Rio's Warkworth clears second hurdle

The New South Wales Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) has again backed mining giant Rio Tinto's plans to extend work at its Warkworth opencut coal mine. While the PAC in March formally recommended that the Minister of Planning approve Rio’s expansion plans for the Mount Thorley Warkworth mine, Minister Rob Stokes in August requested the PAC carry out a second review on the project to include amendments to the State Environmental Planning Policy (SEPP).