Rio sacks 40 workers at coalmine
Rio's permission to expand the Mt Thorley Warkworth mine was overturned in the NSW Land and Environment Court last week after residents from the town of Bulga succeeded in a long campaign against the project.
Rio had planned to expand the mine to the extent that open-cut operations came within 2.6 kilometres of Bulga and consumed land that advocates say was promised for conservation.
Rio announced on Monday that it would appeal the decision in the Supreme Court and said the result would prove crucial to the jobs of 1300 people.
Announcement of the appeal coincided with about 40 job losses from the mine on Monday.
Rio spokesman Darren Yeates stressed those job losses were part of a broader cost-cutting program, but were a reminder of how precarious the mine's future was under current conditions.
"Regrettably, 40 employees and contractors are either having their position made redundant or being let go from the site today, as part of this ongoing work," he said.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
Rio Tinto cut about 40 employees and contract workers from the Mt Thorley Warkworth coalmine after a controversial court ruling. The NSW Land and Environment Court overturned permission for the mine’s planned expansion, which has led to job losses and uncertainty at the site.
According to Rio Tinto, the roughly 40 job losses coincided with its broader cost‑cutting program. The company also said the court decision overturning the mine expansion highlighted how precarious the mine’s future is under current conditions.
The NSW Land and Environment Court overturned Rio Tinto’s permission to expand the Mt Thorley Warkworth mine after residents from the nearby town of Bulga successfully challenged the project.
Rio’s planned expansion would have extended open‑cut operations to within about 2.6 kilometres of Bulga and would have consumed land that campaigners say was promised for conservation.
Yes. Rio Tinto said the outcome of the court case would prove crucial to the jobs of around 1,300 people linked to the operation.
Yes. Rio Tinto announced it will appeal the decision in the Supreme Court.
Rio spokesman Darren Yeates said the 40 employees and contractors were either being made redundant or let go as part of ongoing cost‑cutting work, and he described the cuts as regrettable.
The article highlights operational and legal uncertainty at the Mt Thorley Warkworth coalmine after the court overturned the expansion permit. For investors, that means potential risks tied to legal appeals, local opposition, and cost‑cutting measures at the site—factors that could affect the mine’s workforce and operations.
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