Mod 2 - Extension of Time

Development must always be considered in the context of the surrounding area. This can change over time. Given this, a modification for an indefinite start date is irresponsible.
The risks of CSG mining are well evidenced and the Premier has acknowledged that the current legislation is not adequate to manage development of the industry. In this context, no new applications or modifications should be approved and existing projects should be frozen, to conduct an investigation into the full impacts of CSG development.
The drinking water catchment is unsuitable for CSG exploration and production. Allowing this development to go ahead contradicts the pre-election promise from Barry O'Farrell: "The next Liberal/National Government will ensure that mining cannot occur... in any water catchment area, and will ensure that mining leases and mining exploration permits reflect that common sense; no ifs, no buts, a guarantee."
The Illawarra Escarpment is a high risk bush fire area, exacerbated by its highly combustible peat base. Indeed, in August 2012 a bush fire burnt through AI09 and AI10 in this project. Extracting and piping gas in this environment will increase fire risks.
The development of this coal seam gas project is being layered on top of extensive coal mining and a fault line, without an assessment of the combined impacts.
There is widespread public opposition to CSG exploration and mining in the area. This includes a public petition of over 30,000 signatures, formal votes against CSG mining by local councils and two actions opposing CSG development attended by over 3,000 people each.

Development must always be considered in the context of the surrounding area. This can change over time. Given this, a modification for an indefinite start date is irresponsible.
The risks of CSG mining are well evidenced and the Premier has acknowledged that the current legislation is not adequate to manage development of the industry. In this context, no new applications or modifications should be approved and existing projects should be frozen, to conduct an investigation into the full impacts of CSG development.
The drinking water catchment is unsuitable for CSG exploration and production. Allowing this development to go ahead contradicts the pre-election promise from Barry O'Farrell: "The next Liberal/National Government will ensure that mining cannot occur... in any water catchment area, and will ensure that mining leases and mining exploration permits reflect that common sense; no ifs, no buts, a guarantee."
The Illawarra Escarpment is a high risk bush fire area, exacerbated by its highly combustible peat base. Indeed, in August 2012 a bush fire burnt through AI09 and AI10 in this project. Extracting and piping gas in this environment will increase fire risks.
The development of this coal seam gas project is being layered on top of extensive coal mining and a fault line, without an assessment of the combined impacts.
There is widespread public opposition to CSG exploration and mining in the area. This includes a public petition of over 30,000 signatures, formal votes against CSG mining by local councils and two actions opposing CSG development attended by over 3,000 people each.

We object to the proposal of allowing Apex Energy or Ormil Energy to explore or extract coal seam gas from the Illawarra region.
The Sydney Water Catchment land is far too precious to be jeopadised by such hazardous and degrading activity. Plus Apex Energy have proven to be vastly lacking in the methodology, planning and finances to contemplate such a venture and are merely wishing to secure the approvals with the hope of re-selling the PELS and PART3A approval at a profit. Plus should anything go wrong, as it inevitably will, Apex Energy do not have the financial resources to re-mediate or compensate for toxic water, poisoned crops/livestock and wildfire razed land when the typical bushfire is further ignited with tapped methane gas.

The former State Labor goverment had some excuse in awarding the original PELS and major project application, since the DPI was largeley unaware of the huge risks involved. But the present State government , and planning department has no excuse at all, and should be fully aware of the environmental impact and huge ground swell of opposition from the community, tax payers, environmental groups and farmers.

Project Application No. MP 07_0103 MOD 2,

Dear Sir/Madam,
I would like to formally object to Apex Energy's Modification No 2.

Industrial activity and risk taking of any kind is neither appropriate nor acceptable in the catchment lands set aside as Schedule 1 Special Areas to protect the drinking water of Greater Sydney, the Illawarra and the Southern Highlands. More than 60% of the population of NSW depends on the health of the Special Areas.

Sydney is extremely fortunate to have the remarkable and still largely pristine catchment area on it southern doorstep. The shameful damage that has been inflicted on these areas by longwall coal mining bears damning and lasting testimony to the royalty-shaped policies of next-election focussed governments. The community is of course very well aware of this conflict of interest and has little trouble seeing through the masking language woven to justify decisions that are not in the long term public interest.

The impacts of coal seam gas operations have been widely reported and documented.
The catchment lands supplying water to Greater Sydney and the Illawarra should never be subjected to these polluting processers. Reflecting this "common sense", there is a ground swell of opposition to coal seam gas mining in the catchments, with large rallies and a petition that now has more than 30,000 signatures. Wollongong City Council, Sutherland Shire Council, Campbelltown City Council and many other councils in NSW are opposed to coal seam gas development. Towns and districts are declaring CSG free zones.
Collectively, we have an intergenerational responsibility to ensure water security and biodiversity into the uncertain future. Filtration and desalination plants are an inadequate and costly replacement for a remarkable natural system that has been in operation for millennia.

The Coastal Upland Swamps of the Special Areas are complex and highly fragile ecosystems hosting biodiversity of international standing, and are vital catchment components that store and filter water. The high quality drinking water that Sydney and its nearby regions enjoy depends on the health of the swamp communities.

I state that I have not made donations to any political party.

Your Faithfully

Gavin Workman

Barry O'Farrell promised to ban exploration and mining in the drinking water catchment. This is nothing short of betrayal. Communities have made it clear that science must come before development, and that land and water must be protected.

The community ojects to this whole heartdly to this

The community objects to this whole heartedly.

We do not want this.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

Barry O'Farrell promised to ban exploration and mining in the drinking water catchment. This is nothing short of betrayal. Communities have made it clear that science must come before development, and that land and water must be protected.

The community ojects to this whole heartdly to this

The community objects to this whole heartedly.

We do not want this.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

Please see attached document.

Development must always be considered in the context of the surrounding area. This can change over time. Given this, a modification for an indefinite start date is irresponsible.
The risks of CSG mining are well evidenced and the Premier has acknowledged that the current legislation is not adequate to manage development of the industry. In this context, no new applications or modifications should be approved and existing projects should be frozen, to conduct an investigation into the full impacts of CSG development.
The drinking water catchment is unsuitable for CSG exploration and production. Allowing this development to go ahead contradicts the pre-election promise from Barry O'Farrell: "The next Liberal/National Government will ensure that mining cannot occur... in any water catchment area, and will ensure that mining leases and mining exploration permits reflect that common sense; no ifs, no buts, a guarantee."
The Illawarra Escarpment is a high risk bush fire area, exacerbated by its highly combustible peat base. Indeed, in August 2012 a bush fire burnt through AI09 and AI10 in this project. Extracting and piping gas in this environment will increase fire risks.
The development of this coal seam gas project is being layered on top of extensive coal mining and a fault line, without an assessment of the combined impacts.
There is widespread public opposition to CSG exploration and mining in the area. This includes a public petition of over 30,000 signatures, formal votes against CSG mining by local councils and two actions opposing CSG development attended by over 3,000 people each.

I object to Apex Energy application to modify their currently frozen coal seam gas development in the Illawarra for the following reasons:

Development must always be considered in the context of the surrounding area. This can change over time. Given this, a modification for an indefinite start date is irresponsible.

The risks of CSG mining are well evidenced and the Premier has acknowledged that the current legislation is not adequate to manage development of the industry. In this context, no new applications or modifications should be approved and existing projects should be frozen, to conduct an investigation into the full impacts of CSG development.

The drinking water catchment is unsuitable for CSG exploration and production. Allowing this development to go ahead contradicts the pre-election promise from Barry O'Farrell: "The next Liberal/National Government will ensure that mining cannot occur... in any water catchment area, and will ensure that mining leases and mining exploration permits reflect that common sense; no ifs, no buts, a guarantee."

The Illawarra Escarpment is a high risk bush fire area, exacerbated by its highly combustible peat base. Indeed, in August 2012 a bush fire burnt through AI09 and AI10 in this project. Extracting and piping gas in this environment will increase fire risks.

The development of this coal seam gas project is being layered on top of extensive coal mining and a fault line, without an assessment of the combined impacts.

There is widespread public opposition to CSG exploration and mining in the area. This includes a public petition of over 30,000 signatures, formal votes against CSG mining by local councils and two actions opposing CSG development attended by over 3,000 people each.

Please, please, please look after the drinking water for the Illawarra and Sydney areas and deny Apex Energy their application.

Dear Madam/Sir,

I wish to lodge an objection to Apex Energy's Exploration Project which will cover an area from Sydney to Wollongong. Their licence should not be renewed.

The area includes Sydney's water catchment and some near pristine bushland.

The proposition to have 150 or more coal seam gas wells operating over a 25 year period in a water catchment area without contamination of the water supply would have to rely on a lot of wishful thinking. The experience in the USA and parts of Australia would show wishful thinking cannot overcome adverse outcomes. The adverse outcomes are usually permanent as remediation often causes more harm than the original damage.

To permit coal seam gas mining at all in NSW, given the evidence to date, is irresponsible. To do so in Sydney's water catchment area is criminal.

There is also the destruction of forest and whole eco systems as part and parcel of this plan which should, on those grounds alone, rule it out.

If less gas was exported, there would be no need to coal seam gas mining.

I would firmly recommend the government rethink its entire Strategic Land Use Policy with the aim of providing adequate protection to water, environment and the communities which inhabit these areas.

I declare that I have not donated $1,000 or more to any political party.

Submission attached from Doctors for the Environment Australia.

Please confirm receipt of submission via email.

1. The risks of CSG mining are well evidenced and the Premier as acknowledged that the current legislation is not adequate to manage development of the industry. In this context, no new applications or modifications should be approved and existing projects should be frozen, to conduct an investigation into the full impacts of CSG development.
2.The drinking water catchment is unsuitable for CSG exploration and production. Allowing this development to go ahead contradicts the pre-election promise from Barry O'Farrell: "The next Liberal/National Government will ensure that mining cannot occur... in any water catchment area, and will ensure that mining leases and mining exploration permits reflect that common sense; no ifs, no buts, a guarantee."
3.The Illawarra Escarpment is a high risk bush fire area, exacerbated by its highly combustible peat base. Indeed, in August 2012 a bush fire burnt through AI09 and AI10 in this project. Extracting and piping gas in this environment will increase fire risks.
4.The development of this coal seam gas project is being layered on top of extensive coal mining and a fault line, without an assessment of the combined impacts.

I object to the modification and renewal of this exploration licence for two broad reasons;

1) the first pertains to the action of coal seam gas mining itself:
If the exploration of these 16 wells found that the area was viable no doubt would it lead to coal seam gas mining in these areas, as was publicly announced by the head of Apex Energy in the media this week. Although the licence required for production from these wells is a process entirely separate to this, it would be foolish to think that this exploration licence in question would not pave the way for this to occur, especially considering the government approved renewal of PEL 444 this week. I therefore oppose the modification and renewal of this exploration licence for three years from the time the first hole is drilled, as it will undoubtedly lead to scaled up coal seam gas mining in the areas under PEL 444 and potentially under PEL442 (now PEL 138). I oppose coal seam gas mining in these areas for the risks they pose to the drinking water for Sydney and the Illawarra (either through toxic chemicals introduced from mining into the aquifers feeding these catchments or those released from the ground into the aquifers during mining). There is also the potential that hydraulic fracturing or fracking may also be used in this mining, which poses major threats to this water supply due to the release of highly toxic chemicals used in the fracking fluid. Apex Energy claims they will not use such a practice in their mining, however again it would be foolish to think that this would not happen, especially if were to yield more gas and more profits, and especially considering the moratorium on fracking was lifted this week. The Code of Practice, regarding fracture stimulation activities, meant to regulate this activity, does not detail the legal ramifications of what occurs when this code is breached. It troubles me that highly toxic chemicals could be released into our drinking water, with a post hoc response being the best my government could offer. This is also the case for bush fires that could result due to leaking methane. Consideration of the process after the damage is done is irresponsible and life threatening. I really can't understand why the government would even dare to dabble in this risk. In no possible scenario would the economic gains for mining companies nor the proceeds towards government justify the threats to the health and well being of their population.

Additionally, the infrastructure that would accompany this mining such as roads and buildings, as well as the increase in volume of trucks, would not only be an eyesore to this pristine park land but it would also disrupt the ecosystem. It scares me that the Department of Primary Industries has applied pressure to the Wollongong Council to downgrade the locations in question from E2 (Environmental Conservation) to E3 (Environmental Management) to allow for mining to occur. Again, I worry at what this government values.

2) The second reason I object to this modification and renewal of this plan is that this entire process is not transparent. The documents available on the exhibition website are not laid out clearly for a lay person unfamiliar with these processes to understand and comment on, particularly given that the exhibition is only open for 2 weeks, and is only open for those with internet access. This severely limits who can comment, and as such it is biased towards the NSW government and Apex Energy. It is a threat to participatory democracy, and deserves scrutiny before any further action is taken regarding the renewal of this licence. The public deserves unbiased, independent and scientific evidence of these practices, with time to think and respond clearly so as to defend their health and environment. Furthermore, this renewal, if approved, would allow for an indefinite start date for exploration mining, in which time the environment or public opinion could change, yet they would have no means to voice this concern as the licence would have already been approved based on pre-existing conditions. It is irresponsible as the public is being asked to act now without the full knowledge of what lies ahead.

See uploaded documents

Dear Sir/Madam

I oppose any mining in Sydney's water catchment area.

This is not a case for "risk management", it is a case for precaution. There is no need to rush to do this mining before systems have been developed that can ensure that our water is absolutely safe. The resources won't disappear if we wait.

However there is every possibility that we will forever regret approving this in haste. Once the water is contaminated it will not be able to be de contaminated. Just look at how Orica has been unable to clean the groundwater plume extending out from Botany despite years of trying. Do we never learn?

The NPA Illawarra branch members strongly object to the Modification Proposal on exhibition.

The Wilderness Society Newcastle are extremely concerned about the proposal by Apex Energy to drill for coal seam gas within Sydney's drinking water catchments. This is a high risk activity not only for the environment and Sydney's waterways but also for public health. By definition the water that falls within the catchment for a water storage will end up in the water storage and carry any pollutants with it. The coal seam gas industry similar or other oil and gas industries has a high likelihood for spills of untreated produced water, mixing of water from coal seams with freshwater aquifers, overflows from storage ponds and contamination of water by air-borne pollutants such as those caused by flaring that include carcinogenic compounds including BTEX chemicals. We strongly recommend that our water catchments be protected from industrial activities as pollutants created by this industry and disturbed soils will inevitably end up in our water storage.
We would like to call for a moratorium on the exploration and expansion of the Coal Seam Gas industry in Australia.
With reference to this proposal our concerns are:
Risk of contamination of the water table.
CSG has been shown to have detrimental effects on the environment, health and communities. Chemicals and compounds involved with CSG mining can be unintentionally released into the surrounds even without their use by the industry. Many are present in the coal seams and are brought to the surface with extraction. The banning of these chemicals from the extraction process will not stop them seeping into the groundwater or prevent accidental contamination of surrounding areas through accidental spillage of `produced' water, or permeation from evaporative ponds into the groundwater, streams and rivers. Contamination cannot be easily remediated.
Unacceptable risk of damage to the health
As well as the contamination of the water there are toxins released into the air by the gas flares at well sites. There is a possibility that the reduction in pressure when ground water is extracted will cause a drop in the ground/bore water leaving it inaccessible to current bore water users. Other impacts are noise, dust and sound pollution, increased traffic, and destruction and fragmentation of habitat. Considering the recent suggestion that wind farms have a buffer of 2 km from dwellings, it seems that the 200 meters required for CSG is totally unacceptable.

Contribution to global warming is unacceptable.
CSG has been put forward as a transition fuel and is considered to have a lower carbon footprint than coal. Although it is true that the burning of gas is more efficient and releases less carbon than the burning of coal, if the leakage of methane into the atmosphere is taken into account the overall impact over a hundred year period would be only slightly better than coal. The Global Warming Potential of methane is 21 times that of carbon. It is important we don't replace emissions of carbon with methane. Wells do leak. A recent Queensland report found that over 50% of the wells tested were leaking.
If gas is considered a transition fuel to a low carbon economy, why the haste to expand the industry to take advantage of the export markets now? CSG is risky and non-conventional. Surely it would be better to look into other less risky non-conventional methods of power generation that are not reliant on finite fossil fuel reserves. Wind power and solar-thermal power could allow us cleaner and carbon-free energy into the future.

We strongly recommend that you do not allow coal seam gas drilling in Sydney's water catchment and introduce legislation for the water catchment of critical town and agricultural water supplies throughout NSW.

Prue Bodsworth
The Wilderness Society Newcastle

Please find attached PDF submission.

SUBMISSION TO THE ENQUIRY ON APEX MINING REQUESTS TO MINE FOR COAL SEAM GAS IN SYDNEY'S WATER CATCHMENT AREA

14 September 2012

Dear Committee

As a Camden resident I am concerned that there will be stress placed on the Macarthur landscape due to further housing, increased long wall mining at Douglas Park/Appin Mine and csg mining in the area and in the catchment as proposed by Apex Mining.

The issues are
* Mining for methane will be allowed in the Sydney Water Catchment, which is kept pristine by high fencing. If APEX mining in the catchment is approved its directors state that 150 producing wells are planned. Sydney Catchment Authority will be under pressure to both approve and monitor mining activities in the catchment whilst its first priority according to its charter is to guard Sydney's water supply.

* CSG mining uses clean water for mine establishment as well as recycled mine water - in Australia water is in short supply. CSG miners use water licences to take water from rivers feeding into the drinking supply. CSG mining creates large amounts of dirty water with problems for removal and disposal of contaminated water, creating a risk for clean catchment water.

* Fugitive methane gas and health concerns felt throughout the community, in particular the Retired Miners Association. Long wall coal mining also leads to issues with methane, its capture, use, leakage, and volatility. BHP operates a methane plant at Appin. Those experienced with it are most scared of it. Methane has been seen bubbling through the ground at Thirlmere (Camden council environment officer)

* environment preservation for wildlife. CSG mining requires hydraulic fracturing of rock and environmental destruction. Macarthur Bushwalkers, the Waddi Waddi people Whale Cave, Rivers SOS, and Scenic Hills have noted damage.

* The catchment provides drinking water security for Camden, Macarthur with increasing populations of young families. Population expansion is planned for Macarthur, 240,000 residents and rising.

* Due to their geographical location, the APEX and AGL works affect the security of drinking water for Camden, Macarthur, Penrith, the Blue Mountains and Sydney. See Sydney Water Authority maps of area.

* At the same time as CSG mining is introduced in Camden, long wall mining is also expanding at Appin and Douglas Park. BHP Appin has announced an $833M expansion. There is overlap in the geographical location of long wall mining, csg mining, the water catchment, and treatment facilities.

* There is a loss of planning consistency between State and local government. There appears to be a feeling of powerlessness amongst residents with regard to local planning issues - at the local government elections councillors claimed they had no power over what happens in our community. Nevertheless, local government still has the ability to plan housing while the State Government plans industry. For example, housing is planned at the El Caballo Blanco site on Camden Valley way, where csg mining by AGL Phase 3 is also planned.

* There is a fear of loss of amenity and hence investment by home owners if water supply is depleted, or the local environment is contaminated by either dirty well water, salts, or methane. Local residents, due to AGL mining, will be forced into placing increased dependence on piped water.

* There appears to be insufficient community consultation about expansion of mining in the area. A perceived conflict exists between what the council sells to residents as a rural community, whilst the State Government is treating Macarthur in particular Camden, which has always been a sleepy rural town, as an industrial area. As a result, residents feel misled. Will there be compensation paid for loss of house value, loss of amenity (noise and water pollution etc).

* There is a lack of trust, both from the point of view of councillors and residents, in local government's ability to protect local residents from the onslaught of industry. There is a lack of trust in what state and local governments say, as they are reliably inconsistent.

* After the Thirlmere Lakes enquiry, there is a perceived lack of trust in consultants particularly regarding independence. Locally used consultants report to both the mining industry, the state government, and the water authorities. Other independent consultants, eg Professor Pell are not heard. Input from local residents who have seen water loss is not used. There appears to be an inability of the representatives of the State Government authorities to listen to local concerns, and take anecdotal evidence into account and to incorporate local concerns when expressed, into agreed outcomes. There needs to be perceived consultation.

* Lack of knowledge. The example of Thirlmere Lakes and Long Wall Mining poses issues for community consulting and suggests a lack of knowledge that urges caution. The water in Thirlmere Lakes has gone for good. The causes are stated to be drought alone, but a long wall mine exists close by and has leaked water. Rivers SOS are not pleased with the consultation process. I am not a member of this group, just an observer.


* There is distress felt that Camden is no longer rural, but has become industrial.


I am further concerned that csg mining by APEX in the catchment will further risk degrading the Sydney water supply at the source (in the catchment, before reaching dams). There is a lot of correspondence between APEX and regulators in the first application. As a result I cannot but feel that APEX mining in the catchment for CSG is an unnecessary risk being taken by the State Government, that most people would not be willing to take for a short term gas supply.



Preamble

Risks of CSG Mining
There are many risks to CSG Mining. The most sensible statement I have read is by Dr Alan Randall of Sydney University and CSIRO which states

We don't understand the risks, going slow on CSG makes economic sense. CSG is trapped in pores inside the coal and held in place by large volumes of water. .. it produces high volumes of waste water. ... Fracking introduces liquids and chemicals under high pressure to crack the coal seam and surrounding rock and may be an additional source of contamination. CSG has a wider footprint on the environment than the modest wellheads suggest. It will impact rural and community ways of life and reduce agricultural productivity everywhere it operates. There are many unknowns about site specific impacts of csg on soil and aquifers and the extent of contamination in the waste water. But these unknowns are dwarfed by the unknown cumulative effects.

BACKGROUND ISSUES TO THE APEX MINING CONCERNS

CSG Mining in Camden
AGL is in the process of building and operating a large number of CSG mines in Camden (134) and a similar number are proposed at Camden North with a third phase along Camden Valley Way proposed at the El Caballo Blanco site. These works will by their nature extract water from rivers during well drilling and return contaminated waters from wells to the environment for disposal. Impacts from methane gas and other contaminants will be an ongoing issue requiring monitoring and control. AGL states that fracking will occur. (AGL website).


Population Expansion in Camden
Camden is "the new place" to live for young communities, with new developments from Camden South and Bridgewater Estate, to Oran Park (9000 new homes) and along Camden Valley Way (Harrington Park), where families are encouraged to invest their life savings and live a good life. Camden Council has mooted a new housing estate on the site of the old El Caballo Blanco. New areas are planned from Menangle, Camden South, Harben Estate, Grasmere, Harrington Park, Mt Annan, Narellan, Narellan Vale, all along Camden Valley Way to Prestons, Denham Court, Oran Park (9000 houses), Catherine Fields and so on.

The housing types range from semi rural with homes on acres worth in excess of $1M (eg Pepperfields Estate) to more modest and built up family areas (Mt Annan). Sydney Water cites 240,000 people depend on the Macarthur Water Supply and this number is growing.

Water use and Climate in Camden
It is a fairly low average rainfall area, averaging 783.7mm, and it gets hot in summer and cold and frosty in winter. It is typically dry and fairly flat being a valley, and is subject to occasional flooding. Typically there are lots of small waterways, dams and ponds, with mosquitos, birds (ducks, grass parrots, rosellas, galahs, cockatoos black and white) and wildlife that go with them. Small farms use water for gardens and stock. Dams are replenished by rainfall and run off. There are still tracts of intact Cumberland Plain around Camden and Cobbitty.

Camden township has a small tributary of the Nepean flowing through the equestrian centre which flows on to near Camden airport where the fishing competition is held. Occasionally people are seen swimming there. A waterway runs under the overpass to Elderslie. Little waterways like this are typical.

Camden, Wollondilly and Campbelltown councils have worked to clean up local rivers and now 3 platypus have been seen in the Georges River (Macarthur Chronicle last week) which got 3400 "likes" on Facebook.

The Amenity of Camden
Camden is quoted as having `rural' amenity and many people moved this way for just such a lifestyle.

Camden Council's website states:
Camden is an area steeped in heritage, adventure and natural charm. Located just 60km south west of Sydney, Camden boasts that rural feel of yesterday, with all the luxuries and conveniences of today, offering locals and visitors the best of both worlds.

Camden Council aims to enhance the lives and well-being of its residents and offers exceptional services and programs to the community. From waste disposal to Development Applications, or community events to grants and initiatives, Camden Council strives to assist its community in a professional and positive way.

The Camden Council logo is a visual expression of the Camden area. The Platypus image is a unique and modern symbol representing the serious efforts made by Camden Council towards meeting our goals of becoming an environmentally, culturally, socially and economically sustainable community.

Nearby Catchment Towns
Nearby in Campbelltown, we have Mt Annan Botanical Gardens. Just over the ridge, we have Mt Hunter, Oakdale, the Warragamba Dam, and to the south the dams of the Sydney Catchment, the Cataract, Avon, Cordeaux and Nepean. There are still large beef farms on the Northern Road, there is Belgenny Farm, home of Elizabeth Macarthur and there is horticulture with vegetable growers including large farms at Douglas Park and Razorback. There is also a strong equestrian community with many riding establishments and an equestrian centre holding high level competitions. Large nearby councils are Campbelltown and Wollondilly further south.


Long Wall Coal Mining from the south coast reaches into Camden
Mining at Appin and the South Coast has proceeded for many years providing employment to the area. In the early part of this year Camden has come into closer proximity to long wall coal mining - BHP have expanded their Appin Mine and built Shaft 6 for air extraction at Douglas Park close to Menangle. They are spending more than $833M (see BHP website) to expand at Appin, giving some south coast miners more work. While the employment was welcomed the footprint of the long wall mine has expanded closer to residential, and historically significant areas of Camden, such as Elizabeth Macarthur Farm.

CSG Mining
AGL have extended the mining of coal seam gas from early exploration at Cawdor to the present situation with a large production plant at Rosalind Park. They have 134 wells near Camden and Menangle, including under the Nepean River (photo in SMH article) at Menangle Raceway. There is a CSG mine on Belgenny Farm, home of Elizabeth Macarthur. AGL plan North Camden Phase 2 at Currans Hill, Denham Court, Raby, Varroville, Narellan, Glenlee and so on. We have a well in Mt Annan Botanical Gardens I believe. AGL has plans for Phase 3 at the El Caballo Blanco site - I heard about this at the local government election booth, when people were asking councillors what it was all about.

How close are CSG wells to housing?
As I understand it from the literature available, a csg well needs to be located only 5m from a residential dwelling. (Paper, 2004 cites a radius of 5m, 10m, and 20m for differing circumstances.) Without knowing any better, this seems close. I don't know if this is still current in the area.

In Queensland in 2011 Anna Bligh announced she would introduce new restrictions on coal seam gas extraction and the whole mining industry, freezing exploration permits within two kilometres of towns with a population of 1,000 people or more. The proximity to residents of mining is an issue. I don't know if this is current.

I would like to know if wells can be located so close to housing.

The Water Catchment
The Upper Canal system supplies through a series of canals aqueducts and tunnels and supplies 680 megalitres per day of water from the metropolitan dams, to the Prospect Reservoir. AGL will require 30 Megalitres for each of its 3 phases of construction of its CSG operations in Camden. It was suggested that this might come from the Cataract River directly before going to the Macarthur Treatment plant at Broughtons Weir. Of more concern is the amount of groundwater issuing from the wells, with wells producing 20MegaL of water initially reducing to 5 MegaL after 5 years.

Camden's water
Camden's water supply (Sydney Water Authority Map) comes from the Cataract River at the Broughtons Pass Weir also and travels to the Macarthur Water Treatment Plant built by Transfield and located at Appin, the same location as BHP's long wall mine. I am not sure how many megalitres travel to the Macarthur Treatment Plant for Camden. From the map supplied by SWA it appears that the water flowing to Camden is separate from the water flowing to the Prospect Reservoir. The Macarthur Water Treatment Plant supplies 240,000 people according to the SWA Brochure.

AGL requests a 30 Mega Litre licence to extract water for its Camden project and another 30 MegaLitre licence for Camden North. It most likely comes directly from rivers adjacent to the wells according to the SCA, the Nepean and the Cataract.

Consequently, where in the past there has been a land use buffer between the catchment, mining and rural parts of Menangle and Camden, this buffer is reducing in size and the three activities are coming into conflict.

Water Issues
Evidence of Thirlmere Lakes
There is local hearsay evidence that water in the Thirlmere Lakes disappeared through a combination of Long Wall mining and drought over a period of 30 years. Many local mining people will tell you about the lost water which has poured into and through shafts in the Appin Mine at Tahmoor, directly opposite the Lakes. RiversSOS also cite evidence from graphs produced by Professor Pells that the loss of the river is a recent occurrence, as despite previous droughts the Thirlmere Lakes refilled. Rivers SOS have written a lengthy document about lack of organisation and lack of consultation on the issue. The fact is, after the rain returned, the Lakes have not filled. (See RiverSOS) I am not a member of this group, but interested. The Sydney Catchment Authority state on their website that Thirlmere Lakes were lost due to drought, but common sense suggests that this is not the only cause. Sydney Catchment used Parsons Brinkerhoff as consultants to the SOS group on the matter and say the cause was drought.

Perceived Independence of Consultants
AGL also use Parsons Brinkerhoff as consultants. Exstrata is also one of their clients. I have read the Parsons Brinkerhoff Groundwater AGL assessment model for Camden and don't understand it all, but that is not my job. Although not a scientist it seems from the PB report that groundwater issues are unclear for Camden, nor are the impacts of csg mining here, but there are geological faults in the area and a variety of rock and soil through which wells and pipelines will go so controls will be very important.

Pipelines, Water Courses, Groundwater
Pipelines (source; AGL reports) are planned to travel close to, in and under water courses and supplies. I am concerned about the Nepean River, under which some CSG mines go (near Menangle), and that groundwater contamination as outlined by CSIRO (see CSG fact sheets) will inevitably occur. AGL state that fracking will occur in Camden. Also, that the PB report suggests a higher dependence on dam water for our drinking and general use might be required if groundwater is compromised.

Camden Council advisors who have done the work on the rivers for the platypus, are concerned that contamination of all the little bits of surface water locked in dams and rivulets such as pass through the equestrian centre, will be difficult to monitor. Also chemical effects on mosquitos will impact supply of food for birds and wildlife (including pets who drink from rain and ground sources).

I can see these water use and contamination issues link together; surely they must.

We are a dry area normally, and cant afford to lose or contaminate water from the Nepean or these little surface water rivers and streams that pop up after rain.

Monitoring and fairness of reporting
At the same time, stories about the Thirlmere Lakes, and leakage from long wall mining, raise even greater concerns about impartiality, the independence of consultants and the willingness of investigating committees to take the input of local residents who have seen things with their own eyes, seriously.

APEX Mining Requests to extend permissions to Mine in Darkes Forest
I have read the inputs to the previous request by APEX to mine in the Sydney Catchment. In recent media releases the owners of the APEX leases admit they plan to mine CSG in the catchment and across 150 wells. They often cite use of unused fire trails and limited damage. Bearing in mind the impacts of csg mining on local surrounds, the need to truck water out if contaminated, and the need to drill deep into rockbeds to source the gas, including the use of fracking, and from the CSIRO fact sheet the suggestion that wells on average in Queensland (where there is less water) generally produce 20,000 L of water, it is difficult to see how APEX can carry out its business, whilst the SCA keeps to its word.

I apologise for the roundaboutness of all this, and the verbal overload. With more time I would streamline my points, and if you have read it all thanks.

Hello,

I strongly oppose this application to extend the Apex exploration project.

1. The project has had very large scale community opposition which should be heeded.
2. The premier made an election commitment not to proceed with CSG at the expense of other important land uses, including water catchment in the case of this project.
3. An indefinite extension is completely inappropriate given the changing understandings of this kind of project and its effect on the surrounding environment.
4. Further study of the possible impacts and impacts of drilling elsewhere should be undertaken before any further exploration occurs in this sensitive area.

Regards,
Daniel Heckenberg