Springvale returns to work

The Springvale workforce returned to work on 16 October. Due to the prolonged delays in securing the approvals required to allow mining to continue at Springvale, Centennial Coal had no option other than to stand down the majority of the Springvale workforce from 21 August.

“It has been 8 long weeks since we were forced to stand down the majority of our Springvale workforce”, stated Centennial Coal’s Executive GM External Affairs, Katie Brassil. “This has been a hugely disruptive, costly and frustrating time for our people, their families, the local community and we as a company”.

“We welcome the decision by Minister Hunt to grant Federal approval for our Springvale mine today which is the important final step in the process that allows our people to return to work”, Katie continued. “The Lithgow community should hold their heads high and be very proud of the professionalism and compassion that has been displayed by our people and the way in which they and the broader community have supported each other through this difficult time”.

“We are very fortunate to live and work in a community that has such strong support for our industry. Lithgow City Council under the stewardship of Mayor Maree Statham and Deputy Mayor Ray Thompson, our local MP’s Paul Toole and John Cobb, have proven to be ferocious local champions throughout this process and we thank them. Whilst our people welcome the opportunity to return to work as much as we need them to get back to work, we are very disappointed that it was a broken NSW Planning system that placed us in such a deplorable position in the first place. Our people will now get back to work and do what they do best – safely cutting coal and keeping the lights on in NSW”, concluded Katie.

Edited from press release by Angharad Lock

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/coal/20102015/springvale-returns-to-work-3038/