Mod 12 - Underground Extraction Rates

I object to Moolarben Stage ! Modification 12 and Stage 2 Modification2 for the following reasons:
1) the Central Hunter Valley eucalypt forest and woodland has not been identified as critically endangered under the EPBC Act.
2) The resultant increase in trains running through the Hunter will have adverse cumulative noise and dust impacts as the wagons are not covered.
3) The impacts of doubling coal extraction fromunderground mining have not adequately been assessed.
4) Groundwater modelling is totally inadequate.
5) There has been no identification of the cumulative impact of cliff collapse caused by subsidence in the region.
6) This moolarben mine has been impacting adversely on many communities in the area. With reagard to that fact and the increasing threat of coal extraction to climate change Moolarben mine must not be given any more modifications.

I object to Moolarben Stage 1 Mod 12 & Stage 2 Mod 2 because:

1. The impacts of doubling coal extraction from underground mining have not been adequately assessed for cumulative environmental outcomes.

2. The cumulative impact of cliff collapse caused by subsidence in the region has not been identified, and whether there are likely similar disturbances.

3. The groundwater modeling is inadequate which impacts on downstream users and the environment of the estuary.

4. The failure to identify Central Hunter Valley eucalypt forest and woodland as critically endangered under the EPBC Act in this proposal is difficult to understand, and is a error that cannot be mitigated

5. The proposed increase in trains to a peak of 9 daily will have cumulative noise and dust impacts throughout the Hunter coal chain. Coal wagons should be covered and washed. Those of us living in the Lower Hunter are affected by noise and dust 24 hours a day.

6. The recent unpredicted highwall collapse at Open Cut 1 has threatened a public road, causing significant public cost and threat to public safety. Moolarben Mine should not be granted any further modifications.

7. Job numbers cannot be guaranteed. Yancoal has just shed 225 jobs at other Hunter mines. World demand for coal is going down, divestment from coal to renewables is necessary for companies to be profitable in the future.

I have serious objections to Moolarben Stage 1 Mod 12 & Stage 2 Mod 2 because:

* I do not see that the impacts of doubling coal extraction from underground mining there have been adequately and genuinely assessed. No further expansion should be approved until they have.

* I have very grave concerns that the cumulative impact of cliff collapse caused by subsidence here has not been identified. These cliffs and gorges are fragile, precious, irreplaceable and irreparable and must not be placed under any risk.

* The groundwater modeling is offensively inadequate and the impacts would be far too serious to allow these modifications.

* The proponent has failed to identify Central Hunter Valley eucalypt forest and woodland as critically endangered under the EPBC Act. Whether by extraordinary oversight or deliberate omission, this is an essential fact, as it would constitute an EPBC Federal trigger. The process must be halted until the real facts of such damage are included.

* If jobs are the justification for the impacts, job numbers predicted cannot be guaranteed in this failing industry. Yancoal has just wiped 225 jobs at other Hunter mines.

* As a longtime resident (until 2014) of the Upper Hunter Valley, I foresee that the proposed increase in trains to a peak of nine daily will have unacceptable cumulative noise and dust impacts throughout the whole Hunter coal chain. All coal wagons should be covered and washed.

* Moolarben Mine should not be granted any further modifications, given the recent unpredicted highwall collapse at Open Cut 1, which threatened a public road, caused significant public cost and a threat to public safety.

I am writing to object to Moolarben Stage 1 Mod 12 & Stage 2 Mod 2 for the following reasons:

1. That the impacts of doubling coal extraction from underground mining have not been adequately assessed by the proponent;

2. The cumulative impact of cliff collapse caused by subsidence in the region has not been identified. This is in the wake of a collapse of the mine's high wall that the community is still seeking answers on;

3. The groundwater modelling is inadequate. This needs to be better understood, and taken seriously;

4. The Central Hunter Valley eucalypt forest and woodland was not to identified as critically endangered under the EPBC Act;

5. The proposed increase in trains to a peak of 9 trains daily will have cumulative noise and dust impacts throughout the Hunter coal chain. Coal wagons should be covered and washed.

6. The recent unpredicted highwall collapse at Open Cut 1 has threatened a public road, causing significant public cost and threat to public safety. Moolarben Mine should not be granted any further modifications.

7. Job numbers cannot be guaranteed. Yancoal has just shed 225 jobs at other Hunter mines.

I object to Moolarben Stage 1 Mod 12 & Stage 2 Mod 2 because:
1. The impacts of doubling coal extraction from underground mining have not been adequately assessed
2. The cumulative impact of cliff collapse caused by subsidence in the region has not been identified
3. The groundwater modeling is inadequate
4. Failure to identify Central Hunter Valley eucalypt forest and woodland as critically endangered under the EPBC Act
5. The proposed increase in trains to a peak of 9 daily will have cumulative noise and dust impacts throughout the Hunter coal chain. Coal wagons should be covered and washed.
6. The recent unpredicted highwall collapse at Open Cut 1 has threatened a public road, causing significant public cost and threat to public safety. Moolarben Mine should not be granted any further modifications.
7. Job numbers cannot be guaranteed. Yancoal has just shed 225 jobs at other Hunter mines.

I object to Moolarben Stage 1 Modification 12 & Stage 2 Modification 2 because:


1. The impacts of doubling coal extraction from underground mining have not been adequately assessed

2. The cumulative impact of cliff collapse caused by subsidence in the region has not been identified

3. The groundwater modeling is inadequate

4. Failure to identify Central Hunter Valley eucalypt forest and woodland as critically endangered under the EPBC Act

5. The proposed increase in trains to a peak of 9 daily will have cumulative noise and dust impacts throughout the Hunter coal chain. Coal wagons should be covered and washed.

6. The recent unpredicted highwall collapse at Open Cut 1 has threatened a public road causing significant public cost and threat to public safety. Moolarben Mine should not be granted any further modifications

I object to Moolarben Stage 1 Modification 12 & Stage 2 Modification 2.
The cause of my objection is due to the increase in coal trains passing through Maitland and the cumulative effects of increased noise and increased coal dust on the health and homes of residents in Maitland. The coal wagons at least should be covered to reduce the harmful effects of the dust.

I object to the current modification for the following reasons-

1. The impacts of doubling coal extraction from underground mining have not been adequately assessed

2. The cumulative impact of cliff collapse caused by subsidence in the region has not been identified

3. The groundwater modeling is inadequate

4. Failure to identify Central Hunter Valley eucalypt forest and woodland as critically endangered under the EPBC Act

5. The proposed increase in trains to a peak of 9 daily will have cumulative noise and dust impacts throughout the Hunter coal chain. Coal wagons should be covered and washed.

6. The recent unpredicted highwall collapse at Open Cut 1 has threatened a public road, causing significant public cost and threat to public safety. Moolarben Mine should not be granted any further modifications.

7. Job numbers cannot be guaranteed. Yancoal has just shed 225 jobs at other Hunter mines.

see attached PDF.

Addendum to CD & JE Imrie Submission - Goulburn River Stone Cottages (sent 30 July).
We have significant concerns regarding the lack of clarity and assessment for the proposed increase in ROM coal extraction for underground operations (4- 8 MT/annum). It is unspecified how the doubling of annual production rate of ROM coal will be sourced.
The MOD 12 assessments are based on limited parameters that consider only the proposed changes to UG1. No environmental assessment or analysis of the impact of increased ROM production has been provided for UG2 or UG4.
Any increase in extraction rates from UG4 would further threaten the integrity of The Drip and base flows to the Goulburn River. This is a considerable omission that requires rigorous assessment.

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