The recommendation to approve the Dendrobium mine expansion has angered people concerned about its impact on scores of Aboriginal heritage sites, many set to be directly undermined.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE) found there would only be "limited" damage to cultural sites, which included "23 axe grinding groove sites, 34 sandstone shelters with art and/or archaeological deposits and one artefact".
But it said nine of the ten rock shelters which were at risk of more than 100mm of subsidence were judged "as having low scientific significance".
The Illawarra Local Aboriginal Land Council's submission, objecting to the project, said this "scientific" assessment was "offensive".
"As an Aboriginal community we find that the process of assessment of our sites and their value being reflected in relation to their scientific classification as being completely inappropriate and offensive," it stated.
"This position fails the human test. Aboriginal people are not scientific experiments. Our heritage belongs to us."
DPIE said it had recommended changes to the project to protect Aboriginal sites. One of these sites had been "substantially protected" by the miner's revision of its project to reduce the spread of one longwall panel.
"The five remaining sites are all located centrally above longwall panels," DPIE's assessment report said.
"Given the limited risks of impacts, the department does not consider that the scientific or cultural benefit of avoiding the risk of impacts is warranted."
Dr Rada Germonos of the Protect Our Water Alliance said "invaluable" cultural sites could be endangered.
"There are at least 58 Aboriginal cultural heritage sites that will be directly undermined, at least six of which are sandstone shelters with rock art, likely thousands of years old," she said.
A spokesman for miner South32 said: "South32 has undertaken detailed cultural heritage surveys with registered Aboriginal parties in relation to the proposed Dendrobium mine extension project mining area
"We work with our Traditional Owners and registered Aboriginal parties to manage the preservation of cultural heritage.
"During mine planning and construction, we engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to manage cultural areas of significance. There are occasions where our work plans are altered to help preserve sites of cultural significance. In other circumstances, we manage and mitigate the impact of our mining."
We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support.