Dendrobium Mine Extension Project

It will help keep jobs within the Illawarra

I support the project because it provides continued jobs in the mining industry here in the Illawarra for those directly involved, and also industries that provide services to them.

Terrific opportunity for South32 to continue supporting the local community through providing locals jobs, supporting local business and funding many community projects.
South32 has an outstanding track record with underground mining that is conducted safely, transparent with the community and meeting government regulations.

Quoting The Hon. Mark Latham for the South32 Dendrobium Extension Project Approval Bill 2021 "Without high-quality coking coal there can be no steelmaking by BlueScope Steel at Port Kembla. The equation is simple: iron plus carbon equals steel. Let me repeat that for those subscribing to the myth of green steel from the BlueScope blast furnaces: iron plus carbon equals steel." "Unless we make steel in New South Wales we cannot make anything else. We cannot have manufacturing in a decent industrial base in New South Wales. To make steel, BlueScope relies on quality coking coal from the South32 Dendrobium mine. Indeed, this is one of the three basic reasons we have steelmaking at the mighty historic site in Port Kembla: access to the port bringing in iron ore, access to the east coast consumer market in steel and access to the rich near perfect coking coal of the Illawarra. Take away the resource access and you take away the financial prospects of BlueScope steel into the future. Without the Dendrobium mine extension, they will have to import coking coal from Queensland at the international parity price—a huge cost burden on this company."

Great project for local employment, and great source of coking coal for local steel industry. minimal environmental affection.

I support this project as it helps keep jobs in the Illawarra to many many families, supporting also the Australian Steel industry and its role in transitioning to low carbon economy.

I support this project as it will keep/create many jobs for our local area and also supports local businesses including the one I work for which then keeps me in a job.

The Dendrobium Mine Extension Project will extend the current life of Dendrobium Mine to ensure that local jobs are retained for the 600+ contractors and employees. Local families will continue to live and work in the Wollongong area and community investment in the Mount Kembla/Wollong region will be retained.

This project will support the long term future of the IMC operations and continue to deliver premium hard coking coal to the local Bluescope steel works economically.

High value for Jobs security in the Illawarra and 100's of millions of dollars into NSW economy

The project will continue South32's $240 million annual spending with local businesses.

I support the extension of Dendrobium Mine to allow for the continued employment of direct mine workers and the numerous contractors and suppliers across the Illawarra. The nearby Port Kembla Steelworks was built due to the availability of Coal from the Illawarra and with its recent extension approval, it needs locally sourced coal - it would be a complete waste of energy and resources to ship coal into Port Kembla from somewhere else when it is literally sitting in the ground next door. A self reliant steel industry is vital to Australia's Strategic Autonomy, with Port Kembla being one of only two steelworks in Australia

Undermining water catchments is bad. Bad policy, taking unnecessary risks to required water resources, In a dry continent, with continuing climate change. It is opposed by Sydney Water.

I’m writing in opposition to the Dendrobium Mine Extension Project.

Nowhere else in the world allows longwall mining like this underneath publicly owned water catchments. That’s because longwall mining damages reservoirs, causing cracks in rock beds that lead to an increased presence of heavy metals such as iron, zinc and nickel.

Even Water NSW has opposed longwall mining under Sydney’s water catchment, not least because we lose an estimated 5 million litres of water a day from existing mining operations.

It’s not only the impact on our water supply in an increasingly uncertain future that’s concerning me. This mine will also damage local biodiversity and threatened ecological communities, and cause irreversible damage to 58 identified Aboriginal cultural artefacts.

This expansion proposal will be a disaster for NSW, yet once again it’s a  mining company’s profits that takes priority over everything else, including a safe climate for future generations.

The Independent Planning Commission initially refused permission for the development because of the damage it would cause to our drinking water.

Locals have been fighting for investment in green steel and renewable energy jobs, but the NSW Government seems intent on pushing through more coal mining and has designated this proposal as ‘State Significant Development’, despite the Independent Planning Commission having already rejected it.

I vehemently oppose this project.

I think the Dendrobium mine extension is vital to our community, not only will it create more jobs but also bring business to its surrounding suburbs. The mine will take pride in maintaining the surrounding environment and provide minimal disruptions to the community.

Nowhere else in the world allows longwall mining like this underneath their publicly owned water catchments: longwall mining damages reservoirs, causing cracks in rock beds that lead to an increased presence of heavy metals such as iron, zinc and nickel.
Even Water NSW has opposed longwall mining under Sydney’s water catchment, not least because we lose an estimated 5 million litres of water a day from existing mining operations.
It’s not only the impact on our water supply in an increasingly uncertain future that’s concerning. This mine will also damage local biodiversity and threatened ecological communities, and cause irreversible damage to 58 identified Aboriginal cultural artefacts.
This expansion is a disaster for NSW, yet once again it’s a mining company’s profits that takes priority over everything else, including a safe climate for future generations.
The Independent Planning Commission initially refused permission for the development because of the damage it would cause to our drinking water.
For the reasons stated above I therefore strongly object to the extension of the Dendrobium Mine.

Mining of this type can be detrimental to the surface. We should not take the risks that this project may induce.

The supply of coal for steel making creates significant employment opportunities for the Illawarra district through direct employment and many local suppliers who provide goods and services to the organisation. These employment opportunities have remained stable for many years despite uncontrolled events across the globe such as Covid and the GFC. Without these types of stable industries in our community the unemployment levels would dramatically increase which will in turn have a major impact on the community.

The recent submission by South32 has taken onboard the feedback and concerns from the previous submission and made significant changes to minimise the risk to the environment and community.

Without these types of local industries Australia will over time run the risk of losing another part of its self sufficiency and in turn lose our ability to directly control our local economy.

I support the Dendrobium mine extension project, as it creates jobs for the local community and surrounding businesses.
South32 provide excellence in environmental management and diligence working with the local community to minimize impacts.
A great project I strongly support.

I have studied, worked, lived and raised my family in the Illawarra over the past decade. Mining, in particular operations at Dendrobium have supported myself and my family and provided us with all the opportunities we have been fortunate enough to have had. Without the continued operations at Dendrobium I would be forced to retrain or relocate as my career as a Mining Engineer is industry specific.
Coal mining helped establish the Illawarra and still has a part to play in its future. The region is now fortunate enough to not rely solely on mining but mining needs the region to support it. Mining will not be around forever, coal is finite resource but it has the ability to continue to provide for this region to grow and transition.

I support the Dendrobium mine project based on its longevity and success as a company, it’s quality of coal, it’s production and because the mine has been the largest coal producer in the southern coalfield making a significant contribution to the Southern Coalfield economic ecosystem.

Steel production in Australia is a matter of national security. Metallurgical coal is a vital element to this process. The Illawarra coal seams provide the best coal globally.
Dendrobium directly employ 100s of people and indirectly many 100s more.