Caroona coal project

After initial exploration and years of feuding with the local graziers, BHP and the affected land holders have come to an agreement to work together to form the required environmental and agricultural impact statements

More info can be found here In the Brochure from BHP's website

Location of the Exploration area is†

The Caroona underground thermal coal mining project being proposed byBHP Billiton, is located, 40 kilometres south east of Gunnedah, in the Liverpool Plains area of north west, New South Wales. The company is in close consultation with the local community regarding the effect the mine might have on the regions water quality, and supply, especially its effect on the regions agricultural production over the long term, as it is expected the Caroona mine could develop into one of the world's largest coal mines and be capable of exporting up to 10 million tonnes of thermal coal a year for at least 30 years.

The Caroona Coal Project is Part of NSW Energy Coal

The BHP Billiton Caroona Coal mining project is part of the BHP Billiton NSW Energy Coal group. BHP Billiton have already lodged environmental approval applications regarding the construction of the massive underground mine that is expected to create employment for up to 600 workers during the construction stage and around 400 permanent workers during the life of the mine.

Caroona Project Within Fertile Agricultural Land

The proposed Caroona mine is located among some of the most fertile agricultural land in Australia which has led to serious concens regarding the effect the mine might have of the area's water supply. Local farmers have expressed concerns regarding its effect on the flood plains although BHP Billiton have denied the possibility of any adverse effects, at least not before 2040 and this will be confined to the Spring Ridge Jurassic aquifer.

The company has assured local farmers that the underground operation will not impact on any alluvial aquifiers that are essential for agricultural production in the region. BHP Billition has also gone out of its way to reassure local producers that it will only conduct mining activities at the Caroona site and that the development will have real benefits to the area's community and its local economy. Construction of the Caroona Project is expected to start in 2018.

Caroona Coal to Supply Coal to Power Hungry Consumers Worldwide

BHP Billiton have stated the Caroona Project's development is important to its overall New South Wales coal mining operations and that thermal energy coal will power around 35 percent of the worlds electricity requirements well into the forseeable future. It claims that over the next 20 years up to 1.7 billion people will enjoy using electricity for the first time in their lives as coal will remain the lowest cost means of producing power throughout the world.

Once the Caroona underground mine is at its production stage it will employ local people as well as hire a fly-in-fly-out workforce that will earn an agerage wage of around $80,000 a year. The employment of fly-in-fly-out workers will begin as soon as construction starts.

BHP Billiton have assured local residents by agreeing the Caroona Mine will not proceed if the company can not satisfy all environmental requirements that will be fully assessed at each stage, or if they can not show a benefit to the local economy, particularly the local community. Thecompany has already tabled advance studies showing how they will meet all environmental requirements as well as show a profit for the local communities.