Yancoal subsidiary Stratford Coal has farewelled its final coal train, signalling a new era for the New South Wales operation.
The Stratford Mining Complex is located 95km north of Newcastle in the Gloucester Basin, NSW. The operation commenced in June 1995, with the first coal train departing the site a month later.
For almost 30 years, the operation has been in action; however, Stratford has now finished coal mining due to the exhaustion of commercial coal reserves.
While mining has ended at the site, the Stratford team will continue working for the next four years to close operations, decommission and remove infrastructure, and rehabilitate the site to an approved final landform.
Stratford’s closure plans include agriculture and native vegetation in line with the approved land-uses. It is also assessing land use options such as a renewable energy hub and initiatives that support agriculture, recreation and tourism.
“As we work through the decommissioning process, we still believe in the value of the mine, and we are focused on continuing land rehabilitation and exploring potential beneficial uses for parts of the site,” Stratford Coal operations manager John Cullen said.
“The actual works to rehabilitate and then maintain and monitor the land to achieve NSW Government signoff is expected to take between 10 and 15 years, so it is a long-term process.
“We are also continuing to assess the feasibility of the Stratford Renewable Energy Hub, which has been declared as critical state significant infrastructure, for future use of part of the site and have commenced applications for NSW and Federal Government approvals.”
Cullen thanked the Stratford team for their ongoing hard work and dedication.
“Our people know they are at the centre of everything we do, and I would like to acknowledge, thank, and pay tribute to our mining crews and the people who have worked at the mine over the past 30 years,” he said.
“They are an incredible group of people who, every day, have endured the challenging geotechnical mining conditions that Stratford was renowned for. Additionally, I extend our gratitude to our suppliers for their invaluable contribution to our success, and to the local community for their continued support of our operation.”