gerry111 - You're comparing apples with oranges. Leigh Creek has been a coalmine for over 100 years. The short-sighted mining techniques of even 50 years ago, are what has led to huge waste dumps and large holes.
In recent years, the waste rock has been dumped back into mined-out areas, to reduce environmental impact.
The financial benefit from the Leigh Creek coal production over the last 100 years has run into the hundreds of billions of dollars - in wages paid, machinery purchased, taxes paid, cheap power generated.
In addition, monies have been hypothecated from huge mining royalties, to go towards rehabilitation of the open pits.
I don't know how you can compare the two events. One operation has been fully approved and 100% legal since its inception - the other operation has been totally unapproved, and 100% illegal since its inception.