The department of Planning and Environment granted the request for extra time for the review due to “the complexity of the project and the number of representations made to the Commission”.

The PAC now must submit their report before Monday, July 31, 2017.

KEPCO proposes to develop two open-cut mining areas and an underground mining area in the Bylong Valley, which they say will employ 665 people at peak construction, 470 at peak operations 291 of which directly.

The project went before a NSW Planning Assessment Commission hearing in Mudgee back in May, where over forty registered speakers gave submissions and the written submissions period followed for another week. 

Close to 50 people spoke at the hearing, a further 69 submissions were received via email, post and fax.

Of the public submissions listed online, 60 were in support of the project, 30 were objections, and one categorised as a comment.

The majority of speakers at the hearing were in favour of the project, lining up on the side on the basis of the expected employment created.

Particularly in the Kandos/ Rylstone area which has suffered the closures of Kandos cement, Charbon mine and Big Rim in recent years.

Those speaking against the proposed mine objected on the grounds of the predicted environmental and social impacts on the Bylong Valley, including effects on water supplies as well as the impacts of noise, dust, and increased traffic.

The NSW Planning Assessment Commission requested the deadline extension in late June with the correspondence made public within the last week.

The action comes after the Commission was criticised for granting consent to the Wilpinjong Extension Project just over a fortnight after a public meeting in Mudgee and around a week after the submission period closed.