Myuna Coal Mine (MOD 2) - Road transport

As a local resident I have significant concerns regarding the amount of coal trucks entering and leaving this site.
I believe this will cause major SAFETY Issues along a road which already has numerous accidents and DEATHS.
Concrete barriers have already been installed to try and separate northbound and southbound traffic.
My main concerns are the fact that there is no turning lane for the trucks to enter Wangi Road when travelling north up the hill.
Most of the traffic is travelling at 90/100km an hour and will be forced to slow down behind the trucks going up the hill until
the 1 lane turns into 2 lanes. Also the speed at which cars are coming down the hill travelling south really concerns me with
trucks heavily laden trying to get out to turn right. This stretch of road is very hazardous at the best of times and is getting increasingly
busy with just normal traffic let alone adding in the amount of trucks apparently coming and going each day. The intersection is
totally inadequate to accommodate this type of traffic.

The roads are dangerous enough without adding further traffic to roads are are far from capable with the extra burden of heavy trucks!
Why not use the current coal road that isn't open to the public???

This project will be detrimental to the local and wider community in a number of ways:
1. 20 truck movements an hour 6 days a week will cause extensive road damage, make the road more dangerous than it currently is, cause traffic to slow down as trucks merge and try and speed up to 90km, potential motor accidents and harm, truck noise for locals.
2. Noise at the pit due to coal mixing and loading of trucks. The pit is a 24 x 7 operation and can be heard during the night, this will make it even noisier as highlighted in the modification document, disturbing local residents.
3. Increased coal dust and other emissions in the valley due to coal mixing and loading of trucks. Potentially detrimental to the health of the local community.

I am against the extra 200 truck movements on this road, it has enough traffic on it already as a main arterial road linking Morisset, Wangi Wangi, Rathmines and Toronto. In the current state of Environmental affairs the last thing Lake Macquarie needs is more coal being dug up and transported on a road where families are commuting to and from sporting events or shopping at larger shopping areas. I personally commute to Cooranbong once a week for Medical treatment and I would be inconvenienced if the traffic became heavier or if the road was closed due to a Truck related incident which the likelihood will increase with an extra 200 trucks per day.

I am very concerned about this proposal. Summerhill road is a narrow road with no kerb and guttering and a 80klm road with no lighting, it is also a hilly road, having many ups and downs and bends. I am very worried about increased accidents and even the risk of loss of life that could occur from trucks travelling on such a road, for example driving down Summerhill Drive at the allowed speed of 80 klm and to then come around the bend to find a coal truck doing 40klm could be disastrous, this road has no room for error or conditions to cater for the existing traffic and numerous coal trucks.
The trucks are then turning from Summerhill Drive onto Wangi Road, there has already been numerous accidents at this corner. Wangi Rd has a speed of 90klm and is single lane road. A truck coming out of Summer Hill Drive turning onto Wangi Road, at slow speeds, under these conditions in my opinion very dangerous. The roads have not been designed to cater for coal trucks and the community that the local council has encourage in recent years to settle and live here. We have a large over 55 community, with a number of over 55 designated living, Wangi Shores Retirement Village being one. Wangi is also a holiday destination and we have a caravan park and numerous B & B's plus people with holiday homes, so at holiday time we already have increased traffic on these roads. I believed that when planning Wangi for such an older aged community such as encouraging all these over 55 developments and holiday destination, that would have ensured any heavy industry would not increase or commenced afterwards and that such proposals would therefore not be permitted.

Our Public Roads are already Busy enough and are in a Poor condition with recent Rains and all the Potholes. My Car was recently Damaged on these Roads, hitting a Pothole and the Coucil Claims they are Not Liable and I must Proove negligence on their Part before they will Repair my Car. We do not want Hundreds of Extra Heavy Coal Trucks making these Roads even busier and Deteriorating our Roads further. I am concerned about Road Safety, these Heavy Trucks will Damage the Roads Faster, and the High Volume of additional Traffic expected. Even if they travel at Night, Extra Trucks mean Extra Noise and Braking Noise. I am also concerned about Road Safety, with the Higher Volume of Traffic and Damage to the Roads, I believe the Chan=ce of Fatal accidents will increase dramatically.

There is a conveyor Belt already at Myuna Mine,which was used when the mine was operational before.to go to Eraring power station .So why not use this ,up grade it if need be.The stretch of road you are planning to use is of low standards won’t handle the heavy trucks every day. Not to mention that the road is already notorious for accidents especially as these trucks will be coming out of the mine road at the bottom of a hill.

The road isn’t designed for that many trucks there is no turning lane for the trucks. The road would have to be modified contrary to the proposal. it’s a disaster and it will end up costing lives on the road. I believe another alternative needs to be looked at.

The traffic movements created will be dangerous with the current infastructure. Not to mention additional noise and air pollution locally.
A coal loader or subterranion tunnel , has this been explored ?
The amount of coal and ash dust us local residents already have to deal with and this will only add to it.
This area is for all of us , not just business .corporate structures.
Not just for short term gain to a few.

I object to the project based on Increased traffic movement of heavy vehicles on a dangerous section of road. Unless there is substantial road works such as dual carriageway the entire road and roundabouts put in place at each intersection it is going to cause many accidents possibly fatal.
It is already difficult to access Wangi Road from Buttaba Hills Road, Donnelly Road and Wilton Roads depending on the time of day. Given that there will be 40 truck movements per hour on a relatively short distance of roadway it will cause chaos.
Also limiting movements between peak hour of 3 and 4pm when peak hours are 3 to 6pm.
They already have conveyor belts in place, use them and mix the coal at Eraring Power Station.
Save money and lives.

I believe that it will place too much load onto the road and the current infrastructure will be put under too much pressure and will break down quickly. It will create an unsave road system for the public. As well placing too many vehicles on the road causing traffic chaos! I believe the the trucks should be put on to a private road to be built be the coal company use alternatives like a conveyer belt system.

The proposal provides for too many heavy trucks on the Main Road ,where speeds of 90kph will result in accidents and fatalities. There are dangers associated with trucks turning onto the Main Road then exiting the Main Road. The project must be abandoned.

It is unsafe for the community not to mention a number of other issues. I can guarantee there will be a death on the road within the first 3months and someone will have to take liability for that. Honestly I could go on but you know it is wrong and should not go ahead

I object to this project for the following reasons:
• Increased diesel particulate matter into the air. Our local air quality is already compromised from the activities of Eraring power station.
• Increased local traffic interruption and inherent risks at the Wangi Point Road/Wangi Road and Donnelly Road/Wangi Road intersections.
• Coal could be transported by existing infrastructure; ie conveyor belt from Myuna Coal Mine to Eraring power station thence onto the functioning haul roads.

I draw your attention below to the opposing coal tonnage movements to and from Myuna Coal Mine supplied in the applications by Myuna Coal Mine and Northern Coal Logistic - urgent clarification required:

Myuna Coal Mine - Modification 2
Transport of up to 1.0 Mtpa of ROM coal by road from Myuna Colliery to Cooranbong Entry Site (CES).
Receipt of up to 0.2 Mtpa of Mandalong ROM coal by road from the CES.

Northern Coal Logistics - Modification 2
Dispatch of up to 1.0 Mtpa of ROM coal by truck form Cooranbong Entry site (CES) to Myuna Colliery.
Receive up to 0.2 Mtpa of ROM coal from Myuna Colliery.

From my local MP:

“My thanks to journalist Max Mckinney and Newcastle Herald for highlighting the Centennial Coal truck issue in today's paper.
To clarify the numbers which have been the subject of some debate, the Herald figures are correct.
Centennial's application says that transporting a million tonnes of coal a year over the local roads will require "208 truck movements per active day" on "300 active days a year".
That's 62,400 truck movements a year, with 31,200 fully-laden 32-tonne trucks heading up Wangi hill and onto Wilton Rd at Awaba.
It also means there will be a full truck leaving or an empty truck arriving at the old Wangi Point Road/Wangi Rd intersection every three minutes, 10 hours a day, six days a week”.

Unbelievably dangerous proposal. Please visit the area and understand the issue. There will be accidents and deaths.

How many deaths are deemed acceptable ?

Stop this nonsense now please.

Please see the attached letter.

The increase of over 200 coal trucks a day basically uncovered spreading coal dust in our community is unacceptable and will lead to accidents on such a busy road where the speed limit is 90 kms!

The Environmental consultant's report claims the proposed modification has been designed to avoid and minimise adverse biophysical, social and economic impacts where possible. That argument and the case for movement of the coal by truck on major public roads should be rejected. Essentially, they have accepted that the truck movements will create these impacts but they will try to take action to minimise them. The questions they have not answered is by how much and to what level?
Why should the public bear any of these costs? What is the alternative by which they can transport this coal? They currently use a conveyor belt for all coal movement to Erraring to minimise environmental and social impacts. Doing something similar is not discussed as an alternative . This suggests it is considered a higher cost option which reduces their profits. In short, they are seeking to use public infrastructure, making the community carry the costs of their business decisions. As a frequent user of this road I can attest it is already heavily used, especially for a two lane road in most parts, and that broken windscreens from trucks throwing up material is common. Emissions from the 62000 plus truck movements annually are not insignificant and should not be allowed when the sole reason appears to be to improve Centennial Coal's bottom line.

I have lived in Lake Macquarie for nearly 30 years and travelled the Wangi road to my work place 5 days per week, for several decades. The interections that join onto the Wangi Rd have always been hazardous for traffic merging onto the Wangi Road.
The proposal to allow large coal trucks to pull out onto Wangi Rd would be criminal and grossly negligent.
I have also had many years travelling to Stockton and found the coal train trucks along the Kooragang straight extremely congestive, frightening and hazardous.
I believe the alternative of using the existing train rail tracks to transport the coal would be the more practical solution. Our residents are precious and we do not want our loved ones lives jeopordised due the incorrect choice. Please consider a safer alternative. Thank You.

As a resident in the proposed area of the development i am concerned about the increased truck movements on the local roads.
Wangi Road is an unsuitable road to have a truck (likely to be a B Double) entering the road every three minutes. The access to Wangi Road from the Southern side of Myuna Colliery would be via Summer Hill Road. This a very bad intersection as it is on the crest of the Wangi Road with poor vision to the North and South. The alternative location for entry to Wangi Road is a disused "construction" road to the North of the Colliery it enters Wangi Road on a short down hill slope. The access would be dangerous with fast moving traffic to the North and South with limited vision.
There is no room for a large truck to pick up speed before being confronted with the "Wangi Hill" a long steep hill two lanes in a northern direction and one lane South. It is already a mad scramble to avoid slow moving traffic on the uphill North bound direction. A Coal truck every 3 minutes will be add another unacceptable risk to this difficult road.
South bound empty trucks will enter Wangi Road at Wilton Road and proceed thru the Dorrington Road roundabout before again having a long uphill drive before the crest at Buttaba Hills Road. There have been and continues to be numerous traffic accidents at both of these intersection. Then low gear down Wangi Road past a busy Donnelly Road intersection.
Wangi Road is not suitable for a Coal Truck every three minutes!
An alternative could be:-
I am aware of the existing conveyor system which extends from the Myuna Colliery to an area at the North Western side of the Eraring Power Station.
Surely it would be feasible to extend or duplicate this conveyor system so it continues to the existing Private Coal Haul Road, which currently runs from Eraring Power Station to the Awaba Colliery.
The advantages would be - No truck movements on public roads would be required
- Coal could be moved 24 x 7 with nil to minimal impact on the residents and no impact on traffic movement
- The relatively small cost of the additional infrastructure would provide on going advantages to Centennial Coal
- Jobs would be created in the construction of the Coal Conveyor system and its going maintenance
Another option
At the bottom of Wangi Hill a Railway line use to cross the Wangi Road. The Railway line went from Myuna Colliery towards the Private Coal Haul Road to Awaba Colliery. The railway line has been removed but the Railway easement remains with no hills or steep gradients. A bridge could built over Wangi Road and a new Private Coal Haul Road could be built along the existing Railway easement. The hard work has already been done .
There has to be a better option than putting another 20 trucks per hour on an already congested road. Spend some money now on creating your own Coal Haul Road, provide employment during construction and create opportunities for untold future development and expansion of the Myuna Colliery without impacting the residents.
The cheap option is NOT THE BEST OPTION.
Thank you for taking my sub-mission