Wallarah 2 Coal Project

The Wallarah 2 Coal Project (W2CP) is a proposal by Korea Resources Corporation (owned by the South Korean government) and other major leading Korean and Japanese mining companies that comprise the Wyong Areas Coal Joint Venture to construct a modern and environmentally advanced longwall mine near Wyong, New South Wales, Australia. The exploration areas within which the mining proposal occurs was awarded to the Wyong Areas Coal Joint Venture by the NSW State Government in 1995 following a competitive tender. Extensive exploration drilling, geological surveys, environmental investigations, stakeholder consultations and other initiatives totalling $80 million have been undertaken by the Wyong Areas Coal Joint Venture since 1995. A Community Liaison Committee has been operating for approximately 10 years and includes two representatives from Wyong Council, community groups and NGOs and Government agencies.

The proposed mine will have an annual coal production of 4 to 5 million tonnes of export quality thermal coal per year, over 42 years, with initial construction expected in 2010 and longwall coal production in 2012. The New South Wales State Government is the major land owner in Central Coast, through land holding of Landcom.

The coal loader, coal stockpile and rail link will be at least 3 kilometres away from one of the largest urban growth areas on the Central Coast, including the proposed Warnervale town centre and potential support industries to the mining project. The coal loader proposed for Tooheys Road is a minimum of 2.4 kilometres from Warnervale, which is the Central Coast's largest proposed growth centre. Under the Government's development strategies, Lake Macquarie and Wyong will be increasingly urbanised.

Opposition

The Australian Coal Alliance has formed to oppose the project. State Labor MP for Wyong David Harris said: "My vision is for job growth through clean technology." "The Wyong Employment Zone has the potential to provide about 6000 jobs and we mustn't put that at risk. It's about what sort of future we want for the Central Coast and it's not mining." said Harris. He was concerned about the noise and dust impacts on the community and for the future of the Wyong Employment Zone at Warnervale.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/