The modification will allow the Yancoal-owned mine to recover approximately 4.5 million tonnes of run-of-mine coal.

Work within the approved area will be conducted by existing underground crews. The mine currently operates with approximately 185 people.

Yancoal investor relations and corporate affairs general manager James Rickards said Austar has adjusted mine plans over the past 18 months in order to remain operational and retain as many staff as possible during difficult economic conditions.

He said the modification has been proposed in order to enable efficient access to specific coal reserves in the underground workings.

“We have continued to adjust our mine plans throughout the past year and needed to ensure that any changes to our production schedule and mining areas are appropriately reflected and supported by our regulatory approvals,” Mr Rickards said.

No other changes to the approved mining operations, associated surface facilities or production rates are proposed as part of the modification. 

The Department of Planning and Environ­ment approved the project subject to strict conditions. 

The conditions address issues raised in submissions received during public consultation held last year, including current standards required for development of an extraction plan and new rehabilitation objectives. 

Submissions were only received from government agencies including Cessnock City Council and the Office of Environment and Heritage, with no public submissions received.