Cobbora Coal Mine

I strongly oppose the green light being given to the Cobbora coal mine going ahead. I am no expert and cannot quote facts and figures to support my opinion but I know wholeheartedly that I am sick to death of our precious natural world being sold off for the almighty dollar. We,I believe ,should act as custodians of this unique continent and the other creatures we share it with. At present all we can see are dollar signs .Our view of the world is a purely economic one. While I agree a comfortable standard of living is something to be aimed at for all I do not think that more than that should come at a mighty price to the environment. For this coal mine we will pay a mighty price in lost of habitat and species. Don't want it! May not make economic sense to you or the Chinese who will buy the coal but I would sacrifice my air conditioner (which by the way I do not have) for a good natural environment any day!!
Yours sincerely
Roslyn L.Poole

Hi Could you please do something about stopping the Cobbora mine proposal.

We need more green energy and we need to forget about digging more coal out of the ground to power our needs.

There is going to be nothing left of this planet for future generations if we keep taking everything out of the ground and sending it up into the atmosphere.

I have heard that this is a state-owned coal mine that will cost taxpayers more than $3 billion, destroy nearly two thousand hectares of wildlife habitat, and provide half-priced coal to our state's polluting power stations for more than 20 years.

If you put this $3 billion towards creating green power don't you think this would be smarter.

Please put a stop to this proposal.

Regards

Martin Stones

OBJECTION

I wish to oppose this proposal on several grounds, together making a strong case:-

1. It was first proposed by the Keneally Government as part of the electricity privatisation deal, and if ever correct, the figures for coal-fired power demands since then, have steeply declined, so are no longer applicable. Nor does the present Government generally aspire to be in line with the previous Labor Government.

2. The vast costs at taxpayer expense, with the currently stretched budget and so many other urgent needs, cannot be justified.

3. If actioned, close to 2,000 hectares of precious wildlife habitat would be destroyed, as well as woodlands, irreplaceable agricultural land and damage to scarce groundwater resources.

4. The desecration of Aboriginal cultural heritage sites, no longer tolerable to a majority of the community.

5. In current times, scientifically-backed & clearly observable evidence of threatening Climate Change, would surely make the supply of cheaper coal to our polluting power
stations into the future, insupportable.

I strongly oppose the creation of this mine. I think it is short sighted and short term goal oriented. It is not in the long term interests of the community or the environment and should not be allowed. Regards, Carrie Karlson.

To Whom It May Concern:



I object to the proposed Cobbora coal mine on all grounds.

Instead of investing $3,400,000,000 of public money into polluting industries why not use that money to put solar panels on rooftops across NSW. A million houses could have solar panels installed with that amount of money.

Yours truly

Geoff Brown

Greetings all

Burning fossil fuels are harmful to the global environment.

Recovering fossil fuels to sell to anyone is harmful and adds to global problems.

It is high time that this harmful process is given up and jobs are created for people to work without burning any more fossil fuels.

Costs will be different but continuing to burn fossil fuels is too harmful for too long for too many people.

There is no excuse for anybody to continue this harmful process.

Regards

John Swainston

I wish to submit an objection to the Cobbora Coal Mine.

The Cobbora coal mine, if built, will cost taxpayers more than $3 billion, destroy nearly two thousand hectares of wildlife habitat, and provide half-priced coal to our state's polluting power stations for more than 20 years.

The justification for the mine is based on incorrect projections of demand for coal-fired electricity over the next 10 years. Demand for coal-fired power has dropped significantly since this project was first proposed, as part of the Keneally government's electricity privatisation deal.

Im writing to you in OBJECTION to the building of Cobbora Coalmine

I absolutely object to the destruction of wildlife habitat and environmental impacts, including the destruction of more than 1,850 hectares of woodlands, loss of agricultural land, damage to groundwater resources and desecration of Aboriginal cultural heritage sites.

For the sake of my grandchildren & future generations.

Please don't go ahead of this proposal. I urge you to abandon this costly, polluting and destructive proposal.

Sincerely

Melissa Taylor

I wish to express my very strong objections to this incredibly ill- considered proposal. If our money were spent on sustainable energy solutions, of which there are a growing number, there would be no need to pollute our planet in this way. I object strongly to my tax being spent on any more coal-fired, mines. Rather spend it on research into
clean fuels, education, or health the life giving areas

I find it hard to understand how educated ministers - who must be aware of the extraordinarily far-reaching dangers of climate change - can even think up with such a destructive proposal.

Please, heed the voices of your tax payers and concerned citizens, and remember you are meant to be the servants of the people.

I strongly object to the proposal for this huge coal mine on the folowing grounds

1. Demand for centralised power has dropped since the scheme was first proposed.

2. Better proposals and aid to improve energy efficiency will reduce power requirements at less cost than more coal fired power stations.

3.Installation of smart meters will smooth power requirements and help remove peaks.

4. More funds to encourage local generation of power by wind and solar will further reduce requirements for centralised power.

5.The mine proposal will result in the destruction of some 2,000 hectares of valuable woodland with all its threatened species particularly birds.

Dear decision makers

I want to object in the strongest possible terms to the proposed Cobbora coal mine. My objections include the following factors:

1. It simply isn't necessary! The perceived need is based on an erroneous projection of future needs for coal-fired electricity in NSW. Demand has in fact fallen significantly since this project was first proposed.

2. It will cause enormous pollution and environmental damage and destruction.

3. I object to the use of taxpayers' money to provide subsidised coal and enable the providers of highly polluting power to make even higher profits. This is nothing but a rort!

4. The money that is proposed to be put into this project would give much better value to the people of NSW if it were channelled into the development and expansion of a range of clean energy technologies (wind, solar, geothermal, wave energy, etc - NOT nuclear, which is neither clean or safe).

I urge you to look forward to the technologies of the future, rather than continuing to support a process that is outdated, costly and highly polluting.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my submission.

Margaret Hilder
Retired teacher and smallholder
Little Hartley NSW

The NSW Premier: Barry O'Farrell &

The Planning Minister: Brad Hazzard... Objection!

As if the monetary cost of $3.4 Billion Dollars to taxpayers for a state owned coal mine, along with the two thousand hectares of wildlife habitat destroyed in the process were not enough, this mine will run at a loss to feed NSW coal-fired power generators...it gets worse.

It appears Mr. O'Farrell and you Mr. Hazzard are contemplating prolonging carbon pollution by impacting even further on one of our most beautiful central west areas with this Cobbora coal mine project.

The people of NSW, particular around Mudgee and Dubbo, are opposing this state owned mine that would restrict water availability by 3,700 million litres per year, threatening the wine, tourist, farming and food industries as well as the further impacting of more coal train movements.

Jobs are out of the equation Barry and Brad as we don't need jobs, generated from t coal fired power stations and since we don't need nuclear power stations either, we would appreciate an upgrade of the renewable energy industry, not the prolonging of coal fired power stations.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I welcome the opportunity to comment on the proposed expansion.

Cobbora Coal project is inappropriate investment of $3.4 billion of NSW taxpayers' money The project justification is based on outdated electricity demand and coal price projections The project will generate additional greenhouse gas emissions conflicting with State and Federal policy to reduce climate change impacts The project will disturb approx 47km2 of land with important high conservation and agricultural value The project will destroy 1,867ha of significant woodland providing habitat for 39 threatened species, including nationally listed endangered species
The project will destroy significant Aboriginal cultural heritage sites The project will compete with Mudgee wine and tourism industry for water supply during drought conditions

Yours sincerely,

Dear Sir/ Madam,

I object to the proposals for the new Cobbora coal mine being built. I am aware if built, will cost taxpayers more than $3 billion, destroy nearly two thousand hectares of wildlife habitat, as well the loss of agricultural land, damage to groundwater resources and desecration of Aboriginal cultural heritage sites. Also it will provide half-priced coal to our state's polluting power stations for more than 20 years.

With the world on the brink of runaway climate change, it is time to get serious. All governments and industry have a responsibility to step up and make big improvements. Another new coal mine would only thwart efforts in Carbon reductions in other sectors of society. We need a clean energy future for NSW, not an ill-conceived proposal which puts the narrow interests of coal-fired power generators above the interests of ordinary people and the environment.

Thankyou for the opportunity to comment on this proposal.

Yours Sincerely

Jason Uttley

Copies to:
Premier Barry O'Farrell
Planning Minister Brad Hazzard

Dear Sir,

I am writing to object to the Cobbera Coalmine (Ref No 10-0001), for the following reasons.

The Cobbara Coal project is an inappropriate investment of $3.4 billion of NSW taxpayers' money and
the justification for the project is based on incorrect projections of demand for coal-fired electricity over the next 10 years. Demand has dropped significantly since this project was proposed. At a time when it is critical for the nations of the world to reduce greatly their greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the catastrophic effects of climate change, the development of an additional coalmine is completely ludicrous.


The project will also destroy over 1,800 hectares of significant native woodland which provides habitat for up to 39 threatened species including some that are nationally listed under Commonwealth legislation. The project will also destroy significant Aboriginal cultural heritage sites which is anathema to efforts for reconciliation with Aboriginal people and an insult to the significance they place on their extraordinary heritage.

Coalmines use significant quantities of water which will have adverse effects on the Mudgee wine and tourism industry particularly during drought conditions.

I urge the NSW Government not to allow this coalmine to proceed and to work with the Federal Government in making alternative energy generation through wind, solar and the development of hydrogen as a fuel, major industries in this country.

Thank you for your time in considering this submission.

Yours sincerely

Les Mitchell
retired Government Environmental Officer

I don't understand why we are continuing to fund coal fired power stations. Why not put the 3 billion dollars towards clean energy! I find it hard to believe that our governments are completely ignoring the problems associated with global warming! When are we going to start doing something for the following generations? Surely our children and our grandchildren deserve nothing less from our generation!

Ref. No: 10-0001 OBJECTION TO THE COBBORA COAL MINE

This email confirms my strong objection to the NSW Government allowing the Cobbora Coal Mine to go ahead and also its subsidy to the Coal Mine owners.

NSW does NOT need one more coal mine. Any government subsidy should be directed to the production of renewable energy. This proposed mine will result in huge environmental damage.

Please abandon this proposed project.

Dear NSW Government,

Please don't approve this mine. Please invest our $3billion in part in green energy, and the remainder in controls and education to reduce consumption! If all machines were obliged to have a sensible off switch to cut standby power, most homes and businesses cut cut at least 30% of their consumption!

RE: 10-0001 Proposal for a Cobbora Coal Mine.

My family, my friends and my community are all deeply opposed this coal mine proposal. We are astounded that you would even suggested this type of option to meet our future energy needs when we have much safer and cleaner options such as wind, solar and biomass. Furthermore, the cheapest, most cost effective way to address energy needs is to simply reduce energy requirements through efficiency and this can be done quite simply through a mix of regulation and incentive / education. We need to completely stop digging coal out of the ground if we are to take our approach to climate change seriously. On behalf of my children and every other generation that will follow, I demand that you reject this proposal and divert the available funds into clean energy and efficiency and you start creating a future looking industry that will employ many thousands of people and significantly brighten our future.

Thank you

I am a resident of New South Wales and I'm most concerned about the environmental degradation instigated by your government.

I welcome the opportunity to comment on the proposed expansion of the Cobbora coal mine.

The Cobbora coal mine, if built, will result in serious environmental impacts, including the destruction of more than 1,850 hectares of woodlands, important wildlife habitat, loss of agricultural land, damage to groundwater resources and desecration of Aboriginal cultural heritage sites.
This proposed coal mine will provide heavily subsidised coal to six large coal fired power stations, locking in decades of carbon pollution, and delaying investment in clean, renewable energy.

Being a state owned coal mine it will cost taxpayers more than $3 billion surely this money could be better spent on Hospitals, Schools and community facilities.