Rivers SOS Inc. v. Minister of Planning

Summary:

In June 2009, New South Wales Planning Minister approved a $50 million expansion of the Metropolitan coal mine, allowing longwall mining to take place underneath the Woronora Reservoir. The Minister approved a substantially revised version of the project at a late stage in the assessment process, without providing any further opportunities for public participation and agency involvement. Rivers SOS, a community group, challenged the legality of the mining approval process. On December 16, 2009, the Land and Environment Court upheld the decision of the Minister.

At Issue: Challenge to the Minister’s decision approving a coal mine expansion