Mod 1

I live within 500m of the proposed SEOC and object to the noise, dust, lighting and total disrespect to my family. Who has lived here since 1998 before Ashton Coal came here. I have been living in limbo since they first put there submission in for the SEOC.
At what point do I decide to invest in doing up my property or am I just wasting money
I bought this property over 20 years ago and this was going to be for my wife and me to retire on , but I have Rix's Creek coming towards me from the East and I have Ashton Coal coming next to me from the South and Ravensworth from the west.
My swimming pool and concrete surrounds are stained in coal dust
My water tanks are full of dust coming off the roof from the mines
You can't leave the clothes on the line from the dust
The noise coming from Rix's Creek on a hot night you can't leave the window open, because the noise from the dozers and the excavators it's impossible to go to sleep

Now If you except Ashtons request, you will of probably put the last nail in my coffin
I am shattered

Trevor Burgess

The Registered Native title Party, Scott Franks anor for the Plains clans of the Wonnarua people (registered Native title party for the hunter Valley) i have taken the time to read threw the MoD for the Ashton south east open cut, with regard to the approval several positions need to be considered that simply make this approval ridiculous, the first point is the impacts on Wonnarua Heritage and the loss of it for this project or any works that may impact the area in Question have simple not been addressed, i state this simply because the large foot print of mining with in the hunter valley has never been viewed at collectively and there has never been a ourdet completed as to how much of the Wonnarua Archaeological or cultural landscape is still intact, this area currently has a Aboriginal heritage listing application before the Office of heritage and environment, secondly the mining company needs to gain ownership of the private owned land that is required to build then open cut Mine. to my knowledge and every other living person in the hunter valley are all aware of the Land and enviro court ruling and the federal court ruling. Ashton coal do not own the private land, this should be enough for your depart to reject the Mod until this ming company acutely owned the land it wants to mine. it is impossible to except that a ming company that has No rights to enter can waste the local communities time along with a government departs time reviewing a modification for when we all know the mine has no assess to Private land that it need before the mine can proceed.

I refer to the Mod 1 Attachment letter from Yancoal

First, this is not an obvious inclusion to the planning exhibit as it is buried within the Attachments and Resources section on your web page.
Second, I object to the proposed addition that Yancoal have provided as from what I understand from participating in the previous court hearing on the extension, the court ruled that this project cannot begin until the properties have been acquired. Yancoal apparently are asking you to reverse this judgement through modifying the rules for their application.

I refer to the following section in their attachment to the letter:

3 C1 Additional property acquisition of affected Camberwell village residents:
In addition to property acquisition requirements within the
Project Approval where requested by any affected property
owner within Camberwell village, Ashton will enter into
purchase negotiations in accordance with the properly
acquisition conditions of the Project Approval.
Upon commencement of development of the Project.

In short, I object to this modification. Frankly I am not convinced that this miner and the plans exhibited will protect the waters of Glennie's Creek. This is a critical aquifer for the Hunter Valley wine industry as it flows into the Hunter River above the pumping point for the PID.

I object to this modification because
- The social impact of the Ashton mine on the people of Camberwell has been significant.
- The cumulative impact of open cut mining around Camberwell village is highly significant.
- Air quality at Camberwell village is regularly very poor and does not meet national standards.People should have the right to escape these health impacts.

The modification to the Ashton South mine prolongs the acquisition program of residents choosing to leave Camberwell. Mrs Bowman has chosen to stay but others should have the right of negotation around purchase. The impacts around Camberwell area from existing mining is seriously destroying the landscape and living condition. The benefits of mining do not in any way outweigh the costs when the long term degradation of the area is taken into account. To say otherwise is downright untruthful. Coal is on the downslide as alternative energies come forward. To prolong the damage in the region from Ashton South is seen as Government betraying the future needs of the Hunter.

I object to this devious strategy to extend the lease on the Ashton Mine. The project cannot go ahead because Wendy Bowman won;t sell her property. If the mine does "nothing" in 5 years their lease will be terminated. This is nothing but a rouse to postpone the 5 year rule.
The effect of this on the residents of Camberwell is that any property acquisitions are also on hold, denying Camberwell residents the opportunity to move away from the dirt, dust and noise that is the Ashton mine.
The dust monitor at Camberwell reports frequent exceedences of the health criteria of 50 PM10, yet the residents are being denied the opportunity to move.
This is disgusting and grossly unfair and should not be allowed to happen.
I OBJECT MOST STRONGLY TO THIS SPECIOUS PROPOSED "MODIFICATION"

Ashton Coal, by requesting to put their own date on what constitutes the start of the project will further delay acquisition rights for the residents of Camberwell. This Community has suffered enough from mining activity and those who wish to leave should have the right to acquisition by the coal company. The effects of bad air quality would certainly be affecting the health of residents so they should have the option to leave if they wish.
There is also a very real concern that encroachment of this land will cause huge impacts on drainage during large storm-water overflows into the creek thus threatening ground water levels.
If no activity takes place in 5 years the lease should expire. there should be no use of words to change the meaning of this rule. This modification seems to be attempting to change the time in which the lease would expire. Is this because of the company being unable to acquire the Bowman property?
The Planning Department has admitted the Community of Camberwell has suffered long and hard from this mine. Please give this Community a break and do not allow this modification.

I did not agree with the agree with the original,proposal.
We have enough mines in the hunter valley. We have an unbearable load of environmental issues:
Air, water, noise & land pollution.
All in a background of a world that is looking to have power supply being generated by renewable energy.
There are other businesses in the hunter valley that need clean water, clean air & a further expansion if the mining industry at this stage is not acceptable.
Planning NSW has a responsibility to plan for the future of the residents of NSW.
Please do not make decisions which will impact on the future residents of this state by allowing this mine to proceed.
We have total evidence of climate change ..every mine contributes to climate change..at a micro level by the vast amount of land clearing & earth destruction & at a macro level by the burning of the fossil fuel.
Do your bit & reject the mine application.

Attention Mr Howard Reed
Director, Resource Assessment
Department of Planning and Environment

Dear Sir

I am the owner of property 130 which immediately adjoins the project on the eastern and southern boundaries. I would like it noted that at no time have I been consulted by Ashton Coal regarding their request to modify conditions. As a key stakeholder I feel that Ashton Coal have failed to appropriately consult with the immediate community.

I wish to lodge the following objection to the Modification of Conditions of SEOC Project.

Schedule 3 Condition 61
I object to the change in timing of the land management program. This process should ongoing and continuous irrespective of commencement of development. Failure to undertaker this work increases the risk to the local community adjacent Camberwell Village of bushfire.

Appendix 3 Commitment Q2 Management of offset areas.
I object to the change in timing of the management of offset areas. This process should ongoing and continuous irrespective of commencement of development. Failure to undertake this work, until up to three years of commencing operations, will result in;

a. Increase in feral animal populations.
b. Increase in environmental weeds.
c. The cessation of current monitoring programmes.

The need for detailed study of all the listed conditions "to ensure control of the land is maintained in a satisfactory ongoing manner" would seem appropriate.

Regards
Alistair Bowman

We oppose any change to the notification of commencement of the project and places approval with the secretary, and the removal off time obligations not linked to project commencement. Namely "Yancoal requests the suspension of any condition specifying a date or inferring fulfillment of an obligation designed to control the impact of the development until such time as Yancoal elects to commence the development under PA 08_0182."

I write to you to pass on my strong objection to an further amendment to Ashton Mine South East Open Cut as proposed by the applicant .
This mine should not proceed under any approval , the implications of further open cut mining in terms of water impact and as well as effects on neighbouring property are dramatic and for the sake of the region no further mining should be considered.

We have lived at Maison Dieu for 40 years and in that time we have seen the deterioration of the Hunter River. As there are no records of river water quality back that far, there is no proof to the cause of this deterioration. We strongly believe it is due to pollution in some form from the many mines along the Hunter River upstream from us.
If any more mines are going to be allowed to expand or open surely there has to be a fool proof way of protecting the water supply carried by the Hunter River, Glennies Creek and underground streams in coal mining areas.
As everyone knows, life depends on water, as only to well shown in the summer we are experiencing now.
Our crops under irrigation are not growing as well as they used to and we also believe it is due to the quality of the water. Our pressure system that supplies water to our cattle troughs comes from the river too, as we had to change from a ground water well because the water was too salty for consumption.
In one of our big cattle troughs that is supplied with river water we lost two (2) groups of goldfish that just mysteriously died over a few days. We don't stock it with goldfish any more.
Glennies Creek is a lot more pristine than the Hunter River and we believe that the the Ashton South East Open Cut should not go ahead if there is any chance that Glennies Creek or underground water supplies will be damaged beyond repair.
Many farmers downstream depend on a good clean water supply and farmers are the lifeblood of a healthy nation

It is the belief of the Broke Fordwich Wine Tourism Association that a balance between the interests of the coal mining industry and the agricultural sector need to be reached. Mining is inherently destructive, and although mined land can be returned to grazing after mining has finished, the returned land is never as good as what was there before.
We are generally supportive of coal mining in Broke - it is a major source of jobs and income to our village, but we do not support the expansion of mining into new areas. Coal is a 19th Century fuel, not a 21st Century option. The headlong rush to make money now before the demand falls away is clearly opportunistic and only in the interest of those that seek to make money out of mining. Those of us that live with mines have learnt to tolerate then, and many do 'play by the book' and support their communities. However, this recent step by Yancoal is not acceptable. Mines that listen to the communities can get on just fine, but please don't try to steam-roll residents so you can make money out of their misery.

The continued infringement of the social impact of the Ashton mine on the people of Camberwell, and singleton has been significant. regardless of the whims of Planning all people should be allowed to retain their right to move on, if and when they wish to.

- The cumulative impact of open cut mining around the valley and in particular the Camberwell village is highly significant despite the proponents position.

- Air quality at Camberwell village is consistently very poor, it and does not meet national standards and there appears to be no attempt to improve this. Impacts domino on to the valley, singleton and beyond- Planning has no assessed this. All people should have the right to escape these health impacts and this would be entirely different if the mine were in the Sydney fall-out area.
- This as should all other applications for modifications should be taken for what they are- multinational rape of our resources.

This proposal should be refused.
The people of the Hunter Valley, and particularly the people of Camberwell need to have their right to live in the home of their choosing or move as their choice rather than be driven out by the cumulative impacts of the open cut mining of coal that has progressed within the constraints of their environment of choice.
The air quality at Camberwell village is continuosly poor, does not meet national standards and the regulators do nothing to protect them. All people should have the right to escape these destructive health impacts.

I wish to object strongly to this request by Ashton. Far more social harm has been done to the village of Camberwell than was ever fair or just. But those village home owners who remain, who have stuck it out all the appalling noise and dust and blasting impacts, especially deserve to keep their right to be bought by the company that has caused this great harm, should they choose to.

The cumulative impact of open cut mining around Camberwell village was never taken into account and has been tragic, allowing blame-shifting and shirking of duty of care.

Air quality at Camberwell village is measurably regularly very poor, below national standards. People should have the right to escape these health impacts given that the government keeps refusing to act to improve the air quality, when they ought to be refusing to consider any more mines until it has.

I object to the proposal to change the decision of the L&E Court and the NSW Appeals Court that gave the Hunter community protection from the potential negative environmental outcomes this project could produce, as well as respecting the right of the farmer, Wendy Bowman, to farm her land.

I object to the Government acquiescence to Yancoal's contempt of court decisions in their determination to proceed with this destructive project.

Submission regarding
Modification to Ashton Mine South East Open Cut Project
15 February, 2017

I am a resident of Bulga in the Hunter Valley and I OPPOSE the proposed Modification to Ashton Mine South East Open Cut Project for the following reasons:

The proposed modification is just another attempt by Yancoal, a large foreign-owned corporation, to get around the recent decisions of the L&E Court and the NSW Appeals Court which were in favour of local Hunter Valley farmers. Independent courts are the only protection that local residents have against the rapacious coal mines and should be therefore respected.
Climate science tells us that the last three years were the hottest three years in history. The heatwaves and bushfires we are experiencing right now may become the new normal within ten or twenty years. The agricultural production will suffer and some inland locations may no longer be habitable. It is insane to approve expansion of the more coal mines. Australia uses only a relatively small quantity of coal for domestic energy production and over 85% of the mined coal is exported to be burned overseas. This atmospheric fossil carbon pollution is going to come back to haunt us in the form of wild storms, droughts, floods and bushfires.
The economic benefits of the coal exports are small and short term. On the other hand, the social and environmental costs of the coal mining are huge and long term. There are no examples of any successfully rehabilitated coal mines. The evidence is not hard to find. After the biggest mining boom in history all levels of the Australian government are in financial difficulties, in other words, they are broke!


WE DO NOT NEED MORE COAL MINES, this proposed modification should be rejected.

George Tlaskal

Ashton Coal Mine - South East Open Cut Project (MP 08_0812 Mod. 1) - Proposed Modification to Administrative Conditions

Application to modify conditions of the Ashton South East Open Cut (SEOC) Project Approval which impose obligations, or require compliance, at a time prior to the commencement of the project.
Modification request made via a letter from Yancoal to Mr Howard Reed of the Department of Planning & Environment dated 19/1/17.

Please accept this as my objection to the proposed Modification.

This is clearly a `back door' method to overcome the obstacle posed to Yancoal in the form of longstanding Landholder, Ms. Wendy Bowman, an 81 year old lady.

Wendy Bowman is at an enormous disadvantage in that she does not have the time, the technical knowledge, the economic resources nor the political clout to counter the vast resources of the proponent Yancoal. Plus, at her age she is surely entitled to a little more respect and dignity, and entitled to treat her property as her castle. A property she has owned for many years.

In accord with recent court judgements, Wendy's rights deserve to be respected and protected in the face of a multinational coal miner attempting to manoeuvre an outcome that suits its commercial objectives. The previous court judgements pertaining to this matter need to be upheld and followed.

I oppose:
1. the request made in Yancoal's letter to the Director, Resource Assessments, to change the Schedule 2 Administrative Conditions to allow the Director to approve commencement prior to acquisition of the properties; and
2. the proposed clause in the attached Table B:
"3 C1 Additional property acquisition of affected Camberwell village residents: In addition to
property acquisition requirements within the Project Approval where requested by any affected
property owner within Camberwell village, Ashton will enter into purchase negotiations in
accordance with the properly acquisition conditions of the Project Approval. Amended timing -
Upon commencement of development of the Project."

In conclusion I object to the proposed Modification as it seeks to change the decision of the L&E Court and the NSW Appeals Court that gave the farming community, including Wendy Bowman, the protection from the potential negative environmental outcomes this project will produce, as well as respecting the right of the farmer to farm their land and have the quiet enjoyment of their land.

Ashton Coal Mine - South East Open Cut Project (MP 08_0812 Mod. 1) - Proposed Modification to Administrative Conditions

Application to modify conditions of the Ashton South East Open Cut (SEOC) Project Approval which impose obligations, or require compliance, at a time prior to the commencement of the project.
Modification request made via a letter from Yancoal to Mr Howard Reed of the Department of Planning & Environment dated 19/1/17.

Please accept this as my objection to the proposed Modification.

This is clearly a `back door' method to overcome the obstacle posed to Yancoal in the form of longstanding Landholder, Ms. Wendy Bowman, an 81 year old lady.

Wendy Bowman is at an enormous disadvantage in that she does not have the time, the technical knowledge, the economic resources nor the political clout to counter the vast resources of the proponent Yancoal. Plus, at her age she is surely entitled to a little more respect and dignity, and entitled to treat her property as her castle. A property she has owned for many years.

In accord with recent court judgements, Wendy's rights deserve to be respected and protected in the face of a multinational coal miner attempting to manoeuvre an outcome that suits its commercial objectives. The previous court judgements pertaining to this matter need to be upheld and followed.

I oppose:
1. the request made in Yancoal's letter to the Director, Resource Assessments, to change the Schedule 2 Administrative Conditions to allow the Director to approve commencement prior to acquisition of the properties; and
2. the proposed clause in the attached Table B:
"3 C1 Additional property acquisition of affected Camberwell village residents: In addition to
property acquisition requirements within the Project Approval where requested by any affected
property owner within Camberwell village, Ashton will enter into purchase negotiations in
accordance with the properly acquisition conditions of the Project Approval. Amended timing -
Upon commencement of development of the Project."

In conclusion I object to the proposed Modification as it seeks to change the decision of the L&E Court and the NSW Appeals Court that gave the farming community, including Wendy Bowman, the protection from the potential negative environmental outcomes this project will produce, as well as respecting the right of the farmer to farm their land and have the quiet enjoyment of their land.