OREANDA-NEWS.  September 03, 2014. China's Yancoal Australia Ltd said it had won a court fight, allowing it to go ahead with an expansion of one of its mines in the coal-rich Hunter Valley, with certain conditions to be agreed.

The New South Wales Land and Environment Court dismissed an appeal by the local community against the state's approval of Yancoal's plan to dig a new open pit to extend the life of its Ashton mine which produces coal used in steel mills. "We are taking the appropriate time to review today's determination and will continue to work with the court in the interests of achieving a final resolution," Yancoal investor relations manager James Rickards said in a statement emailed to Reuters.

The project is one of several in Australia that have been targeted by green groups opposed to coal developments and communities concerned about coal dust pollution and depletion of local water sources. "Yancoal has not beaten us. We will continue to fight the mine knowing that we're doing the right thing by our community and by the future generations," said Wendy Bowman, an 80-year-old local farmer, whose property sits on top of the coal reserve. Japan's Itochu Corp is a 10 percent owner of the Ashton mine, which is close to open cut mines owned by Glencore , Vale and Rio Tinto.