DEADLINE: The June 30 deadline was set by the NSW government two years ago.
The June 30 deadline was set two years ago, when the NSW government paid $260 million to buy back half of the project’s exploration area.
The clause also includes a 15 per cent per yearly increase in the mining licence fee.
While the NSW government will have the power to cancel the project, there is no guarantee it will given the strained relationship between Australia and China.
Should the company apply for a mining licence, it still has to get three environmental plans signed off by the state government before it can start construction, including water, rehabilitation and koala management plans.
The water and rehabilitation plans also have to get signed off by the federal government.