The Governor of NSW can create Mineral Allocation Areas (MAAs) for any mineral group under the Mining Regulation 2016. These areas prevent new exploration licence applications for the affected mineral group(s) in the area without Ministerial consent. Reporting and renewal requirements for existing mineral titles within each MAA are unaffected.

The NSW Government has clearly identified areas where higher priority land uses mean that coal mining cannot occur. For the State Significant Development application SSD5156 - Rocky Hill area, the prohibition will apply to open cut mining only. Otherwise, within this area coal mining will be prohibited by State Environmental Planning Policy.