Mod 11 - Extension Modification

Extension of mining operations at the Cowal Mine will provide a sustainable ecomnomy within the Bland Shire and nearby regions and provide employment opportunities.

Our Club strongly supports the modification.
The environmental strategies implemented by Barrick have been exemplary.
The flow-on from the jobs created by Barrick has ensured the survival of our town & sustained many famlies affected by the recent drought.
I think the majority of people in the district can tell of the many & on-going community development initiatives instigated by Barrick, a good citizen & supporter of our community at all levels.

The members of our "Shed" would like to vigorously & unanimously support the Modification Proposal.
Barrick is a "hands-on" member of our community, & supports many worthwile causes.
They work to minimise & repair any environmental damage & the jobs they provide have sustained many folk in our towns & district, especially through the recent drought.

Ardlethan Cultural Development Centre would like to show support for Cowal Gold Mine Extension Modification submission by way of this email and to express the importance of new and on-going employment opportunities in our volatile region that Barrick Cowal offers, not to mention the many regional community and sporting organisations that have benefitted from the generosity of Barrick Cowal . A great many residents in our community of Ardlethan are reliant on the security of regular employment at Barrick Cowal, which has gone a long way to slowing the exodus of young families towards the bigger cities, looking for similar job opportunities.

The President
Condobolin RSL Pipe Band
PO Box 184
CONDOBOLIN NSW 2877

COWAL GOLD MINE EXTENSION MODIFICATION
DA 14/98 MOD 11

The Condobolin RSL Pipe Band supports Barrick Cowal with their proposed extension Modification plans to extend operational life of Cowal Gold Mine by an additional five years.
Barrick Cowal has been worthy Community sponsors. In 2011 the Condobolin RSL Pipe Band, which is a not for profit community Pipe Band, hosted an enormously successful Tattoo which involved 200 performers and 1000 spectators. Barrick Cowal was a major sponsor without which the event would not have taken place. The Tattoo was a significant community event which attracted many tourists from other regions to Condobolin and for the logistics of the night many local volunteer community groups helped.
An extended life of the Cowal mine, would result in additional support being provided to our community via the community grants program, and we are fully supportive of such prolonged development to continue diversification of our economic base.

Barrick's Cowal Gold Mine is an important part of the community surrounding West Wyalong. It provides employment and business opportunities for the areas surrounding the mine and contributes to the local economy with the salaries injected in to the predominantly local workforce spent in the area as well. The extension to the mine will only further help contribute to the success of the towns surrounding the mine and I fully support this application.

Has been very good for the economy & the community of West Wyalong I think it would be a very quite place with out the mine.

I'm for the expansion of the Cowal Gold mine. The mine is a strong component of the local economy and the expansion is vital for the future exploration of the region. The mine has an exemplary presence in the community and holds itself to the highest environmental standards.

I support Cowal's Modification 11 -Extension Modification because the current operation brings alot of benefits to the local community in terms of jobs, business opportunities for locals and alot of charity work for the charity groups such as Country Hope.

It has had alot of positive impact on the township of West Wyalong and I fully support this submission.

As an employee of Cowal Gold mine, and now a West Wyalong resident, I throw my support 110% behind the mine, I've seen how it has turned West Wyalong around, from a struggling farming town, to a thriving community, and have been fortunate enough to work at Cowal, where I have seen first hand how things go, and in my 13 yrs of mining, have been impressed with the way things happen here, a lot of effort is put in by the respective departments to ensure regulatory compliance, and a culture of this is embedded in the employees.
I know that the town is currently in a limbo period awaiting the outcom of this, as if we continue with current plans, the mine starts to wind down over the next fw years, land values in town will drop, and people are set to lose a lot of money, and future investment in the town will be therefore questioned.
In the interest of not only the mine, the employees or Barrick, but the community of West Wyalong I fully support any effort to continue the best thing to happen to the West Wyalong community in a long time

Extending the mines life will allow continued growth within the Bland Shire as it brings large numbers of economic migrants into the area which add to the community in numerous ways. The mine also has positive impacts in the local area through charity work and other initiatives which give much needed money to local organisations. Without this they would struggle to function. Local business is also directly affected by the mine being open and with the expansion this will be set to continue

I support Barrick gold's proposal to extend the operating life of the Cowal Gold Mine. It has brought a lot of jobs and bought a area that was suffering due to the worst recorded drought back to life. Barrick have also committed a lot of money back into the community through grants, projects and donations for towns like Forbes, Condobolin and West Wyalong. It has a strong belief in family and community.

Lake Cowal Gold Mine is one of the few providing employment and business development opportunities in the Central West. It also generates significant opportunities in related ancillary and service industries to the local and wider community. Additionally it employees local Indigenous Australians and provides them with unique opportunities and training that are not available anywhere else within the local four shires.
Barrick have operated the Lake Cowal Gold mine over the last 7 to 8 years and have had an exemplary Safety and Operational history. They are extremely aware of their obligations to the local and wider community and have continuously proved that they are more than capable of complying with local government and state legislation.
After reviewing the proposed extension plan I see no negative aspects with regards Barricks environmental management and their proposal to extend the mine life for a further five year.

As a current employee of 8 yrs with barrick i rely on the mine for income. During my time i have seen nothing that that even suggests any negligence towards the environment. Barrick goes way above what is required this is evident with the recent certification of ISO14001. Barrick not only looks after the environment but also the local communities contributing to schools, local councils, events etc.

As a teacher and parent living and working in the West Wyalong community I have seen first hand how the Lake Cowal Gold Mine as benefited our community. Not only does it employ large numbers of locals but it brings new people to our town. Lots of these families bring new skills and trades into our community that were not previously here. The schools are growing providing more jobs to teachers and better resources for the School through Barrick support. It was not that long ago that this town was dying people were leaving as no one had employment. Barrick has provided the community with a life line. A way for locals to stay in their home town and raise their children.

Lake Cowal Gold Mine has been excellent for the surrounding local communitys, I have now been involved with the Cowal project for 11 years and have seen the project transform into a world class mining project, given the opperttunity to further the life of the mine i feel will only build a stronger local economy.

I'm employed by Barrick Cowal and without the extension I'll be the wrong side of fifty when the mine closes and it will be difficult for me to find employment locally.

I SUPPORT THE PROPOSAL BECAUSE IT WILL BRING JOBS AND MONEY TO THE COMMUNITY

I support the proposal because if the mine is not extended we are concerned that the workers will leave West Wyalong with their families and West Wyalong will suffer ecconomically.

The Barrick Cowal Gold mine is an important part of the Bland Shire Community. It provides employment for a large number of our residents and it provides monetary and in kind support to a large number of volunteer based community organisations. An extension of the operational life of Barrick Cowal is an enormous boost to our community. The management and staff at Barrick Cowal meet environmental and safety standards. This extension modification we believe, will continue to meet these high standards. Our organisation is strongly in favour of the Cowal Gold Mine extension modification.