This operation now covering 120 km² was first established in the early 1980’s as a large open cut mine that diverted 3km of the Goulburn River. At the time it was the largest coal mine in the southern hemisphere. Subsequent approvals in 1998 and 2010 allow for two large underground longwall mines to extract up to 20 mtpa until 2033. This is an export mine. There have been 5 modifications of the approvals with Mod 6 currently with Dept Planning to extend the underground longwall panels within the existing mine lease area and the life of mine by 2 years to extract an additional 25 Mt coal.

The open cut mine is currently in care and maintenance. Glencore is also planning to extend the longwall operations to the west into EL 8687 over 1994 ha (Bungaba area). A drilling program has been carried out on private property since 2019. Another small exploration lease EL7542 is directly to the north of the Bungaba EL. An operational release (ELA 6253) was approved to the north of the current mining lease in May 2022 covering 4145 ha (now EL 9419) with a term of six years to 2028.