Director of Resource Assessments at the Department of Planning and Environment Clay Preshaw, encouraged all groups and individuals interested in the proposal to get involved and provide feedback on both applications before June 30.

“It’s easy to go online to read the Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) and make a submission. There are also a handful of locations in the Southern Highlands where a hard copy of the EIS is available for anyone to view,” he said.

“All submissions will be read and considered, including the feedback received during the Department’s public information sessions held in Exeter, during April.

All submissions will be published on the department’s website at the end of the exhibition period.

“Hume Coal will then be required to address all public and government feedback received during the public exhibition period and provide a detailed Response to Submissions to the department,” Mr Preshaw said.

“When the response is received it will be published online and the department will assess the proposals, paying close attention to public and government agency feedback, and the response.”

The Hume Coal Project proposal involves a new underground coal mine extracting up to 3.5 million tonnes of coal a year over 19 years. The associated Berrima Rail Project involves the extension of the Berrima railway line to connect the proposed mine to the Main Southern Railway.

Visit the Major Projects website http://www.majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=7172 to read the EIS on the Hume Coal Project proposal and the Berrima Rail Project proposal online.

A hard copy of the EIS proposal can be viewed at these locations: