MOD 3 - Appin Mine Ventilation and Access Project

The Project is critical for the sustainable ongoing operation of Appin mine and the direct and indirect employment it provides to thousands in the Illawarra.
South32 have a strong track record of operating with integrity and with consideration of the community and environment.
I fully support this project.

AGURBA Pty Ltd strongly supports the project

I have attached my submission in objection to this project I am strongly against this proposal. I hope my submission helps you see that this will impact my family greatly.

will there be any coal dust pollution coming out of these ventilation shafts?
are there any previous health impact associated with coal mine ventilation shafts?
exactly, how big will this infrastructure be and will it be viewable from my property or on the road to my property?if so, it would greatly and negatively affect my land value

I object to the project and all of my reasonings will be attached in the document below.

This is an objection to the Project and it is our view that it should not be able to proceed for reasons outlined in our submission attached

I support the project because the continuation of metallurgical coal mining is an enabler for steel making at Port Kembla. A local steel making industry strengthens supply chains within Australia and lessens the likelihood of disruption from nation states unfriendly to Australia.

See attached submission...

submission attached

My objection is contained in the attached document.

As a property owner on menangle rd which will now be subjected to a extra 10% of traffic passing our door over a 24/7 period and during anti social hours, coupled to having our rural landscape and view destroyed by this complex.

I want ganrantees that IMC are committed to solve concerns which landowners have requested.
Such as screening and glazing solutions.
.

There has not been proper consultation with the community: 1. The name of the project is misleading because the proposed project is in Menangle but the name is "Appin" which is miles away! 2. We have been in a very serious Covid outbreak which has prevented people from interacting with the community therefore there has been no face to face information for the community to find out what exactly is going on in the area. 3. some people are not tech savvy therefore are unable to be well informed. Communication needs to definitely be FACE to FACE for proper community consultation.
It is alarming that current governments are still considering with Coal mining when it is well known that Green Steel is coming in the imminent future! Its about time we started to take Global warming seriously; What about the traffic congestion in the area considering the high number of housing development and proposed road development M9 occurring in the area? what about the environmental impact on our area, on us citizens, on the animals inhabiting the area, our fauna and flora? We just had the worst fires in Australia's history, how much more manmade problems do we have to endure? Also the Government Air monitoring stations are kilometres away from the proposed site so how accurate will that be?
This project needs to be cancelled! Government needs to respond to the imminent nature of environmental pollution and consider the safe new technology into the future. It does not mean because we live in the South West we have to put up with the disastrous decisions of governments, we all would like to vote for a fair and conscientious government that looks after its citizens and the environment. Thank you

- The title of the project is misleading. Initially I was unaware of the impact on Menangle due to the title only mentioning Appin Mine. Was Menangle specifically excluded from the title to be misleading and reduce community awareness? There was also only a short 14 day window to provide feedback on a technical document that is lengthy to read and understand.
- There is no closing date of the shaft specified for this approval application. It is essential that an end date be specified if it were approved.
- There is no government run air quality monitors nearby. This is unacceptable. We as the residents of Menangle, and nearby suburbs would need assurance that air quality is being independently monitored. In the interests of honesty and transparency, it is inappropriate for the mine to be the only check of air quality. There needs to be an independent government run monitoring station.
- There is inadequate road infrastructure for increased traffic. That section of road is already accident prone at the corner and that stretch of road is not appropriate for increased traffic.
- South 32 does not intend to be part of a voluntary planning committee with Wollondilly council. This is completely unacceptable considering the impacts of mining on council funded assets. We as residents all contribute to council funds and have the right to want Wollondilly council to be involved as they
should have the best interests of the community in mind. This shows a lack of intention to reduce their impacts on our environment and community.
- It would be essential for there to be funds deposited which would be needed down the track for repairs to damaged property or environment if the mine has closed up and left. There is currently no compensation for stress, anxiety and time taken to go through a claim for people affected by mining, this is unfair on the community.
- The necessity of this mine is overstated, with only 20% of product sold to Bluescope, and with the introduction of green steel in the future even less essential.

As a resident of Menangle I am strongly opposed to this project and the overall effects of mining on our community. As residents of South West Sydney we are subjected to the impacts of a lot of bad Government decisions and it is about time the Government took into account the effects of these bad decision on our community and environment.

EPA comments on Mod 3 for BSO

Please find attached the response from MEG

The traffic report neglects to consider any impact on Broughton Pass or Douglas Park Gorge, yet South32 are relocating 300 workers to a new entry site, and traffic will be concentrated at shift change times. How do South32 think the workers are going to get there? It is suggested that most traffic will be via Menangle Rd. This is highly unlikely with the traffic lights at Picton Rd/Hume Highway already failing during peak times. If you google Appin mine to Menangle, guess which way it directs you - yep, via Broughton Pass and Douglas Park Gorge! The traffic assessment is entirely inadequate, does not consider the constraints of these two roads (Wilton Rd and Douglas Park Drive) and how traffic will flow through them. The Traffic study must be re-done to include modelling of Broughton Pass, located on Wilton Rd between Appin and Wilton, the Gorge located on Douglas Park Drive between Appin/Wilton and Douglas Park, and the Hume Highway traffic lights. All these are constraints that the project must consider. There is no way that the project can eliminate the use of these roads by staff accessing site - so the likley impact of them doing so must be modelled. It should take into account that the lights on the hume highway/Picton rd are currently at failure levels during peak times, and hence this causes many people to use the regional shortcuts to avoid them - this means that traffic from Wollongong and Southern Sydney will often go via Appin/Wilton, via Broughton Pass and Douglas Park Gorge, depending on if they chose Appin rd or Picton Rd for the first part of their journey. BOTH of these roads have ONE WAY SECTIONS which much be considered in traffic modelling. Broughton Pass - Wilton Rd, has a one way bridge over the Cataract River. Douglas Park Gorge has a one way section on the north side where the road is falling away into the creek and the Council has been forced to narrow the road as they are unable to work out how to fix it. Therefore, these constraints, and the already overloaded Picton rd/hume highway traffic lights must be modelled for traffic impact.
Other concerns:
Who pays for the additional damage to the roads - Wollondilly is struggling with road maintenance, this project adds additional kilometres travelled on them - why should ratepayers pick up the tab for this?
Economic viability of the mine - it has been claimed in other applications that Appin mine is not viable if Dendrobium does not go ahead - well, it hasn't, so is this project bound to fail? What cost will be left for cleanup and ongoing maintenance of a mine that closes - this should not be borne by the taxpayer. Should this project be put on hold until economic viability is proven? Do they really need a new ventilation and entry shaft anyway? Seems they've survived this long without it. Is there actually a need for it?
Public consultation - I don't think the community have had time to adequately consider the proposal. I've only had time to quickly look at the traffic management plan. I bet there are many that will be affected that have no idea its even on exhibition. Not good enough to just tick the box on consultation - these projects can affect peoples health and lives, and value of their properties. It can also impact costs to ratepayers and taxpayers. It should be properly exhibited and adequately described so that people in affected communities are aware that it is there for comment. Not good enough. This company DOES NOT have the social licence to operate in this community. They HAVE NOT proven themselves to be open and honest and forthcoming with information on spillages to the environment and similar (eg Ferric Chloride spill into Georges River, and overflows of turbid water from Brennans Creek Dam). DO NOT approve this application - they ARE NOT doing the right thing, and the community HAVE NOT had sufficient time to scrutinize this application.

Submission Objecting to the MOD3 - Appin Mine Ventilation and Access Project

The Appin mine ventilation and access project should not go ahead. There are several instances that show they are not being completely open, accessible, accurate or acting in the best interest of the community or the environment.

The management for South 32 have taken advantage of the current serious covid out break to steam roll ahead. Not everyone is tech savvy and as a result many members of the community have not received proper consultation.


The name of the project is misleading because the proposed project is in MENANGLE but the name is "Appin" which is considerably further away.


Green Steel is what should be pursued instead. It is devastating that current governments are still considering coal mining. It is heart breaking to see that yet again money is taking priority while our environment is sacrificed. Not enough consideration has been given to environmental impact on our area, the people, the animals inhabiting the area, our fauna and flora. The area is currently in the process of significant development with a number of housing development and proposed road development M9 occurring in the area. The addition of the Appin mine ventilation project will further impact congestion and the impact to the environment. There are significant emissions of methane and the smell will affect the houses that surround. The Government Air monitoring stations are kilometres away from the proposed site and will not be able to accurately measure the impact to air quality.

This project needs to be cancelled immediately. Government needs to respond to the imminent nature of environmental pollution and consider safer, greener alternative technology.

Please refer to the attachments.

TfNSW Combined Response