Cobbora Coal Mine

This proposal will do long term damage to the local ecosystem, the local community, the ecosystems and communities that the coal travels through and where it is used. It will contribute significantly to global warming when other methods of renewable energy generation will not.
The assessment of the need for this mine was made prior to significant changes in supply and value and before the damage it will cause at every step of its extraction through to its use was fully realised. It is no longer a viable option.

1. The ecological footprint of the mine is too high and cannot be adequately offset. The PPR does not identify a final offset package because this is not achievable.
2.. The economic assessment of the project and response to submissions has not adequately addressed the cost of a state-owned coal mine to the taxpayers of NSW.
3. The PPR does not justify the increase in water demand for mining operations from the previous prediction of 3,700 ML per year up to 4,340 ML per year.
4. The increased pump rate from the Cudgegong River and access to higher natural flows has not been adequately assessed.
5. The project cannot guarantee a `reliable, secure and economically stable domestic coal supply (to) NSW generators' nor can it guarantee `affordable electricity in NSW.'
6. The issue of train length on the Ulan line has not been addressed as identified in the ARTC 2012 - 2020 Rail Corridor Capacity Strategy
7. The proposal to implement the draft `Rail Infrastructure Noise Policy' will disadvantage local residents affected by increased noise from the proposed rail loop.
8. The increased height of over burden emplacements by 20m will increase dust emissions. The air quality model needs to be redone using all available meteorological information
.9.The PPR will increase the area of destroyed woodland by 92 ha including an additional 11 ha of threatened ecological communities.
10. The justification for the mine is based on contracts negotiated by the ALP Govt as part of the Gentrader deal. These could be filled through other arrangements.

We shouldn't be doing anything that could result in putting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. That includes fracking, which also has other unproven long-term environmental effects.

We should be pulling out all stops to encourage sources of energy that do not put carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. If we don't, then our descendants will wonder what happened to their basic rights to clean air and a half decent climate.

It is too late to avoid catastrophic climate change but anything we do now will mitigate to a slight extent the plight of our children and grandchildren. The idea that climate change cannot occur suddenly has been refuted by ice-core measurements. (See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfkLHxQe-SU).

The proposed Cobbora coal mine will cost taxpayers over 3 billion dollars, destroy nearly two thousand hectares of wildlife habitat, and provide cheap coal to our state's coal-fired power stations which are already increasing NSW's greenhouse gas emissons. This is planned to continue 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.

This taxpayers money should instead be directed to solar or wind generated energy projects which would create more jobs and less greenhouse gas emissions.

Dear Mr O'Donaghue,

Removing twenty-nine million (29 000 000) Tonnes of fossilised carbon from the proposed Cobbora coal mine will condemn our & many other spcies, including you to an early death due to global warming. This proposal must be rejected on this basis.

Cobbora mine objection

NSW should invest in renewable energy, not coal.

Cobbora coal mine is being subsidised by the state- it is not economically viable.
Investment in renewable projects would cost less and have less environmental impact.
Many wind energy projects are now awaiting approval by the NSW government. The federal Clean Energy Finance Corporation has $5 billion available for investment in renewable energy projects.

This coal mine will greatly increase NSW's carbon output for many years to come.

The use of water from the Cudgegong River will threaten water security of the region.

Large areas of woodland habitat will be cleared threatening the survival of endangered plants and animals.

Tourism, the wine industry and food production in the region will all be adversely affected.

Objection to Cobbora Coal Project Application 10-001
I live in the Mid Western Regional Council boundary and have some serious concerns re this project, some of my concerns are as below
1... NSW residents are not guaranteed to affordable electricity prices through this project
2...Prediction of water demand has increased to 4340 megalitres per year
3...This mine will be a cost to NSW taxpayers and has not been adequately investigated
4... Amt of land cleared increased, affecting fauna and flora

Dear Premier and Minister

I strongly object to the proposed Cobbora Coal Mine. If built it will result in serious environmental impacts including destruction of more than 1850 hectares of woodlands, loss of agricultural land, damage to groundwater resources and have a detrimental effect on fauna and flora.

Please abandon this costly, polluting and destructive proposal.

Yours faithfully

Please do not build the Cobbora coal mine

We have to work out a different way of living because it is not rational to burn so much coal. Coal is very polluting of the environment and of the earth's climate.

Make the shift to reducing electricity use.

Demand for coal fired electricity is falling.

Do not destroy habitat for wildlife.

Spend the money on renewable energy and conservation projects to reduce wastage of electricity.

Yours sincerely

Alison Lyssa
3/125 Old South Head Road
Bondi Junction NSW 2022
Ph: 02 9389 2084
Email: [email protected]

To Whom it may concern,

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.

Climate change is happening NOW. We have a responsibility to future generations to wind down our dependance on coal. Clean technology has shown us the way to a sustainable future. We need the Earth. The Earth does not need us. Please see sense and refuse


this destructive development.


Yours Sincerely,


David Hilton


10 Hocking Ave,
Earlwood. 2206.

I am writing to register my strong objection to the proposed Coborra Coal Project.

The environmental damage to build this mine is unjustifiable.

The cultural damage from the destruction of 79 Aboriginal Cultural sites is unjustifiable.

The amount of water required is unjustifiable.

The continuation of coal-fired power stations in this era of

Climate Change is not only unjustifiable but criminally irresponsible.

The extreme weather events across Australia are enough to make it patently obvious that we cannot ignore the fact that CLIMATE CHANGE IS HERE NOW.

Therefore the government would be wise and responsible to spend the $3.4 billion proposed for the Cobarra Coal Project on developing sustainable, renewable energy production.


Thank you for considering my objections to this project.



Yours faithfully,



Linda Wilson

Re- The Cobbora Coal Project

It is with ongoing concern that I acknowledge that our governments continue to invest in coal projects that are detrimental to the environment in so many ways.

They:

*Provide a form of unclean energy

*Ravage the local terrain

*Affect groundwater

*Remove ecological habitat from flora & fauna

*Impact on the quality of life on the people in the immediate vicinity

The money poured into such developments as the Cobbora Coal Project could be better spent on investing in renewable energy.

I hope that the above concerns, which echo those of many taxpayers, will be sufficiently persuasive to encourage the NSW Government to shelve the project.


Yours sincerely,

Carol Young


BSc.GradDipAppSci(Micro), Dip Teaching

MASM, MAIFST.

Dear Sir/ Madam,

I write as a concerned citizen of NSW. I welcome the opportunity to comment on the proposed project of the Cobbora Coal Mine in central west NSW.

You will be receiving many letters of objection, with many details as to why this project should not proceed. I shall not rehearse all those details again.



I just want to say that I am horrified to think of nearly two thousand hectares of wildlife habitat being destroyed in order to build a mine which will provide coal for more than 20 years. It is time and more than time to be winding down the coal industry. We know that coal is a highly polluting substance, and sends tons of greenhouse gases into our already struggling global atmosphere. The money invested into this project would be far better spent, I believe, if it were invested in naturally renewable energy sources.



In short, I object to this proposal going ahead, now and always.

Yours Sincerely



Sr Marian McClelland sss

The plans to develop Cobbora coal mine in the state's Central West will be responsible for pumping over 29 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere each year and will squander valuable opportunities to develop the renewable energy sector.

It is time to consider the far reaching consequences rather than short or immediate gains - and it is time to invest in renewable energy.

I wish to express my strong objection to this proposed development, because it will seriously damage nearly 2000 hectares of agricultural land, woodland, wildlife habitat and groundwater resources, at the cost of about $3 billion of taxpayer's money, to provide cheap coal for power stations whose operation pollutes, and whose activity levels are already falling below projections.

I would prefer to see that money spent directly and justifiably on improving the State's ailing health services, rather than increasing the coal miners' profits while further ruining our State's environment,

Yours Faithfully,

I write to object to the proposal for Cobbora Coal Project. This mine, if built, will cost taxpayers more than $3billion. As well as destroying nearly two thousand hectares of wildlife habitat it will provide half-priced coal to our state's polluting power stations, ensuring they continue to pollute for more than 20 years.



The rational for the mine is based on questionable projections of demand for coal-fired electricity over the next 10 years. Demand for coal-fired power has fallen considerably since this project was first put forward as part of the previous government's electricity privatisation deal.


There is no need for the Cobbora Coal Project - it offers no benefits, but will be expensive and destructive. Please reconsider with the costs in mind.

Dear Dept of Planning and Infrastructure

I question the value of investing in a new coal mine at Cobbora. It would make better sense, both economically as well as environmentally, to invest in renewable energies like solar and wind. $3b is a lot of money, and coal is the fuel of the last millennium.

Regards

Michael Burton
Spencer, NSW 2775

Dear Sirs

I wish to voice my strong objection to the proposed Cobbora Coal mine. This is a complete waste of taxpayers' money which should otherwise be spent in developing renewable sources of energy for the State of NSW. It is time for governments to halt the expension of polluting industries which are exacerbating the effects of climate change. We will have more extreme weather conditions in the future if greenhouse gases are not lessened and this State (and your government) should be taking the lead on this matter.
I assume you all have children/grandchildren. The legacy this generation leaves them should be as clean an environment as possible. This is our responsibility. I have one vote. You have the power to make wise decisions.

Yours sincerely.
Fay Briggs
Concerned citizen

Dear Sir,


I wish to register my strong opposition to the construction of this coal mine.


There are so many reasons why it should NOT be built, but for me the prime one is that you are proposing to spend Three Billion dollars (and no doubt the cost will go up dramatically should it ever be built) of tax payers money, on a scheme that can cause untold harm not only to Australians, but to the atmosphere of the world.


Coal is such a polluting source of energy, I firmly believe that there will come a time (well within the life of these coal fired power stations) that coal will be banned, as the world becomes more aware of the devastation of a changing climate.


Protecting our environment, our groundwater, our agricultural land, are all critically important (kindly note that you can't eat coal). However stopping pollution of the atmosphere has even more critical importance.


We urgently need you to spend that three billion dollars on construction of sustainable energy systems, and on research and development to make such systems even more efficient. Look at the huge improvement in efficiency that solar has attained in the last few years.


WE DO NOT WANT MORE COAL MINES AND MORE COAL FIRED POWER STATIONS.


Hopefully your Government will listen. If they do not, the only response for intelligent thoughtful voters is to put a different Government in power.


With kind regards,


Siobhan Holmes

To Whom it may Concern,



There's a whole list of things that I could mention (http://nccnsw.org.au/content/stop-cobbora-coal-project-have-your-say?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Stop+the+Cobbora+coal+mine%2521&utm_source=YMLP&utm_term=here+is+a+submission+guide ) which by the way are all valid points, but basically the world doesn't need another 20 years of emissions of an obsolete energy source. Invest the money in clean energy that isn't associated with hydrocarbons (ie carbon staorage), maybe even look outside the box for the form of energy.



We both know the science but unfortunately the math's is economic 101. Do something you know is right with long term benefits.





Cheers!



Cameron Parker l Project Geologist | Goldminex Resources Limited

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