Mod 3 - Airly Coal

Submission as an Objection to Airily Colliery Modification DA162/91

I agree this area, the Mujii Muram-ban State Area is best kept as Heritage listed, as proposed by World Heritage Advisory Committee.

Submission as an Objection to Airily Colliery Modification DA162/91

I agree this area, the Mujii Muram-ban State Area is best kept as Heritage listed, as proposed by World Heritage Advisory Committee.

I am deeply concerned that this proposal will irreversibly affect and damage the world heritage gardens of stone and this area should be added to the world heritage.
This Coal should be left in the ground. The geomorphology and geological history of this area is far more important than any short term financial gain achieved by mining this extraordinary area.

I have been walking in this area for many years. The possibility of subsidence is abhorrent, they call this low impact mining but cracking the rock faces and the damage it will do is appalling. Centennial coal keep wanting to impact on one of the most beautiful places in the state which should be conserved for future generations. I also make the following points :

The 1991 development consent is out-of-date and inappropriate as it lacks the necessary environmental safeguards for coal mining in a State Conservation Area, therefore this modification proposal to extend the consent should be either refused or varied to specify almost undetectible levels of surface movements, that is mine subsidence.

Subsidence under the 1991 development consent of 1.8m is totally unacceptable - there must be no exceptions to following limits: vertical subsidence being a maximum of 125mm, a maximum tilt of 2.5 mm/m; and a maximum strain of 2.0 mm/m.

The historic Oil Shale Ruins are of special significance and is one of the best preserved heritage sites of its kind in NSW, I oppose any coal mining that does not fully protect these historical Oil Shale Ruins from any form of coal pillar extraction.

I agree with the World Heritage Advisory Committee that the Mugii Murum-ban State Conservation Area should be added to the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area once mining has been completed.

Visually prominent waste and product heaps must be appropriately screened and landscaped to blend in with surrounding parks and popular tourist destinations in the Capertee Valley, such as Pearsons Lookout .

I am concerned about the failure to consider downstream impacts on the World Heritage Area in the Modification 3 proposal, operations proposed under Modification 3 can discharge water pollution into Airly Creek. Such discharges would impact on the Gardens of Stone National Park, part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.

Reverse osmosis water treatment of the effluent from Airly Colliery to remove all salts and dissolved metals must be required for any discharge to a World Heritage listed property.

Dr David Haines

We are local residents of the Capertee valley and live within the immediate vicinity of Mts Airly and Genowlan.
We are opposing any extension to the current mine as the operator has, so far, failed to meet environmental obligations for the existing facility. If environmental constraints cannot be met for the current operation then the rights to any extensions has not been earned. This is an extremely fragile part of the World Heritage surround.
Some of the local issues are presented below however, they are well documented and should already be on the table as part of any application for mining, expansion of mining or, exploration in the Capertee Valley.
Mugii Murum-ban State Conservation Area is a fabulous walk that is accessible to almost everyone, nature, views and historic Heritage in one location. This asset is of huge value to Local, Regional, State National and International visitors.

Access and safety visiting Mt Airly area in the Capertee Valley should not be compromised by mine subsidence. World heritage Advisory Committee recommendation is that the Airly-Genowlan mesa should be added to the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
This modification 3 proposal would allow more intensive coal mining that causes 1.8 metres of vertical subsidence.
If they continue to operate under the existing out-dated 1991 conditions, they can legally drop the ground level by 1.8 meters, which will cause cliff collapses and subsidence. Such mining will destroy this spectacular mesa with its thousands of pagodas, dramatic cliffs and the "New Hartley" oil shale ruins.
Access will be blocked for ever for safety reasons, and natural and scenic values lost for all time.

Earlier negotiations regarding the creation of the Mugii Murum-ban State Conservation Area, Centennial told the Colo Committee and the Colong & Wilderness Foundation that they only planned to remove half of the coal to ensure support for the surface. This would ensure that the maximum vertical subsidence would be 125mm (5 inches). It appears that there will be mining under Airly Village with an anticipated subsidence of 0.5 metres.
This is a fragile area and should be protected for heritage reasons. There has been no assessment of heritage issues.
Water impacts are critical as they will affect the World Heritage Area, agriculture and tourism. Agriculture is not mentioned in Airly Coals application. There is still the serious risk that bores and creeks (Gap, Genowlan and Emu) and the Capertee River will be affected by mining and farming will run short of water. If the water fails then unique flora and fauna will be affected and our own personal enjoyment and tourism will be seriously affected.
We are concerned that the coal heaps are NOW visible from Glen Davis Road and from Pearsons Lookout, in contravention of an agreement to screen them with trees. The heaps should be covered to control acid-run off that will affect local waterways.
Capertee Valley has experienced dry times and water is a big issue and the colliery waste water should not be allowed to pollute local waterways which run into the Gardens of Stone National Park, and into Capertee Valley.
This consent should lapse and a new DA be submitted by Centennial for the entire operation.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

Baron Gray and Lisa Cernicchi
Little Crown
446 Crown Station Road
Glen Davis

Submission as an Objection - Airly Colliery DA 162/91 Modification 3
Existing Consent Conditions are Inappropriate

The 1991 development consent is out-of-date and inappropriate as it lacks the necessary environmental safeguards for coal mining in a State Conservation Area, therefore this modification proposal to extend the consent should be either refused or varied to specify almost undetectible levels of surface movements, that is mine subsidence.
Subsidence under the 1991 development consent of 1.8m is totally unacceptable - there must be no exceptions to following limits: vertical subsidence being a maximum of 125mm, a maximum tilt of 2.5 mm/m; and a maximum strain of 2.0 mm/m.
The historic Oil Shale Ruins are of special significance and is one of the best preserved heritage sites of its kind in NSW, I oppose any coal mining that does not fully protect these historical Oil Shale Ruins from any form of coal pillar extraction.
I agree with the World Heritage Advisory Committee that the Mugii Murum-ban State Conservation Area should be added to the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area once mining has been completed.
Visually prominent waste and product heaps must be appropriately screened and landscaped to blend in with surrounding parks and popular tourist destinations in the Capertee Valley, such as Pearsons Lookout .
I am concerned about the failure to consider downstream impacts on the World Heritage Area in the Modification 3 proposal, operations proposed under Modification 3 can discharge water pollution into Airly Creek. Such discharges would impact on the Gardens of Stone National Park, part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
Reverse osmosis water treatment of the effluent from Airly Colliery to remove all salts and dissolved metals must be required for any discharge to a World Heritage listed property.

Submission as an Objection - Airly Colliery DA 162/91 Modification 3
Existing Consent Conditions are Inappropriate

The 1991 development consent is out-of-date and inappropriate as it lacks the necessary environmental safeguards for coal mining in a State Conservation Area, therefore this modification proposal to extend the consent should be either refused or varied to specify almost undetectible levels of surface movements, that is mine subsidence.
Subsidence under the 1991 development consent of 1.8m is totally unacceptable - there must be no exceptions to following limits: vertical subsidence being a maximum of 125mm, a maximum tilt of 2.5 mm/m; and a maximum strain of 2.0 mm/m.
The historic Oil Shale Ruins are of special significance and is one of the best preserved heritage sites of its kind in NSW, I oppose any coal mining that does not fully protect these historical Oil Shale Ruins from any form of coal pillar extraction.
I agree with the World Heritage Advisory Committee that the Mugii Murum-ban State Conservation Area should be added to the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area once mining has been completed.
Visually prominent waste and product heaps must be appropriately screened and landscaped to blend in with surrounding parks and popular tourist destinations in the Capertee Valley, such as Pearsons Lookout .
I am concerned about the failure to consider downstream impacts on the World Heritage Area in the Modification 3 proposal, operations proposed under Modification 3 can discharge water pollution into Airly Creek. Such discharges would impact on the Gardens of Stone National Park, part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
Reverse osmosis water treatment of the effluent from Airly Colliery to remove all salts and dissolved metals must be required for any discharge to a World Heritage listed property.

I object to this Modification.
See attached submission below

Mining and Industry Projects
NSW Department of Planning & Infrastructure
GPO Box 39
Sydney NSW 2001

Dear Sir/Madam,

Submission as an Objection - Airly Colliery DA 162/91 Modification 3
Existing Consent Conditions are Inappropriate

The 1991 development consent is out-of-date and inappropriate as it lacks the necessary environmental safeguards for coal mining in a State Conservation Area, therefore this modification proposal to extend the consent should be either refused or varied to specify almost undetectible levels of surface movements, that is mine subsidence.
Subsidence under the 1991 development consent of 1.8m is totally unacceptable - there must be no exceptions to following limits: vertical subsidence being a maximum of 125mm, a maximum tilt of 2.5 mm/m; and a maximum strain of 2.0 mm/m.
The historic Oil Shale Ruins are of special significance and is one of the best preserved heritage sites of its kind in NSW, I oppose any coal mining that does not fully protect these historical Oil Shale Ruins from any form of coal pillar extraction.
I agree with the World Heritage Advisory Committee that the Mugii Murum-ban State Conservation Area should be added to the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area once mining has been completed.
Visually prominent waste and product heaps must be appropriately screened and landscaped to blend in with surrounding parks and popular tourist destinations in the Capertee Valley, such as Pearsons Lookout .
I am concerned about the failure to consider downstream impacts on the World Heritage Area in the Modification 3 proposal, operations proposed under Modification 3 can discharge water pollution into Airly Creek. Such discharges would impact on the Gardens of Stone National Park, part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
Reverse osmosis water treatment of the effluent from Airly Colliery to remove all salts and dissolved metals must be required for any discharge to a World Heritage listed property.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

Yours sincerely,
Pen Gain

Submission as an Objection - Airly Colliery DA 162/91 Modification 3


Dear Sit/Madam,

I am writing to express my objection to the above DA. My reasons are as follows-

The 1991 development consent is over 20 years old, out-of-date and completely inappropriate as it lacks the necessary environmental safeguards for coal mining in a State Conservation Area. Therefore this modification proposal to extend the consent should be either refused or varied to specify almost undetectible levels of surface movements, that is mine subsidence and updated to protect water resources in the area.

Subsidence under the 1991 development consent of 1.8m is totally unacceptable - there must be no exceptions to following limits: vertical subsidence being a maximum of 125mm, a maximum tilt of 2.5 mm/m; and a maximum strain of 2.0 mm/m.


The historic Oil Shale Ruins are of special significance and is one of the best preserved heritage sites of its kind in NSW, I oppose any coal mining that does not fully protect these historical Oil Shale Ruins from any form of coal pillar extraction.

I agree with the World Heritage Advisory Committee that the Mugii Murum-ban State Conservation Area should be added to the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area once mining has been completed.


Visually prominent waste and product heaps must be appropriately screened and landscaped to blend in with surrounding parks and popular tourist destinations in the Capertee Valley, such as Pearson's Lookout.

I am concerned about the failure to consider downstream impacts on the World Heritage Area in the Modification 3 proposal, operations proposed under Modification 3 can discharge water pollution into Airly Creek. Such discharges would impact on the Gardens of Stone National Park, part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
Reverse osmosis water treatment of the effluent from Airly Colliery to remove all salts and dissolved metals must be required for any discharge to a World Heritage listed property.

The above DA should be rejected. It is decades out of date and would impose significant long-term negative impacts if approved.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

Yours sincerely,

Reverse osmosis water treatment of the effluent from Airly Colliery to remove all salts and dissolved metals must be required for any discharge to a World Heritage listed property. - See more at: http://www.colongwilderness.org.au/node/539#sthash.n0vsEcuC.dpuf

Money made through destroying unique and irreplaceable natural wonders cannot replace them. You are stealing from the future.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Submission as an Objection - Airly Colliery DA 162/91 Modification 3
Existing Consent Conditions are Inappropriate

The 1991 development consent is out-of-date and inappropriate as it lacks the necessary environmental safeguards for coal mining in a State Conservation Area, therefore this modification proposal to extend the consent should be either refused or varied to specify almost undetectible levels of surface movements, that is mine subsidence.
Subsidence under the 1991 development consent of 1.8m is totally unacceptable - there must be no exceptions to following limits: vertical subsidence being a maximum of 125mm, a maximum tilt of 2.5 mm/m; and a maximum strain of 2.0 mm/m.
The historic Oil Shale Ruins are of special significance and is one of the best preserved heritage sites of its kind in NSW, I oppose any coal mining that does not fully protect these historical Oil Shale Ruins from any form of coal pillar extraction.
I agree with the World Heritage Advisory Committee that the Mugii Murum-ban State Conservation Area should be added to the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area once mining has been completed.
Visually prominent waste and product heaps must be appropriately screened and landscaped to blend in with surrounding parks and popular tourist destinations in the Capertee Valley, such as Pearsons Lookout .
I am concerned about the failure to consider downstream impacts on the World Heritage Area in the Modification 3 proposal, operations proposed under Modification 3 can discharge water pollution into Airly Creek. Such discharges would impact on the Gardens of Stone National Park, part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
Reverse osmosis water treatment of the effluent from Airly Colliery to remove all salts and dissolved metals must be required for any discharge to a World Heritage listed property.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

Yours sincerely,

Kusum Normoyle.

Submission as an Objection - Airly Colliery DA 162/91 Modification 3
Existing Consent Conditions are Inappropriate

The 1991 development consent is out-of-date and inappropriate as it lacks the necessary environmental safeguards for coal mining in a State Conservation Area, therefore this modification proposal to extend the consent should be either refused or varied to specify almost undetectible levels of surface movements, that is mine subsidence.

Subsidence under the 1991 development consent of 1.8m is totally unacceptable - there must be no exceptions to following limits: vertical subsidence being a maximum of 125mm, a maximum tilt of 2.5 mm/m; and a maximum strain of 2.0 mm/m.

The historic Oil Shale Ruins are of special significance and is one of the best preserved heritage sites of its kind in NSW, I oppose any coal mining that does not fully protect these historical Oil Shale Ruins from any form of coal pillar extraction.

I agree with the World Heritage Advisory Committee that the Mugii Murum-ban State Conservation Area should be added to the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area once mining has been completed.

Visually prominent waste and product heaps must be appropriately screened and landscaped to blend in with surrounding parks and popular tourist destinations in the Capertee Valley, such as Pearsons Lookout .

I am concerned about the failure to consider downstream impacts on the World Heritage Area in the Modification 3 proposal, operations proposed under Modification 3 can discharge water pollution into Airly Creek. Such discharges would impact on the Gardens of Stone National Park, part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.

Reverse osmosis water treatment of the effluent from Airly Colliery to remove all salts and dissolved metals must be required for any discharge to a World Heritage listed property.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

I am concerned at the irreversible damage and destruction that mining will cause in the region. Pursuing a policy of relying on fossil fuels damages not only the local region, but the planet as well.
The 1991 development consent is out-of-date and inappropriate as it lacks the necessary environmental safeguards for coal mining in a State Conservation Area, therefore this modification proposal to extend the consent should be either refused or varied to specify almost undetectible levels of surface movements, that is mine subsidence. - See more at: http://www.colongwilderness.org.au/node/539#sthash.26NlgGgj.dpuf

Mining and Industry Projects
NSW Department of Planning & Infrastructure
GPO Box 39
Sydney NSW 2001

Dear Sir/Madam,

Submission as an Objection - Airly Colliery DA 162/91 Modification 3
Existing Consent Conditions are Inappropriate

The 1991 development consent is out-of-date and inappropriate as it lacks the necessary environmental safeguards for coal mining in a State Conservation Area, therefore this modification proposal to extend the consent should be either refused or varied to specify almost undetectible levels of surface movements, that is mine subsidence.

Subsidence under the 1991 development consent of 1.8m is totally unacceptable - there must be no exceptions to following limits: vertical subsidence being a maximum of 125mm, a maximum tilt of 2.5 mm/m; and a maximum strain of 2.0 mm/m.

The historic Oil Shale Ruins are of special significance and is one of the best preserved heritage sites of its kind in NSW, I oppose any coal mining that does not fully protect these historical Oil Shale Ruins from any form of coal pillar extraction.

I agree with the World Heritage Advisory Committee that the Mugii Murum-ban State Conservation Area should be added to the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area once mining has been completed.

Visually prominent waste and product heaps must be appropriately screened and landscaped to blend in with surrounding parks and popular tourist destinations in the Capertee Valley, such as Pearsons Lookout .

I am concerned about the failure to consider downstream impacts on the World Heritage Area in the Modification 3 proposal, operations proposed under Modification 3 can discharge water pollution into Airly Creek. Such discharges would impact on the Gardens of Stone National Park, part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.

Reverse osmosis water treatment of the effluent from Airly Colliery to remove all salts and dissolved metals must be required for any discharge to a World Heritage listed property.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

Yours sincerely,
Jane Turnbull

i do not want this development to go ahead. I do not agree with the policy and do not want this to happen to the land

Submission attached

Dear Sir/Madam,

The Existing Consent Conditions are Inappropriate.

Agriculture is not even mentioned in Airly Coals application.

There is still the serious risk that bores and creeks (Gap, Genowlan and Emu) and the Capertee River will be affected by mining and farming will run short of water.

It is outrageous that a coal mine has been approved in the Capertee Valley in the first place. This is the second largest river valley in the world after the Grand Canyon. We should be promoting it as the wonderful tourist attraction that it is, not expanding a mine that will only be there for a short while and cause massive destruction in its wake.

Coal is a sunset industry. The Government needs to recognise this and invest in renewables for the future of its citizens, not take the short term profits from dirty old coal.
The mining industry has undue influence over the NSW Government. The previous three mining ministers have all come before ICAC. It's time to clean up coal corruption and our democracy.

For the sake of a sustainable future for our species and all the other remarkable creatures that live in the Capertee Valley, I urge you to decline this application.

I am making this submission on my own behalf and in memory of my late father Herb May of Orange, who had visited the Gardens of Stone on several occasions. I am also familiar with some of this area and regard the whole area as worthy of protection, both for its historical, environmental and indigenous heritage. Therefore there should be no extension to the Airly Colliery and all coal and other mining in this area should be phased out. The mining permits under which this proposed extension would be carried out are very much out of date and not up to best environmental practice. A possible subsidence level of 1.8 metres is totally unacceptable. Furthermore, there would be alternative coal deposits available to the power station which would have less environmental impact, and it is up to Centennial Coal to exploit these first rather than seek to expand into areas which have not been mined and have high conservation values. I urge that this proposal be totally rejected.