Hunter Valley coalmine ruling buoys other anti-mine campaigners

Bylong Valley residents hope Rocky Hill decision will sway state commission to reject proposed open-cut mine

Activists and residents fighting against a proposed coalmine in central New South Wales are hoping last week's historic judgment in the Rocky Hill case will sway the state's Independent Planning Commission to reject the project.

The NSW land and environment court ruled last week Gloucester Resources' Rocky Hill coalmine in the state's Hunter Valley should not go ahead, in part because of its social impact on the town of Gloucester and because a new coalmine was not compatible with Australia's commitments under the Paris agreement.