The Development High Risk Area is the part of the coal mining reporting area which contains one or more recorded coal mining related features at surface or shallow depth. These features pose a potential risk to surface stability and public safety. The combination of features included in this composite area includes mine entries; shallow coal workings (recorded and probable); recorded coal mining related hazards; recorded mine gas sites; fissures and breaklines and previous surface mining sites. New development proposals in this defined area should be supported by a Coal Mining Risk Assessment in order to demonstrate that the development will be safe and stable, taking full account of former coal mining activities. This area was formally known as the Development Referral Area.
In November 2024, the Coal Authority changed its name to the Mining Remediation Authority to better reflect its mission and continued commitment to environmental sustainability, safety, and community support.
