Delta has applied for a new development consent for Chain Valley Colliery, which would extend operations for two years to the end of 2029 – supporting hundreds of local jobs while ensuring the continued operations and reliability of Vales Point Power Station.
Have your say
The NSW Independent Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Thursday 19 February 2026 and is inviting community feedback until Thursday 26 February 2026 as part of its assessment process. For details and to make a submission, visit the Commission’s website.
Make a submission
Project overview
Chain Valley Colliery supplies coal exclusively to Vales Point Power Station, providing around 1.3 million tonnes annually – around 50% of the power station’s coal needs.
The mine plays a critical role in supporting the power station’s operations, and in turn, the reliability and security of NSW’s electricity supply as the State transitions to a lower-carbon energy system.
It is also a major employer and significant contributor to the Central Coast and Hunter economies, employing over 330 workers and procuring goods and services from local suppliers.
The mine’s existing consent expires on 31 December 2027. In 2022, Delta lodged a State Significant Development (SSD) application to extend the mine’s operations for two years to the end of 2029, aligning with the estimated technical life of Vales Point Power Station at that time.
The application includes:
- Consolidating the existing consents for Chain Valley and Mannering collieries under a single development approval.
- Extending the mine’s operations for two years to 31 December 2029 to align with Vales Point Power Station operations.
- Aligning the mine’s production and output rates with the power station’s coal needs, while allowing secondary extraction (the recovery of remaining coal from previously mined areas) within approved mining areas under Lake Macquarie.
The application does not seek any changes to the approved mining areas, and it does not change how Vales Point Power Station operates or increase its generation capacity. Rather, it ensures continuity of coal supply to Vales Point Power Station, aligning the mine's operations with the power station's coal needs, and securing ongoing local employment for hundreds of workers.
Key benefits
The project would:
- Streamline administrative oversight and improve efficiency for both Delta and regulators by enabling the application of conditions, and the monitoring and reporting of performance, under a single consent.
- Enhance environmental protections by updating licence conditions in line with current regulatory requirements.
- Ensure the ongoing reliability and affordability of Vales Point Power Station operations, supporting stability and reliability for NSW’s electricity network.
- Support local and regional economies through continued employment for over 330 workers, as well as procurement opportunities for local suppliers.
Project status
The SSD application is under NSW Government assessment. On 18 December 2025 the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure referred its assessment to the Independent Planning Commission for decision. Find out more.
Community engagement
The Independent Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Thursday 19 February 2026 and is inviting feedback from the community and stakeholders as part of that process. Find out more and make a submission by visiting the IPC website.
The SSD application and supporting Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) were publicly exhibited from 18 November 2022 to 16 December 2022. Thank you to everyone who provided feedback. Read the response to issues raised in the Submissions Report March 2023.
Visit the NSW Planning Portal to learn more about the State Significant Development Assessment Process – Chain Valley Consolidation Project and to access key project documents.
We will continue to engage with the community as the project progresses through the planning assessment process.
Next steps
Following the public hearing and submission process, the Independent Planning Commission is expected to make its determination by the end of March 2026 (i.e. within 84 days of the assessment report referral to the Commission).
Project documents
December 2025 – Chain Valley Consolidation Project Assessment Report
December 2025 – Chain Valley Consolidation Project – Referral to IPC
December 2025 – Chain Valley Consolidation Project – Public Hearing Request
December 2025 – Chain Valley Consolidation Project – Recommended Conditions of Consent
Visit the NSW Planning Portal: State Significant Development Assessment Process – Chain Valley Consolidation Project to access the project's planning assessment documents. The documents include the EIS, submissions, Submissions Report, and Delta’s responses to requests for information to support the Department’s assessment.
More information
Visit this page for the latest updates or contact our project team at info@deltapae.com.au or (02) 4352 6111.