RUSSELL Vale Colliery – the former South Bulli Colliery – will close after more than 135 years of operation, impacting the jobs of 145 workers.

The owners of what is believed to be Australia’s oldest underground coal mine, Wollongong Resources, sent an email to workers on Monday announcing plans to close the colliery.

The troubled colliery, forced to temporarily stop operations by the NSW mining watchdog after five underground fires, is – besides Helensburgh’s Metropolitan Colliery – the last of the northern Illawarra’s coal mines.

Wollongong Resources, which also own the Wongawilli Colliery near Dapto, will explain the decision to staff today (Tuesday).

The decision to close the Russell Vale Colliery is a sad day for the workforce and local coal industry, the Miners’ Union said.

The union said it was hopeful the leases for Russell Vale and Wongawilli coal mines could be taken over by a new operator rather than the mines being permanently closed.

Mining and Energy Union (MEU) South Western District Secretary Andy Davey said union representatives had met workers on site today and would continue to support members to ensure they received full entitlements.

Mr Davey said the union understands the regulator had to do its job enforcing the safe operation of coal mines which has lead to the scrutiny from NSW Resources Regulator.

On January 18, after an investigation into the fifth “friction fire”, the regulator issued an order “prohibiting all coal mining at the site because of safety concerns”. As a consequence workers were stood down without pay.

In recent years the colliery has also been the target of protests from environmental groups. Demonstrations over the impact on the mine on the Illawarra water catchment area and other concerns have disrupted operations at the mine.

“It’s a sad day for the region because of the long history of coal mining at Russell Vale. It’s always difficult to lose so many local jobs, with the flow-on effect to families and community.

“We have a thriving local coal industry and we are confident some of these experienced workers will pick up work locally. However we are already aware of some workers looking at moving interstate.”

Mr Davey said the leases for Russell Vale, formerly known as the South Bulli Colliery, and the Wongawilli mine should be taken over by a new operator rather than being permanently closed.

“We will be seeking discussions with the NSW government at the earliest opportunity to urge a solution for these coal mines that will keep them open.

“The Bulli and Wongawilli coal seams produce some of the world’s best metallurgical coal for steel-making. We’d like to see these leases handed over to an operator who can run these mines efficiently and safely.”

In the email to workers, Wollongong Resources said the decision had been made “by our owners due to ongoing regulatory risk and lack of support”.

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