Cobbora Coal Mine

Objection to Cobbora Coal Project
Application No: 10_0001

I wish to comment on this proposal on the basis of the social impacts that are already being felt in this region, and which have not been adequately assessed.

· I live in Gulgong, an historic 19th century town with narrow one-way streets that is being stretched beyond its limits with 21st century mining traffic. We are a tourist-orientated town that is in great danger of losing its character because of this.
· Massive disruption of the rental and housing market has occurred. It was reported recently that nationwide, the Mudgee region was second only to Mackay (Qld) in the percentage increase of cost of housing in the previous twelve months.
· There has been a complete distortion of the workforce with mining taking employment from other industries, especially agriculture.
· The costs of major infrastructure upgrades to railways and roads to meet the needs of the coal industry is enormous, and is at the expense of hospitals, our health and our education budgets. This is a huge social cost now and for the future.
· Increased coal traffic from trains and trucks will lead to health problems in the affected communities from extra noise and dust.
· Health services such as medical and dental services have not kept up with the increase of population.
· The use of 3.7 gigalitres of water by the Cobborah Mine will see the complete destruction in the next drought of the wine and tourist industries in our region. This is simply not on! The mine needs this amount of water as the coal has so much ash. Low grade coal needing this amount of water should stay in the ground.
· There is no thought given to the required doubling of the available water for the Mudgee region as a result of this mine.

I really think this mine should not go ahead at all.

Yours sincerely,

I wish to strongly object to the development of the Cobbora Coal Project.

At a time where the federal government and most of our population are in favour of renewable energy this project is totally out of keeping with development of energy resources both in Australia and across the world.

* We do not want a coal mine that goes against climate change impact policies of state and federal governments.

* We do not want a coal mine developed that has to be subsidised by taxes from the people.

* We do not want a coal mine producing "dirty" coal that produces excessive amounts of CO2.

* We do not want a coal mine that will add to the disruption of farming and lifestyle of the Gulgong and Mudgee areas.

* We do not want a coal mine that will destroy over a thousand Ha of woodlands when farmers are fined for clearing more than ten trees per year.

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY -

* We do not want a coal mine which is so far from a good source of water and which could threaten water supply to the Mudgee and Gulgong districts.

LETS STOP IT BEFORE IT GOES ANY FURTHER !

Submission re Cobbora Coal Project, Application no: 10_0001


This project is going to generate yet more greenhouse gases at a time when progress is being made on the renewables front. Taxpayers' money (approx. $3.4 billion this case) definitely should not be invested here, and preferably should be going into research on renewable energy sources.

The huge increase in greenhouse gas output goes against State and Commonwealth policies, and against informed community opinion.

It will destroy or damage around eighteen hundred hectares providing habitat for threatened species ( 39 in number). It will impact on 47 square kilometres of good agricultural land, and land with high conservation value.

The project will further threaten an area around Mudgee which is at present hosting sustainable wine and tourism industries.

The high water usage involved will threaten water security in the whole region, at a time of increased drought in future, with plans to source water from the Cudgegong River.

These are the main reasons for my objections, as well as the predicted losses, and the fact that this will subsidise power generators in the state at the expense of the environment, food security, sustainable industries and water supplies.


Caroline Graham

(Rivers SOS Committee member)

As an annual tourist to Australia, I object to this development.

Dear Sir/Madam

Re: Objection to Cobbora Coal Project
Application No. 10_0001

I would like to strongly oppose the Cobbora Coal Mine Proposal on economic grounds. The government owned mines were sold off about 20-30 years ago because the cost of extraction was about three times that of privately owned mines. Repeating that experiment and expecting another fiscal outcome is not the definition of good science or even common sense.

My objections on environmental grounds are that the poor quality of the coal, containing about 40% ash, needs so much water that the security of Mudgee township and the wine industry is endangered. The idea of buying licences other than above the mine, is just loony. Water doesn't run uphill.

The proposal to mine 20 million mtpa for a small usuable amount of 12 megatonnes per annum over 21 years is a big hole in the ground that will cost the district dearly in environmental, social and economic destruction and stress.

The cost of electricity is more influenced by the gold plating of poles and wires than the feedstock to black coal generators. Coal powered generation is a sunset industry where the contribution will fall steadily as it must, because of the pollution and climate changing implication of burning dirty black coal in power stations.

Indonesia spends 40% of their budget to subsidise the petrol industry. While this seemed like a good idea at the time it is now ruining the economic prospects of the nation. New South Wales must not follow their example by subsidising coal powered electricity generation.

Yours sincerely



Jorgen Andersen

Submission opposing Cobbora Coal Mine
This submission contains nothing confidential.
12-11-2012
stephen.o'[email protected]
Major Planning Assessments
Department of Planning and Infrastructure
GPO Box 39
Sydney 2001

Dear Sir/Madam,
I am opposed to the construction of the Cobbora coal mine, as it perpetuates the public subsidy of coal fired electricity. The price of coal fired power should not be artificially held down, as this would inhibit investments in the new energy sources that will take its place. The NSW government claims to be economic rationalists, so why institute a new subsidy that costs everyone dearly in the long run. There are many more jobs per megawatt in wind farms than in coal fired power, and the production price is heading closer towards parity.
The mine will cost the NSW taxpayer approx $3.4 billion and will be run at a loss. It is a direct subsidy to power generators in NSW. The argument for continued coal-fired electricity in comparison to the long-term benefits of renewable energy sources has not been made. Taxpayer's money would be better invested in schools and hospitals.

Dr Ben Ewald B. med, PhD

Stephen O'Donoghue
Major Projects NSW

Dear Sir,

Ref. No: 10-0001 - Cobbora Coal Mine

I wish to register my strong objection to this proposal to build a coal mine. It is absolutely distressing and frustrating to know that such degrading energy sources are still being considered by our leaders in this time of advancing climate change.

I am also devastated to think of all the damage this will cause to the local wildlife, innocent animals, some who are already being pushed to the point of extinction. We can and must find better ways to supply humans with energy sources.

Thank you for your consideration of my very real and strong concerns.

Sincerely yours,

--
Patty Mark

Dear Sir,

I wish to notify of my objection to the proposed Cobbora coal mine, central west NSW. It is for the following reasons you should not back this project;



1. Cobbora Coal project is inappropriate investment of $3.4b of NSW taxpayers money

2. The project justification is based on outdated electricity demand and coal price projections

3. The project will generate additional greenhouse gas emissions conflicting with State and Federal policy to reduce climate change impacts

4. The project will disturb approx 47km2 of land with important high conservation and agricultural value

5. The project will destroy 1,867ha of significant woodland providing habitat for 39 threatened species, including nationally listed endangered species

6. The project will destroy significant Aboriginal cultural heritage sites

7. The project will compete with the Mudgee wine and tourism industry for water supply during drought conditions



Meg Bray

104 Wallaringa Rd, WALLAROBBA 2420.

There are many reasons to object to the Cobbora Coal Project.

For me the predominant one is that global warming is now producing climate mayhem. It is not just Hurricane Sandy. The giant reinsurer Munich Re has tracked extreme weather events statistics for their own business purposes since the 1970s.



The challenge for New South Wales, Australia, and the planet as a whole is to reduce carbon emissions as fast as possible. If not, events such as the QLD floods and the Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria will become so common that life will become virtually unbearable for present and future generations.



I would expect a Liberal government to be especially astute about business. Yet I understand that the mine will run at a loss. Hmm.



Andrew Gaines

5Eunoe Street

Katoomba, NSW 2780

(02) 4782 2116

[email protected]

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.



This is just terrible. 2,000 hectares of wildlife habitat to be destroyed - please have some thought for our unique wildlife. Once it's gone, it's gone. We are doing terrible things just about everywhere to our national emblems, the kangaroos, and we are sure that no coal mine can be justified with the destruction of such a large area.



Peter & Bunty Jackson,

5 Kelvin Street,

Penguin, Tas. 7316.

Dear Mr. O'donoghue,

I am writing to express my strong opposition to proposal Ref. no. 10 - 0001 to build the Cobbora coal mine.

Far from boosting the economy, construction of this mine will rob $3 billion from taxpayers (taxation without representation) in order to provide cheap subsidized coal to power stations in a climate where demand for this form of energy is dropping dramatically. Demand has been decreasing since privatisation under the Keneally government and will continue to decrease in proportion to rising public awareness of the pollution and ravaging of the environment it causes.

More and more people are demanding clean, sustainable, renewable energy. Investment in alternative sources of energy (solar, wind, etc.) would place Australia firmly at the forefront of the global economy, rather than shaming this country for its greed and short sightedness in exhausting its precious, non renewable resources.

To go ahead with construction of Cobbora will rob our grandchildren of the kind of Australia they deserve - the one that we still remember, and can preserve if the right policies are pursued. Who will explain to them why the objections of their elders were ignored?

Even more importantly, who will explain to them how democratic process (mocked and suppressed) and environmental preservation (under threat of drastic de-funding) work in this country?

Finally, who will explain why big company profits are perennially placed ahead of the needs and desires of average Australian citizens?

Sincerely yours,

Wendy Ford
20 Sheridan Drive
Goonellabah, NSW 2480
[email protected]

Dear Planning officers and Ministerial staff,



I object to the proposed Cobbora coal mine.



New South Wales should be planning to reduce steaming coal production and use as quickly as possible, and to ensure that both public and private energy investments are focussed on development of renewable sources. This proposal is bad for the New South Wales economy because it heads us further in the wrong direction at great expense.



The environmental impacts of the proposed development are quite unacceptable. They cannot be truly offset. I have been involved in assessing coal mines in past decades and learnt then that the impacts of mines vary. While some impacts of some mines are acceptable, others are not. This mine would have many serious impacts that I consider unacceptable, such as the destruction of extensive woodland areas that are known to provide habitat for many threatened and declining species, and the impacts on water resources. High security water should not be used for coal mining. There are alternative ways to meet real energy needs that have less environmental impacts (as well as reducing demand by encouraging efficiency improvements).

To Whom It May Concern

Medical services in their current state are inadequate to support the proposed Cobbora Mine plans.

Recruiting and retaining medical and nursing staff is challenging and would require a strategic, creative and personal approach to be successful.

As a local resident, experienced GP, VMO and emergency medico I am keen to be involved in planning for the expanding medical needs.

Currently however the proposal has not adequately addressed these needs and provides incorrect information with regard to current medical services.

Yours

Dr Sara Fergusson
Swan Surgery
PO Box 125
Dunedoo
NSW 2844

Dear Sir/Madam,

I wish to comment on the Air Quality Assessment within the Environmental Assessment.

The Director General's Requirements for Air Quality are wide and comprehensive. They include a quantitive assessment on the effects of mining activity on Air Quality. This requires real-time air quality monitoring and predictive Meteorological Modelling.
The data collected for much of this modelling and assessment came from two meteorological monitoring sites with in the project area in the period November 2010 to november 2011. One of these stations (MET 02) delivered incomplete data and did not complete approved methods for modelling. Prevailing winds have a huge bearing on air quality and dust deposition. Wind rose comparisons have been drawn from information collected between August 23rd 2011 and 3rd November 2011. This is very narrow period and givens a false impression of wind direction and wind strengths.
Many of the models that are presented rely on this information to draw conclusions relative to air quality and winds regime. (Appendix M) Weather conditions for the monitoring period November 2010 to november 2011 were farm from normal for this region.
Record rainfall and cool condition associated with an El Nino event across Eastern Australia were very unseasonal and far from normal or average. i believe this will give rise to false and misleading information, thus causing air pollution over a greater area than what is stated in the Environmental Assessment. South Westerly winds can dominated this area for weeks at a time, especially in the summer months.
I have lived and worked in this area for over 35 years as a farmer and I am conscious of the surrounding environment and prevailing weather conditions.
Other abnormalities in this assessment are:
* using data collected at Tamworth and Bathurst. These cities are in different climatic zones.
* section M figure 20 comparisons between Bathurst and Cobbora. This graph is presented in a manner that hides some data.
* section M 5.3.3 . There is currently no monitoring of Total Suspended Particles in the project area. How can a comparison be drawn if there is no base data.
It would be best practise management to know the level of pollutant before the commencement of the project, given that in year 3 diesel fuel consumption is estimated at 54,200,000 litres and explosive use at 16,700 tonnes.
Colin Dorman.

We should not be opening any coal mines at all. All fossil fuel production must be stopped immediately. The atmosphere cannot take any more Carbon Dioxide.
We are already feeling the effects of too much CO2 in the atmosphere with all the extreme weather we are experiencing in the world. It is completely irresponsible for the NSW State Government to be opening more coal mines which is against the wishes and safety of the people. I feel completely let down by the political party in NSW. I will hold you responsible for the death and destruction this will cause.

Interference within 20 kms of natural watercourses either above or below ground is a disaster wating to happen and threatens the environment in relation to water and wildlife.
Development and population growth need to be carefully planned in Australia to safeguard the productivity, livablility and heatlth of the country. Not to mention to protect the health of the citizens in relation to air quality, water quality and spiritual equalibrium.

The mine has a very large ecological footprint, large water demand and will have major social impacts. All this is happening with NSW taxpayers money. I understand this as incredibly bad for the future generations. You are a community leader a community elder. Our children and many adults are waiting to see good decisions made when it comes to the future of native habitat survival and a sustainable social financial economy. In years gone by our elders would make sacrifices to the rivers, mountains and forests, now they are willing to sacrifice those very things we once held precious.

Opening new coal mines is a dead end.

A right-minded government that is not addicted to money and power would not even think of permitting the mining of coal.

Every bit of coal mined can be used to put carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and make it even more difficult for our children to cope with global warming and climate change.

Anyone in government who does not believe that the cutting down of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere is a matter of critical urgency should do a short course in systems analysis, with special attention to the instability of systems that contain positive feedback loops.

The world climate is unstable.

Shortage of coal will give incentive to the task of finding alternatives to fossil fuels. Pressure to phase out fossil fuels is a matter of urgency. Drastic reduction of carbon emissions will mitigate to a slight extent the tragedy that our children will face.

I have owned my rural block for a bit over 10 years now. The central tableland area is rolling green fields and forested hills. Unfortunately in the past few years there seems to be so much expansion of coal mining activity. One hill is currently being stripped for coal. This mindless destruction is altering central tableland in every aspect farmland, bush, wildlife, rivers, creeks etc. The short term gain in mining is not worth the destruction of the area. Coal mining also contributes to climate change which will unfortunately accelerate the impact in a stressed area caused by mining already. I am against further open mining in greater Central Tableland area.

I object to the Preferred Project Report (PPR). This mine is a crazy loss-making venture that will cost NSW tax-payers over $3 billion to supply discounted coal to electricity generators, while also using huge amounts of water and destroying nearly 2000 hectares of natural habitat. My key concerns about the PPR are

- The economic assessment does not justify the cost of the project to taxpayers, nor respond to concerns about this issue raised in many submissions to the project, including mine.
- The PPR will further increase the area of woodland to be destroyed by the mine by 92 hectares, including an additional 11 hectares of threatened ecollogical community. This is a terrible outcome.
- The PPR involves extracting an additional 660 megalitres of water but does not justify this increase, in an area where water is already scarce.

Overall the direct environmental impact of this PPR are unacceptably high. That is before considering the indirect impact of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with mining, transporting and burning the coal. The government of NSW should be seeking to protect its citizens from climate change to the extent possible: unfortunately subsidizing coal-fired electricity does the opposite, by promoting creation of greenhouse gasses.

I also believe that the Cobbora coal mine is based on inaccurate predictions of future energy demand. Energy demand across Australia is shrinking and will continue to shrink as households increase their energy efficiency and install solar panels. Demand has fallen significantly since this project was proposed. Coal prices have also fallen.

Please do the taxpayers of New South Wales a Cavour and pull the plug on this wasteful and unnecessary proposal!