Department of Planning senior staff argued against implementing tougher controls on air quality pollution and mine closure planning less than a week before approval was given to extend Glendell Coal's Barrett Pit near Singleton.
The Independent Planning Commission wrote to the Department of Planning on February 18 seeking its opinion about a proposal to lower annual average coarse particle pollution (PM10) levels from 30 micrograms per cubic metre to 25 micrograms per cubic metre.
The commission also asked about a Singleton Council recommendation for a more detailed final land use strategy.
In a letter dated 27 February, the Department of Planning's director of resource assessments Stephen O'Donoghue argued both proposals were inappropriate.
Several opponents of the extension warned about the impact of air pollution from the project on the health of surrounding communities.
But Mr O'Donoghue told the commission the mine would have difficulty complying with the proposed tougher standard.
"If the annual PM10 air quality criterion was revised to 25 micrograms per cubic metre, Glencore would be unable to comply with this limit and would automatically be in non-compliance at four receivers in middle Falbrook area because they have acquisition rights for air quality from other nearby mining operations but not under the Glendell Mine consent," he said.
"As the proposed modification does not increase dust emissions the Voluntary Land Acquisition and Mitigation Policy does not apply and there are no policy basis to include those receivers in ... the development consent."
"The underlying concern we have is that there is actually no detailed mine closure planning at the moment for this project... and we see that as a major gap," council development and environment manager Mary-Anne Crawford told the commission.
But the department said it believed existing rehabilitation requirements were adequate and that Glencore would undertake more detailed mine closure planning once consent was given.
"...it is the department's view that the existing conditions of consent for rehabilitation and mine closure planning for the complex are comprehensive and any additional conditions, such as the one proposed by council would duplicate existing requirements," Mr O'Donoghue said.
"The Commission is of the view that the minor extension of the Barrett Pit and extraction of an additional 1.97 million tonnes of run-of-mine coal over an eight-month period will result in a minor increase in greenhouse gas emissions which are accounted within the reduction strategy Glencore has in place for its global greenhouse emissions," the commisison said.
