McPhillamys Gold Project

I Object to the proposed McPhillamy's Gold Mine at Kings Plains, near Blayney.
Water is so valuable in our country and it should be protected for present and future times.
Gold cannot be drunk by people or animals or used in Agriculture.
My concerns are:
The contamination of the Belubula River through tailings dam leaving heavy metals in water for all human and animal life to drink and use.
The contamination of the many natural, clean springs and seepage to underground water ways. Blayney Basin has a high water table causing many serious health problems in the 1800's.
Contamination of the Carcoar Dam and the Lachlan River.
The stopping of runoff water and spring water downstream due to the placement of tailings Dam.
The ceasing of Carcoar Dam's recreational activities, fishing, boating and swimming.
The Effects of dust with fine, dangerous, heavy metals in a large area around the mine and tailings dam. This dust may cause breathing, eye and skin health problems.
Light and noise pollution.
Sight pollution on approach to Blayney
Permanent Degration of prime agricultural land.
Patricia Stonestreet

I object to the McPhillamys Gold Project because I don't believe a tailings dam should be built in an area where springs form the start of the Belubula River . I believe that the tailings dam would be an environmental disaster in the making. Because one, it will reduce the water flow in the river and two it will place a toxic waste storage full of product treated with cyanide on the headwater springs of the river. The river flows into an irrigation storage dam. If there was to be a spill this could have huge ramifications for irrigators and towns on the Belubula and Lachlan Rivers. I do not believe the people at the head of this mining company can guarantee that this tailings dam will never fail . I do not believe they can guarantee that contaminants will not leach into the groundwater table or that it wont contaminate the river. If this tailings dam is built it will be a toxic waste pit sitting at the head of the Belubula River for hundreds of years and we will be leaving this waste pit as a legacy to our future generations .

I OBJECT to the proposal
REASONS FOR OBJECTION:
EFFECTS ON BELUBULA RIVER AND WATER RESOURCES
• The dangers to the whole river system associated with any toxic spills into the Belubula River Headwaters that runs through the mine site and will be buried for several kms by the mine tailings. Downstream from the mine the river flows through the town of Blayney, rich alluvial flats grazing land, and into Carcoar Dam. Tablelands Water supply might be polluted via the planned pipeline connecting Lake Rowlands and Carcoar Dam. Below Carcoar Dam the Belubula passes through several rural communities, much grazing and cropping country and ultimately feeds into the Lachlan River west of Cowra.
• Possible disruption to adjacent groundwater supply by bores sunk on the mine site to provide water for construction and operation before the pipeline from Lithgow is operational. Regis until recently denied this was planned. In addition, the rain that falls on the minesite will be harvested far beyond the 10% allowed to farmers, and will further reduce the presently available water in the Upper Belubula catchment.
• The plan to bring 13 000 000 litres of dirty saline water from Lithgow to the mine every day. This is water that Sydney does not want in Warragamba Dam, that has its origins in the degrading wetlands of the western Blue Mountains, that is polluted by being filtered through coal seams and by being used in a coal washery, and has its salt content multiplied by addition of brine, the waste product of a desalination plant at Mount Piper Power Station. The net result will be the introduction of a very large volume of poor quality water and the supply of thousands of tonnes of salt to the already overburdened Murray – Darling Basin.
EFFECTS ON THE ‘NEAR NEIGHBOURS’ OF THE MINE
• The proposed mine would have a dramatic effect on the near neighbours of the mine especially, but not limited to, the settlement of Kings Plains that live on the south side of the valley facing the mine that occupies almost the entire opposite northern side. Here the open cut pit will be excavated and a large waste rock disposal area including a high embankment to be constructed over a period of four years. This will be a continuous source of noise, dust, and at night, light pollution during the life of the mine – after the first 6 months of construction on the site it is proposed that mining activity will proceed for ten years, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and fifty-two weeks a year, blasting permitted for 12 hours a day. For most what attracted the residents to settle in the area around what may now become an industrial void and dump mine was the overall amenity of the area: the rural views that will be changed forever, the healthy environment that will be degraded, and the brilliant dark-sky to be gone for more than a decade

THE AFFECTS ON BLAYNEY TOWNSHIP
• Blayney town is sufficiently close to experience the noise of blasting, the night -light and in adverse weather conditions dust from the mine including that from the tailings that are enriched in elements including arsenic, copper, sulphur, zinc, cadmium, and selenium.
• While the proponents of the mine speak of additional residents, business opportunities, employment, and additional rate income, what is to become of the plans for encouraging tourism? Will there be accommodation available for tourists, will business be lost by the shops, cafes hotels and motels? Will tourists still want to come? Will the presence of a mine waste dump be a welcoming sign for those travelling along the eastern entry? What of the cost of renting in Blayney, already short of such accommodation – will the less well - off be squeezed out by well-paid miners? Will local businesses loose skilled workers and potential apprentices for the same reason? The mine life is 10 years – what will happen then to the work force residents of Blayney? Will they find the employment for which they have developed skills and will businesses buoyed by contracts from the mine survive the inevitable mine-closure bust and will the Shire accommodate easily to the loss of rate income?

INTERGENERATIONAL EQUITY

• The planned McPhillamys gold mine is a good example of intergenerational inequity. The present generation reaps the benefit of the sale of the gold won whereas succeeding generations inherit a toxic tailings dam designed to leak into the headwaters of the Belubula River, and a pit that will leak water contaminated to a degree that it is unsuitable for cattle to drink into the groundwater reservoir and possibly to the Belubule River for tens or hundreds of years. Additionally, in the absence of any strategy to minimize greenhouse gas emissions from the site the miners will leave a legacy contributing to global climate change, principally global warming and increased extreme climatic events. The latter increase the possibility of high precipitation events with the risk of deep erosion of the engineered steep embankments and the catastrophic release of mobilized tailings and acid metalliferous drainage.

NATIVE FLORA AND FAUNA

• Development of the mine site will lead to the destruction of 44 Ha of critically endangered Blackley’s Red Gum – White Box – Yellow Box grassy woodland and the habitat of at least two colonies of squirrel gliders, and at least one koala colony. Both animals are listed as vulnerable. Threatened bird species reported include the Regent honey eater. The Kings Plains district has a very wide range of commoner bird species as well as kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, echidnas, frogs and reptiles. All such fauna will be to a degree displaced by destruction of habitat and the effects of noise, dust, night light, and destruction of potable water sources. Combined these indicate a risk to local biodiversity and a reason for rejecting the mine.

LOSS OF PRODUCTIVE LAND

• The development of the McPhillamys mine site necessarily involves the loss of productive agricultural land, some of this permanently, for example the grassy woodland to be established on the site of the waste rock emplacement where grazing will not be possible. In a world short of food with a population estimated to grow to 9.7 billon by 2050 from the present 7.7 billon but no shortage of gold (over 40% is locked up in vaults) the morality of preferring gold mining over food production in a rich country like Australia must be questioned.
DECLINE OR LOSS OF BUSINESSES CLOSE TO THE MINE
• There are numerous small-medium sized businesses in the area around the mine site. Visitors will be reluctant to stay at AirBandB’s near the mine, equine pursuits may no longer be possible, riding tuition will cease because of the danger of blasting frightening horses, horse breeding and agistment cease because of the effect of blasting and toxic dust coating grass ingested by close grazing animals, honey and queen bee production end because of dust, organic and experimental biodynamic farming and tuition because of pollution, clients will probably no longer wish to board their domestic animals at kennels/cattery close to the mine.

PERSONAL RESPONSE
My grandparents reside at Kings Plains and I regularly visit them. I enjoy spending time on their property. The fresh air, wide open spaces, and peace and quiet are things that I treasure when I stay. These are the reasons my grandparents decided to move to this area. I am upset that these things, that make country life so appealing and liveable, are now in jeopardy because of this proposed mine. This really is not fair.

My apologies to the DPIE and the IPAC for using a ‘form’ response. I have read it through and it does express my main reasons for objecting to the gold mine project.

Please see the attachment

please see attachment

I object to the proposal going ahead. In particular to the Pipeline
I am a neighbour to the proposed pipeline development and I have not been notified of the development, I have also not been identified in the submission. I share a boundary for approximately 900m of the pipeline route, located in the Sunny Corner State Forest adjacent to Bourkes Rd. . I have lived at this address for 2 years.
I believe that transferring water from the Lithgow Region may be detrimental for future growth of the Lithgow region.
The pipeline will have an impact on my property as it will be impossible not to have soil from the pipeline impacting on my property. Noise and dust may also impact on my property. In parts, my property boundary and fence line is located less than 3m from the proposed pipeline route.
I object to the report regarding the assessment of Sugarloaf Creek. In the report this has been named as a non permeant creek. This is incorrect. This creek is spring fed and is currently still running even though we have had significantly below average rainfall for the past 2 years. It was also noted that there is no aquatic vegetation in the creek. This is also untrue. I have recently undertaken a NSW fisheries fish habitat action grant which involved fencing the creek to protect the creek and improve water quality.
I object to drilling under our creeks and rivers as well as piping through the creeks as this has the potential to damage the water flow.

I believe that the McPhillamy Gold Mine Project will be detrimental to the Belubula River Valley, prime agricultural farming land, large water resources and recreational areas and also critically endanger native flora and fauna. Not only will there be a negative impact on the environment but also on the Kings Plain's community as a whole. The mine will be running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week creating pollution, noise and dust. The permanent destruction of the landscape with a whole in the ground over one kilometre in length must be stopped not only for us but for future generations to come.

See attached document.

I OBJECT to the proposal
REASONS FOR OBJECTION:
EFFECTS ON BELUBULA RIVER AND WATER RESOURCES
• The dangers to the whole river system associated with any toxic spills into the Belubula River Headwaters that runs through the mine site and will be buried for several kms by the mine tailings. Downstream from the mine the river flows through the town of Blayney, rich alluvial flats grazing land, and into Carcoar Dam. Tablelands Water supply might be polluted via the planned pipeline connecting Lake Rowlands and Carcoar Dam. Below Carcoar Dam the Belubula passes through several rural communities, much grazing and cropping country and ultimately feeds into the Lachlan River west of Cowra.
• Possible disruption to adjacent groundwater supply by bores sunk on the mine site to provide water for construction and operation before the pipeline from Lithgow is operational. Regis until recently denied this was planned. In addition, the rain that falls on the minesite will be harvested far beyond the 10% allowed to farmers, and will further reduce the presently available water in the Upper Belubula catchment.
• The plan to bring 13 000 000 litres of dirty saline water from Lithgow to the mine every day. This is water that Sydney does not want in Warragamba Dam, that has its origins in the degrading wetlands of the western Blue Mountains, that is polluted by being filtered through coal seams and by being used in a coal washery, and has its salt content multiplied by addition of brine, the waste product of a desalination plant at Mount Piper Power Station. The net result will be the introduction of a very large volume of poor quality water and the supply of thousands of tonnes of salt to the already overburdened Murray – Darling Basin.
EFFECTS ON THE ‘NEAR NEIGHBOURS’ OF THE MINE
• The proposed mine would have a dramatic effect on the near neighbours of the mine especially, but not limited to, the settlement of Kings Plains that live on the south side of the valley facing the mine that occupies almost the entire opposite northern side. Here the open cut pit will be excavated and a large waste rock disposal area including a high embankment to be constructed over a period of four years. This will be a continuous source of noise, dust, and at night, light pollution during the life of the mine – after the first 6 months of construction on the site it is proposed that mining activity will proceed for ten years, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and fifty-two weeks a year, blasting permitted for 12 hours a day. For most what attracted the residents to settle in the area around what may now become an industrial void and dump mine was the overall amenity of the area: the rural views that will be changed forever, the healthy environment that will be degraded, and the brilliant dark-sky to be gone for more than a decade

THE AFFECTS ON BLAYNEY TOWNSHIP
• Blayney town is sufficiently close to experience the noise of blasting, the night -light and in adverse weather conditions dust from the mine including that from the tailings that are enriched in elements including arsenic, copper, sulphur, zinc, cadmium, and selenium.
• While the proponents of the mine speak of additional residents, business opportunities, employment, and additional rate income, what is to become of the plans for encouraging tourism? Will there be accommodation available for tourists, will business be lost by the shops, cafes hotels and motels? Will tourists still want to come? Will the presence of a mine waste dump be a welcoming sign for those travelling along the eastern entry? What of the cost of renting in Blayney, already short of such accommodation – will the less well - off be squeezed out by well-paid miners? Will local businesses loose skilled workers and potential apprentices for the same reason? The mine life is 10 years – what will happen then to the work force residents of Blayney? Will they find the employment for which they have developed skills and will businesses buoyed by contracts from the mine survive the inevitable mine-closure bust and will the Shire accommodate easily to the loss of rate income?

INTERGENERATIONAL EQUITY

• The planned McPhillamys gold mine is a good example of intergenerational inequity. The present generation reaps the benefit of the sale of the gold won whereas succeeding generations inherit a toxic tailings dam designed to leak into the headwaters of the Belubula River, and a pit that will leak water contaminated to a degree that it is unsuitable for cattle to drink into the groundwater reservoir and possibly to the Belubule River for tens or hundreds of years. Additionally, in the absence of any strategy to minimize greenhouse gas emissions from the site the miners will leave a legacy contributing to global climate change, principally global warming and increased extreme climatic events. The latter increase the possibility of high precipitation events with the risk of deep erosion of the engineered steep embankments and the catastrophic release of mobilized tailings and acid metalliferous drainage.

NATIVE FLORA AND FAUNA

• Development of the mine site will lead to the destruction of 44 Ha of critically endangered Blackley’s Red Gum – White Box – Yellow Box grassy woodland and the habitat of at least two colonies of squirrel gliders, and at least one koala colony. Both animals are listed as vulnerable. Threatened bird species reported include the Regent honey eater. The Kings Plains district has a very wide range of commoner bird species as well as kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, echidnas, frogs and reptiles. All such fauna will be to a degree displaced by destruction of habitat and the effects of noise, dust, night light, and destruction of potable water sources. Combined these indicate a risk to local biodiversity and a reason for rejecting the mine.

LOSS OF PRODUCTIVE LAND

• The development of the McPhillamys mine site necessarily involves the loss of productive agricultural land, some of this permanently, for example the grassy woodland to be established on the site of the waste rock emplacement where grazing will not be possible. In a world short of food with a population estimated to grow to 9.7 billon by 2050 from the present 7.7 billon but no shortage of gold (over 40% is locked up in vaults) the morality of preferring gold mining over food production in a rich country like Australia must be questioned.
DECLINE OR LOSS OF BUSINESSES CLOSE TO THE MINE
• There are numerous small-medium sized businesses in the area around the mine site. Visitors will be reluctant to stay at AirBandB’s near the mine, equine pursuits may no longer be possible, riding tuition will cease because of the danger of blasting frightening horses, horse breeding and agistment cease because of the effect of blasting and toxic dust coating grass ingested by close grazing animals, honey and queen bee production end because of dust, organic and experimental biodynamic farming and tuition because of pollution, clients will probably no longer wish to board their domestic animals at kennels/cattery close to the mine.

PERSONAL RESPONSE
I love visiting my grandparents' property at Kings Plains. My cousins, siblings and I have so much fun exploring the paddocks and helping Poppy with the cattle. I'm upset that a mine may open across the valley from them. The mine puts my grandparents, their community, the environment and the animals in danger. Please protect this beautiful countryside from harm.

My apologies to the DPIE and the IPAC for using a ‘form’ response. I have read it through and it does express my main reasons for objecting to the gold mine project.

PDF Attachment outline my personal submission.

see attached leter

I have outlined my main concerns (in the attached pdf file below) with regards to the proposed McPhillamy’s mine. I just cannot fathom how one company can propose to move into such a well populated area and ruin the productive farmland, utilise incredible amounts of precious water, change the flow of a river, ruin the peaceful ambience, the rural views, the air quality, to destroy the capacity to run established successful businesses and then leave the area contaminated with toxic chemicals for many hundreds of years to come, all in the pursuit of profit. Is this truly the legacy we wish to leave the generations of future Australians?

I cannot choose either way whether I support the project or object to it. Our residence is located 800m from the pit location. For us it's not an ideal situation and we have many concerns. The main being that we have a daughter with severe allergies and asthma. Some of her allergies are with dust and various grasses. We bought and built in this location because of the privacy, peacefulness and the view. All of which are threatened by the mine. I will say however that I feel the mine will be beneficial to our community in terms of growth and employment. Regis has always been considerate when dealing with us, communicated well and have kept us informed with what’s happening. I feel they are a good company to deal with and are doing everything they can to be considerate of our local environment and work with our community. While ever there is a valued resource here, there will always be someone that will pursue the mining of it, so why not Regis? Also more on that note, for us if it's going to happen let it happen now and get on with it, otherwise we will be stuck in limbo with uncertainty for years.

Gold mining poses significant risks to human health by introducing contaminants from the mining process and by enhancing concentrations of minerals. Industrial methods for processing gold ore use mercury to separate gold from crushed rock, with consequent release of mercury into the surrounding air, tailings, soil, sediment, and water (reference 1). Once in the environment, mercury persists (2). Among naturally present minerals, elevated arsenic concentrations are also found in surface water and sediment in gold mining watersheds, and as multiple researcher’s will attest, these have been found in surface soil as far as 14 km from the gold mining sites.
The township of Blaney is just 7kms from the mine site with many of its residents collecting drinking water from the roof of their homes and growing their own fruit and vegetables. There are also a large number of primary producers in the area, whose stock may be unsafe for human consumption. This may extend to the stock who pass thorough the Central Tablelands Livestock Exchange which is just 10mks outside of Blayney. Contamination occurs through the metal contaminants in tailings that disperse through soil, water, and river sediments many kilometres from the mining site, and even farther via airborne travel of volatilized particles (14,15). Mercury, used in gold ore extraction, biomagnifies in the food web and becomes methylated into more toxic forms (16). As such, potentially hazardous levels of mercury have been detected in higher order fish (17,18) and in other edible animals and plants (19).
A study assessing the neurotoxic effects associated with exposure to lead and mercury in borehole, tap and surface water found that children were showing neurologic effects associated with exposure to mercury and lead such as increased nervousness, loss of memory and/or decrease in concentration, impaired writing ability and tremors.
Metals emitted from mining processes represent an important source of environmental contamination; especially for the local children. Gold mine tailings often contain concentrated levels of elements that are naturally present in gold-containing rock, including arsenic, aluminium, antimony, cadmium, copper, chromium, iron, lead, manganese, selenium, and zinc (1,20). Elevated arsenic concentrations are also found in surface water and sediment in gold mining watersheds,(3,4) including at appreciable distances from gold mining sites (5). Studies have also found elevated levels of lead (3,280.5 g/g) in the soil surrounding the mine sites, and elevated levels of manganese. Elevated mercury concentrations have been found in hair (14,15,19,21–34) urine, (19,21,22,24,32,35) and blood samples (14,19,21,27,35–39) of individuals living near mines or people occupationally exposed such as miners (7, 40).
Arsenic levels in soil surrounding gold mine sites have been found to exceed the normal range (13). A case-control study to investigate the association between chemicals in maternal drinking water consumed during pregnancy and congenital heart disease in the offspring found that arsenic exposure at any detectable level was associated with a threefold increase in occurrence of congenital heart disease of the foetus (8.9).
Research assessing safe drinking water found arsenic concentrations to exceed the current World Health Organisation guidelines of 10 g/l for drinking water. In several cases, these water samples were taken up to 14kms away from the mine site. Blayney Township is just 7kms away and is home to over 7,342 people; many of whom collect rain water for drinking.
Coombing Creek is within the catchment area for the Lake Rowlands and is approximately 16kms from the proposed mine site; with some smaller creek beds even closer. Lake Rowlands serves as the water drinking source for over 14,000 residents. The Belubla River is a part of the Lachlan catchment within the Murray Darling basin and flows into Carcoar Dam. The Belubla flows alongside the proposed mine site. The NSW Government has made a commitment of $850,000 to conduct a study for a pipeline to pump excess water from Lake Rowlands to Carcoar Dam. The pipeline will be a two way pipe line. If the mine is to go ahead, not only will the water source of 14,000 people be at risk, it will render Carcoar Dam unsafe for human contact, and as such, also limit future water saving plans and initiative, such as connecting Carcoar Dam to Lake Rowlands. Whilst Carcoar dam is a recreational dam, the impacts of it having contaminated water and soil will be significant.
Once the water is contaminated we will be unable to treat the water sufficiently to render it safe for human contact or usage. The Browns Creek Goldmine is a practical example of this. The mine closed in Blayney when the mine filled with water. Wanting to utilise the large body of water and maximise its close proximity to the township, Central Tablelands Water, along with Orange Water and Sewer Authority conducted studies independent of one another to investigate the possibility of utilising the water. Due to the contamination they were unable to use the water.
In many research studies, mercury exposure occurs through drinking water, soil, and artisanal mining. For arsenic, drinking water concentrations predicted poorer health outcomes among adults who consumed water with higher arsenic levels. Several other studies have correlated drinking water arsenic concentrations (7,43–46) and food arsenic concentrations (41) with high levels in human tissue, and therefore associated health implications. Additionally, as with mercury, soil exposure appears to be an exposure pathway for children. Hinwood et al.(43) found a strong correlation between soil and arsenic in humans a study of 83 Australian individuals exposed to high arsenic in their residential environment.
There is increasing evidence that mercury and arsenic are neurotoxic and carcinogenic, even at very low exposure levels. This suggest that there may be detrimental health effects in Blayney and surrounding villages as a result of toxic metal contamination should the proposed mine go ahead. The evidence of human uptake of mercury via drinking water and occupational exposure, and via soil exposure among children should be of concern to all. Studies have shown that human uptake of arsenic occurs in communities around gold mining sites via drinking water exposure and via soil exposure among children. These findings highlight the need to consider the likelihood of toxic metal exposure when managing drinking water sources in this community, and the need to better understand the potential role of soil as a pathway for arsenic and mercury exposure, particularly among children.

I object to the proposal of McPhillamy’s Gold Mine at Kings Plains, near Blayney.

I object to the proposal for the following reasons:
• My biggest concern is for the use of cyanide as a lixiviant (extraction agent). Cyanide is a well-known poison to both animals and humans, and can cause irreparable damage.
• There are other alternative lixiviants, however they were discounted due to cost or effectiveness. If cyanide is the only option Regis is willing to use, or is the only “viable” option, then the mine should NOT go ahead. It is not acceptable. The cost to the environment, to animals and to humans is too great.
• 56 tonnes of hydrogen cyanide gas will be released into the atmosphere each year.
• Regis will cite various safety procedures to “prevent” cyanide breaching safety boundaries, however my experience from various work sites is that corners are cut, mistakes are covered up to avoid paperwork, extra effort, and shame, and ultimately dangerous things are done in the workplace, including the leaching of dangerous chemicals into the environment. Despite various safety mechanisms, I believe the leaching of heavy metals into the environment, at some point in the construction, operation, and post-operation phase is GUARANTEED, due to negligence or other causes (e.g. earthquakes).
• Regardless of the extraction agent used, the location of the mine is on the Belubula River headwaters, which ultimately flow into Carcoar Dam and the Lachlan River, which forms part of the Murray-Darling basin. Not only is the river used for recreation, including swimming and water sports, it is also used for irrigation and stock watering, meaning that any disruption to this ecosystem will impact on farming, ultimately affecting the food chain.
• In addition, the location of the mine is right on prime agricultural land, in a sought-after farming location.
• The mine will impact on koalas and squirrel gliders, both of which are listed as vulnerable.
• The volume of water required for the mine operation is astronomical (13,000,000 litres per day, according to the EIS), and considering the current state of the worst drought in the history of Australian settlement, the use of such water is questionable at best, and insulting and damaging to farmers at worst.
• Our property relies on bore water. The water table will be greatly lowered (and access to our bore will likely become ineffective or inaccessible) when Regis excavates below the water table.
• In conjunction to this, the salt levels of the proposed water pipeline will disrupt the local ecosystem in an irreparable manner, which will not fade when the mine is closed.
• The presence of heavy metals used during the mine and processing will continue to contaminate the soil for years after their use.
• One of the best things about living in Blayney is the visibility of the stars at night, due to the low levels of light pollution. This mine will create massive levels of light pollution in an otherwise dark area, which will disrupt the quality of life for local residents. This is acknowledged (but not remediated) in the EIS.
• The noise pollution the mine will create will again disrupt the quality of life in a rural setting, including general operating noise 24/7, as well as the effects of blasting 12 hours a day, and subsequent vibrations and disruptions to neighbours.
• The levels of dust which will be created, despite plans to dampen soil, will be both disruptive and harmful to human health as it is inhaled through airborne particles. This is especially so for those with sensitivities and asthma. My husband and several members of my family have asthma.
• There will be an increase to local rent prices, negatively impacting local families and residents, especially those on lower incomes.
• There already has been a decrease in nearby land values, including difficulties in selling properties near the mine. The EIS (vol 8, p. 174) states this financial burden rests with the existing property owners, which is incredulous!!
• The modelling used for the EIS has not been independently peer reviewed, which invalidates its use, given the ability (and likelihood) of manipulation of data for financial gain and mining approval.
• The cultural significance of the land for the local Aboriginal people, the Wiradjuri nation, has been insensitively treated.

I’m not against construction, or even mines, but the conditions need to be right, and they are not right in this mine. The location is so close to major water sources which will be contaminated despite well-laid plans (as seen recently in nearby Cadia mine following earthquakes). On top of this, the use of vital water sources through new bores until the pipeline is constructed, and then the lowering of the water table through excavation and use, unfairly disadvantages locals and farmers relying on ground water and suffering in this long drought. For those relying on rain water, there will be increased contamination through airborne particulates and dust particulates, captured in the rain water.
My family owns property bordering the mine, and I am not willing to live here if a mine using cyanide goes ahead just over the fence. It is not safe for my health or that of my family. We are then being forced to live in conditions we don’t want to live in. This is a profit-driven project which favours profit over the safety of residents and the environment. It is not acceptable.

I object to the McPhillamys Gold Project for several reasons.

Firstly our precious water is at great risk.

- The high risk of polluting the Belubula river, Carcoar Dam and other water catchments and water courses downstream of the Belubula river. Namely the Lachlan river and the Murray Darling basin is of great concern.

- I fundamentally oppose the use of hydrogen Cyanide in the mining process. Hydrogen cyanide is the most hazardous form of cyanide. The mine assures there will only be safe levels of this toxic chemical found in the tailings dam. I don't believe there is any such thing as a safe level of cyanide anywhere. Cyanide contamination of our waterways would be utterly disastrous!
- At worst it would pose a huge risk to human life and to the many aquatic species of plants and animals. Secondly it would make our precious water unsustainable for human and animal consumption. Thirdly recreational use of the very popular Carcoar and possibly even Wyangla dams would be unsafe and impossible.

- In my experience of living with and being friends of miners that work at the CVO mine near orange and the OceanaGold Waihi Operation in New Zealand, Miners only care about the money and will often cover up mistakes and bad decisions so as not to face disciplinary action. Often safety is put aside and people take shortcuts to get the job done, this is when accidents and mistakes happen. I am concerned about toxic chemical spills happening and being covered up. I don't think it is a matter of if, but a matter of when, the Belubula river will be contaminated by toxic chemicals whether that is the "permissible" level after standard production activities or through accidents or mistakes made by miners.

- It is also possible that a flood of the Belubula river catchment could cause the tailings dam to be breached. And thus polute our precious waterways.

- I do not understand how it is a good idea for a mine to be allowed to use so much water when Australia is on the verge of a national disaster with the drought that is the worst on record. Climate change is happening and the last thing we need is for billions of litres of precious water to be wasted on mining gold. The EIS states that 13,000,000 litres of water will be pumped from Lithgow each day.

Secondly, the absolute prime agricultural land that will be destroyed is of great concern.

- The land at and around Kings plains is very fertile and holds on for a long time when it is dry.

- It is disclosed in the EIS that the habitat for the Koala and Squirrel Glider which are vulnerable species will be destroyed.

This mine is completely unnecessary and serves the selfish money-centred interests of only a few people. It will severely negatively affect the environment, our precious water and the people of the Blayney region.

REASONS FOR OBJECTION:
CLOSENESS OF MINE
* Residents on the Guyong Road are west of the mine and will also be directly and dramatically affected by the mine. We personally have a sheep stud on our property and also run cattle when not in drought. With the expected dust on our grass affecting photosynthesis of possible growth of feed, the taste and toxicity of feed is of major concern. Let alone the air we breathe and the toxic dust in our water systems for our own house drinking water and for our stock. We have children and grand children and the last thing we want is to be putting them in harms way. Our boundry fence joins the mine and our home is within 2 kms of the pit. Would you want to live here now??? If the mine goes ahead We lose our plans for our future, without any kind of buffer zone being put into affect for local residents to chose to stay or leave, we are left with a diminished value on our properties and all current and future plans for our properties are lost as well as superannuation. For many these properties are not just homes, but business. Why aren’t our businesses important? Why aren’t our homes important? Why isn’t water for many communities important?

EFFECTS ON BELUBULA RIVER AND WATER RESOURCES
• ● The dangers to the whole river system associated with loss of flow from the natural springs being sealed. With the current drought this is vital.
• Dangers to the whole river system associated with any toxic spills into the Belubula River Headwaters that runs through the mine site and will be buried for several kms by the mine tailings. Downstream from the mine the river flows through the town of Blayney, rich alluvial flats grazing land, and into Carcoar Dam. Tablelands Water supply might be polluted via the planned pipeline connect ng Lake Rowlands and Carcoar Dam. Below Carcoar Dam the Belubula passes through several rural community es, much grazing, cropping and irrigation country and ul timately feeds into the Lachlan River west of Cowra.
• ● Possible disruption on to adjacent groundwater supply by bores sunk on the mine site to provide water for construc tion and opera tion before the pipeline from Lithgow is opera tional. Regis unti l recently denied this was planned.
• ● The plan to bring 13 000 000 litres of dirty saline water from Lithgow to the mine every day. This is water that Sydney does not want in Warragamba Dam, that has its origins in the degrading wetlands of the western Blue Mountains, that is polluted by being filtered through coal seams and by being used in a coal washery, and has its salt content mutil plied by the additi on of brine, the waste product of a desalina tion plant at Mount Piper Power Sta tion. The net result will be the introducti on of a very large volume of poor quality water and the supply of thousands of tonnes of salt to the already overburdened Murray – Darling Basin.
EFFECTS ON THE ‘NEAR NEIGHBOURS’ OF THE MINE
• ● The proposed mine would have a drama c effect on the near neighbours of the mine especially, but not limited to, the settlement of Kings Plains that live on the south side of the valley facing the mine that occupies almost the enitre opposite northern side. Here the open cut pit will be excavated and a large waste rock disposal area including a high embankment to be constructed over a period of four years. This will be a continuious source of noise, dust, and at night, light pollution during the life of the mine – after the first 6 months of construction on the site it is proposed that mining activity will proceed for ten years, 24 hours a day, seven days a week and fifty-two weeks a year, blasting permitted for 12 hours a day. For most what attracted the residents to settle in the area around what may now become an industrial void and dump mine was the overall amenity of the area: the rural views that will be changed forever, the healthy environment that will be degraded, and the brilliant dark-sky to be gone for more than a decade plus!
THE AFFECTS ON BLAYNEY TOWNSHIP
• ● Blayney town is sufficiently closed to experience the noise of blasting, the night -light and in adverse weather conditions dust from the mine including that from the tailings that are enriched in elements including arsenic, copper, sulphur, zinc, cadmium, and selenium.
• ● While the proponents of the mine speak of additional residents, business opportunities, employment, and additional rate income, what is to become of the plans for encouraging tourism? Will there be accommodation available for tourists, will business be lost by the shops, cafes hotels and motels? Will tourists s till want to come? Will the presence of a mine waste dump be a welcoming sign for those traveling along the eastern entry? What of the cost of renting in Blayney, already short of such accommodation – will the less well - off be squeezed out by well-paid miners? Will local businesses loose skilled workers and potential apprentices for the same reason? The mine life is 10 years – what will happen then to the work force residents of Blayney? Will they find the employment for which they have developed skills and will businesses buoyed by contracts from the mine survive the inevitable mine-closure bust and will the Shire accommodate easily to the loss of rate income?
INTERGENERATIONAL EQUITY
● The real gold of this world is water and this mine is putting one or our most important resources at risk! The planned McPhillamys gold mine is a good example of intergenerational inequity. The present generation reaps the benefit of the sale of the gold won whereas succeeding generations inherit a toxic tailings dam designed to leak into the headwaters of the Belubula River, and a pit that will leak water contaminated to a degree that it is unsuitable for cattle to drink into the groundwater reservoir and possibly to the Belubula River for tens or hundreds of years. Additionally, in the absence of any strategy to minimize greenhouse gas emissions from the site the miners will leave a legacy contributing to global climate change, principally global warming and increased extreme climati c events. The lat er increase the possibility of high precipitati on events with the risk of deep erosion of the engineered steep embankments and the catastrophic release of mobilized tailings and acid metalliferous drainage.
NATIVE FLORA AND FAUNA
● Development of the mine site will lead to the destruction of 44 Ha of critically endangered Blackley’s Red Gum – White Box – Yellow Box grassy woodland and the habitat of at least two colonies of squirrel gliders, and at least one koala colony. Both animals are listed as vulnerable. Threatened bird species reported include the Regent honey eater. The Kings Plains district has a very wide range of commoner bird species as well as kangaroos, wallabies, wombats, echidnas, frogs and reptiles. All such fauna will be to a degree displaced by destruction of habitat and the effects of noise, dust, night light, and destruction of potable water sources. Combined these indicate a risk to local biodiversity and a reason for rejecting the mine.
OTHER POTENTIAL LOSSES
● The development of the McPhillamy’s mine site necessarily involves the loss of productive agricultural land, some of this permanently, for example the grassy woodland to be established on the site of the waste rock emplacement where grazing will not be possible. In a world short of food with a population estimated to grow within a couple of genera ions to in excess of 7 billon but no shortage of gold (over 40% is locked up in vaults) the morality of preferring gold mining over food production in a rich country like Australia must be ques tioned.
● There are numerous small-medium sized businesses in the area around the mine site . Visitors will be reluctant to stay at AirBandB’s near the mine, equine pursuits may no longer be possible, riding tuiti on will cease because of the danger of blasti ng frightening horses, horse breeding and agistment because of the effect of blasting and toxic dust coating grass ingested by close grazing animals, honey and queen bee production by the effect of dust, organic and experimental biodynamic farming tuition because of pollution, clients will probably no longer wish to board their domes c animals at kennels/catery close to the mine.

see attachment

The attached submission is on behalf of the NSW Farmers Association Orange Branch on behalf of its members.

I object to this proposed mine. Please find my ten page submission attached.
Thanks
Tim