NSW: Way for miners' entitlements clear

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NSW: Way for miners' entitlements clear

By Rebecca Glenn

SYDNEY, Aug 29 AAP - After four years of waiting, the way has finally been clearedfor more than 150 sacked workers from the Woodlawn mine, in NSW's southern highlands,to receive their full entitlements.

The mine was closed down in March 1998 and 160 workers, collectively owed $6.5 million,retrenched.

A plan to convert the mine into a waste facility would see the new owners, Collex,pay the miners their outstanding entitlements.

But the development of this project was dependent on the approval of a waste transferstation at Clyde in western Sydney.

Yesterday, the NSW government gave final planning and environmental approvals for thetransfer station, clearing the way for the Woodlawn mine to become a waste facility.

NSW Labor Council secretary John Robertson today welcomed the decision.

"The long wait for justice for the Woodlawn miners appears to be finally over," MrRobertson said.

Collectively, the workers are still owed $5.375 million after receiving $1.125 million,or 25 per cent of their entitlement at Christmas last year.

Under the agreement with Collex, they will now receive another 25 per cent.

The final 50 per cent of their entitlements would be paid when the waste facility atWoodlawn opens.

The NSW Labor Council said this could still be more than 12 months away.

AAP rcg/mk/ph

KEYWORD: WOODLAWN