MOD 2 - Ore haulage and processing

We have Genuine safety concern for our community, environmental contamination concerns and impact on our existing business.
There has not been enough community consultation on this modification 2 Ore haulage and processing application, Case ID SSD-24319456-Mod2. This is a twelve-year project and should include the local people who your modifications will affect.
Dust contamination, air contamination, soil contamination, vegetation contamination, livestock exposure and contamination and water pollution are my environmental concerns.
• Rocks - Trucks have been leaving the mine site before 7am already not even complying with existing regulatory conditions and dropping large rocks on the road for a 100 km on Burthong road, priory tank road and the Kidman highway potential Danger from rocks will not be visible at night please see att 1. This is a photo of one of the smaller rocks dropped by ore trucks it was collected from the priory tank road.

• Road conditions: Old section of priority tank road doesn’t have line markings and isn’t as wide as the new section of tar, also there are sections of this road with 3 or 4 inch drop-offs from the tar to the dirt, if a truck with three trailers carting ore of 72 tons drops its back trailer wheels off these spots the back trailer will fish-tale and cause an accident in the dark.


• Tyres - concerns when these trucks start blowing tyres in the dark over the next twelve years there are very few places for the AB Triples to pull off the road in the dark that is if they even know they have blown a tyre and left rubber and steel up the road in the dark, there are no overtaking lanes and very few places for these trucks to pull over for breakdowns and tyre repairs making unsafe at night.
• Extra pressure put on animals next to the road with trucks at night will increase accidents to other road users.

• Damage to road surfaces although not in modification 2 this is a real concern to our whole community.
• School bus safety- although not in the modification 2 it is a real concern our children, grandchildren and their safety and future is protected.


Loading and Transporting Toxic unstable tailings and heavy metals in trucks with out, containers with lids and trucks driving on to contaminated areas and not going through wash bays(these should be in use now) even compressed air should be considered when trucks are exiting loading and unloading areas. Attachment 2
Hera Tailings blows across the Nymagee landscape every time the winds blow, this is a long-term problem to us and surrounding properties. Aurelia metals have tried to spray seed on the tailing, they have put under ground water on it from Federation. When Aurelia put bulldozers on the soft almost baby powder consistency tailings dam to level it they created a problem where they could not re crust the surface. I struggle to see how they plan to move it without causing huge environmental damage.
local fauna- running these trucks through environmentally sensitive Malley Fowl breeding grounds on Priory tank Road and Burthong road after dark, in the extended hours may cause harm to these protected ground dwelling birds.
• Potential Livestock contamination from Animals being directly or indirectly contaminated from tailing unsafe transportation in unsealed trailers or water and vegetation consumption that may be affected from contamination. This can be tracked back to our property’s through National vendor Declaration compliance
• Potential soil contamination EPA Assurance
• Potential vegetation contamination as we need to comply with Livestock Productior Assurence -Commodity vender Declaration.
Although our business is very small comparison with the Federation mine, we will be financially worse off.
We run a tourist and agriculture business in outback NSW between Hera mine (less than 1.5 km away) and Federation mine where the ore body is less 1.7km from our boundary fence (which we share 6km on our South- east Boundary with Aurelia Metals Federation Project). We understand this project is of “State significance”.
We have access agreement to allow Aurelia metals to survey and drill on our property to find the direction and extent of their ore body. We are not anti-mining we just need community inclusion and not to be environmentally and financially affected in our business from these changes.
We host people in tents, caravans, rooftop tents evenings sitting around our campfire. people travel hundreds of KM to experience peace and tranquillity extending hours of operation in modification2 will effect our ability to produce an income from tourism. We would be happy to discuss option you may have in this matter.
Our business will be GREATLY affected if the 7am-7pm transportation of ore and tailings is extended to 7am-10pm, while transporting tailings and ore (with heavy metals) please consider your neighbours and the safety to the community.
Having trouble adding att

I am writing to you to express my objection to the Federation Project Modification 2.


I have three main points of objection, which I am happy to personally elaborate on, but I am limited to characters here.


Noise


It is noted in Table 6.16 that there will be an increase in road noise to our property. We  can already hear trucks passing the property from inside the house. This extension in hours, will impact on our lives. The increase in frequency similarly. We particularly purchased our property for it's remote location and believe we are entitled under the Common Law of Nuisance to ‘quiet enjoyment’. Whilst we have to accept the traffic levels that were in place prior to us purchasing, the proposed modifications threaten our quiet enjoyment and may be considered to be a ‘private nuisance’. Furthermore, under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (NSW), excessive noise and pollution (including dust eg. Hera tailings and fumes) may be considered a nuisance. 


Future traffic volumes and road condition/safety

The increased volume of trucks on this road, will make it more dangerous, cause breakdown of the structure more quickly and could impact on damage to windscreens and car body's. If the sealed section is not wide enough to pass safely, without moving to the edge of the sealed road, this could lead to accidents and bogging on the soft road sides. This is a considerable increase in traffic volume, that will mean more interactions with trucks, making the above more likely than currently. The impact on the road structure must also be considered. The increased number of vehicles must impact on the integrity of the structure, particularly in the spring and summer  months of the year. If it is unable to handle the volume, we will not only have a dangerous surface, but a return to the dust conditions that were the reason it was sealed by Aurelia Metals.


Air quality and greenhouse gas

A major concern is the transportation of tailings from Hera to Federation. It is noted in ES5.4 there are ‘negligible’ risks to human health. Negligible is not zero and is not good enough. Currently, dust is often seen wafting across from Hera over ours and neighbouring paddocks, with little to nothing being done by Aurelia Metals to stop it. This has lead to a lack of faith that this proposed (and I believe possibly already started) transportation of fine dust containing heavy metals will be done safely. Should this dust be transported in unsealed, uncovered or merely tarped trucks, it will cause not only possible human health issues, but possible issues to flora and fauna health. This may carry down the food chain and threaten livestock producers' livelihoods. It could also cause issues to our rainwater and dam water supplies. Currently, we only have those two options for water supply and if they are compromised, we will be unable to carry livestock or inhabit the property.


I would implore you to consider the issues above with the utmost scrutiny and compassion. There will be new generations of humans, fauna and flora that may be impacted by these modifications. Human health is precious and must be of utmost consideration in the making of these decisions. Whilst we are largely happy to coexist with the Hera and Federation mines, the future health and wellbeing of my children, their children and the community at large is at stake, if this is allowed to go ahead.

The building height of 34 levels significantly exceeds that of the nearby Buildings. In this respect, this building will take away parts of my view along Hassall St and towards the city. Also, a large area of sky view will be lost.

A problem with developments towards the east of existing Buildings in the Hassall St area is that the cumulative effect of view and sunlight access is not being considered. What, specific actions , as required by law have been taken for this development to minimize
impacts to existing views and sunlight? Why is this building allowed to be so high?

Coal is king