Mod 3

While I am not objecting to Modification 3 of the Bengalla Continuation Project I do believe this is an ideal opportunity to amend Bengalla's conditions of consent.

Apparently, under their current conditions of consent, Bengalla Mining Company Pty Ltd is not required to provide ongoing monitoring data regarding the impact of dust, and noise on the community and the effect their business has on the community's water. This is an intolerable situation. It suggests that neither the company nor the department is concerned with the health and wellbeing of the local community.

On a number of occasions I have requested information about Bengalla's monitoring data and each time I have been surprised that both the company and the Department of Planning and Environment advised me that Bengalla is not required to provide ongoing monitoring data to either the department or the community.

My concern is that monitors, in the same area from different mines, cannot be compared. This then questions the accuracy of the data and the cumulative impact on the community. I believe the people, living in this community, have the right to truthful, accurate and regular up to date information allowing them to see and understand the big picture where it affects their general amenities and health. Dust is a particular problem within the community and we would require information from 24hr monitors and the high volume air samplers.

Therefore, I request that, if this modification is approved, Bengalla's conditions of consent should include the requirement to provide, both the Department of Planning and Environment and the local community, ongoing monitoring data of the impacts on the community resulting from dust and noise emissions as well as the effects on our surface water and the water table.

While I am not objecting to Modification 3 of the Bengalla Continuation Project I do believe this is an ideal opportunity to amend Bengalla's conditions of consent.

Apparently, under their current conditions of consent, Bengalla Mining Company Pty Ltd is not required to provide ongoing monitoring data regarding the impact of dust, and noise on the community and the effect their business has on the community's water. This is an intolerable situation. It suggests that neither the company nor the department is concerned with the health and wellbeing of the local community.

On a number of occasions I have requested information about Bengalla's monitoring data and each time I have been surprised that both the company and the Department of Planning and Environment advised me that Bengalla is not required to provide ongoing monitoring data to either the department or the community.

My concern is that monitors, in the same area from different mines, cannot be compared. This then questions the accuracy of the data and the cumulative impact on the community. I believe the people, living in this community, have the right to truthful, accurate and regular up to date information allowing them to see and understand the big picture where it affects their general amenities and health. Dust is a particular problem within the community and we would require information from 24hr monitors and the high volume air samplers.

Therefore, I request that, if this modification is approved, Bengalla's conditions of consent should include the requirement to provide, both the Department of Planning and Environment and the local community, ongoing monitoring data of the impacts on the community resulting from dust and noise emissions as well as the effects on our surface water and the water table.