Angus Place Extension Project.

Until there is an alternate energy solution that is cost effective replacement for all Australians, then coal is our energy producing source. During these times of uncertain economic environment, this would provide stability to town and its surrounding townships.
This is my submission in supporting the project.

I request that the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (the DoPIE) recommend
refusal of consent, as Centennial Coal has not modified the Angus Place mine extension proposal to
adequately protect nationally endangered swamps and has sought to grandfather its consent until
2053, preventing future necessary adaption of the energy sector to address the growing climate
emergency. As a result:
- I oppose the mine extension as it will fracture the sandstone strata supporting the nationally
endangered swamps.
- I request that if any consent is issued, then it must be reviewed every 5 years with a
possibility of cancellation from 2025, and proposing to grandfather the Angus Place mine
consent until 2053 ignores the growing climate catastrophe by locking in coal-fired electric
power.
- Please require Centennial Coal to revise this amended proposal to prevent damage to
spectacular Birds Rock, Wolgan River, Carne Creek, pagodas, cliffs and the nationally
endangered swamps in the 2,000 hectare Study Area.
- Centennial Coal must not be allowed to further replicate the damage it has already caused
to nationally threatened upland swamps on the Newnes Plateau.
- To ensure this significant central part of the Gardens of Stone reserve proposal, minilongwall mining methods should be applied instead of the intensive longwall mining
proposed.
- The excessive clearing of 50 hectares of public forest for an additional roads, ventilation and
pumping facilities must be reduced and all facilities located away from sensitive areas.
- Wolgan Falls must not run dry - the proposed longall mining panels must be shortened by
hundreds of metres along the Wolgan River side of the Study Area to prevent river water
losses due to far field impacts associated with the extensive Wolgan Lineament Field.
- Pristine Carne Creek, and its waters that flow through the Greater Blue Mountains World
Heritage Area and past the Wolgan Valley resort must not be contaminated with iron and
manganese released or suffer reduced flows due to fracturing of surface rocks.
- In the seven years since Centennial’s consultants identified the need for targeted surveys of
nationally endangered plants, the company failed to undertake these searches. Lithgow
Environment Group has in that time identified many sites within the proposal where these
Federally listed plants occur, highlighting the weakness of the company’s environmental
assessment.
- Due to the extent of mining impacts and duration of approval being sought, the amended
Angus Place mine extension proposal must be subject to an Independent Planning
Commission hearing, review and determination process.
I have not made political donations or gifts totalling $1,000 or more in the last two years.

Dear Sir / Madam,

I object to this application. I have lived in the Lithgow region for almost 30 years and as a longterm resident I believe Lithgow should be entering a transition phase to move away from the mining of coal and the production of coal fired energy. This application will hinder any positive progress and growth for our town in the longterm and given the obvious worldwide trend away from coal, Lithgow will be left behind. We could be forerunners in renewable energies. This application is a step backwards.

I have major concerns about the impact on the environment including the waterways . Already irreparable damage has been caused with the loss of Kangaroo Swamp, Lambs Creek Swamp, Junction Swamp and East Wolgan Swamp.

I support a proposal to protect this region from mining with the establishment of a State Conservation area for the Gardens of Stone. With my work as a professional artist and photographer I am well acquainted with the region and believe this extension is not in the best interests for the region of Lithgow. Time to move on from coal for a more sustainable future. I want that for my family.

Yours sincerely
Longterm Lithgow Resident

I object to this project on numerous grounds. This plan covers an enormous area of 10,551ha and Centennial Coal is seeking a consent to mine coal until 2053. This is vast area to place under threat of environmental degradation and such a long time frame within which major damage will be sustained.

Some impacts this plan will have:
• Five endangered swamps and the wonderful fields of boronia and other wildflowers in those swamps will be destroyed – (TriStar, Twin Gully, Birds Rock, Crocodile and Trail 6 will be hydraulically impacted by the mine);

• Key populations of nationally listed animals - the blue mountains water skink and the giant dragonfly – will also be lost due to the swamp damage;

• Water flows in the Wolgan River that pass through the World Heritage Area and over Wolgan Fall will be diminished, and Carne Creek will also lose its pristine flows – (Carne Creek is a key feature of the One and Only Wolgan Resort, eroding its green cachet);

• The “protected” Birds Rock Flora Reserve shall be undermined, and this spectacular rock formation shall be fractured;

• Cliffs will collapse and pagoda rock formations cracked in the mining area; and

• Grandfathering the Angus Place mine is a transparent attempt to block social adaptation to climate change by locking in coal consumption.
The price of coal can only go down over the long term as the world is shifting to renewable energy. This project will lock in long term damage to the environment while doing nothing to sustain our economy over time.

I object for multiple reasons:
- coal and coal fired-electric power is one of the cause of the current climate crisis. The NSW must play its role in investing in new solutions and in preventing coal mines from opening/extending
- environmental impact as highlighted by the Colong Foundation for Wilderness
- impact to tourism: the Lithgow area (Newnes state forest) is a popular area with bush walkers, campers and 4wd enthusiasts.

The project will have a devastating impact on the wild life and nature in the area. And will destroy a lot of the beautiful areas so many people come to visit

It is the year 2020.
We are able to support and derive all of our energy needs from renewable sources.
Non-renewable sources, even if "only" used for export are no longer sustainable.
They make make sense in a spreadsheet but we cannot afford to continue down the same path.
Profits should no longer come before the environment regardless the case this submission attempts to make regarding environmental effects and how to reverse them.

I am a resident of the Blue Mountains and I am concerned about the environmental impact of this project and the future economic viability of coal.

This project is a threat to already threatened plant communities, threatened species of fauna, and surrounding reserves and waterways. On a global scale, coal and fossil fuels/non-renewable energy sources are becoming redundant. Developed nations are increasingly choosing renewable energy sources which are more sustainable. It makes no sense environmentally or economically to invest in the expansion of projects which are degrading to the environment and contribute to global warming. The government and corporations should be investing in green energy sources and creating jobs in those industries. We should be doing whatever we can to protect our beautiful bushlands and helping reduce our carbon footprint to ensure that more mega-fires do not occur in our area, or anywhere else.

I cannot support a project, company, or government which knowingly and willingly puts our planet and future at risk for short term financial gain.

Please do not allow this project to continue.

Mining Projects
NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
Locked Bag 5022
Parramatta NSW 2124

Dear Sir/Madam,

Objection to the State Significant Project – Angus Place Mine Extension (SSD 5602 - Amendment Exhibition)

I request that the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (the DoPIE) recommend refusal of consent, as Centennial Coal has not modified the Angus Place mine extension proposal to adequately protect nationally endangered swamps and has sought to grandfather its consent until 2053, preventing future necessary adaption of the energy sector to address the growing climate emergency. As a result:

- I oppose the mine extension as it will fracture the sandstone strata supporting the nationally endangered swamps.

- I request that if any consent is issued, then it must be reviewed every 5 years with a possibility of cancellation from 2025, to enable future NSW Governments to end coal-fired electric power as soon as possible and so help stop the growing climate catastrophe.

- Please require Centennial Coal to revise this amended proposal to prevent damage to spectacular Birds Rock, pagodas, cliffs and the nationally endangered swamps in the 2,000 hectare proposed mining area.

- DoPIE must not allow Centennial Coal to replicate under this proposal the damage it has already caused to nationally threatened upland swamps on the Newnes Plateau.

- Mini-longwall mining methods should be applied instead of the intensive longwall mining proposed to protect this significant part of the Gardens of Stone reserve proposal.

- The excessive clearing of 50 hectares of public forest for an additional roads, ventilation and pumping facilities must be greatly reduced and all facilities located away from sensitive areas.

- The Wolgan Falls must not run dry and so the proposed longall mining panels along the Wolgan River side of the proposed mining area must be shortened by hundreds of metres to prevent river water losses due to far field impacts associated with the extensive Wolgan Lineament Field.

- DoPIE must require that Pristine Carne Creek, and its waters that flow through the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and past the Wolgan Valley resort not be contaminated with iron and manganese or suffer reduced flows due to fracturing of surface rocks.

- In the seven years since Centennial’s consultants identified the need for targeted surveys of four nationally endangered plants, the company failed to undertake these searches. Lithgow Environment Group has in that time identified many sites where these Federally listed plants occur within the proposal, highlighting the weakness of the company’s environmental assessment.

- For all the above reasons, the amended mine extension proposal must be subject to Independent Planning Commission review processes.

Kind regards,
Julia Rolando

Angus place is an important part of our town and community. I support the extension of this project.

Mining Projects
NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
Locked Bag 5022
Parramatta NSW 2124

Dear Sir/Madam,

Objection to the State Significant Project – Angus Place Mine Extension (SSD 5602 - Amendment Exhibition)

I request that the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (the DoPIE) recommend refusal of consent, as Centennial Coal has not modified the Angus Place mine extension proposal to adequately protect nationally endangered swamps and has sought to grandfather its consent until 2053, preventing future necessary adaption of the energy sector to address the growing climate emergency. As per research conducted into Regional Horizontal Movements Associated with Longwall Mining in the Illawara Coalfields by Bruce Hebblewhite, "evidence of large headlands of land moving 'en masse' have been observed", as well as 'gorge closures' within the regional area, outside of expected subsidence zones. This poses a critical risk to the fragile regional landscape and ecosystem. As a result:

I oppose the mine extension as it will fracture the sandstone strata supporting the nationally endangered swamps.

I request that if any consent is issued, then it must be reviewed every 5 years with a possibility of cancellation from 2025, to enable future NSW Governments to end coal-fired electric power as soon as possible and so help stop the growing climate catastrophe.

Please require Centennial Coal to revise this amended proposal to prevent damage to spectacular Birds Rock, pagodas, cliffs and the nationally endangered swamps in the 2,000 hectare proposed mining area.

DoPIE must not allow Centennial Coal to replicate under this proposal the damage it has already caused to nationally threatened upland swamps on the Newnes Plateau.

Mini-longwall mining methods should be applied instead of the intensive longwall mining proposed to protect this significant part of the Gardens of Stone reserve proposal.

The excessive clearing of 50 hectares of public forest for an additional roads, ventilation and pumping facilities must be greatly reduced and all facilities located away from sensitive areas.

The Wolgan Falls must not run dry and so the proposed longall mining panels along the Wolgan River side of the proposed mining area must be shortened by hundreds of metres to prevent river water losses due to far field impacts associated with the extensive Wolgan Lineament Field.

DoPIE must require that Pristine Carne Creek, and its waters that flow through the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and past the Wolgan Valley resort not be contaminated with iron and manganese or suffer reduced flows due to fracturing of surface rocks.

In the seven years since Centennial’s consultants identified the need for targeted surveys of four nationally endangered plants, the company failed to undertake these searches. Lithgow Environment Group has in that time identified many sites where these Federally listed plants occur within the proposal, highlighting the weakness of the company’s environmental assessment.

For all the above reasons, the amended mine extension proposal must be subject to Independent Planning Commission review processes.

I have not made political donations or gifts totalling $1,000 or more in the last two years.

I am a mining engineer who studied at the University of New South Wales.

Please recommend rejection of this proposal.

Yours sincerely,

Xu Dong Feng

I believe that this project should not be given approval as it threatens the very existence and access to a variety of species and landscapes and will be incredibly destructive.

The proposed Colliery is in the catchment of the Wolgan river, which is a major tributary of the Colo, a wilderness river in the Wollemi National Park, part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage area.
There is no guarantee that contaminated tailings will not enter the river; this has already occurred from the Clarence Colliery into the pristine Wollangambe river.
Furthermore, this proposed colliery may result in significant structural damage to rock formations within the Gardens of Stone national Park.
Also, the development will significantly degrade the commercial value and future potential of existing and future ecotourism within this area. Such commercial enterprises have a sustainable future, which is entirely different to coal mining.
Finally, Australia should be moving away from exploration and development of new fossil fuel reserves, and towards renewable energy. The climate, and thus our lives and economy, depend on this.
Thank you

Mining Projects
N.S.W Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
Locked Bag 5022
Parramatta N.S.W. 2124

To whom it may concern,
State Significant Project 5602- Angus Place Mine Extension ( Amendment Exhibition ).


I request that the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment recommend refusal of consent, as Centennial Coal has not modified the Angus Place mine extension proposal to adequately protect nationally important endangered swamps and has sought to grandfather its consent until 2053, preventing future necessary adaption of the energy sector to address the growing climate emergency. As a result:

* I oppose the mine extension as it will fracture the sandstone and drain the nationally important Temperate Highland Peat Swamps on Sandstone. According to the executive summary in the amendment report for the project, an assumption of total loss of THPSS has been taken. It then states that this loss represents a maximum potential ecosystem and species credit liability which is to be offset in accordance with the N.S.W Biodiversity Offset Scheme and the Commonwealth EPBC Act Environmental Offsets Policy. The Commonwealth Act seems to be more applicable to this project than the N.S.W scheme and states that suitable offsets are to be considered as part of the decision to approve or not approve the mine and therefore must be nominated in advance. No offsets have been listed in the amendment report.

* I request that if any consent is issued then it must be reviewed every 5 years with a possibility of cancellation from 2025, and proposing to grandfather the Angus Place mine consent until 2053 ignores the growing climate catastrophe by locking in coal-fired electric power. I realize the envisaged mine life time-frame provides job security for hundreds of workers and there will be many submissions supporting the proposal because of same.

* Please require Centennial Coal to revise this amended proposal to prevent damage to spectacular Birds Rock , the Wolgan River, Carne Creek, pagodas, cliffs and the THPSS in the study area.

* Centennial Coal must not be allowed to further replicate the damage it has already caused to nationally threatened upland swamps on the Newnes Plateau.

* To ensure this significant central part of the Gardens of Stone reserve proposal, mini-long wall mining methods should be applied instead of the intensive long wall mining proposed. David King, a Senior Mining Engineer with Centennial Coal, stated in his submission in support of the Airly Coal Mine expansion: "I strongly believe there is a balance to be struck between our need to build strong communities, our need to be rejuvenated by the beauty of the natural world and the need to maintain thriving natural landscapes for the good of the entire world.

* The excessive clearing of 50 hectares of public forest for additional roads, ventilation and pumping facilities must be reduced and all facilities located away from sensitive areas if the project proceeds.

* Wolgan Falls must not run dry - the proposed long wall mining panels must be shortened by hundreds of metres along the Wolgan River side of the study area to prevent river water losses due to far field impacts associated with the extensive Wolgan Lineament Field.

* Pristine Carne Creek and its waters that flow through the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and past the Wolgan Valley Resort, must not be contaminated with iron and manganese released or suffer reduced flows due to fracturing of surface rocks.

* In the seven years since Centennial's consultants identified the need for targeted surveys of nationally endangered plants, the company failed to undertake these searches. Lithgow Environment Group has in that time identified many sites where these federally listed plants occur, highlighting the weakness of the company's environmental assessment.

* Due to the extent of mining impacts and duration of approval being sought, the amended Argus Place mine extension proposal must be subject to an independent Planning Commission hearing, review and determination process.

About myself: I am a retired data communications specialist. I belong to the Upper Blue Mountains Bush Club and the National Parks Association. I regularly bush walk in the area. I also volunteer with a few environmental research groups. Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

Yours sincerely,
Graham Groves

The Angus Place Extension Project will sustain jobs in the local area and support the local community for may years to come.

I think it is a terrible idea to allow an extension of the Angus Place mine. The Newnes plateau is an extraordinary place. Places like the Wolgan River and Carne Creek and the pagodas in the area are very beautiful and unique. The Gardens of Stone and Wollemi areas are amongst my favourite places in Australia - dramatic, exciting and very special - world class. I regularly bushwalk in Gardens of Stone and Wollemi National Park I can't believe that as a Government a commitment for coal fired electric power stretching out to 2053 would even be contemplated. We should not be planning a future based around coal consumption. The mine extension involves a massive area and locks in mining for 33 years! It will destroy swamps vital to the ecosystem (some of which are heritage listed), destroy pristine areas like Carne Creek, cause damage or destruction to unique rock formations, affect water flow in the Wolgan River and Wolgan falls and damage or destroy Aboriginal occupation shelters in the project area. I strongly object to this 2,000 hectare 33 year proposal because this area has immense beauty and nature value and because I do not think we should approve further coal mining for coal fired electric power with its associated emissions and certainly not for 33 years. Thank you for reading my submission. I vote and I feel very strongly about this as do the other members of my family.

This proposal is completely out of sync with where we, as a society and a nation, need to be heading. It threatens precious water reserves that feed the Wolgan national parks region. The defined and undefined risk to the region is completely unacceptable. We cannot expect mining companies to just give up pursuing self interested goals. We have to draw the line and show them what is no longer acceptable. Please take the responsible path as guardians of our beautiful parks and our precious water reserves by declining this application. We cannot afford to keep green-lighting industries that are feeding climate change and destroying our precious wildlife. The bush fires have put many species into critical stages of decline. It will be years before we can even begin to understand the impact and what remedial measures are required to recover from the damage that has been done. In the interim, we need to adopt an abundance of caution before letting any projects - of any kind - unwittingly provide tipping points towards species and habitat extinction. We are simply NOT in an informed position yet. This country needs to be going in a direction that is sustainable, that protects our precious environment and preserves our water and habitats. This application flies in the face of everything we should have learned from the recent crisis. It is time to send a message to the Mining industry. This not the future we want. Australians want to see limits placed on mining that protects our environment. I ask the NSW Government to decline this mine application. The region is simply too precious, too vulnerable and too important to be exploited for commercial gains.

There are two main reasons why this proposal must be rejected.

1) I am a bushwalker and a published author. Through many years of bushwalking in this unique natural area and writing about it, I know it intimately. It is full of incredible natural features that must be preserved as part of our national heritage. Below is a list of key bushwalking destinations in the project area. They can all be irreversibly damaged and/or destroyed.
. Wolgan Falls
. Wolgan Gorge and Wolgan River downstream
. Wolgan Loops and Point Green
. Cathedral Cave
. Birds Rock Flora Reserve
. Birds Rock Cave
. Convolution Creek
. Tagine Point
. Carne Creek downstream
. Diamond Cavern (within 100 m from the project area)
. The Cracks of Doom (within 100 m from the project area)
As well as those, there are several national heritage listed high level swamps that will be ruined. We are also aware of at least three Aboriginal occupation shelters in the project area.
I have attached a couple of photos and can provide many more.

2)The second reason that this project must be rejected is that coal must be left in the ground. I hope we have all learned enough from the devastating bushfires of last summer. The NSW Government would be making a very shortsighted and unpopular decision if it allows a new coal mine within 2 hours from Sydney, to be used for the next 33 years.

I object to this project for the following reasons as outlined by the Colong Foundation for Wilderness:
• Five endangered swamps and the wonderful fields of boronia and other wildflowers in those swamps will be destroyed – (TriStar, Twin Gully, Birds Rock, Crocodile and Trail 6 will be hydraulically impacted by the mine);
• Key populations of nationally listed animals - the blue mountains water skink and the giant dragonfly – will also be lost due to the swamp damage;
• Water flows in the Wolgan River that pass through the World Heritage Area and over Wolgan Fall will be diminished, and Carne Creek will also lose its pristine flows – (Carne Creek is a key feature of the One and Only Wolgan Resort, eroding its green cachet);
• The “protected” Birds Rock Flora Reserve shall be undermined, and this spectacular rock formation shall be fractured;
• Cliffs will collapse and pagoda rock formations cracked in the mining area; and

I feel that the most objectionable point of this project is that grandfathering the Angus Place mine is a transparent attempt to block social adaptation to climate change by locking in coal consumption.

I object to this proposal as per my attached submission