HVO South Open Cut Coal Continuation Project

I find it amusing that most of the people who object to such projects either do not live in the area, are wealthy inheritors or owners of local property or are of retirement age. Horse studs can not support the communities that have been built to support coal mining. Horse studs only support gambling addiction and are otherwise a waste of good land. Horse studs and farming are the main supporters of land clearance which in reality is the main cause of rising carbon dioxide. Deforestation all over the world. Over population and deforestation is the cause of rising carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is plant food but when land holders continue to conduct land clearing, the natural carbon cycle is being disrupted. The coal industry accounts for 20% of Australia's export revenue. Australia got rich on the back of iron ore and coal. Coal pays for many of the necessities city folk have come to rely on. Hospitals, roads, tunnels, infrastructure. People migrated to regional centres developing coal mining communities as the nation relied on them for development. People in turn have come to rely on their jobs and industry to raise their families. With no current alternative to mining, what are the thousands of people who have dedicated their life to this industry supposed to do? Everyone can become a barrista? Work in retail outlets? Selling goods made in China from coal energy? Everyday Australians need coal mining to continue to raise families and pay their biĺls. Farmers and horse stud owners should surrender their properties and revegetate all cleared land to assist with carbon dioxide absorption if they are so opposed. Gambling on horses should be criminalised due to the major community effect being a negative one. Australian carbon dioxide emissions are negligible on a global scale. Australia's population is negligible on a global scale. Support our people and the communities we have established.

HVO provides jobs for thousands of people. They support the local community through sponsorship, and the people who work at HVO live in the local area and therefore, support local businesses.

I support the project due to the economic and environmental benefits

As a resident of Singleton Council I have witnessed HVO over last 40 years support Singleton Council, the NSW government and the Federal government with tax paying jobs in primary industries that flow onto many other industries as well as royalties to NSW government.
Without HVO all levels of government will suffer and and as a citizen of Singleton we will pay increased rates and receive less services and lower standard of living than we currently enjoy.
Some of the benefits of tis project are
Around 1500 ongoing local jobs
600 temporary construction jobs
A high level bridge across the Hunter river

The proposed mine expansion will have devastating impacts on land and water in the Hunter Valley.
The HVO mine complex straddles the Hunter River and the expansion intends to mine directly into strategic agricultural land and the River’s alluvial aquifer.
Mining for the Continuation Project will worsen groundwater drawdown already affecting the Hunter River’s alluvial aquifer by half a metre.
Cumulative drawdown of Wollombi Brook alluvium will be up to 2 metres and this impact will extend long after mining ceases.
Recent monitoring has identified that groundwater in the alluvium and other affected areas is exceeding water quality triggers in the HVO area. A large tailings storage dam adjacent to the river was found six years ago to be seeping into groundwater.
Instead of expanding the mine, Glencore and Yancoal should be cleaning up the huge HVO site and investing in long-term environmental remediation of it.

I support local coal mines due to the benefits to local communities due to jobs and the flow on effect to those small businesses within the area. This creates further employment. It also has a positive effect on the national economy through exports due to the demand for quality coal.

Mining is the back bone of this country

As a retired father of four and grandfather of four children, I am outraged at the continued expansion of fossil fuel mining in NSW and Australia despite the dire warnings provided by the recently released National Climate Risk Assessment. In particular, I wish to object to the proposed expansion of the Hunter Valley Operations coal mine.

This proposal has not considered the full contribution f downstream emissions (Scope 3) to climate change. Ignoring the recent decision by the NSW Court of Appeal on the Mt Pleasant coal mine expansion that determined that that the full contribution of downstream emissions (Scope 3) to climate change from a coal mine must be assessed, even if the fuel is burnt overseas. Climate change in Australia is driven the burning of fossil fuels wherever they are burnt in the world. The assessment presented for this proposal fails to not only include the environmental, social and economic impacts of climate change on this locality such as rising insurance premiums, increasing costs of mitigating impacts of climate change, increasing costs of repairing roads and infrastructure after extreme weather. he revised assessment should be withdrawn and the full assessment required by the Court of Appeal must be undertaken for the project - and it should then be placed back on public exhibition.

very important to give the local people good employment opportunities - especially young people moving into the workforce

the project will support many families and suppliers in the local area

Climate change costs not properly considered, legal precedent ignored

The recent decision by the NSW Court of Appeal on the Mt Pleasant coal mine expansion found that the full contribution of downstream emissions (Scope 3) to climate change from a coal mine must be assessed, even if the fuel is burnt overseas.
They found that the full environmental, social and economic impacts of climate change on a locality must be considered in making a decision on a project. This should include costs like rising insurance premiums and increasing costs of repairing roads and infrastructure after extreme weather.
But the Hunter Valley Operations revised assessment specifically EXCLUDES consideration of downstream emissions in its economic assessment, and as a result it drastically underestimates the negative economic impacts of the project.
The revised assessment should be withdrawn and the full assessment required by the Court of Appeal must be undertaken for the project - and it should then be placed back on public exhibition.

Scale of project, greenhouse gas emissions and climate targets

This is the biggest coal mine project ever considered in NSW. In total it proposed to mine 429 million tonnes of coal and extend the operation of this huge mining complex to 2045.
Overall, this coal mine expansion would add 803 million tonnes of lifecycle greenhouse gas pollution to the atmosphere between now and 2045. That equates to 7 times the total annual emissions from all sources in New South Wales.
Even the direct emissions from the project, caused by releasing methane from the coal seam and from diesel used in operating the mine, will make a huge contribution to NSW emissions and make it even more difficult for NSW to meet climate targets.
The NSW Large Emitters Guide states that coal mines should be on the same emissions reduction trajectory as NSW - to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030 and 70% by 2035.
But this expansion does the direct opposite - it will result in massive increases in direct emissions by expanding the project. The expansion will actually double methane emissions compared to the existing mine (as at FY24) and then they will remain at elevated levels until 2042.

Impacts to land and water

The proposed mine expansion will have devastating impacts on land and water in the Hunter Valley.
The HVO mine complex straddles the Hunter River and the expansion intends to mine directly into strategic agricultural land and the River’s alluvial aquifer.
Mining for the Continuation Project will worsen groundwater drawdown already affecting the Hunter River’s alluvial aquifer by half a metre.
Cumulative drawdown of Wollombi Brook alluvium will be up to 2 metres and this impact will extend long after mining ceases.
Recent monitoring has identified that groundwater in the alluvium and other affected areas is exceeding water quality triggers in the HVO area. A large tailings storage dam adjacent to the river was found six years ago to be seeping into groundwater.
Instead of expanding the mine, Glencore and Yancoal should be cleaning up the huge HVO site and investing in long-term environmental remediation of it.

I currently work at HVO and they provide me with a stable job in the home town I grew up in. I'm able to pay my morgage and spent my income at local business in the area. I hope this will continue until 2045

i OBJECT TO HVO South Open Cut Coal Continuation Project
The recent decision by the NSW Court of Appeal on the Mt Pleasant coal mine expansion found that the full contribution of downstream emissions (Scope 3) to climate change from a coal mine must be assessed, even if the fuel is burnt overseas.
They found that the full environmental, social and economic impacts of climate change on a locality must be considered in making a decision on a project. This should include costs like rising insurance premiums and increasing costs of repairing roads and infrastructure after extreme weather.
But the Hunter Valley Operations revised assessment specifically EXCLUDES consideration of downstream emissions in its economic assessment, and as a result it drastically underestimates the negative economic impacts of the project.
The revised assessment should be withdrawn and the full assessment required by the Court of Appeal must be undertaken for the project - and it should then be placed back on public exhibition.

Scale of project, greenhouse gas emissions and climate targets

This is the biggest coal mine project ever considered in NSW. In total it proposed to mine 429 million tonnes of coal and extend the operation of this huge mining complex to 2045.
Overall, this coal mine expansion would add 803 million tonnes of lifecycle greenhouse gas pollution to the atmosphere between now and 2045. That equates to 7 times the total annual emissions from all sources in New South Wales.
Even the direct emissions from the project, caused by releasing methane from the coal seam and from diesel used in operating the mine, will make a huge contribution to NSW emissions and make it even more difficult for NSW to meet climate targets.
The NSW Large Emitters Guide states that coal mines should be on the same emissions reduction trajectory as NSW - to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030 and 70% by 2035.
But this expansion does the direct opposite - it will result in massive increases in direct emissions by expanding the project. The expansion will actually double methane emissions compared to the existing mine (as at FY24) and then they will remain at elevated levels until 2042.

Impacts to land and water

The proposed mine expansion will have devastating impacts on land and water in the Hunter Valley.
The HVO mine complex straddles the Hunter River and the expansion intends to mine directly into strategic agricultural land and the River’s alluvial aquifer.
Mining for the Continuation Project will worsen groundwater drawdown already affecting the Hunter River’s alluvial aquifer by half a metre.
Cumulative drawdown of Wollombi Brook alluvium will be up to 2 metres and this impact will extend long after mining ceases.
Recent monitoring has identified that groundwater in the alluvium and other affected areas is exceeding water quality triggers in the HVO area. A large tailings storage dam adjacent to the river was found six years ago to be seeping into groundwater.
Instead of expanding the mine, Glencore and Yancoal should be cleaning up the huge HVO site and investing in long-term environmental remediation of it.
The climate change costs are not properly considered, and legal precedent is ignored.

This project approval will secure many families future in the region and lead to ongoing investment and support in the local communities while providing royalties and tax to the government to continue ongoing health, education and infrastructure projects.

I work at this mine and live in the singleton area the continuation of HVO would have a very positive impact on me and my family

I am a NSW resident and strongly oppose this proposal.

Climate change costs have not been properly considered in the application and legal precedent has been ignored. The expansion should not proceed.
The recent decision by the NSW Court of Appeal on the Mt Pleasant coal mine expansion found that the full contribution of downstream emissions (Scope 3) to climate change from a coal mine must be assessed, even if the fuel is burnt overseas.
It found that the full environmental, social and economic impacts of climate change on a locality must be considered in making a decision on a project. This should include costs like rising insurance premiums and increasing costs of repairing roads and infrastructure after extreme weather.
But the Hunter Valley Operations revised assessment specifically excludes consideration of downstream emissions in its economic assessment, and as a result it drastically underestimates the negative economic impacts of the project.
The revised assessment should be withdrawn and the full assessment required by the NSW Court of Appeal must be undertaken for the project - and it should then be placed back on public exhibition.
This is the biggest coal mine project ever considered in the state. In total it proposed to mine 429 million tonnes of coal and extend the operation of this huge mining complex to 2045.
Overall, this coal mine expansion would add 803 million tonnes of lifecycle greenhouse gas pollution to the atmosphere between now and 2045. That equates to seven times the total annual emissions from all sources in New South Wales.
Even the direct emissions from the project, caused by releasing methane from the coal seam and from diesel used in operating the mine, will make a huge contribution to NSW emissions and make it even more difficult for NSW to meet climate targets.
The NSW Large Emitters Guide states that coal mines should be on the same emissions reduction trajectory as NSW - to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030 and 70% by 2035.
But this expansion does the direct opposite - it will result in massive increases in direct emissions by expanding the project. The expansion will actually double methane emissions compared to the existing mine (as at FY24) and then they will remain at elevated levels until 2042.

As well, the proposed mine expansion will have devastating impacts on land and water in the Hunter Valley.
The HVO mine complex straddles the Hunter River and the expansion intends to mine directly into strategic agricultural land and the River’s alluvial aquifer.
Mining for the Continuation Project will worsen groundwater drawdown already affecting the Hunter River’s alluvial aquifer by half a metre.
Cumulative drawdown of Wollombi Brook alluvium will be up to two metres and this impact will extend long after mining ceases.
Recent monitoring has identified that groundwater in the alluvium and other affected areas is exceeding water quality triggers in the HVO area. A large tailings storage dam adjacent to the river was found six years ago to be seeping into groundwater.
Instead of expanding the mine, Glencore and Yancoal should be cleaning up the huge HVO site and investing in long-term environmental remediation of it.

I support the proposal for HVO south continuation, as it brings so many jobs, opportunities, support and economics in the hunter valley.

I support the extension of the HVO project as it provides strong economic benefits to the region and plays a vital role in sustaining our local economy and livelihoods.

I support the project and the continued local employment and community support that HVO provides.

I support project

I support the project