Bengalla Coal Mine - Continuation

I totally support Bengalla mine expansion. More jobs to be created.This company is a great supporter of the community and we support it.

Mining is a critical contributor to NSW finances and this mine in particular supports the Muswellbrook community, providing employment and other support.

I have been working at Bengalla for 8 years and have found it to be a great place to work. Bengalla:
- Provides employment both directly/indirectly to hundreds/thousands of people and their families in the community, which in turn supports the local economy.
- Contributes to and supports the surrounding community through funding of infrastructure, community groups, charities, and education.
- Has a high level of stakeholder involvement/consultation.
- Values the environment and incorporated environmental impact into all aspects of its planning.
If Bengalla was not to continue this would have a negative effect on the community.

I am involved (or have been involved) in a number of community groups as a volunteer, eg Muswellbrook Amateur Athletics and the Muswellbrook & Upper Hunter Eisteddfod, and Bengalla has been a generous sponsor of both these groups.

Bengalla employs local people and works hard to make Muswelbrook a great environment to live in.

Bengalla is a generous sponsor of many different projects in Muswellbrook. The mine supports our little community and always has. They've integrated well into Muswellbrook generating income in the local economy in many different ways. We run a B and B in addition to other business interests in the town and over the last 10years most of our clients are contractors from Bengalla. Muswellbrook desperately needs this expansion to be approved, hopefully logic prevails during these difficult times in the coal industry.
Thank you
Fiona Hobden

Who it may Concern

I would like to support Bengalla's Expansion, mining in this area is vital for the community and employment, i believe Bengalla supports the community in all aspects and one core belief that Bengalla has is the employment and support for new Apprentices which is vital to young people leaving school and looking for carrers, so i believe the Goverment should support this 100 per cent as myself and family are very supportive for Bengalla to expand.

Kind Regards

R. Gutierrez

I support the Bengalla Continuation Project as I believe it would be the best for the local communities interests. As a member of the Muswellbrook community, I have seen the people that benefit from Bengalla in terms of employment directly (Bengalla employees and contractors ) and indirectly (other companies which offer services and goods to the mining community). In addition, I have seen Bengalla attempt to minimise all environmental impacts and work towards best practice for the benefit of the community and surrounding region. An example of this is the local Dairy right next door to the mine which operates with ease which proves that agriculture and mining can work together.

i support the continuation of the begalla mine because being employed through them helps me to proved for my family

My family and I fully support the extension of Bengalla and all ming in the Hunter Valley.

I would like to support Bengallas expansion, as this is necessery the the musswellbrook area

Bengalla has been a strong community member , supporting many local organisation since the start of mining in 1998. The organisation has worked hard to comply with all aspects of it's original mining consent, this can be seen every 2 years during the mine public open day when the doors are opened to public tours.

I believe into the future Bengalla Mining company will remain a strong member of the local comunity and will continue to support the local area where ever possible.

I'm a resident of Scone. I believe that mining in this area is very important as it directly effects the local economy in this area. My children have gone to local public schools and are now starting their respective careers. I want them to have the opportunity to work within the mining industry.
I have been involved in the Scone Football Club (soccer); I coached several teams over six years. Over that period of time I was able to secure approximately $10000 of sponsorship money from local companies who are directly involved with in the local mining industries. Without out this sort of financial support small sporting clubs will not be able to provide the kids with suitable equipment or facilities.
I fully support the continuation of the Bengalla mine.

To whom it may concern,

I fully support the proposed Bengalla Development Conscent.
The extension of Bengalla, I believe is crucial to the local community.
Bengalla not only supports it employees but also is a large supporter of local business, sporting groups, volentree associations and most important families.
It would be very sad and damaging to the community if this development did not go ahead.

Regards,
Anthony Keaton

Bengalla's submission is postive for the Muswellbrook and Hunter region. For the time I have lived in Muswellbrook the Bengalla operation seems to be very respective and responsible to the community and its surrounding area.
It would only make sense to continue it's operation with the relationship it has already built with the community.
Bengalla has been a enviromentally responsible neighbour to it's surrounding area.

I am a member of the Muswellbrook community and also work in the mining industry. I believe that the proposal put forward by Bengalla is very positive for the State of NSW the hunter valley and the town of Muswellbrook. The reasons that I think this are that Bengalla have proven over the time that they have currently mined this resource to be a trustworthy and reliable partner with the community , the company has very high environmental standards and has on many occasions shut down operations to ensure the impacts on the local community were kept to a minimum.The Bengalla Mining company is always looking for ways to reduce its environmental footprint and will continue to do so. Bengalla currently employs around 400 full time staff and contractors this has a significant impact on the local economy bringing support jobs into the area also but also injecting funds into local sporting and community groups throughout the shire, Bengalla also support local students with scholarships and apprenticeships and have a strong presence in the area around a number of significant community events.
Bengalla have shown throughout the time of their current lease that they are able to effectively and efficiently mine and work with the community to improve our town and valley while supporting local business and families.
I will continue to support this industry and its leading companies that show world class leading environmental and mining practices that get the most out of our resources . I strongly believe that this is the best Coal mine and company in the hunter valley and they have shown through their actions that they do what they say they will do and act in a way that ensures the community and business all prosper into the future.

I have been an employees of Bengalla coal mine for 19 years.Bengalla has proven to be responsible and valuable member of the community. Bengalla offered my family and I an opportunity to work and manage their dairy agricultural company 19 years ago where we enjoyed 10years of service on their dairies. The last 9 years I have been working for the mining company.Bengalla has given my family and I the opportunity to purchase a house in Muswellbrook.a good lifestyle,opportunities, seen the community grow ,benefit and prosper from Bengallas investments in the community through donations,sponsorships and partnerships in many areas including leading the way in environmental awareness, and sustainability.Bengalla cares about the community,its employees, their families and the environment.

I have been working at the Bengalla Coal Mine for about 5 years. Bengalla has provided my young family with security that not a lot of other industries can offer. It has allowed us to give our children a better education and a great environment to grow up in.
The Hunter Valley is a wonderful area, not only has it got diversity in having the Mining Industry and the horse industry, it provides a strong base where our kids can grow up knowing that there is a future in the valley.
To this, I hope that Bengalla can continue into the future so not only that I can provide for my family,but my kids can also provide for their family as well.

I am writing this submission in support of the Bengalla Mine Continuation Project which is currently on public exhibition. Bengalla Mine, operated by Rio Tinto, is by far the best operation I have worked at. This mine is the seventh operation I have worked and certainly sets its self apart from other coal mining operations.

The operation has a genuine commitment to community relations which is evident through the operational set up, supervisor performance objectives right through to community donations. Bengalla donates through the Coal and Allied community fund, but also independently donates hundreds of thousands of dollars to noteworthy causes in and around the Muswellbrook shire. The operation offers numerous scholarships to school children in the community, donates towards gym equipment at the PCYC, donates towards the shire show and the list goes on. The one thing that strikes me as different is Bengalla's commitment to community relations through the setup of the mining operation. Supervisors that run the crews are held accountable to ensure the operation is set up in an appropriate manner i.e. lighting plants are not directed at near neighbours or into the community, dust is contained etc. Bengalla will regularly park up equipment due to high winds where neighbouring operations continue with production at full steam. Unlike other mining operations that see community and environmental restrictions as a tick and flick exercise, Bengalla Mine truly partners with the community.

With the above being said, the operation is moving away from the local community of Muswellbrook, therefore the dust and sound impacts should decrease.

Bengalla employs approx. 400 people directly and approximately 100 full time contractors. These employees reside within the local communities and take an immense amount of pride in living and working in the upper hunter. Bengalla recruits from the local community being the upper hunter. Unlike other coal mines in the area, Bengalla is incredibly stringent on where they source their people and won't allow miners to travel up from Newcastle, Maitland etc. this creates job opportunities and flow on economic growth in its neighbouring communities. Bengalla partners with contracting companies that adopt the same recruitment strategies; what's more, they recruit a significant number of inexperienced operators, even when the market is saturated with skilled workers, to develop opportunities within the community. Through the proposed continuation project of an additional 21 years, Bengalla has committed to support four new apprentices each year, that's an opportunity for 84 local apprentices over the 21 years.

From a personal perspective, Bengalla is a great place to work. The operation's stable workforce demonstrate an enormous amount of pride in the site's success and the local community, which I believe can work effectively hand in hand.

I am Looking forward to see Bengalla continue to be a proud, responsible and important part of Muswellbrooks businesses. This company has shown since it's conception that it is able to operate in a manner way above the standard in environmental matters and has proven how serious the company is about being able to operate and still not adversely affect its neighbours.
Has always maintained it's initial model of being a safe operation interested in doing its business whilst providing community support.
Personally i beleive it would be a shame to not allow this company to continue it's operations into the future as the loss of employment, financial support to the community and contributions given by employees to education, social events, sporting groups and alike will be sorely missed.
Remember your decision affects everyone in our community in one way or another...

I am Looking forward to see Bengalla continue to be a proud, responsible and important part of Muswellbrooks businesses. This company has shown since it's conception that it is able to operate in a manner way above the standard in environmental matters and has proven how serious the company is about being able to operate and still not adversely affect its neighbours.
Has always maintained it's initial model of being a safe operation interested in doing its business whilst providing community support.
Personally i beleive it would be a shame to not allow this company to continue it's operations into the future as the loss of employment, financial support to the community and contributions given by employees to education, social events, sporting groups and alike will be sorely missed.
Remember your decision affects everyone in our community in one way or another...