Hundreds of Tahmoor Colliery employees are closer to returning to work with today's completion of the mine's sale to GEAR / M Resources Consortium.
Around 150 workers have already returned and are undertaking some mining work. The new mine operator is aiming to bring back more workers to site for a full resumption of mining in the coming months.
The sale of the mine is great news for the Wollondilly and wider Illawarra communities given the mine's importance in supporting local jobs and local businesses. Returning to operations is also significant due to the mine's role in supplying metallurgical coal for steel making in NSW.
The Minns Labor Government has been working closely with the Mining and Energy Union, liquidators and the local community over the last two years to get the mine operating again.
Getting operations at Tahmoor up and running with workers back on the job has always been the Government's top priority.
As a condition precedent of the sale and transfer, the NSW Government required the repayment of outstanding royalties to the people of NSW before the mining leases could be transferred. This is an important outcome for taxpayers and clears the way for a fresh start under the new mine operator.
The Resources Regulator will continue to oversee the operation and ensure all relevant safety and rehabilitation requirements are met as activity on site increases.
Minister for Natural Resources Courtney Houssos said:
"This is a great outcome for the Tahmoor community. We have long said the mine is a valuable asset and, under the right owners, has a bright future.
"It means workers are getting back on site, families can look to the future with greater confidence and local businesses can benefit as activity at the mine ramps up.
"While we all wish this process didn't take as long as it ultimately has, this is great news for workers, businesses and the Wollondilly and wider Illawarra communities.
"I want to thank the mine's workers for their patience as we worked towards this result, as well as Judy Hannan and the Mining and Energy Union for their tireless advocacy.
"We hope this is just the start of a bright new chapter for the community."
