Wollongong Coal announced that it will focus on developing underground roadways needed for future growth at its two South Coast mines while waiting for State Government approvals in an effort to keep as many workers in employment as possible. In the immediate future the company intended to develop roadways in preparation of the recommencement of long wall operations at Russell Vale and was also fast tracking the Wongawilli South Underground Project, which would provide a sustainable future for the mine and deliver a world class underground operation. The management was currently assessing the response to its voluntary redundancy scheme, which closes on May 16, 2014 following the closure of the VRS the company will determine an appropriate and sustainable course of action with an intention of keeping any forced reductions to an absolute minimum.

The completion and approval of the new Wongawilli South Project, the remnant mining that had been occurring in the Old Nebo workings was currently uneconomic for either long wall or partial extraction with continuous miners. The current intent is to leave the old long wall equipment in Nebo in-situ at this time with a recovery process developed but on hold until market conditions change.