The NSW Planning Assessment Commission has given a green light to Port Waratah’s Terminal 4 project in Newcastle.

“After almost five years, today marks a significant and very welcome milestone for the Terminal 4 Project and the local coal industry,” Port Waratah CEO Hennie du Plooy said.

He was quick to acknowledge that “the world has changed since we originally lodged the application for Terminal 4 in 2010 and the need for extra coal export capacity is not so immediate”.

“Despite this, planning certainty will allow the industry to respond in good time if additional capacity is required,” he said.

“The PAC’s determination also provides the community with certainty about the conditions that would apply to a development.”

The NSW Minerals Council says it is good news that will ensure more work in the future for the 10,000-strong Hunter Valley coal workforce.

Hunter Valley Business Chamber CEO Kristen Keegan said the $5 billion development also gave certainty to the business community.

“Today’s approval of the T4 project is a positive move on behalf of the Planning Assessment Commission. It demonstrates an understanding of the need to be responsive to market demand into the future,” Keegan said.

Environmental groups say the approval process is a mere “tick-a-box” formality.

The Coal Terminal Action Group (CTAG), the Correct Planning and Consultation for Mayfield Group, and Climate Action Newcastle have all condemned the approval.

“It is disappointing to see that the NSW Government has made a decision out of line with markets and local sentiment,” Australia Institute economist Rod Campbell added.

“The economic assessment of the T4 project was shown to be sorely lacking by the PAC’s own review, demonstrating the low standards of the economics consulting profession. Unfortunately the NSW Government doesn’t seem to care about this latest round of coal industry dodgy economic modelling,” he said.