Berrima Rail Upgrade Project

I support the Berrima Rail Project.

The line is needed to support the Hume Coal project, which will bring much needed jobs to the southern highlands and will have a minimal environmental impact.

The Berrima Rail Project is in keeping with the Hume Coal mine design principles in that it aims to have a minimal social and environmental impacts. By spending the large amount of money need to use covered coal wagons, the company has committed to eliminating the impacts of dust from coal trains. More companies should take up this option to limit their impacts (not just coal mines)...

Also, railing out the coal is the most logical choice for transporting coal from the Hume Coal Mine. It is the most efficient and safest way to do it. Rail is much more energy efficient than using trucks on public roads.

I support this project along with the mine proposal.

*jobs-something this place seriously needs
*Money-for businesses and locals
*Skills- training and apprenticeships

Having the new tracks connect to the existing rail line won't effect anything

Comments as per the Hume Coal Project submission.

We are a family owned farming business, located in the Southern Highlands near Crookwell NSW.

We support the Berrima Rail Project as it is needed to ensure the success of the Hume Coal Mine.

As primary producers, we understand people's concerns regarding the project but we have seen how mining can coexisting with agriculture in other areas. We also have seen Hume Coal's plans for a low impact, no subsidence operation and believe that this is a great approach. The work the company has already undertaken on their land is a good demonstration of the company's commitment to being a good neighbour and land manager.

A lot of the media surrounding the project states that farmers are opposed to the project. This is false. We find that most of the people opposed to the project that claim to be farmers have actually `retired' to hobby farms and do not represent those of us who rely on farming for our livelihood.

Ourselves and other producers in our area are keen to see an additional industry that will help bring new jobs into the area for our kids and grandkids and which will help encourage increased services for all industries in the highlands.

I support the Hume Coal Project.

This is a very worthwhile project and essential in the development of the Hume Coal mine.

It should not be stopped by noisy but unthinking NIMBY (Many of which do not even live in the local area) protesters who simply believe that coal and infrastructure development in any form is evil.

The coal mine and the associated Berrima rail project is fully economically and environmentally sustainable.
It is important in the development of Australia's and the States national resources and will have a very positive economic impact on the local region.
The design and technology employed needs to be supported to show just how well an underground mine and supporting infrastructure can built employing the latest technologies.
Ultimately the objections raised are emotionally based and not the subject of rational thinking.
It must go ahead.

Hi
I think the Berrima rail project would be a good thing for the local community it would be taking trucks off the road which is a win for everybody using local roads. It will also have a flow on effect creating more work and job opportunities not to mention the upgrade of the lines which will be a benefit as well. Overall a positive fir the local community.
Thanks.

To enable transport of coal by rail rather than trucks, far safer and better for the environment and for roads and motorists.
Will allow grade-separated access into the Boral works, eliminating the need for Council to spend millions in ratepayers money on diversion of the Berrima Road (it eliminates the level crossing).
Improves utilisation of public rail assets such as railway lines, which are signi cantly underused at present.
The Rail Project is required for the success of the Hume Coal Project and its ability to progress.

I believe the rail way will not create a hindrance to the local community and is needed for home coal to create the jobs our community needs.

I have been a POSCO employee for last 6 years but prior to that managed underground coal mines in most coal mining regions of NSW and short time in Queensland. I know the Hume project well as I had worked for previous owners Austen and Butta in late 1970's through 1980's and also with Shell Coal in the 1990's. I also worked for 7 weeks as relief Mine Manager at the nearby Berrima Mine. I worked in Techncial and operational roles in underground coal mine from 1968 through to around 1991 in the Illawarra coalfields as well as Lithgow and Hunter Valley and Qld up until around 2010. I also started life on a diary farm and therefore apreciate and understand the concern of people that rely on the land for a livelihood. I therefore think that I am qualified to make comments and recommendations on the Hume project. I have worked at Mine in the Illawarra region doing first workings and longwalls under or in close proximity to major dams of Cordeau, Cataract, Avon and Nepean Dams with no impacts. I worked at the following Mines in the Sydney Cathment area - Yellow Rock, Avon, Wongawilli, Nebo, Dendrobium, Kemira, Corrimal, Old Bulli, South Clifton, Westcliff, Berrima, Tahmoor and Metropolitan as well as Invincible and Baal Bobe in the Lithgow area as well as Mandalong, Dartbrook and Ravensworth in the Hunter Valley. These mines were either Pillar extraction or longwall at various working depths with minimal impacts on groundwater. The method proposed by Hume is only partial extraction which prevents strata failure which induces fracture in overlying strata and provides some flow paths for minimal strata water. The only ground water I would expect at Hume would be from the Wongawilli coal seam which has relatively high insitu water levels and minimal water from overlying strata which has much lower permeabilities.
I understand the Southern Highlands area has very high unemployment rates when the retired people are excluded to show people actively seeking employment and a project of this sort is extremely welcomed by these people as the only alternative is to seek employment outside the area. The benefits of this project for local employement and for local businesses, far outweights the minimal impact of minority groups who are either retired and cocerned about impacts on their own land values or anti mining activists that live outside the area.
It is critical that this project is view from a scientific and for regional benefit perspective rather than for retired wealthy weekend farmers or anti-mining activists who reside outside the area. Comments by all contributers must be assessed on this basis and decisions must be made on this basis and not for political or populist reasons.

This project will exceed any expectations placed on it by the community

NEED RAIL FOR JOBS LESS POLLUTION AND ROAD PROBLEMS

I support the Berrima Rail Project, this project is a key driver in Hume Coal's success to obtaining an approval. Berrima Rail Project enables the transport of coal by rail to customers, the other option explored was the utilisation of road transport but due to studies conducted it was seen that road transport was not an economically viable option for the Hume Coal Project and was ruled out immediately.
Berrima Rail Project will maintain the usage for existing users by the upgrading of and extension to the existing rail infrastructure of the branch line. This project will improve operational functionality for all users.
The Berrima Rail Project also has social and economic value by creating employment of 40 positions at peak construction and approximately 16 positions throughout the operations (Train drivers, maintenance workers etc.). The economic value of this project is an essential component of enabling the economic benefits of the Hume Coal Project to be realised.
Ultimately this project needs to be approved to allow for the coal produced (Hume Coal Project (mine)) to be transported to its customers, the project takes into account environmental, economic and social considerations.

A careful & detailed analysis based on fact, not fiction.

I object to the proposed Berrima rail Project in connection with the proposed Hume Coal mine.

I live in Glenquarry about 2 km from the railway line as it passes the Sheepwash Road level crossing. I can hear the trains for about 5 minutes as they approach, blow their whistle and depart the crossing. The area is one of particular rural beauty and generally is very peaceful apart from the trains. I do not want to listen to this happening another 8 times a day. The noise of the trains is not restricted to being along the line, it carries great distances and disturbs a huge number of people. This further imposition should not be forced upon those who have chosen to live in this peaceful part of the world.

The increased number of trains will cause further delays at the many level crossings in the district which could seriously hamper the ability of emergency services to respond to crises.

The major works that will be required around the beautiful town of Berrima will be ludicrously expensive and will impact greatly on the visual amenity of this lovely area.

This project will bring more jobs to the local area both short and long term, also reducing conjestion of local roads

My name is Jack Bain and I am writing to express my support for the Proposed Hume Coal Project in the Southern Highlands.

I am 23 years old and have lived in Robertson my whole life. I attended school locally, play sport locally, shop locally and hope to continue to have job prospects locally.
Upon leaving school I knew that I wanted to gain an apprenticeship as a Fitter and Turner. With very limited job opportunities in the Southern Highlands, I was very fortunate to get an apprenticeship with a company operating in the southern coalfields of NSW.

I am the son of a coal miner and have watched my father struggle for full time work since the closure of Berrima Colliery. Having travelled to Mudgee and Queensland for contract work, he is now working locally on a casual basis.
I am still employed in the southern coalfields of NSW and know that I am one of a small minority of coal miners who can live and work locally. I know that if the Hume Coal Project is approved many more local coal miners will be afforded the same opportunity to live and work in the Southern Highlands. For many this will have a life changing impact.

However, it is my belief that many more people in the community will benefit from the Hume Coal Project. For many it will mean the opportunity to gain employment with secure work, world class training and great pay. It will mean growth in local communities, support for small business, support for junior sports, and for school leavers such as my self just a few years ago, it will mean the chance to build a career in a fantastic industry.

If the Hume Coal Project is rejected and Tahmoor Colliery closes in the near future as announced by Glencore, it will mean many more local coal miners will be forced to look further afield for work. This will mean a great loss of skilled trades and operators.

Please consider those in the community such as myself when deliberating over the Proposed Hume Coal Project.

I would like to express my support for the Berrima Rail project as an integral infrastructure component of the Hume Coal Project. It is clearly preferable for the coal from the mine to be sent by train rather than truck. I also approve of the utilisation of a public asset that is currently working at less than capacity.

The importance of coal to NSW's economy is not widely appreciated by the broader community. If we want better schools and hospitals then supporting the development of minimal impact operations such as the Hume Project and Berrima Rail is necessary.

I am also mindful of the considerable sum that the operator has invested in the proposed development and think it is important to show overseas investors that the state is not 'anti-development'. There needs to be a reward for effort, and a potential upside to taking that developmental risk.
There is nothing in the Berrima Rail (or Hume Project) proposal that I would consider worthy of stopping such a project.

I urge the NSW State Government to approve the development.

I strongly support this project.

The Berrima Rail project is an extension to a rail line currently operating, a line that is serving a number of well known businesses in the area.

This project will prevent the use of trucks on roads and will include covered wagons (an industry first) reducing the risk of dispersing coal dust.