MINER NuCoal has agreed to abandon plans to explore for coal on the property of Jerrys Plains farmer Ian Moore but will continue its activities elsewhere in the area.
In a statement today, the company said exploration activities would continue on land where it has access agreements in place with owners, and on land which it owns, as part of its Doyles Creek mine proposal.
It would not explore on land owned by Ian and Robyn Moore for the duration of its exploration licence.
The state government requested last week that NuCoal suspend exploration while the Independent Commission Against Corruption investigated the issuing of the licence it holds.
Former resources and energy minister Ian Macdonald issued the licence in 2008 to Doyles Creek Mining, which NuCoal later acquired.
A report to the state government found the former minister, who is at the centre of a separate ICAC investigation at present, ignored departmental guidelines by not putting the licence to tender.
State parliament referred the matter to the ICAC.
NuCoal managing director Glen Lewis said today that discussions with current Resources minister Chris Hartcher had led to a ‘‘sensible resolution that allows NuCoal to maintain its overall progress with the project in accordance with our schedule’’.
A company trading halt that was put in place last week has ceased.
Mr Moore, who is legally blind, and his wife had opposed exploration on their property, in part arguing it would interfere with his visual memory of the property and his farming activities.
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