoll.com.au

Or click on the link below to fill out your details in the form.