Wallarah 2 Coal Project
Encyclopedia
The Wallarah 2 Coal Project (or W2CP) was a proposal by the Korea Resources Corporation or KORES (owned by the South Korea
n government and other Korean
and Japan
ese 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
. It was rejected by the Keneally
Government shortly before the 2011 State election
which saw the Government defeated.
. Extensive exploration drilling, geological surveys, environmental investigations, stakeholder consultations and other works costing approximately $80 million were undertaken by the proponents. To counter criticism, the proponents launched a Community Liaison Committee which included two representatives from Wyong Shire Council, community groups, other Non Government Organisations
and Government agencies. The New South Wales State Government is a major land owner on the Central Coast, through the holdings of State-owned corporation, Landcom
.
The proposed mine was to have an annual coal production of 4 to 5 million tonnes of export quality thermal coal
per year, over 42 years. Initial construction was due to begin in 2010 with longwall coal production starting in 2012 but these deadlines were missed due to complications arising from community opposition to the proposal.
Proponents claimed the associated coal loader, coal stockpile and rail link would be at least 3 kilometres away from one of the largest urban growth areas on the Central Coast, including the proposed Warnervale town centre.
s.
The Australian Coal Alliance was formed to oppose the project and has maintained an active public relations
campaign against the proposal. It blamed the NSW Labor Party
and its supporters to failing to stop the mine.
Former state Labor
MP
for Wyong David Harris
said he was opposed to the mine, adding he was "concerned about the noise and dust impacts on the community and for the future of the Wyong Employment Zone at Warnervale". However, members of the Australian Coal Alliance criticised him for accepting a position as Parliamentary Secretary
claiming the position suggested loyalty to the NSW Government, rather than to their campaign.
Before the 2011 State election
, the NSW Opposition
promised to stop the mine proposal. On the final day of the Keneally
Government (the day before the issue of the writ
s), Minister Tony Kelly announced that the Government had made a decision that the proposal would not go ahead. David Harris attempted to "claim victory" for the proposal rejection but was defeated at the State election.
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
n government and other Korean
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese mining companies that comprise the Wyong Areas Coal Joint Venture) to construct a modern and environmentally advanced longwall mine
Longwall mining
Longwall mining is a form of underground coal mining where a long wall of coal is mined in a single slice . The longwall panel is typically 3–4 km long and 250–400 m wide....
near Wyong, New South Wales
Wyong, New South Wales
Wyong was proclaimed a town in 1888 and is currently a major northern suburb of the Central Coast region of New South Wales, located approximately 89 km NNE of Sydney. It is the administrative centre for the Wyong Shire local government area.- History :...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It was rejected by the Keneally
Kristina Keneally
Kristina Kerscher Keneally MP, is an Australian politician and was the 42nd Premier of New South Wales. She was elected leader of the Australian Labor Party in New South Wales and thus Premier in 2009, but went on to lose government to the Liberal/National Coalition at the March 2011 state election...
Government shortly before the 2011 State election
New South Wales state election, 2011
Elections to the 55th Parliament of New South Wales were held on Saturday, 26 March 2011. The 16-year incumbent Australian Labor Party government led by Premier Kristina Keneally was defeated in a landslide by the Liberal-National coalition opposition led by Barry O'Farrell.New South Wales has...
which saw the Government defeated.
Proposal
The exploration areas within which the mining proposal wass situated were awarded to the Wyong Areas Coal Joint Venture by the NSW State Government in 1995 following a competitive tenderTender
-Transportation:* Tender , a type of railroad car hauled immediately after the locomotive and used to carry fuel and water* Water tender, fire truck tanker-Boats/ships:* Buoy tender, used to maintain Aids to Navigation including buoys...
. Extensive exploration drilling, geological surveys, environmental investigations, stakeholder consultations and other works costing approximately $80 million were undertaken by the proponents. To counter criticism, the proponents launched a Community Liaison Committee which included two representatives from Wyong Shire Council, community groups, other Non Government Organisations
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
and Government agencies. The New South Wales State Government is a major land owner on the Central Coast, through the holdings of State-owned corporation, Landcom
Landcom
Landcom, previously known as the Land Commission of New South Wales, is a corporation in Australia owned by the Government of New South Wales under Lloyd Warwick....
.
The proposed mine was to have an annual coal production of 4 to 5 million tonnes of export quality thermal coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
per year, over 42 years. Initial construction was due to begin in 2010 with longwall coal production starting in 2012 but these deadlines were missed due to complications arising from community opposition to the proposal.
Proponents claimed the associated coal loader, coal stockpile and rail link would be at least 3 kilometres away from one of the largest urban growth areas on the Central Coast, including the proposed Warnervale town centre.
Opposition and rejection
The proposal was delayed by widespread opposition on the Central Coast with opponents suggesting the project could impact voting at subsequent electionElection
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
s.
The Australian Coal Alliance was formed to oppose the project and has maintained an active public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
campaign against the proposal. It blamed the NSW Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
and its supporters to failing to stop the mine.
Former state Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
MP
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
for Wyong David Harris
David Harris (Australian politician)
David Robert Harris is an Australian politician. He was an Australian Labor Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing the electoral district of Wyong from 24 March 2007 until his defeat at the 2011 state election.-Personal life:Harris is one of three children born to...
said he was opposed to the mine, adding he was "concerned about the noise and dust impacts on the community and for the future of the Wyong Employment Zone at Warnervale". However, members of the Australian Coal Alliance criticised him for accepting a position as Parliamentary Secretary
Parliamentary Secretary
A Parliamentary Secretary is a member of a Parliament in the Westminster system who assists a more senior minister with his or her duties.In the parliamentary systems of several Commonwealth countries, such as the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, it is customary for the prime minister to...
claiming the position suggested loyalty to the NSW Government, rather than to their campaign.
Before the 2011 State election
New South Wales state election, 2011
Elections to the 55th Parliament of New South Wales were held on Saturday, 26 March 2011. The 16-year incumbent Australian Labor Party government led by Premier Kristina Keneally was defeated in a landslide by the Liberal-National coalition opposition led by Barry O'Farrell.New South Wales has...
, the NSW Opposition
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
promised to stop the mine proposal. On the final day of the Keneally
Kristina Keneally
Kristina Kerscher Keneally MP, is an Australian politician and was the 42nd Premier of New South Wales. She was elected leader of the Australian Labor Party in New South Wales and thus Premier in 2009, but went on to lose government to the Liberal/National Coalition at the March 2011 state election...
Government (the day before the issue of the writ
Writ
In common law, a writ is a formal written order issued by a body with administrative or judicial jurisdiction; in modern usage, this body is generally a court...
s), Minister Tony Kelly announced that the Government had made a decision that the proposal would not go ahead. David Harris attempted to "claim victory" for the proposal rejection but was defeated at the State election.