Going through the motions

The community has much cynicism about the State Government's assessment of coal industry projects, with many feeling that the Government is merely "going through the motions".

The Planning Minister, Frank Sartor, appointed a "Panel of Experts" to investigate the Anvil Hill coal mine proposal in September 2006 and hearings were held from 17 to 19 October 2006. For more information see

Department of Planning website
Drawing a line in the sand
Court challenge
Govt trying to circumvent court

But written more than a year before, by another arm of the Government, the electricity generator Macquarie Generation, is a section in their State of Corporate Intent 2005/2006 pre-empting the approval of the Anvil Hill mine.

On page 6:

− In preparation for delivery of coal supplies from the low cost Wilpinjong mine and the Anvil Hill mine, the Corporation is in the process of developing a new rail coal unloader at Antiene on land owned by Macquarie Generation. This project will involve additional train sidings and unloading capacity totalling up to $75 million.

So it seems one arm of Government was "in the process of" spending $75 million, while another arm of Government was "going through the motions".

Environmental assessments Sydney-Labor style.