Planning decision to extend life of mega coal mine saves 1,500 jobs

An estimated 1,500 jobs have been saved after the NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC) handed down its ruling on the future of a major coal mine near Singleton in the New South Wales Hunter Valley.

The IPC today approved plans that will allow Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) to continue mining at the site until 2045, extracting an estimated 429 million tonnes of coal across its North and South sites.

In April 2025, the mine was given a last-minute extension, which allowed it to continue operating until December this year.

HVO told IPC hearings in July that the mine employed more than 1,500 people, engaged more than 800 suppliers and injected more than $1 billion a year into the economy.

But environmentalists argued the extension would put the NSW government's ability to reach its net-zero targets in jeopardy.

The proposal had backing from Premier Chris Minns and Natural Resources Minister Courtney Houssos, as well as the NSW Coalition.

"Those 1,500 jobs are such a key part of the state's economy, but particularly here in the Hunter Valley," Mr Houssos told ABC Upper Hunter ahead of today's decision.

"We've got legislated net-zero emissions targets and we will adhere to those, but we also understand the important role that coal mining has particularly for the Hunter Valley, but for our entire state's economy."

More than 10,000 public submissions were made to the IPC during its deliberations, with about 60 per cent supporting the project.