MOD 14 - Increased Processing Rate

I totally OBJECT to the Modification 14 proposed by Cadia Mine at Orange. My family property at Old Errowanbang Carcoar is a very close neighbour of Cadia and have supported it from the start of operations. At this time though, we have to object to future lifting of the North Tailings Dam wall and the tailings dam proposed at Meribah which will directly affect my family property. I am 3rd generation and my children are 4th generation to hold Old Errowanbang after my grandfather John Harries was awarded the property as a Soldier Settlement Block. Our property runs my horses and cattle along with the stock my mother Jann Harries has and we are fearful about health condition of all the stock especially with the dust coming from the mine site. We have suffered dust, lights, noise and traffic since the mine started. I strongly OBJECT to the proposed tailings dam lift. the North tailings dam wall collapse is very good reason not to be confident that another 40mtr lift will not end up doing the same thing. especially when the NTFS wall has to date not been repaired. Water is very important to all of us and Flyers Creek being the main water source at Old Errowanbang. We have over the years had rainbow trout and platayus in the creek along with the contaimination from the mines. My family totally endorse any other submissions of Objections from members of the local community of Errowanbang, Cadia, Panuara including that of Jann Harries, John Gerathy and Gemma Green. I nor my family have never given any other contributions to any political party.

I OBJECT TO THE MODIFICATION 14 CADIA MINE. My mother Jann Harries loves on Old Errowanbang where my brother and I lived our childhood. My children will be 4th generation to live on the property. Old Errowanbang has two historic buildings on it, the Origional homestead built in 1826 by William Lawson the Younger and the Woolshed built in 1886. What will happen to these buildings if you allow the Tailings dam lift to go ahead? Over the years Mum, John and I have held open days and tour groups to raise funds to keep the woolshed standing and there for future generations. Many hours of volunteer labour has been given by family, friends, neighbours to assist in the restoration. The homestead was open in 2019 to raise funds for Dolly's Dream. My mother has a chronic cough which could well be from the constant dust events form the North Tailings Dam. Should you allow the proposal go ahead, we can expect more health problems with the locals. We worry about the stock also, eating dust off the grasses.
I OBJECT to any proposed construction to the North Tailings Dam facility.
I OBJECT to the proposed increase of production unless it will be deemed safe for the neighbours and stock and we don't have to put up with a new Tailings Dam as our immediate neighbour
I have not given to any political party ever.
I fully endorse the submissions with objections from the Neighbours in the surrounding district.

Geoffrey and Vanessa Knox
“Triangle Park”
30 Panuara Road,
ERROWANBANG, NSW, 2791


17/02/2021


RE: OBJECTION to MODIFICATION No 14, CADIA EASTGOLD/COPPER PROJECT

Project Application Number: MP06_0295-Mod-14


To whom it may concern,

We are writing to express our OBJECTION to Modification 14, increased processing rate.

We are property owners who will be directly affected by any upgrades to the ore processing infrastructure and Southern Tailings Storage Facility (STSF), repairing/using the Northern TSF, and constructing/using a Sodium Hydrosulphide Production Plant on-site.

Our objections are with concern to the following problems:

DUST and DUST MANAGEMENT

Our properties are direct neighbours to Cadia Valley Operations (CVO). Our properties run alongside the STSF. We currently receive excess dust from CVO. This is both from the Southern and Northern Storage facilities. We have complained to both CVO and the EPA many times, yet even as recently as 12th February, 2021, a blanket of dust covered our property. On occasions, the dust has travelled to surrounding towns and villages over 20km away!!

Since the Northern TSF Wall failed/slumped/collapsed, CVO has attempted to fix the resulting dust problems, however there has NEVER been a successful method to stop the dust problems. This is of major concern. It would be inappropriate to continue with construction on both the Northern and Southern TSF if the dust cannot be managed – it will only make the dust problem worse. The excess dust is damaging our property, water storage facilities and ultimately our health.

The final paragraph in Cadia (MOD 14) Appendix F states that “Overall, the assessment shows that no adverse air quality impacts would arise due to the operation of the Modification.” There are already adverse air quality impacts occurring and these WILL continue to occur with the Modification as there has been NO success with stopping the current dust emissions. When will CVO be held accountable to local landowners regarding this impact to our community and environment?



NOISE

There will be more noise generated with Modification 14. This noise will not only be from the trucks and machinery constructing the walls, but also from the increase in traffic on the local roads. In the past we have had our sleep interrupted from noise related to mining operations. If the Modification is to go ahead, due to the proximity of our property we will definitely have an increase in noise.



VISUAL

If the TSF are to be raised, there will be a massive impact to the view around our property. The TSF already dominate the landscape, however an increase of 40m will create a visual environmental obscenity forever.

The more worrying impact is that any major lift in the height of the wall will obliterate views of Mount Canobolas, a major landmark in our district. There are also major communications towers on Mount Canobolas, so any interference to the Mount could also jeopardise our communications – radio, television, phone coverage.


We hope that you will consider our objection and every other objection seriously when making your decision.



Yours sincerely,

Geoffrey and Vanessa Knox

On behalf of my husband Alwyn and myself, I would like to strongly OBJECT to the proposed Modification 14 put forward by the Cadia Mine. We have suffered for a very long time from the dust arising from the mine where to a point it has blocked up the filters on the pipes at the house and we have had to had them cleaned out. Cadia Mines have not managed the dust that comes from the site, especially the North Tailings Dam facility which leaves a thick whitish residue on everything which is difficult to remove.
The North tailings dam where the wall collapse has happened, will not support another 40 metres which is the proposed lift. They can't guarantee that the tailings wall will not collapse again and have tailings sludge go into our water streams and land, I OBJECT to another lift. Alwyn's family have owned Willow Park for 99 years and we haven't experienced this type of dust prior to the Mines commencing. I also OBJECT to a 3rd tailings dam facility being placed on the neighbouring property "Merribah" This dam will affect the whole district is it is to go ahead. Newcrest should be using the land they already own in the Panuara Valley and leave the Errowanbang Valley alone.
I support and endorse the submissions from all the other member of the district including Gerathy, Harries, Green, Retallick. I also confirm that we have not given any political party a donation in the last 10 years.
The fact that we the close landholders did not receive notification of the Modification 14 would indicate that you are keeping us in the dark with important matters such as this Mod 14 and it is not acceptable that you treat us this way. I also OBJECT to being kept in the dark with the hope that the Government gets it through backhanded.
Thank You

Thank you for receiving my OBJECTIONS to this Mod 14 Project.
My submission is attached.

Kind regards,
Gemma Green

I am lodging this submission on behalf of Cyril Smith, President of the Orange and Regional Water Security Association which is in opposition to the project. Attached is our submission.
Nick King

We agree with the submissions submitted from John and Hilde Gerathy, Stuart and Gemma Green and Michael and Frances Retallack. We have been living here for 14 years over that period of time the dust has increased because of poor management. This dust is not only detrimental to our health but to our livestock. When we sell cattle we have to submit a National Vendor Declaration Form for each animal sold. This form requires what the cattle have been eating, what chemicals are used for weed control, what drenches and vaccinations have also been used. What we don't know is what contamination is coming from the dust and water originating from the mine. As the person in charge of the husbandry of these animals, I must sign these documents. These animals are going into the food chain with unidentified contaminates.
We are strongly opposed to the raising of the North Tailings Dam Facility by 40 mets as they cannot repair or maintain the existing wall.
We are on Flyers Creek which has never run dry until recent years. We can see a drastic drop in creek levels overnight.
There are a number of issues with dust, noise, road traffic, and lights and Salinity in water tables and Flyers Creek.
Were have severe cracking in our house from blasting and vibrations over the years.
As witnessed with recent dust events, the contamination of water in bores and creeks, we cannot see how Cadia can control
these issues on a larger scale.
We have no interest in seeing the closure of the mine, however we would like to see Cadia work within environmental guidlines.

Yours Faithfully
Garry and Anne Haines.

Thank you for receiving my submission of objection as attached to this submission.

Kind regards,

Stuart Green

Please find attached our Submission outlining our concerns and objections to the Project.

Hello,

I am submitting this objection, with permission, for my parents in law, Charles and Helen Knox. They currently DO NOT have access to their computer, nor email account.
If there are any problems with this, please do not hesitate to contact me. Vanessa Knox


RE: OBJECTION to MODIFICATION No 14, CADIA EASTGOLD/COPPER PROJECT

Project Application Number: MP06_0295-Mod-14


To whom it may concern,

We are writing to express our OBJECTION to Modification 14, increased processing rate.

We are property owners who will be directly affected by any upgrades to the ore processing infrastructure and Southern Tailings Storage Facility (STSF), repairing/using the Northern TSF, and constructing/using a Sodium Hydrosulphide Production Plant on-site.

Our objections are with concern to the following problems:

DUST and DUST MANAGEMENT

Our properties are direct neighbours to Cadia Valley Operations (CVO). Our properties run alongside the STSF. We currently receive excess dust from CVO. This is both from the Southern and Northern Storage facilities. Our son has complained on our behalf, to both CVO and the EPA many times, yet even as recently as 12th February, 2021, a blanket of dust covered our property. On occasions, the dust has travelled to surrounding towns and villages over 20km away!!

Since the Northern TSF Wall failed/slumped/collapsed, CVO has attempted to fix the resulting dust problems, however there has NEVER been a successful method to stop the dust problems. This is of major concern. It would be inappropriate to continue with construction on both the Northern and Southern TSF if the dust cannot be managed – it will only make the dust problem worse. The excess dust is damaging our property, water storage facilities and ultimately our health.

The final paragraph in Cadia (MOD 14) Appendix F states that “Overall, the assessment shows that no adverse air quality impacts would arise due to the operation of the Modification.” There are already adverse air quality impacts occurring and these WILL continue to occur with the Modification as there has been NO success with stopping the current dust emissions. When will CVO be held accountable to local landowners regarding this impact to our community and environment?



NOISE

There will be more noise generated with Modification 14. This noise will not only be from the trucks and machinery constructing the walls, but also from the increase in traffic on the local roads. In the past we have had our sleep interrupted from noise related to mining operations. If the Modification is to go ahead, due to the proximity of our property we will definitely have an increase in noise.



VISUAL

If the TSF are to be raised, there will be a massive impact to the view around our property. The TSF already dominate the landscape, however an increase of 40m will create a visual environmental obscenity forever.

The more worrying impact is that any major lift in the height of the wall will obliterate views of Mount Canobolas, a major landmark in our district. There are also major communications towers on Mount Canobolas, so any interference to the Mount could also jeopardise our communications – radio, television, phone coverage.


We hope that you will consider our objection and every other objection seriously when making your decision.

Charles and Helen Knox
DIRECT NEIGHBOUR TO CADIA VALLEY OPERATIONS - SOUTHERN STORAGE TAILINGS FACILITY

Jennifer and Peter Ringbauer
314 Waldegrave Road
Spring Terrace NSW 2798

Name of Application: Cadia Modification 14
Processing Rate Modification
Application Number:
I OBJECT to the proposal to increase the approved production rate from 32 Mtpa to 35 Mtpa.
I OBJECT to upgrades to processing capacity to 35Mtpa which are not required.
I OBJECT to the proposed construction works on the NTSF and STSF.
I have read, agree and adopt Gem and Stuart Green’s submission.
I have read, agree and adopt John and Hilde Gerathy’s submission.
I have read, agree and adopt Frances Retallack’s submission.
Our property is 7kms to the north east of the mine. I moved to this property only 7 years ago. I moved here to access the ability to grow and produce clean food, air and water for my family. My concerns both impacting directly and indirectly impacting on my and my neighbours’ farms are as follows:
• Decreased WATER:
Since moving here I have noticed a reduced amount of water that flows from my spring into my dam. Besides runoff from rain the spring is my only water source for supporting my food/cattle growing systems. There have also been many stories from neighbours who are long standing residents here that there is much less water flowing through the local (spring fed) creeks since the mine started operations. One can only assume that the aquifers have been effected by their use of water for processing. I cannot be sure that this is the doing of the mine as there has also been a major drought in the region and time too. I ask that consideration is given to the amount of extra water that the mine will need to increase its processing capacity, where this water will be accessed, and how this access will be independently monitored. I plead that the increased processing does not include extra water gained from the aquifers, creeks or local rivers and that the source of water is only from recycled effluent from local towns. I echo John and Hilde Gerathy’s concerns about water usage and spoiling.
• Increased DUST:
Since reading reports from Gem and Stuart Green’s submission about dust emanating from the mine I am grateful that this vision is not shared by me and my family. However, it does raise many concerns about dust deposits from the mine’s operations falling onto our property and hence making my alleged clean food, air and water – dirty. Our only source of drinking water is caught from the roof of our house - where dust will also land. All other food production systems are possibly exposed to this dust too. I can only assume that by increasing the processing capacity of the mine that dust and air pollution will only increase too. This is not acceptable.

• The failure of previous attempts at a TAILINGS DAM WALL:
I have many fears surrounding the tailings dam and dam wall. These fears were realised when the dam wall recently failed. One of my old family friends’ homes was badly affected by this failure. The dust from the tailings dam was found on the roof of their house – which is the source of their drinking water. No effort was made by the mine to restore clean drinking water for the household. The effluent from the dam resulting from another collapse would denigrate and effect numerous fragile ecosystems downstream from the Belubula River. There are no engineers reports that would suffice to say that the new, higher, bigger dam wall would hold back the effluent from existing and proposed increase in processing capacity. Our Western society has created far too much damage to these ecosystems already. I would hate to stand by and watch this happen from any information missed in this proposal. Any increase in tailings due to increased processing and any increase in the size or capacity of the tailings dams is not acceptable. I am also concerned, as per Michael and Frances Retallack’s submission about the quality of water in the aquifer.

I have made no political donation in the last 2 years.

Yours faithfully,
Jennifer and Peter Ringbauer

I strongly object to Cadia Modification14; I fully support the submission made by Frances and Mike Retallick.

I drive past Cadia twice a week on the way to Millamolong where I am employed and feel very concerned over the dust coming off the tailings dams generated by Cadia which you can see from the road and the negative impacts on people's health. As I don't see Cadia being held to account over the present level of dust I find any expansion unacceptable.
I also would like to point out that the neighbouring property Millamolong (identified as2133) among other farms in the area are prime agricultural land something Australia doesn't have enough of. We should not assume that prime agricultural land can take care of it self, we need to take care of it ,we need to recognise its value in a sustainable world. Land that can support crops, a herd, or a flock ultimately us is precious. Unfortunately mines use many toxic chemicals and leaching is a real threat to the farms that are neighbouring. So again I strongly object.
Also when it comes to the native wildlife and in particular the platypus I feel I must strongly object to this expansion.

I have made no political donations
Elizabeth Wong
13 March St, Orange, NSW 2800

Hi
My name is Leisa Newnham and I live at 803 Burnt Yards Rd/ My contact number is 0433933644.
I am very concerned about:
1) The increased demand on the River which supplies many farms and other infrastructure in the area. This is not an infinite resource.
2) The clearance of more vegetation and the death of 96 paddock trees.
3) The Cadia road is full of potholes and not maintained for the amount of traffic.
4) We want less green house gas emissions not more.
5) The mine footprint has increased, we want it reduced or gone.
6) odour from making NaHS

Please see attachment

See attachment