Mandalong Southern Extension (Mod 4)

There should be no opposition to the mine extending the operations to include the removal of this coal. The mine is doing a great job in complying with its consent conditions and will treat this extension in the same manner.

I believe that modification for extension of existing longwall panels 22 and 23 within the current SSD-5144 consent boundary should be approved.
This will allow for the optimisation of the resource.
The local community will benifit with continued spending in the area by workers at the mine.

SSD 5144 MANDALONG SOUTHERN EXTENSION PROJECT Modification 4
Planning Dept. Dear Sir/Madam
I would like to object to the above extension project on the basis of interference with valuable water resources within the Dora Creek catchment area.
WATER
The diminution of the value of the Morans Creek and Tobins Creek catchment areas expressed in Appendix 5 of the Water resources Impact Assessment is alarming. The statement that suggests that these catchments or creeks do not have surface flow for the entire year is simplistic. The very fact that rainfall periods vary greatly and so does creek flow indicates that in some years flows are high and others not. This is the very basic nature of water cycles.
To pre-empt the notion of undermining these tributaries based on simple equations as expressed in the Assessment is outright flippant and dangerous for future water resources.
Planning need to have experts revisit the value of these water resources as they impact also on the important Stockton Creek resource which is also a major source for the integrity of the ecology of Dora Creek.
SALT EXTRACTION
The other major concern expressed in the Assessment is the problem of salty brine. The tonnage of salt extracted from groundwater inflows into the mine begins with 1283 tonnes per annum, to almost 3000 tonnes per annum in 2036. These vast amounts of salt extractions transferred to the Borehole Dam and subsequent discharges are not clearly defined. Much more detail is required and greater explanation of the mechanics of controlling and discharge should be clearly shown in the public arena.
It is important for local populations to understand how these large salt depositions are handled over the life of the mine and also the long term impact of saline action upon water resources and fertile land in the vicinity of the catchment areas impacted by this extension. Planning NSW must have Centennial Coal produce clear and defined data for display prior to any approval of this extension being granted.
CONCLUSION
The value of natural water systems ,including tributaries, in NSW is constantly under attack. Consultants must not be allowed to diminish these resources as they have done, particularly in mine assessments, and it is incumbent upon Planning NSW to take hold of these assessments and to have them critically reviewed by independent hydrologists.
Too many water resources have been either destroyed or been contaminated as a result of bad assessment and planning. In 2017 this needs to be arrested and genuine independent hydrological studies must take precedence over paid consultants' assertions such as highlighted above.
We ask that Planning please review both the water resource issues of this Mandalong Extension Project and also the critical issue of salt extraction, treatment and long time storage. Both these issues need to be put on exhibition with clearly defined graphs to allow the public the full knowledge for their critical assessment PRIOR TO THE ADVANCE OF ANY FURTHER PROGRESS TOWARDS APPROVAL.
Thank you

My primary objection concerns the damage that will occur to the water systems in the Dora Creek catchment area.

The EIS does not deal with the risk to Morans Creek and Tobins Creek in other than simplistic ways, ignoring the fact that their erratic flow nature is in fact as natural as weather and rainfall; it is how they are meant to function. This is not a reason to dismiss the impact of undermining them.
Planning needs to have independent experts re-assess these water resources.

I am also concerned about the lack of detail in handling the very large amounts of salty water to be extracted over the life of the mine. Storage and discharge data are not at all detailed enough to allay concerns about the salinity risks to surrounding groundwater and land. They need to provide clear and defined data before any approvals are contemplated.

These creeks may be small but all our water sources contribute to a total; that is how catchments work.
Planning needs to prevent the ongoing destruction and depletion of such water resources by from mining approvals on inadequate and incorrect data by having them reviewed by genuinely independent hydrologists.

Planning Dpt.
Dear Sr/ Madam

I write in objection to the above proposed plan to extend longwall panels 22 and 23 within the current SSD-5144 consent boundary.

If this plan is allowed to go ahead it will have dire effects on the Dora Creek water catchment which is of great importance to the flora and forna of the area.

I understand that there has been an observation of limited water running down the creeks in question. However i point out that water flow will infact vary from year to year and further more whilst there may not be viable water on any given year it does not mean that underground water is not present in these creeks.

This proposed plan has negative impacts for the local community and well as the global community concerning climate change. I feel its a little patronising to point out the climate change effects from coal mining i'm sure the panel is coming from and educated back ground and understands well and also values the opinion of the global scientific community.

I dont understand my self why we would be considering extensions of coal mining give the current climatic circumstance. Given we have the technology and the road map to transition to renewable energy. I understand our government is now controlled by the international corporations as demonstrated by the sacking of our recent prime minister Kevin Rudd when he tried to implement a mining tax.

I hold in good faith that the people reading this submission understand the value of local voices for the future of our community's here in Australia. Thank you for your work.

I look forward to the rejection of this plan and the closure of the mine in question.

Kind Regards
Steve Denshire
Black Hill
NSW

I object to the above extension project as it will interfere with valuable water resources within the Dora Creek catchment area.
WATER
The diminution of the value of the Morans Creek and Tobins Creek catchment areas expressed in Appendix 5 of the Water resources Impact Assessment is alarming. The statement that suggests that these catchments or creeks do not have surface flow for the entire year is simplistic. The very fact that rainfall periods vary greatly and so does creek flow indicates that in some years flows are high and others not. This is the very basic nature of water cycles.
To pre-empt the notion of undermining these tributaries based on simple equations as expressed in the Assessment is dangerous for future water resources.
Planning need to have experts revisit the value of these water resources as they impact also on the important Stockton Creek resource which is also a major source for the integrity of the ecology of Dora Creek.
SALT EXTRACTION
The other major concern expressed in the Assessment is the problem of salty brine. The tonnage of salt extracted from groundwater inflows into the mine begins with 1283 tonnes per annum, to almost 3000 tonnes per annum in 2036. These vast amounts of salt extractions transferred to the Borehole Dam and subsequent discharges are not clearly defined. Much more detail is required and greater explanation of the mechanics of controlling and discharge should be clearly shown in the public arena.
It is important for local populations to understand how these large salt depositions are handled over the life of the mine and also the long term impact of saline action upon water resources and fertile land in the vicinity of the catchment areas impacted by this extension. Planning NSW must have Centennial Coal produce clear and defined data for display prior to any approval of this extension being granted.
CONCLUSION
The value of natural water systems, including tributaries, in NSW is constantly under attack. Consultants must not be allowed to diminish these resources as they have done, particularly in mine assessments, and it is incumbent upon Planning NSW to take hold of these assessments and to have them critically reviewed by independent hydrologists.
Too many water resources have been either destroyed or been contaminated as a result of bad assessment and planning. In 2017 this needs to be arrested and genuine independent hydrological studies must take precedence over paid consultants' assertions such as highlighted above.
We ask that Planning please review both the water resource issues of this Mandalong Extension Project and also the critical issue of salt extraction, treatment and long time storage. Both these issues need to be put on exhibition with clearly defined graphs to allow the public the full knowledge for their critical assessment before approval.

NSW has too many coal mines now. It is time to slow down coal production and look for better ways to produce energy before it is too late.

I object to the above extension project on the basis of interference with valuable water resources within the Dora Creek catchment area. Despite the minimisation of the impacts there is no going back once major damage is found. The assessment downgrades the catchment and flows without due reflection on the actual states and the allegation of no flows is typical of the means of presentation from the arrogant reports by special consultants chosen by mining companies and the Department of Planning to make sure that the project gets approval.
Planning need to find and use experts who will revisit the value of these water resources with no favour to the requirements of the desire by Planning to extract coal for the royalty value alone and ignore the consequences.
The other major concern is the problem of salty brine. These salt extractions transferred to the Borehole Dam and subsequent discharges are not clearly defined. This discharge of salts should not be allowed as such and there needs to be a more environmentally responsible means of dealing with the issue.
The natural water systems, including tributaries, in NSW must be protected rather than gradually destroyed in the propagation of wealth to the proponents and a pittance of royalty to prop up the city of Sydney that is just another poorly planned and finances component of NSW government.
There should be no approval with this format for this project and the State needs to cease the mining processes throughout to preserve what is left of our land and water resources.

Comments from Roads and Maritime Services Hunter

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Please see attached letter in PDF format.

Please advise you have received this submission, many thanks