Dendrobium Mine Extension Project

I support this project based on the employment and economic benefits it will provide to the Illawarra region. It will create more than 100 jobs during construction, safeguard 650 existing jobs and will continue to indirectly support many other local employers, further contributing to the regional, state and national economy. The project produces high quality metallurgical coal critical for the production of steel.

The project will allow for continued supply of high quality metallurgical coal for local steelmaking while the feasibility of sustainable alternatives is improved.

I support the project because of the benefits to local employment. This support is only on the provision that the authorities have deemed there would be no significant damage to the environment over the course of the life of the mine.

To produce metallurgical coal to support the Australian steel industry and creating local jobs. The roll it will play in the transition to lower carbon economy.

This project will provide economic and financial benefits for the region.

It's important to our future, without alternate resources to provide energy, we will be left with higher costs and unemployment.
Coal is still required in steel making everything we use has some form of steel that's been made from coal until an alternate that's reliable then we still require coal mining, Sadly people are jumping on the bandwagon without logical thought.

this is a great opportunity for the local community to continue employment for the locals. Also other small businesses that rely on this business to survive. Not approving the Dendrobium Mine Extension Project will have a severe impact on the local community.

I support the Dendrobium Mine Extension Project, as I believe it provides great benefit to the Illawarra Region in terms of employment and economic contribution.

I support the mine extension. Good for the local economy and the region

Dendrobium Mine has recently celebrated 20years of production, This means for the past 20years Mt Kembla community has benefited from South32 donations towards improvement projects for the community. Not only is Mt Kembla a beneficiary to the mines operation but the grater Illawarra, either through direct employment at the mine or contractors used to support the mines operation.

I support the project given the total benefit to the local community including support of jobs and local industry.

This project will support my continued employment at Dendrobium Mine, enabling my family to benefit from my ability to work locally. The mine extension will greatly benefit the Illawarra region and NSW economy with employment growth of the direct workforce, and the flow-on effects that provide employment and business opportunities throughout the supplier and service provider value chain. South32 is committed to actively supporting the region and has demonstrated this through its sponsorships and support networks. I fully support the proposed mine extension.

The Dendrobium mine has operated in the region for the last 20 years, providing metallurgical coal, a critical ingredient for steeling making to support the local Australian Steel Industry. The extension project is a significant project for the Illawarra and will return significant economic benefit to the region. Not only will it ensure the sustainability of 650 ongoing jobs at Dendrobium mine but allow for over 380 million dollars annually in economic contribution in the form of local spend, royalties, state and corporate tax.

Since the IPC decision, further careful planning has been conducted to the lowest environmental impact possible. This has resulted in a 60% reduction in the longwall mine area preserving the water catchment.

Personally I feel the project is of importance to the region and will ensure the development of NSW's resources which creates jobs for generations to come.

All around the world, governments and businesses are getting out of coal because of its disastrous impacts on the environment, both burning it and digging for it. This particular project comes with added risks of mining under the water catchment and potential damage to Aboriginal cultural heritage. Furthermore, the company has a track record of serious breaches of environmental regulations, and creates less local jobs than more sustainable industries that are emerging to replace coal do. I urge you to reject this application, for the good of the community, the environment and our urgent need to curb emissions.

This coal mine extension has the potential to impact Sydneys drinking water and should not be allowed to proceed. Long wall mining is the worst (cheapest ) option for the company but any risks to our safe clean water should not be overlooked.
Scope 1 emission are extremely and unacceptably high and they will not help us achieve our Paris targets of limiting GHG to 1.5 . We have a responsibilty not only to our citizens but the rest of the world.
The project also minimises the number of jobs that are created and so also fails on these grounds.
Our international reputation needs to be considered as we are producing coal that the world now doe not want. This mine is the wrong place and its time is over. The investors will be left with a stranded asset and the people of NSW with another big hole to fill in when the project fails.

I can not see how it meets the conditions of environmental safety nor job creation.

The project will continue to support thousands of families directly and indirectly through ongoing long term employment. The project will also benefit the entire community by injecting hundreds of millions of dollars over the next few years.

My family and I are in full support of the Dendrobium Mine expansion project due to the security of 2000 plus jobs in the local area which 90% live in the Illawarra region.
I actually live with my family in the Sutherland shire and commute to the beautiful Illawarra region each day for my employment.

The mine also supports local suppliers and contract partners, suppling greater employment in the region.

South32 also support many community groups and organizations such as my young Nieces local rugby league team.

I hope this expansion is approved for the sake of the NSW government also due to the royalties paid by South32.

The project will implement best practice greenhouse gas mitigation measures, estimated to result in 31% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as a result of gas drainage.
Dendrobium will deliver A$280m IN Royalties (in real terms) to the NSW government contributing to the development of public infrastructure such as schools, hospitals and transport projects.

I object to this proposed mine extension because it would result in:
1. losses to Sydney and the Illawarra’s drinking water catchment
2. a tripling of direct GHG emissions (Scope 1)
3. potentially 'irreversible' damage to 16 endangered swamps
4. a continuation of longwall mining, which is much more damaging to drinking water and endangered swamps than non-caving ‘bord and pillar’ mining
5. South32 has conceded that “BlueScope may be able to source alternate supplies of metallurgical coal locally” so this extension is unwarranted
6. on the average Scope 1 emissions (assuming flaring) of 789,551 tonnes CO2-e per annum, the Dendrobium Extension could become the 4th highest emitting coal mine in NSW
7. future demand for Dendrobium’s coal for steel making at Port Kembla will not eventuate because:
a) BlueScope are currently investigating the use of sustainably sourced biochar and coke oven gas (which contains 60% hydrogen) as replacements for pulverised coal
b) Bluescope has signed an MoU with Rio Tinto to explore using renewable hydrogen to replace coking coal to directly reduce iron ore.
8. The newly elected Federal Labor government’s Powering Australia Plan’ states that “[e]normous opportunities exist to develop green steel manufacturing hubs across Australia using abundant and low cost renewable energy resources, and green hydrogen.” The Plan refers to Hydrogen Breakthrough Ironmaking Technology as an opportunity to transition from traditional blast furnaces (like the one currently in use at Port Kembla).

For all these reasons but most of all the irreparable damage to Sydney’s water supply this proposal must be rejected.

Hunter Environment Lobby objects to this proposal and sees it as very similar to the 2020 proposal that was refused by the IPC - we feel there can be no valid reason to give permission for this new proposal.