Please note: The information in this article is superseded, please see notice - public hearing for the most updated information.
In response to community interest in the upcoming public hearing on the proposed Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) North and South open cut coal mine continuation projects (the HVO Continuation Project), the Independent Planning Commission has added a third day to proceedings and extended the deadline for written submissions.
The two days of hearings scheduled for Thursday 16 July and Friday 17 July 2026 will still be held at the Branxton Community Hall. A third day will be held entirely online as a livestreamed video conference on Wednesday 22 July 2026. The deadline for written submissions has also been extended by three days to Wednesday 29 July 2026.
To cater for the number of speakers who have registered to speak in person, some speakers who have registered to speak via videoconference or telephone on 16 or 17 July may be contacted to be rescheduled to the online hearing on 22 July.
A final Speakers Schedule will be published here once finalised.
The updated arrangements are as follows (superseding all previous arrangements):
DAY 1 – In person
Date: Thursday 16 July 2026
Venue: Branxton Community Hall
Time: 10:00am start
Format: Livestreamed, in-person event, with options for speakers to join via video or telephone conference
DAY 2 – In person
Date: Friday 17 July 2026
Venue: Branxton Community Hall
Time: 10:00am start
Format: Livestreamed, in-person event, with options for speakers to join via video or telephone conference
DAY 3 - Online
Date: Wednesday 22 July 2026
Venue: Online only
Time: 10:00am start
Format: Livestreamed online event, with all speakers and the Panel joining via video or telephone conference
To register to speak via video or teleconference at the online hearing on Wednesday 22 July, please follow this link: https://calendly.com/register-your-interest-to-speak
Registrations to speak close at 12 noon on Wednesday 8 July 2026.
Unfortunately, the high number of speakers makes it very difficult to accommodate requests to change timeslots, so change requests can only be considered in exceptional circumstances.
All three hearing days will be livestreamed on the Commission’s YouTube channel.
The deadline for written submissions is now 11:59pm Wednesday 29 July 2026.