Decision Brief Varying Conditions Of Russell Vale Colliery Revised Underground Expansion Project - EPBC 2020/8702.

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The Department approved a variation to conditions for Russell Vale Colliery's revised underground expansion project (EPBC 2020/8702) near Wollongong, NSW, allowing adjusted water quality discharge limits for antimony and vanadium into Bellambi Gully. The approval holder, Wollongong Resources Pty Ltd, requested the variation on 18 December 2024; the mine ceased operations in February 2024 and is under care and maintenance. The decision was based on peer-reviewed scientific advice from independently qualified personnel calculating site-specific discharge criteria under ANZG Guidelines. The delegate noted the values were independently derived, would not increase environmental impacts beyond approval expectations, and that strict monitoring and reporting controls over water discharges would remain in place. Bellambi Gully is described as a highly disturbed urban stream.