CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Eric Kontos have come out in support of coal miners affected by the temporary closure of Tahmoor Colliery Almost 500 miners have been stood down with pay while the owners sort out financial issues that affect the parent company Shadow treasurer Angus Taylor issued a statement saying this is “an incredibly difficult time for the hundreds of workers and their families affected by the situation at Tahmoor Colliery “The mine is a major employer in the local area and supports many businesses and community groups,’’ he said “I’ve long been a strong supporter of the mine through previous ownership changes and planning issues and will continue to do so during this challenging period “I’ve been in touch with the Colliery’s owner and General Manager and will stay in contact as the situation develops “It’s critical GFG Alliance finds a way to keep jobs in the area,’’ Mr Taylor said Mayor of Wollondilly Matt Gould and state MP Judy Hannan issued a joint statement of support for the affected miners and their families Ms Hannan said she had written to NSW Premier Chris Minns “Despite the transition away from coal as a power source coking coal is still required for steel,’’ Ms Hannan said “The mine at Tahmoor is of a rich type of coal and is used for the creation of steel necessary for building works across Australia.” “My concern is for the workers locally that this mine employed well before GFG Alliance purchased the operation the issue involves the government as the licences and operations that are used for the Tahmoor colliery are now at risk  “I have sought assurance from the government to ensure a transition to a new company will keep the local workers engaged “If workers have direct concerns please contact my office and my staff are ready to assist with any issues,’’ said the member for Wollondilly  Mayor of Wollondilly Matt Gould said that Tahmoor colliery was a major local employer “Our thoughts are with the employees and their families employed both directly and indirectly by the mine who are feeling uncertain about what the future may look like,’’ he said “Our first priority is the people of Wollondilly and council is working closely with our local member to ensure we are doing everything we can to make sure those impacted and our broader community are supported at this time “We are also reassured to hear that the State Government is stepping in to work on resolving this unfortunate situation to ensure the financial sustainability of the mine and to make sure no local jobs are lost and we thank them for taking action to support our community.” Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" the South West Voice is a free news website which serves Macarthur and Liverpool © 2023 South West Voice • All Rights Reserved • Proudly Supported by Simply WordPress Sydney Production is expected to restart at the Tahmoor colliery in the New South Wales Wollondilly region soon Until then – hundreds of workers are being kept on the books Around 450 workers at the Tahmoor underground mine are off work on full pay after SIMEC The mine has historically supplied GFG’s Whyalla Steelworks The workforce includes approximately 150 direct employees and 300 employees of contractor RStar The Mining and Energy Union (MEU) welcomed the decision by SIMEC to retain their workforce in the current circumstances where the company’s financial position has affected supply of equipment to the mine “The workforce at Tahmoor are skilled and loyal; and the company is doing the right thing by retaining them as they address their current financial challenges,” MEU south west district secretary Andy Davey said “We are confident that operations will resume within weeks Tahmoor is a mine with high quality steel-making coal and an excellent track record of efficient and profitable operations “Our members were taken by surprise by the news that the operations would be halted and they would rather be at work earning their money; however they remain on full pay with their jobs secure until production restarts.” The ABC reported last week the mine has potential buyers lined up “One particular company did make an offer to buy it that was knocked back,” Davey told the ABC and we believe that there will be no dramas if it was to come up on the market to be sold and that they would keep the workforce they have and they would soldier on.” Subscribe to Safe to Work for the safety news that matters most to the Australian mining industry. who may emerge as a buyer for the Tahmoore mine.Matt Latimore's not saying anything about it yet but the leader of the GM3 coal consortium may be looking at taking a much larger stake in the Illawarra's coal industry All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueBritish billionaire Sanjeez Gupta is looking for a buyer for the Tahmoor coal mine needing the cash to pay debts from the Whyalla steelworks in SA The Mercury understands representatives of GM3 visited the Tahmoor mine last week, running the ruler over what had until recently been an efficient operation for Mr Gupta's GFG Alliance When contacted by the Mercury GM3 declined to comment "at this point" but there are plenty of reasons to think a move for Tahmoor may be appealing for Australia's latest coal baron Mr Latimore's partners in GM3 Singapore-based Golden Energy and Resources last year showed their pockets were plenty deep enough with the $2.5 billion acquisition of Illawarra Metallurgical Coal from South32 Mr Latimore's M Resources and GEAR have been open about their investment strategy which is bullish on the future of metallurgical coal having accumulated multiple mines in Queensland and NSW Industrial harmony could also be enhanced. A GM3 takeover of the Tahmoore mine would likely be welcomed by the Mining and Energy Union, as GM3 has proved willing to move workers onto direct employment and off lower-paid contract arrangements. Asked by the Mercury about GM3's visit, GFG Alliance did not answer questions directly but conceded the sale process was on a fast track. "GFG has taken the decision to launch an expedited process to sell part or all of its equity in Tahmoor coking coal mine, with some of the proceeds being available for reinvestment in Whyalla to catch up with supplier payments and boost liquidity, subject to board approval," a statement said. "GFG has invested heavily in the Tahmoor business and it remains a strong enterprise despite the group's short term challenges. "All Tahmoor Colliery employees are being paid in full while mining operations are at a reduced capacity for a short period. "We expect to return to normal production soon." That appears unlikely to happen without an ownership change. A sale price of $800 million for the Tahmoor operation has been mentioned but this is purely speculation. The Tahmoor mine produces about 2 million tonnes per year of mostly metallurgical (coking) coal, while the combined output of IMC's Appin and Dendrobium mines is about 5 million tonnes. US energy giant Peabody, which owns the Metropolitan colliery at Helensburgh, is also said to have shown interest in having a look at Tahmoor. While Mr Gupta's strategy had been to use the Tahmoor coal to feed his steel mill in Whyalla, in recent times it had also been sold for export. Do you know more? Contact blangford@illawarramercury.com.au Newsletters & AlertsView allDaily Today's top stories curated by our news team Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters Get the latest property and development news here Find out what's happening in local business tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert Your digital replica of Today's Paper Test your skills with interactive crosswords owned by Indian-born British billionaire Sanjeev Gupta’s GFG Alliance have been stood down on paid leave for four weeks that from Monday they will remain at home due to unpaid bills that led key suppliers to halt deliveries Production has already slowed to a trickle at the mine and there are growing fears GFG Alliance’s financial troubles could force the mine into administration The colliery produces high-quality coking coal essential for steelmaking even as Australia transitions away from coal as a power source … I have sought assurance from the Government to ensure a transition to a new company will keep the local workers engaged,” Member for Wollondilly Judy Hannan said Wollondilly Mayor Matt Gould echoed the sentiment “The Tahmoor colliery is a major local employer and our thoughts are with the employees and their families … Although the local mine is very viable we understand that broader issues within the company have adversely impacted the Tahmoor operation,” Cr Gould said Member for Hume and Shadow Treasurer Angus Taylor urged urgent action “It’s critical GFG Alliance finds a way to keep jobs in the area.” local leaders and state officials are working to ensure the mine’s financial viability and protect vital employment for the region Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress GFG Alliance chairman and chief executive officer Sanjeev Gupta is looking to divest some or all of GFG’s stake in the Tahmoor coal mine in New South Wales Select proceeds from the sale, said to be as high as $US500 million ($787 million) will be used to repay creditors of the Whyalla steelworks business in South Australia which Gupta acquired from Glencore in 2018 The Whyalla steelworks blast furnace came back online in January after a four-month shutdown caused by various operational challenges and extensive repairs In a statement provided to the ABC GFG Alliance said it intends to begin an “expedited process” to sell its equity in Tahmoor with part of the proceeds “being available for reinvestment in Whyalla” The funds will also go towards supplier payments and liquidity The proposal is currently pending approval from the GFG Alliance board Gupta also announced that he had “reached an agreement on commercial terms” with the main creditors of Greensill Capital a UK-based finance firm that was GFG’s financer Gupta said the deal was a “great relief” for GFG Alliance “It will enable us to push on from the deep challenges caused by Greensill’s collapse in 2021 and now gives us a financial platform for recovery and growth,” Gupta said “With signs of improvements at our operations and some upturn in our markets we are confident of being able to access longer-term financing to build on the significant investments we have already made in our international businesses Gupta is also close to finalising a $US100 million capital raising to bolster Whyalla’s operations The South Australian Government welcomed Gupta’s announcements but said it would remain cautious “This statement (from GFG) within of itself doesn’t mean people owed money on the ground in Whyalla wake up tomorrow and their bank account is paid,” SA Premier Peter Malinauskas told ABC Radio Adelaide “That is not going to happen in reality as welcome as it would be from our perspective … I am deliberately cautious about this because over the months and years across governments of all political persuasions we’ve seen statement after statement be released by GFG notwithstanding the fact that it’s welcome.” Subscribe to Australian Mining and receive the latest news on product announcements Australian Mining has informed the industry on the latest news and technologies from across the mining sector Australian Mining is a leading resource showcasing the latest in mining innovation Mine was shuttered after getting into financial difficulties Already have an account? Sign in here Looking for the industry's top publication for ASX-listed mining activities and market trends MiningNews.net gives you instant access to breaking news each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector brought to you by the Mining News Intelligence team The MNN Research Report 2025 provides insights into critical mining themes in Australia/Oceania priorities and preferences of 130+ mining investors and top factors influencing investment decisions in 2025 A detailed analysis of mining investment risks across 117 jurisdictions globally assessed across six risk categories and an industrywide survey The Mining Company ESG Index report provides an in-depth evaluation of ESG performance of 61 of the world's largest mining companies it assesses each company across 9 meticulously weighted indicators within 6 essential pillars Home > Whyalla operations take up the global exercise challenge LIBERTY Primary Metals Australia (LPMA) continues to make big steps towards health safety and wellbeing at its Australian operations with another strong showing in the GFG Alliance Global Health Challenge With LPMA boasting 30 teams out of the 137 teams entered from GFG Alliance businesses across the world including the Whyalla operations of LIBERTY Primary Steel and SIMEC Mining Iron Ore there were many standout results and plenty of general health and wellbeing achieved across the board The annual GFG Alliance event challenges employees to put together teams and commit to taking at least 10,000 steps each Fran Nores said it was a pleasure to share the final results of the challenge we took over 383 million steps together over the eight weeks the equivalent of 76% of the distance from Earth to the moon,” Fran said “Congratulations to everyone who participated.” LPMA teams once again performed admirably in the annual event from the SIMEC Mining Tahmoor Coking Coal operation in New South Wales finished second with a total of 6,300,588 steps with fellow Tahmoor team In 11th place was Bishop’s Pawns from SIMEC Mining Whyalla (4,627,047) up from 35th last year 20th was the Surface Striders from Tahmoor (3,974,101) and 24th was the Green Steel Striders the equivalent of 76% of the distance from Earth to the moon James Supel from the Bench Warmers capped off another great challenge with 2,466,639 steps to take overall individual honours across both divisions while workmate Andrew Milne from the Tahmoor Treadmills came in sixth with 1,648,449 steps as LIBERTY Primary Steel’s Stephan Palm from the AI Crowd in Whyalla said during the challenge … it wasn’t just about the competition it was about health and wellbeing and improving on last year’s performance “We’ve got no illusions about winning the competition but we’re out there to improve on last year and just give it another go,” Stephen said “We do get stuck at our desks a bit so we’re always keen to keep pretty active in other ways and the Global Health Challenge is a perfect opportunity.” Michelle Schuh and Jose Sanchez Gonzalez from the AI Crowd Whyalla-based team Above right: Tahmoor walkers step out together for a final walk in NSW The GFG business in Whyalla is currently navigating one of the most challenging periods in its history and we understand the anxiety this creates for our people and stakeholders about the future Rejuvenating and resetting the business 24 January 2025 The GFG executive heading up the mining transition from hematite to magnetite in.. Another milestone following blast furnace restart 16 January 2025 The resumption of steel production in the Whyalla Steelworks has reached another.. The resumption of steel production in Whyalla 14 January 2025 GFG Alliance Chairman Sanjeev Gupta says he’s very proud of the.. Wollondilly residents can now enjoy a new 2.4 km shareway between Picton and Tahmoor This pathway was officially opened on on Thursday by Wollondilly’s Mayor Matt Gould in the presence of former Mayor Col Mitchell and several local politicians marking the completion of a vital pedestrian link that significantly enhances safety by providing a secure path away from the road Mayor Matt Gould expressed that the shareway not only offers a safer route for schoolchildren but also promotes a healthier lifestyle for those who wish to walk or cycle “The completed stages of the shareway are already being used regularly which is great to see I’m pleased that we can finally deliver the finished shareway to the community,” he said The shareway project was funded by Wollondilly Shire Council development contributions and received $2,163,723 from the NSW Government including the construction of retaining walls All articles from our websiteThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueThe 49-year-old was last seen in Tahmoor "Police and family hold serious concerns for her welfare," a NSW Police spokesperson said Robecca is described as being of Caucasian appearance about 140-150 centimetres tall with a slim build and long blonde hair Anyone with information into her whereabouts is urged to call Camden Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 In May this year, officers revealed details of a Holden Kingswood sedan that could hold clues into the disappearance of Wollongong woman Pauline Sowry who was last seen in December 1993 Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au   The Tahmoor district sporting complex has gone from a good facility to great one thanks to a major upgrade which has just been completed It is now officially a district level facility which means it will be able to host larger sporting events Phase two of the upgrade included a makeover of the western fields of the facility as well as a car park The project included the redevelopment and realignment of the soccer and cricket fields incorporating supporting infrastructure such as irrigation and drainage The upgrade was aligned with the Tahmoor district sporting complex masterplan adopted by Wollondilly Council in 2019 members from the 355 committee that runs the facility joined with Wollondilly councillors and state government representatives for a ribbon cutting ceremony Mayor Matt Gould along with the member for Wollondilly Judy Hannan Cr Jacqueline Jenson and Cr Suzy Brandstater attended The theme of the speeches was an acknowledgement of the importance of projects such as this as a huge asset to sport and lifestyle for the community of Wollondilly “Local sport infrastructure plays a critical role in keeping communities healthy “I’m really proud to see the development of this and other sporting complexes right across the Shire “I would like to acknowledge the funding we received for this project from NSW Government’s Office of Sport under the multi sport community facility fund we would not see projects like this get off the ground “Thank you to the 355 committee who volunteer to coordinate bookings for the entire Complex who was represented yesterday by Upper House MP Mark Buttigieg said projects like these deliver the best outcomes for the community by providing spaces and facilities that enable everyone to enjoy and participate in sport “The NSW Government is committed to helping communities across the state upgrade and improve sporting infrastructure so that it best meets the current and future needs of the community Understood the NSW southern highlands coal mine will be shuttered for a month AMM: Premier information hub for Australia's mining innovation and excellence. 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All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxInteractive Crosswords Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueIn the hours after gunshots and an alleged violent home invasion left a man injured police have been combing the quiet suburban street "We're all shaken up," Ms Warn told the Mercury as she watched police walk up and down her street the following morning Police confirmed gunshots were heard at 10.40pm on Monday three men allegedly forced their way into a Lintina Street home An 18-year-old female and infant child inside the home were not injured Paramedics treated the man at the scene before rushing him to Campbelltown Hospital in a stable condition Ms Warn lives 50 metres from where the home invasion occurred and she was just about to get into bed when she heard a shot fired "I heard the bang and I ran down," Ms Warn said "I heard the second bang and then I saw two men run from the house and down the laneway towards the main street it's becoming more like America everyday." View +10 PhotosPolice officers collecting evidence in Lintina Street following a home invasion the night before (June 3) Pictures by Robert PeetMs Warn is adamant it was a gunshots she heard she's spent time living on rural properties and said she knew the sounds instantly she was too afraid to go and see what happened in case the gunman was still there I stood at the [my security] door and I waited for the police to arrive I stood waiting for the paramedics to turn up," she said The Mercury understands another neighbour was shot at after going outside to investigate the loud noises overnight it's becoming more like America everyday Ms Warn said the home where the alleged crimes occurred has been problematic for some time she regularly hears male and female voices yelling at the house "We've reported it several times to Argyle House [about] how they're a nuisance and the rest of the street is lovely," she said we're locking the house up and we've installed CCTV but unfortunately it wasn't facing the street." "As of today I've now got my cameras facing the laneway." Argyle Housing provides social and affordable housing to those in need The provider did not respond to the Mercury's request for comment Anyone with information about the incident to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. Love footy? We've got all the action covered. The latest news, results & expert analysis. Get the latest property and development news here. Find out what's happening in local business. Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. 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The Tahmoor South Project is a proposed expansion of the Tahmoor Mine located in New South Wales The existing mining operation at the Tahmoor mine’s north lease area is due to cease in 2022 while the Tahmoor South Project will extend the life of the mine by a further ten years until 2032 is the operator of the Tahmoor mine since 1979 Environmental and planning studies for the Tahmoor South Project began in 2011 while a preliminary environmental assessment (PEA) was completed in September 2012 the environmental impact statement (EIS) for the project was not submitted to the planning authorities as the project was briefly halted due to unfavourable coal market conditions A comprehensive EIS was prepared in June 2018 The Independent Planning Commission of New South Wales granted the development consent for the project in April 2021 The Tahmoor South Project will secure the employment of more than 400 workers at the existing NSW coal operation until 2032 while generating more than 170 new jobs during the proposed two-year construction period The Tahmoor South Project extension of the Tahmoor coal mine is located immediately south of the current mining operations The Tahmoor coking coal mine is an existing operation located in the Southern Coalfields The primary target is the Bulli Seam while the Lower Wongawilli Seam is the second target The target Bulli and Wongawilli seams are hosted in the Permian Illawarra Coal Measures overlain by the Triassic Narrabeen Group comprising interbedded sandstone and claystone units the Wianamatta Group that contains shales and siltstones and Hawkesbury Sandstone Group which is located approximately 200m above the Bulli Seam is included in the Narrabeen Group and the thicknesses of the formations are relatively consistent across the Tahmoor South mining area which is the main target of the Tahmoor South Project is located approximately 375m to 430m below the surface with a thickness of 1.8m to 3.3m indicated and inferred mineral resources within the project area are estimated at 20 million tonnes (Mt) The proposed development will involve mining coal from the Bulli Seam within the central domain using underground methods of longwall mining Mining operations are planned to be undertaken via the main roadway and longwall development The Tahmoor South Project is expected to extract up to 4Mt of a run of mine (ROM) coal a year with up to 33Mt of ROM coal proposed over the life of the project A total of 12 new longwall panels with a width of approximately 305m will be developed while the gate roads would be approximately 5.2m wide with a height of up to 3m Ore is proposed to be cut from the coal face by a longwall shearer and loaded onto the armoured face conveyor for transportation to the existing surface infrastructure via underground conveyors The longwall will retreat over the course of mining operations causing the overlying rock strata to collapse to form the goaf The proposed development is expected to use the existing infrastructure at Tahmoor Mine for employee and material access to the mine The existing surface facilities area of the Tahmoor Mine will be used to access the central domain via the T3 vertical lift which has a capacity for 70 persons and approximately 12t of materials The ore mined from the Tahmoor South Project will be processed at the existing Tahmoor coal handling and preparation plant (CHPP) The coal handling plant will separate coal into the high-quality coking blend as the primary product and low-quality steaming blend as the secondary product while removing rock and other foreign materials through screening and cyclonic processes The processed coal comprising 90% to 95% metallurgical or coking coal and 5% to 10% thermal coal will be transported via the existing Main Southern Railway and the Moss Vale to Unanderra Railway on to the port of Kembla for domestic market and export to overseas markets The EIS for the project was prepared by the integrated technical and management support services company AECOM Australia Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network For information directly relating to bushfires please call the Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737 or visit the NSW Rural Fire Service Website here. [external link] We responded to over 150,000 incidents in 2023-24 The incidents displayed below are note-worthy incidents that have been published as media releases or tweets Details about incidents may change and should not be used as emergency information and/or advice North Parramatta | The fire at Dunlop Street, North Parramatta has been contained but is expected to smoulder through the morning. Because there may be smoke in the area, residents and businesses in the vicinity are advised to keep doors, windows, and vents closed. View on X [external link] Fire and Rescue NSW acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past, present and emerging. This is probably not the page you’re looking for Picture from NSW Police ForceA 39-year-old man has been arrested and charged with six firearms offences after police raided a property in Tahmoor Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueOfficers from Camden police command assisted by specialist police searched the Bargo River Road property at 4.30pm on Friday Read more: Jury considers verdict in 'cocaine in chocolate cake boxes' trial During the search police uncovered three guns and assorted ammunition The weapons included a 12-gauge sawn-off pistol grip shotgun and two rifles Glenn Raymond Simpson was arrested and taken to Narellan Police Station where he was charged with six offences: Simpson was granted bail in Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday The conditions of Simpson's bail include that he live in Tahmoor not go near or contact any prosecution witnesses and not to possess any firearms Simpson and one acceptable person must each enter a security of $5000 Simpson will return to Campbelltown Local Court on October 26 Our news app has had a makeover, making it faster and giving you access to even more great content. Download The Illawarra Mercury news app in the Apple Store and Google Play Tahmoor Coking Coal has received environmental approval from the Federal Government to expand the Tahmoor coal mine in New South Wales Environment Minister Sussan Ley signed off on the extension on behalf of the Department of Agriculture Conditional approval was granted in April by the Department of Planning as well as the Independent Planning Commission The expansion will see 33 million tonnes mined at Tahmoor over an additional 10-year mine life The mine is owned and operated by SIMEC Mining A SIMEC spokesperson said this approval would greatly benefit the operation and the surrounding economy “SIMEC Mining welcomes the Federal Government’s approval of the Tahmoor South project under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act,” the spokesperson said “Approval of the project will secure the futures of more than 400 workers and inject millions of dollars into the region.” “The decision is a positive outcome for our employees local businesses and the broader community and reaffirms the importance of supplying high-quality metallurgical (coking) coal used in steelmaking and manufacturing.” The current operations are due to end in 2022 with the approval extending the mine life until 2032 The extension and continued operations at Tahmoor will see $644.9 million contributed to the local and state economy as the Independent Planning Commission approved the extension commissioners Richard Mackay and Chris Fell said the approval was in everyone’s interests “The commission agrees with the department’s findings… that the proposed extension of the existing Tahmoor coal mine is strategically justified and is in the public interest and that the identified impacts can be appropriately managed through the conditions of consent imposed,” the commission stated Since 1908, Australian Mining has informed the industry on the latest news and technologies from across the mining sector. Comprising of a monthly print magazine, website and e-newsletter, Australian Mining is a leading resource showcasing the latest in mining innovation.  File pictureA man has fronted court after allegedly firing a shot and threatening another man with a gun over a tenancy dispute in Tahmoor Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueAbout 7.30pm Wednesday a 45-year-old man went to a home on Hunter Street to speak to the occupant about the dispute An argument broke out and it was alleged a shot was fired from inside the home before the man was threatened with a firearm Read more: Woman accused of being accessory to Kempsey murder arrested in Wollongong Officers from the Camden Police Area Command and the Public Order Riot Squad attended and arrested the occupant Police established a crime scene at the home and seized two sawn-off .22 calibre rifles and ammunition These were allegedly not secured in an approved storage safe The occupant was taken to Narellan Police Station where he was charged with firing a firearm in a manner likely to injure people or property two counts of possessing a shortened firearm without authority possessing ammunition without a licence or permit He was refused bail to face Picton Local Court on Thursday where he was remanded in custody to appear at the same court again in September Reading this on mobile web? Download our news app. It's faster, easier to read and we'll send you alerts for breaking news as it happens. Download in the Apple Store or Google Play Tahmoor Mine has re-opened over the weekend. The re-opening follows a six week investigation into a significant safety related incident and rescue operation where two men were trapped in a cage for several hours Preliminary advice has indicated that the incident occurred after a winder tripped on a seam profile switch following excessive noise and vibration of head ropes Tripping may have ultimately resulted from entanglement of a water ring in the counterweight head ropes Read more detail about the incident following the video below Out of this negative safety related incident Tahmoor Colliery management have found a unique way to turn the scenario into a positive benefit for their local community While the six week investigation into the incident occurred with the NSW Resources Regulator and SIMEC’s own team SIMEC’s Tahmoor Mine staff were redeployed across the community to assist with projects The company’s mining chief operating officer Matt Reed told Josh Bartlett from the Wollondilly Advertiser that safety was paramount and SIMEC would always put the welfare of its workers ahead of production “We wanted to find the cause of this incident before coming back online,” he said “We’ve worked in conjunction with the regulator to minimise potential risks to both our people and our operations going forward “This downtime has also enabled us to identify longer?term plans for an automated solution that will further improve safety and efficiency.” Colliery staff were redeployed into community projects around Wollondilly over the past five weeks shows how a negative incident can be turned into a positive community benefit AMSJ believes Tahmoor Colliery management have created a great case study for mining companies to effectively engage communities in the midst of adverse scenarios While investigations have been continuing into the event  the NSW Resources Regulator has issued preliminary advice stating that “A fixture known as a water ring(guttering on the wall of the shaft used to capture water) has been sheared off the sidewall and is wrapped around the counterweight head ropes and guide ropes Other shaft services related to the water ring had also been damaged.” The Regulator also noted that a previously misaligned counter weight had been investigated by site staff The NSW Resources Regulator is continuing investigations into the incident but have released preliminary recommendations to the industry The Regulator States “While the analysis of the causal factors involved in this incident are continuing mine operators should review their safety management systems The full report into the the incident at Tahmoor Mine from the New South Wales Resources Regulator is available here Read more Mining Safety News Mining Editorial Team Over the last twenty years maintaining and improving mine safety has become a non-negotiable characteristic of responsible and ethical mining companies throughout Australia and the broader Asia Pacific region. AMSJ connects the mining industry to the latest mining safety news mines rescue and emergency and mining safety product and services information Submit your details to receive the media kit has been officially opened by representatives of owner GFG Alliance including chief executive officer Sanjeev Gupta The 2 million tonnes a year (2Mt/y) mine, which employs over 300 people, was previously owned by Glencore, who launched a sale process for the mine in May 2017. British business group GFG Alliance’s mining division SIMEC agreed to purchase the mine at the start of the year along with SIMEC Mining chief operating officer Matt Reed and Tahmoor coking coal operations general manager Peter Vale attend the opening ceremony The mine is an important step in SIMEC’s Australian expansion, following on from the company’s acquisition of Arrium’s Whyalla steelworks (for which Tahmoor will remain an important supplier) and iron ore mines in South Australia in September last year where he met local mine workers and their families Gupta explained that “despite ups and downs in the market this mine has always managed to stand its own A mineral operation agreed to lift salaries Employees recently voted up a much better enterprise agreement at SIMEC Mining’s Tahmoor coal mine RStar Mining crew members will receive a 5.3 per cent pay rise and two 4 per cent anniversary date increases They will also have overtime paid at double time rates more leave provisions and even a $2500 sign on bonus “RStar Mining proposed an enterprise agreement in 2023 which did not address many of our concerns around pay but because we had built a strong presence on site we were able to defeat that,” Mining and Energy Union southwest district secretary Andy Davey said in a public statement A total of 220 union members out of 330 employees successfully argued the business should revise its enterprise agreement “We are very proud of our members who stood strong together and secured this outcome,” Davey said The remarks came after the same members pressured RStar to stop deducing annual leave during public holidays Those individuals whose annual leave was taken away were recredited those hours The Queensland Mining and Energy Bulletin is an independent voice on mining and energy for anyone working in the Queensland mining and minerals industry A spokesperson from SIMEC Mining has confirmed that the coal mine had remained closed since the incident and no reopening date was set The site’s 400 staff are now working on community projects in and around the local area Wollondilly “SIMEC is giving workers the option of taking annual leave or assisting with a number of projects to help improve local amenities,” the spokesman said “We have contacted a number of community groups – including NSW National Parks and Wildlife Services and Wollondilly Shire Council – to garner suitable ideas on how our staff could best assist on identified projects at no cost to the community “A perfect example is the Thirlmere Lakes picnic grounds and fencing improvements project with Tahmoor employees and contractors providing labour for the project “Other projects include maintenance of the park roads through filling potholes and painting of fences at the Bargo sports ground.” The spokesman said the initiative would not only benefit Wollondilly but also ensure Tahmoor coal mine employees had continual work while investigations continued ”SIMEC continues to work closely with the relevant authorities to investigate the breakdown and determine the safest method of resuming operations,” he said CFMEU south western district vice president mining and energy Bob Timbs said the decision was a “win-win” for everyone involved “It’s not often the union sees eye to eye with companies and bosses,” he said “SIMEC has done the right thing to keep their workers employed “We have to give credit where credit is due.” It is expected that the New South Wales Resources Regulator has been on-site investigating the incident and other safety issues It is believed that the failure of the No.3 Winder has removed that mines secondary means for egress from the mine More mining safety news on AMSJ Over the last twenty years maintaining and improving mine safety has become a non-negotiable characteristic of responsible and ethical mining companies throughout Australia and the broader Asia Pacific region. AMSJ connects the mining industry to the latest mining safety news, events, mine safety legal information, mine safety history, hazard control technical reports, mines rescue and emergency and mining safety product and services information. Submit your details to receive the media kit. Sudoku and TriviaAll articles from the other regional websites in your areaContinueBritish magnate Sanjeev Gupta owns the mine and the Whyalla steelworks in South Australia through his company GFG Alliance GFC Alliance was facing the possibility of creditors taking control following the collapse of Greensill Capital - a major lender to the company Read more: Tahmoor coal mine facing possibility of liquidation Mr Gupta has since stated he had secured a financial lifeline that would save the Australian operations Australian Workers' Union National Secretary Daniel Walton said he understood these deals to save Tahmoor and Whyalla were moving forward "which comes as little surprise because the fundamentals of these operations are strong" "I know from talking to our counterparts overseas that the Australian operations are in a very different position to operations elsewhere," Mr Walton said the uncertainty of this situation is stressful for our members and their communities but I think all can take heart from the strong underlying performance and positive prospects of both businesses "The simple fact is Australia needs these operations to continue because they are critical to our sovereign capability." We depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading. It looks like nothing was found at this location