In an announcement from the NSW Government office of Planning and Environment it has been revealed that the NSW Resources Regulator will take court action against major mine employer in the Mudgee region, Moolarben Coal.
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The release is in full below:
The NSW Resources Regulator has commenced prosecution proceedings against Moolarben Coal Operations Pty Ltd and one of its former contract workers for alleged contraventions of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 in relation to a dangerous shot firing incident at the Moolarben Coal Mine near Mudgee.
The Regulator will allege that, on 17 May 2017, six workers were exposed to a risk of death or serious injury when flyrock from mine blasting activities landed near the workers, located within the mine's prescribed 500 metre personnel exclusion zone - a breach of the mine's blasting rules.
The Resources Regulator's investigation report into the incident can be found here.
The Regulator has commenced Category 2 proceedings for failing to comply with duties imposed under sections 19 and 28 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.
The alleged offences have a maximum penalty of $1,500,000 in the case of Moolarben Coal Operations Pty Ltd and $300,000 in the case of the worker.
The matters are set down for first mention in the NSW District Court on 24 June 2019.
As the matter is now before the Court, further details will not be released.
Owners of Moolarben Coal, Yancoal, have made the following response.
"Yancoal is considering its position in relation to this matter," a spokesman said.
"Given that the matter is the subject of legal proceedings, it is inappropriate for Yancoal to comment further."
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