Glendell Continued Operations Project

I believe that the expansion of Glendell mine is not only important to the nearly 700 jobs which are held there, but furthermore the 700 families which the mine supports. We are local people who live and support the community around us.

Not only will this expansion directly impact 700 local families, but also to consider all of the businesses that the mine supports, the contractors who work with us. Everyone from cleaners to tradespeople will be impacted in some way.

The money that mines like Glendell provide to the local and national economy is something that should also be considered. The money that again directly impacts the local areas but also royalties and taxes help build the schools and future education, provides us with hospitals and investment into Australia's future.

The future of this mine is about a lot more than just a few coal miners. It’s about hard working Australian's providing a future for their family and the future of Australia.

I definitely support the initiative to relocate the old Ravensworth homestead to Broke as part of this as a small compensation to the community for the continuing mining activity. It will provide a hub for wine tourism and the local community, and allow the development of projects that support a transition from mining in the area. It will attract tourists to Broke, and could complement an upgraded grey nomad camping facility at the park. Good to see!

I object to the Glendell Continuation project for the following reasons:
Australia is already experiencing some extremely concerning effects of climate change with drought, bushfires and storm events affecting many areas in the country. This is happening as the planet has heated by just over 1 degree celsius. Coal burning is one of the major causes of global warming so any mine expansion must be disallowed for this reason as well as the local effects of air pollution and water loss.
The Glendell Continuation Project will result in 230.8 million tonnes of greenhouse gases over its lifespan in addition to the greenhouse pollution from the rest of the Mount Owen complex. This ensures that the project is consistent with the IPCC's incredibly generous A2 scenario ie. global warming of 3.4 degrees celsius by 2100, an increase which will result in unbearable increases in temperature and dangerous weather events . What we are experiencing now due to an increase of 1 degree will be nothing in comparison to a 3.5 degree increase. Life on the planet will be severely impacted with the principle of generational equity trashed.
If this project goes ahead mining would be extended on the site to 2044 well beyond the date when coal burning for electricity must cease if our climate change goals are to be met. There can be no extensions , no new mines and a rapid and just transition for mine workers to renewables if we are to have a viable future.

Attachment with my comments on Glendell proposal has been attached

I wholeheartedly provide my support to the Glendell Continued Operations Project and believe it is not only a strong and viable economic decision but a decision that can successfully continue to display industry leading rehabilitation and environmental awareness and demonstrate best practise in open cut coal mining on a world stage.

As a proud 10 year Glendell employee I can honestly say that I have been witness to the strong corporate work ethic that Glencore has brought to the the table with a solid record of positive contribution to both environment, safety and local community. The employment of local people and services has been a strong contributor to local economy and has not only given financial security to hundreds but enabled career development and a sense of achievement coming from a small and team based culture with sustainability strongly in mind.

The new project will continue those strong values and contribution both locally and state wide with the creation of up to 600 new jobs and several hundred in the construction phase alone. The potential economic benefit to NSW over the life of the new project will exceed $1.15B but the local Hunter Valley region will benefit to the tune of $446m which is certainly a solid contribution and worthy of strong consideration.

Financial and community benefit aside I wholeheartedly believe the environmental plan to be world class in dealing with impact via dust and noise and in rehabilitation. I have seen first hand the strong focus on these areas in the current operation and am completely satisfied the future conditions will be astutely managed throughout life of the continuation project.

I am currently employed as a contractor at the Mt Owen Glendell Operation and have been on site since early 2018. I rely on the continued operation for the financial security of my family. I have lived in Singleton since 2001, my three children have been raised in Singleton and we are very much a part of this community and wish for that continue.
I believe in working for Glencore I am part of a company that supports the local community and wants to support and see all the surrounding towns in the Upper Hunter thrive.
I strongly believe I am part of an operation at Glendell that works in an environmentally aware and safe operation. I personally work (and work with people) who are aware of every impact that mining creates and work in a manner that has the lowest impact possible.
The Glencore training program is comprehensive and we are continuously trained and made aware of our responsibility to work within the guidelines set out by the industry when it comes to the environmental impact, understanding the consequences of our actions if we do not do so.
The town relies on mining and on the most part, in my experience, the community is supportive of the industry that helps keep this town alive and wish to see it continue.

I support the project

I have been at Glendell since the mine began in 2008, I enjoy working for Glencore and believe I work for a company that values me as a senior operator and has consideration for my welfare and the community I live in.

I hope to stay at Glendell as I have always been happy working for Glencore and wish to continue until such time as I retire. I am also aware that while I only have a few years to work my colleagues rely on the financial security of the Glendell Operation continuing.

I have lived in Singleton for 19 years and raised my family here and want to see this town continue to thrive into the future. My son is now in an apprenticeship and will rely on the industry for his future also.

In my 8 years experience working at Glendell I have seen them demonstrate their leadership in mining practices in the hunter. The mine has full consideration to its neighbouring community Camberwell. They are not afraid to stop operations during dusty periods or when noise reaches a level that my disturb our neighbours. There are ample monitoring systems , regular inspections and mandatory reporting to ensure Glendell has as little impact to the environment. New technology is implemented to ensure the best mining practice possible.
Without the continuing operations hundreds of jobs will be lost. Lively hoods turned upside. I believe this will cause people to leave their home, their town, their friends. There just aren’t enough jobs locally for everyone.
The continuation of operations would see my family stay in the hunter. It would allow my young family to grow and have my kids go to the school that my wife once went.

I work at glendell I am a descendant of the Wonarua people of the surrounding area. I have been a contract plant mechanic and a permenant production operator at the mine since the mines comencement in 2008.
During this time I have been able to be apart of some of glendells major projects, some of these projects were the building and construction of the mining equipment used onsite to such projects in the production side of mining a creek diversion on the edge of the mining lease where the creek was reconstructed and flora replanted grass rolled out in the floor of the creek bed rock structures set up and irrigation systems set up that I personally walked and monitored to ensure properly irrigated regrowth to industry leading standards too the open eye community under consultation with the sarounding community and government departments. To other tasks such as driving out to the little community of Camberwell to ensure noise levels that are already being electronically monitored are being dilgently inspected to above ndustry standards. These are some of the aspects of the modern mining process that I think glendell do very well which I hope secures our future in the Hebden and Camberwell communities. I believe that not only myself and my family gain a economic future in the forward proposal gain of Glendell the whole of the community will from schools to farmers to bushfire fighters to small and large business in the government areas from the central coast to Macksville right out to Dubbo and up to Moree.
You ask why because these are some of the areas our employees travel from to come and work at Glendell they stay in our local area and spend money whilst on shift and they travel back to there homes when not working and the spend money in there local towns so if the proposal is granted Glendell will ensure the future growth of towns far and wide in our country thankyou #The Future Of Glendell Our People Our Communities

This project will create wonderful opportunity for local employment in the hunter valley. I start working at Glendell mine in September 2010 as a new to industry employee. I had no skills in this area of work and Glendell mine has give me great opportunities to learn and develop my skills to become a well respected and reliable person in this team.
Since start my employment here on site I’ve witnessed my changes throughout the company, but one thing that hasnt changed is there commitment to environment and there passion to reduce this environmental impact within and around the operation. There has always been a strong focus on rehabilitation and preserving the creeks and waterways around our site.
With a nearby village in close proximity of our site. We have take a strong focus on reducing our noise and dust limits. Pulling up work when wind divisions are accruing or if the dust becomes un-manageable.
With the job opportunity Glendel help give many more people the ability to create a good solid future. I’ve had the ability to build a house, get married and start a family while working here. Which I would thing could have been long term goals or even un-achievable had it not been for my job opportunity at glendel.
Since the start of the Glendell north project. The mine has introduced use to its cultural history and shown use the importance our role is in preserving and recognising its imports with in our role at Glendell.
I believe that with glendell’s extension we can continue our. Opportunity with employment, reducing environmental impacts on site,continue working with the community and preserving our cultural history.

Good morning.

I'd like to voice my full support for the above pending project.

I have worked at Glendell for almost 6 years as an operator in the mine. I've worked in several mines in the Hunter Valley during my 14 year career in coal mining and I can honestly say, that at Glendell, I have felt the most at home. It's not a huge mine in comparison to some in the Valley. The crews consist of around 40 people each, not including the employees in the maintenance department. We're small enough to know each other intimately and small enough to care about each other.

Work is not everything; we all have lives to live outside work but it's work that gives our lives the ability to function. If the project were to not go through, it would be a devistating blow to each of us, personally, to our families and those that depends on us but also to the greater community. Glendell is a sponsor of many organisations and charities in and around the area.

I've been through this situation before. I am a former employee at the Drayton Mine which closed after 30+ years. I worked there for seven but there were some that had been there since it began in the early 80s. When the doors closed, everyone scattered. They packed up their families and moved to other jobs, some to other states, some even moved to other countries. They left behind friends and other family members and they left behind a hole in their community. It was hard to go through that.

I know there are many aspects to consider when these decisions are made. I would just ask that the employees that depends on the Glendell are one of them. Thankyou for your consideration.

Regards
Deborah Montague

Hello.
I have Worked at Glendell for the past 3 years and at Glencore’s sister mine Ravensworth for 5 years before that.
By chance I was the last person to live on BOTH properties before the mines started.

I used to walk on the land where Glendell now sits hunting pests with my rifle and dogs.

In fact I was the last person to live in the homestead grounds.
We lived in the old shearer’s Quaters our the back because the main homestead was to unsafe to live in.

In the 12 months I lived there in 2006-2007, nobody came and so much as looked at that homestead.

No aboriginal people came and walked on the land paying respects to their past family or tribe members, nobody from the historical society came, nobody cared.

The land is terrible grazing land and the carrying capacity of the mining area would not support one farming family attempting to pay a mortgage.

The house was left to rot and decay and nobody would of cared except for the expansion.

People are rallying against this on political grounds, not on the project itself.

This homestead had absolutely no historical valve to anyone and the land had no aboriginal significance until this expansion came along.

I think that asking the mine to spent 28 million dollars on relocating this relic is an absolute disgrace.

This money could be far better spent on a hospital, schools, infrastructure or any number of things.
But the insanity of the world we live in means we will make a business waste it relocating a house just because parts of it are old.

But seeing as this is the way of the world I think the The community will get the most benefit from the Broke proposal.

This expansion will secure thousands of people’s economic future for the next 22 years.

To spite what this commission thinks about ‘coal’ itself and if it should have a future in the worlds economy or not, other countries depend on our coal for their electricity and will do so for the next 50 years.

If they don’t burn our coal they will burn someone else’s. they are far better off burning our coal due to its low ash content and the ethnical methods used to extract it.

Glencore has very strict environmental practices around oil spills and contamination.
Our dust control has a good record and our community complains are extremely low.
I do not see any reason the commission should knock this expansion back considering the companies good record and extremely low injury rate.

This is a well run operation and we would love to keep our jobs.

Thank you
Stuart Bonds

My husband works at this mine. It is provide my family with an income for the last three years.

The mine is well run and sends him home safe everyday. This project will secure of peoples future for the next 22 years. I don’t think this project should be rejected and political grounds and considering the mining exactly the same area that they are currently mining I don’t see why the project should not be approved.

I support this project as I reside in the local surrounding areas and am aware of all pro’s and con’s of this extension.
I have worked both in and out of the mining industry and have seen how mines shutting down can affect local communities and the wider communities.
This project will not only provide the job security we so desperately need in the hunter valley but also the continued support in local communities that will benefit from it in things such as housing, rentals, hotels / motels, local small businesses, fuel stations, food outlets, etc.
We need more job security now more than ever.

This project will secure allot of permanent and casual jobs in a wide range of sections. Will help the economy growing by providing taxes and income to both Australia and the world,
The project has outlined great in-depth detail about its environmental plans as well as cultural and of the house is moved to broke will provide extra stimulus for the small town and help it's economy.

I see this project being an important part of me maintaining FULLTIME employment in the Hunter Valley. Allowing me to provide for my family for many years to come.
There is major Economic Benefits of the project in the construction stage, hiring of addition workers and all the royalties to the local and NSW Government.
The proposed mining area is surrounded by other mines and moving further away from the surrounding communities so our impact should be a lot less than it is now.
If the project doesn't go ahead I see the local community suffering as well as the workers that will be out of work.

I see the Glendell continued operations as a huge asset from day one for a wide range of people, it will generate employment for a large number of company's from road changes, realignment of water ways, the process of removing and bringing the old home stead to its original state as it was many years ago. Then there is the removal of old infrastructure and setting up of new infrastructure so the next stage can begin operation.
I have been employed by Glendell for the past 10 years starting as a trainee operator, it has been a great journey for me and I am greatful for the opportunitys. I hope this will continue on and see me through to my retirement,this will also create job opportunitys for the generations to come.

GLENDELL MINE EXTENSION PROJECT in the Hunter Region
The Glendell Mine Extension Project is a huge opportunity for the regional communities of the Hunter Region where the investment and jobs that will be generated by this project are desperately needed.
Coal mining is important to me and my family, our community and NSW.
More than 23,000 coal miners in NSW rely on coalmining for their livelihood. There are more than 7,000 local businesses across NSW that are supported by mining.
Coal is NSW's most valuable export commodity, with a value of more than $20 billion.
We urgently need projects like the Glendell Mine Extension Project to be approved to secure jobs and investment for local communities.
The Glendell Mine Extension Project has the support of the local community, local MPs, local Council and local businesses.
The project will provide 350 jobs during construction and permanent full-time employment for 690 people during the project’s operation across the extended mine life.
The federal government’s tables of multiplier effects shows that more than three times as many indirect jobs are created for every person directly employed in a coal mine.
Coal is Australia’s most valuable export. The state of NSW will benefit from $296 million in royalties by approval for this project. This is money that NSW will be able to spend on our hospitals, schools and roads.
Our national, state and local economies relies heavily on coal mining so coal mining benefits all Australians.

Coal from Australian coal mines has ideal qualities and it has fewer impurities, such as sulphur, than coal from other countries such as Asian countries. So the use of Australian coal is reducing pollution, such as sulphur dioxide, on a worldwide basis.

NSW needs to focus on the positive aspects of coal mining and its many benefits so as to not be distracted by ideologically driven anti-mining activists.
We should all be proud of what coal mining is doing and can do in future for Australia, NSW and the Hunter Region.
The reports submitted for the Glendell Mine Project demonstrates its comprehensive coverage of all environmental issues. The benefits from the commencement of this coal mine are immense.
For all of these reasons I fully support the Glendell Mine Extension Project.

I object to to Glendell Continued Operations Project for the following reasons:
The project is consistent with the IPCC's "high emissions A2 tradjectory scenario". It should not even be considered because it would allow the project to continue beyond 2030 which is the point at which science tells us we should no longer be mining or burning coal if we want to limit global warming to less than 2 degrees. We are already seeing the impacts of Climate Change on our world and to allow this mine to continue would be simple, suicidal insanity. The A2 scenario would see the planet heating by 3.4c by 2100 which would create an unlivable planet. It is shocking that Glencore have not withdrawn this application for this reason alone.
The Upper Hunter air quality monitoring network has recorded more than 1000 exceedences in the last calender year. This project would substantially contribute to further deterioration of air quality in the local vicinity of the mine and in the Hunter Valley generally which is becoming increasingly urbanised. Westerly winds deposit these PM2.5 and PM10 particles over Camberwell and urban areas as far as the coast contributing to respiratory illness over a vast area. If the cost of treating this respiratory illness were added to the costs of mining , this mine would already not be viable.
Other mines in the vicinity are already experiencing difficulty with water supply as water becomes more scarce. The groundwater assessment shows that this mine would add to these difficulties and result in a drawdown in the alluvium of 2 metres during the proposed operations which is completely unacceptable.
This project is inconsistent with NSW Climate Change policy, and is out of step with the principle of inter-generational equity and the public interest because it does not conform to the Paris agreement to limit Greenhouse emissions and will contribute to future climate chaos.
The interests of a private profit making company must not be put above the interests of the public and above the interests of future generations.
For the above reasons, this project must be rejected.