Mod 6 - Extraction Rate Increase

I strongly object to the proposed mine plan modification.
Sighting further negative impact on the ever fragile environment and detriment to health and well being of those living in the locality.
The accumulative affect of existing mining projects is affecting our daily lives with unacceptable increases in DUST, NOISE, VISUAL POLLUTION & DWELLING DAMAGE.
DUST causing respiratory problems, eye irritation, and allergy conditions, domestic tank water pollution, and obvious increase of atmospheric dust pollution.
NOISE 24 hour noise from the existing mine operation causing sleep disruption, increase in coal trains movement.

Xstrata Mangoola Pty Ltd Application 06_0014 MOD 6

I would like to submit my objection to the approval of the above modification to the existing Mangoola Mine operated by Xstrata on the following basis.

In relation to the Coal Handling and processing infrastructure and stock piles; and crushing waste rock for use on internal roads within the site. It says minor modification but what are those minor modifications and as we already have excessive noise from this part of the operation this can only become worse. I don't feel that if you are a neighbour and you are not informed of the minor changes then that certainly places a significant doubt as to what will occur? Given that if the Department of Planning gives a final approval. In relation to the discharge of waste into the Hunter River through the Hunter Salinity Trading Scheme this is not a modification this is the Company requesting an entirely different approach to how they remove their waste from the mine site. In the initial approval process Xstrata Mangoola maintained that the waste would be kept onsite and not leave the mine site through holding dams a true modification would be enlarging the capacity of those dams not requesting a pipeline into the Hunter River which is a River already under stress from the delivery of waste product from other mining Companies within the Area. If the NSW Planning Department approves this and doesn't take into account the communities and other industries relying on the river including: Dairying, Beef Cattle Production, Viticulture, Thoroughbred Industry and the towns and settlements depending on water sources. Then the Department should be held fully accountable.

Re: 06_0014Mod6
In relation to the above modification we object on the following grounds namely; Water. Our household tank water supply has been adversely affected by fallout from the mine and is totally unusuable, Dust. We continually have dust problems and with the modification this will increase significantly with consequences to our health, respiratory complaints, asthma and heaven forbid perhaps the likelihood of pulmonary fibrosis. Noise and Lighting. With the onset of an onsite mobile gravel crushing plant we will be subjected to more noise extra lighting coupling with the minor modifications to the washery and extra trains on the rail loop continual noise night and day and noise inversion we have diminished lifestyle, health and quality living. With the waste through the pipeline to the Hunter River this just will add to an already polluted river system and will be detrimental to industry relying on the Hunter River for their livelihoods. This should not even be entertained by the Planning Department. Farmers and Residents rely upon the competency of your Department to safeguard our farms, livelihoods and Cities and Towns which depend on the Hunter River.

Application No 06-0014 MOD 6
I Mark Peel object to the modification by Mangoola Coal,
1. extra dust with the large extension
2. blasting impacting on our infrastructure
3. could cause the loss of underground water to our registered bore.
4 noise & lighting will have an affect on our property.
5.increase dust levels on rainwater for drinking ,has to be filtered now.
6. I object to the discharge of saline water into the Hunter river, with too many mines discharging saline water the river will die.
7. we have 2 properties on Roxburgh road , Mangoola only identified 1 of the 2 the second property joins no 242 which has acquisition writes from Mt Authur for dust our property ,would go over with the cumulative affect of Mangoola extension.

I object to the increase in production from Mangoola. This will add to the already unacceptable level of dust in the Upper Hunter and the cumulative impacts of coal mining on local communities. Adding to the salt load in the Hunter is also unacceptable and will have long term implications for the viability of irrigation farming in the valley. Enough is enough.

Response attached.

I appreciate the opportunity to make a submission regarding the proposed Mangoola Coal Modification 6 of Project Approval 06-0014, and respectfully make the following comments in objecting to the expansion of this mine.

Mining companies already own more than 50% of the rateable land in the Muswellbrook Shire. As the Upper Hunter Valley is already saturated with coal mines, further expansion should be halted.

The Precautionary Principle regarding short and long term health effects should be applied. There is insufficient data available to make a sensible determination regarding the impacts of open cut mining on the residents of the regions that are already exposed to high density coal mining. The reduction in air quality for residents of the Upper Hunter is already evident. Increasing mine output will increase the already high mine sourced air pollution and further decreased air quality for Upper Hunter residents. With the proximity of the mine to Denman, the fact that Denman does not have an air quality monitor that is part of the Upper Hunter Air Quality Network should be an community health indicator to halting expansion of this mine and establishment of new mines. In addition, the mine expansion will further add to the cumulative impacts of mine sourced air pollution for residents of the whole Hunter Valley.

Noise pollution will also be increased by expansion of operations through an increase of rail traffic and rail noise. This is unacceptable given that current disputes between mine affected residents and Mangoola Coal remain unresolved.

Water quality of the Hunter River and diversion of water from agricultural systems to mining operations are further reasons for halting expansion of Mangoola Coal. Discharges of saline mine water into the Hunter River are already resulting in an increase in the background levels of salinity in the River, causing detriment to the river environment and downstream agricultural operations. Discharge of saline water to the Hunter River was specifically NOT permitted under the original application and, if this expansion is approved, strict water management conditions should apply to ensure discharge is not used unless in extreme circumstances.

Public infrastructure in the Upper Hunter and Muswellbrook Shire is presently not coping with the pressures of current saturation levels of mining activity. Lack of affordable housing is also a significant detrimental impact of saturation levels of mining and extra pressure from increasing employee levels will only add further pressure for housing forcing young home buyers on normal incomes out of the area. Threats to diversification of the regional economy as mining drives out other sustainable industries and the long term employment they provide are likely to have detrimental impacts on the regional economy when the bubble bursts on coal mining activities - additional economic reasons for rejecting the Mangoola Coal Modification 6 proposal.

Mining in the Hunter Valley has a bad history of leaving land affected in a poor state and the damage caused leaves an irreversible scar on the landscape and renders the land useless for agricultural production. The initial application for Mangoola Coal and this modification fail to address the issue of leaving post mining final voids.

In conclusion, on 17 June 2013, the Climate Change Commission released its report warning that there needed to be a major shift in the way energy is produced if international targets for global warming were to be me. The Commission said the best way to avoid a changing climate beyond 2 degrees would be to invest heavily in clean energy and to phase out coal, keeping most of the world's fossil fuel reserves underground. This proposed expansion will produce an additional 2.4 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year, further increasing the threat of climate change.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
I would like to submit my objection to the proposed 06_0014 Mod.6 to Mangoola Mine.
I am a resident and property owner in the Castle rock area and I have lived here for over 50 years with my family.
Our concerns and objections are as follows:
* Our concerns relate to the impact on the environment, the impact on the local community and local areas and the impact to our lives and the land we cherish.
* We are concerned for the de-valuation of our property due to the increase and accumulation of mines in our local area.
* We are concerned that being situated between mines, outside of their purchase line, will cause us to be unable to sell our property at a `reasonable' & `fair' price, if we wish to do so in the future. We are also concerned that we are out of the area of compensation, even though we are being affected by the mining industry.
* Since the start of Mangoola mine operations we have experienced increases in dust. The fine black dust particles cover our home, the outdoor areas, our drinking water, the air we breathe and in the long term may cause health issues.
* We experience noise from Mangoola mine activities. The levels and periods of noise experienced will increase and impact our lives and our well-being.
* The increase in Mines and mining activity is now impacting on our lifestyle, our liveability and the economic security of our family farm. It is impacting on the enjoyment of living in this rural area and the local community has been severely diminished. It is a concern to all the people left living in the Wybong and Castle rock areas.

I object to this expansion of Mangoola open cut mine for the following reasons:
A concentration of mines in the Upper Hunter is resulting in an unacceptable reduction in air quality for residents.
Discharges of saline water into the Hunter river are resulting in an increase in the back ground levels of salinity in the river. This is detrimental to the river environment and downstream agriculture.
The mine will add to the cumulative impacts of mine sourced air pollution for the whole Hunter Valley.
Expansion will increase noised produced by the mine.
Increased production will put additional pressure on road networks.
Irreversibility of the damage caused by open cut mining.
Extra coal production add to climate change and mining in the Upper Hunter has a bad history of leaving land in a poor state.

I own a property on Yarraman Road, Wybong. It has been used for weekend and holiday farming for more than thirty years, but could be used for permanent residential purposes in future.

I am concerned about the increase in dust and noise pollution that will accompany an increase in activity at Mangoola mine. This will inevitably come with an expansion of output.

I believe the measurements that have been carried out in the past have not covered a sufficient area of the surrounding country and a range of weather conditions that cover the normal annual variation. I submit that no expansion should be approved until the probable degree of contamination by noise, dust and gases is properly assessed over an appropriate period of time and surrounding area.

I have no personal experience of dust or noise monitoring but have been involved for many years in monitoring the effects of mining on groundwater. My experience has been that continuous monitoring of environmental effects over a large surrounding area and a full range of weather conditions is required to give a true picture of baseline conditions and changes caused by mining.

Colin Dudgeon, ME, PhD, MIEAust (ret)
Formerly Director, University of New South Wales Water Research Laboratory

We act for Lindisfarne Pty Ltd and the occupiers of the land located at 714 Roxburgh Muswellbrook known as "Lindisfarne", Mr Sydney R Lawson and Mr David J Lawson.

The Company was incorporated on 16 June 1972 to purchase land at 714 Roxburgh Road Muswellbrook known as "Lindisfarne".

The original shareholders of Lindisfarne Pty Ltd were Sydney R Lawson and James W Lawson (brothers).

The current shareholders are Sydney R Lawson and the beneficiary of the estate of Mr James Lawson namely David J Lawson.

In recent years our client shareholders have witnessed and experienced the growth and development of coal mines upon their doorstep.

You will appreciate that when "Lindisfarne" was purchased it was part of a quiet rural community unaffected by coal mining.

Our shareholder clients are concerned that the proposed Modification will further impact upon "Lindisfarne" and their lifestyle.

In particular our client is most concerned about the following:

1 A deterioration of air quality due to an increase in dust levels.

2 An increase in noise and in particular the noise emanating from increased rail movements along the railway line bisecting our client's land.

3 An increase in noise and in particular the noise emanating from the coal handling plant due to increased production.

4 Increased vibration resulting from the increased production and the increase in rail movements.

5 The impact that the increase in mining activity and rail movements will have upon the value of "Lindisfarne" should shareholders wish to cause Lindisfarne Pty Ltd to sell the land in the future.

Lindisfarne Pty Ltd reserves the right to provide additional detail in support of these submissions in the future.

This mine is in a fragile ecological area already under pressure from this and other mines. The Hunter River is at a high risk of being irreparably polluted which would be devastating to local wildlife and farming. The local community is already under high health stress from dust levels. We are at a crucial time in our history when scientists are saying we must keep fossil fuels in the ground and this mine wants to rip out as much as they can as quick as they can with no heed to the environment or the local community!

They want to increase extraction by 30% and dump toxic salt water in the Hunter River. This mine is in a fragile ecological area already under pressure from this and other mines. The Hunter River is at a high risk of being irreparably polluted which would be devastating to local wildlife and farming. The local community is already under high health stress from dust levels. We are at a crucial time in our history when scientists are saying we must keep fossil fuels in the ground and this mine wants to rip out as much as they can as quick as they can with no heed to the environment or the local community!

Mangoola Coal expansion submission 26.06.2013.

We have lived in the Castlerock area for the past 30 years , and are approximately 7km from the Mine site.

Since the establishment of the Mangoola Coal mine,we have seen a deterioration in our living conditions, and have been affected adversely by the following :

1.Noise:

We are always aware of a dull rumble of continuous machinery noise, which varies in intensity from just audible, up to the point of being loud enough, at times, to wake us in the night ,even with our windows shut.

We are currently having cordial and ongoing discussions with Ben Clibborn,Environment and Community Manager at Mangoola Coal, regarding our concerns, but as yet no noise mitigation solutions have been offered to us.

Conditions such as "temperature inversion" , has been offered as an explanation for the increase of the noise level at certain times.If this is the case then perhaps some kind of special,operational protocol needs to be put in place to mitigate noise at these times.

2. Vibration:

This is evident on days of extreme noise ,and is an uncomfortable sensation.

3. Dust.

As our water supply is provided by rainwater tanks, the dust which is being washed into our drinking water supply ,from our roof catchment ,is of great concern to us. The amount of silt which can be seen collected in our guttering ,causes us to have concerns of possible ill effects to our health.



In view of our concerns outlined above , we can only assume that the problems we are currently experiencing will be further exacerbated by any expansion of the Mangoola Coal project.

I am concerned about the impact this expansion will have on the few remaining residents in the area, as well as the possible pollution of the Hunter River. I don't think it is fair on the people who have chosen to stay living in the area as they are already impacted by the mine through noise & air pollution. Now they face an increase in noise, coal dust in their houses and other pollutants. The original mine plan has changed and the residents of Wybong, and the environment are not being protected or compensated.

As a resident neighboring the mine my husband and I oppose any expansion of the current mining operations.

The dust is of major concern to us and the health problems that go alongside this. Our house is constantly covered in coal dust at present with the current operations. My husband has recently suffered from respiratory problems needing medical attention. I have suffered from migraine headaches immediately after blasting has occurred. Many studies show dust from coal mines can cause respiratory health problems, along with others. An expansion of the mines activities will only increase the amount of dust we are exposed to and put us at greater risk of health problems. This is of major concern for the whole community with other residents also suffering respiratory problems associated with coal dust.

The noise levels coming from the mine are currently at an unacceptable level, often disturbing our sleep at night. We have had made many complaints and believe the mine is not currently complying with its noise restrictions. An expansion in extraction will undoubtedly further these noise issues causing high levels of nuisance and disruption to our lives.

An increase in traffic from an expansion of activities will also cause noise issues, safety issues and danger to wildlife by increasing road kill. These issues are already a problem with current levels of traffic.

We are concerned with the impact on the environment, particularly of the water ways with the possibility of saline water discharge into the Hunter River. There have been many high rainfall events in recent years so there is a high chance that the discharge may happen semi regularly which could have detrimental effects on farming and the environment.

The extraction rate increase proposed by Mangoola Mine should not go ahead. The proposed 30% increase in extraction rate shows inadequate planning of Mangoola mine's time and money. More importantly, dumping toxic salt water into the Hunter River shows inadequate consideration for local waterways. The Hunter River requires as much preservation as it can get - http://www.esri.com/news/arcuser/0708/focus-river.html

The proposed increase, or indeed any future proposals associated with the mining of coal purely from a financial perspective also shows inadequacies. Analysis from Bloomberg New Energy Finance made on the 7th February 2013 shows concludes that electricity from unsubsidised renewable energy is already cheaper than electricity from new-build coal and gas-fired power stations in Australia - http://about.bnef.com/press-releases/renewable-energy-now-cheaper-than-new-fossil-fuels-in-australia/

Renewable energy will inevitably become a requirement in the near future - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61Yp0npCbo0

Perhaps renewable energy investment in the future by Mangoola Mine will show greater adequacy in financial and environmental planning.

Regards,
Gerard Le Breton

Objection to Mangoola Coal Modification 6 of Project Approval 06_0014

I object to the expansion of the Mangoola (formerly known as Anvil Hill) Coal Mine
This proposed expansion of the mining intensity increases the maximum rate of extraction of coal from 10.5 Million tonnes per annum to 13.5 Mtpa. The expansion will produce an additional 2.4 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year. It is not appropriate to allow this to occur. I assume that the Department of Planning accepts responsibility to plan for the future. The greatest chance for a safe and stable climate requires global warming to be no more than two degreees. According to the very recent report from the Climate Commission, this means that 80% of the world's fossil fuel reserves should remain in the ground. It should not be burnt.
This proposed modification is an intensification of production by almost 30%. It appears that it is the case of 'get in and get it out while you still can'. The end of the coal age is nigh.
It is not in the public interest for the NSW Department of Planning to provide for short term money making for overseas companies at great cost in the longer term.
This proposed modification should not be approved for many reasons, including the cumulative impact on air quality and the consequences for human health in the Hunter Valley. The air quality effect cannot be monitored as part of the Upper Hunter Air Quality Network and the noise impact of the mine is already a matter of contention within the immediate community and it would be increased under this modification proposal.
The Department of Planning should reject this proposal because the cumulative impact of coal mining has a far greater environmental cost than it is worth.

Department of Planning, Major Projects.

Mangoola Mine Mod6

I submitted detailed written objections to this mine when originally proposed, as Anvil Hill, and gave oral presentation to the Commission of Inquiry. The loss of this large area of high conservation value woodland is a tragedy. I object to this latest modification for reasons summarised below.

Discharge to the Hunter River was specifically not permitted in the original application and if approved strict conditions on water management should apply to ensure the discharge is not used unless in extreme circumstances.

Discharges of saline water into the Hunter River are resulting in an increase in the back ground levels of salinity in the river. This is detrimental to the river environment and downstream agriculture.

Water is being taken from agricultural systems and diverted to mining operations.

Present mining operations are concentrated in this area of the Upper Hunter and Muswellbrook Shire and increasing operations put additional stress on public infrastructure that is presently not coping with current levels of mining.

A concentration of mines in this area of the Upper Hunter is resulting in an unacceptable reduction in air quality for residents of the Upper Hunter.

Increasing mine output increase mine sourced air pollution and decrease air quality for Upper Hunter residents.

The mine will add to the cumulative impacts of mine sourced air pollution for the whole Hunter Valley.

Precautionary principles regarding health effects short and long term should be applied; there is insufficient data to make a sensible determination regarding the health effects upon the residents of the regions that are already exposed to high density coal mining, particularly open cut.

Expansion of operations will increase noise produced by the mine. Current disputes between mine affected residents and Mangoola Coal are unresolved.

An increase in production will result in an increase in rail traffic and rail noise.

Mining companies already own more than 50% of rateable land in the Muswellbrook Shire. The Upper Hunter is saturated with coal mines and further expansion should be halted.

Lack of affordable housing, extra pressure for housing forcing young home buyers on normal incomes out of the area

Increase in employment will put pressure on the supply and demand for community services and facilities that are presently strained.

Increased production will put additional pressure on the road network.

The initial application and this modification does not address the issue of leaving post mining final voids

Proximity to the town of Denman. Denman does not have an air quality monitor that is part of the Upper Hunter Air Quality Network. Until Denman is part of the air quality network expansion of this mine and establishment of new mines near Denman Should be halted.

Threat to the diversity of the regional economy as mining drives out other sustainable industries and the long term employment they provide.

Mining in the Upper Hunter has a bad history of leaving land in a poor state

Extra coal production adds to climate change threat. In its report released on 17 June 2013 the Climate Change Commission warned there needed to be a major shift in the way energy is produced if international targets for global warming were to be met. The commission said the best way to avoid a changing climate beyond 2 degrees would be to invest heavily in clean energy, phase out coal and keep most of the world's fossil fuel reserves underground. The expansion will produce additional 2.4 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions per year.

Barrie Griffiths.

I object most sincerely to any approval for this modification and will provide my more detailed objection as early as possible. A short extension of time may be required to do so due to medical capacity and the shortness of the exhibition period.

I am a resident of a defined and significantly affected community that will be further impacted by this extraction expansion.