As far as mining proposals go, it's not the largest you'll see.

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But US miner Peabody's bid to add a single longwall, and realign another, for its Metropolitan Colliery has produced a perfect storm of environmental, First Nations, local government, state and potentially federal controversy.

The area in question sits to the west of Helensburgh, where the mine begins, and where much of its workforce lives.

It's location is the key to the controversy - in a drinking water catchment "Special Area" and beside the Woronora re

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