Mod 3 - Airly Coal

Please do not destroy an area of natural beauty in order to elicit a short-term financial gain. It can't be put back like it was and there are always better ways to create wealth.

I am an owner/operator of holiday cabins at Newnes in the Lithgow LGA and I strongly believe in the care of our beautiful places for the economic future of Lithgow. Centennial's proposal at Mt Airly is another development destroying one of our beautiful places for short term gain. It:
* Will threaten the historic shale oil ruins at Mount Airly from subsidence
* Is likely to cause water pollution into Airly Creek impacting on the Gardens of Stone National Park.
* Will cause (a consented !) subsidence of 1,8 meters according to a 1991 consent threatening aquifers in the ground and the stunning pagoda landscape above ground.
* Will be visually polluting a popular tourist destination in our area with mining infrastructure and waste heaps.
Should this renewed destruction be approved I ask that:

* The above mentioned 1991 `consent' be amended to prevent any subsidence greater than 125mm.
* What will be left of the Mugii Murum-ban State Conservation Area be added to the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area once mining has been completed and that
* A reverse osmosis water treatment be installed to remove all salts and dissolved metals of the effluent from Airly Colliery before any discharge into Airly Creek.

Thank you for the opportunity to express my opinion.
I have not donated more than $1000 to any political party.

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* The 1991 development consent is out-of-date and inappropriate as it lacks the necessary environmental safeguards for coal mining in a State Conservation Area, therefore this modification proposal to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,

Hodaka Morita

Dear Sir/Madam,

Please find attached a letter from the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Advisory Committee regarding the significance of the Mugii Murum-ban State Conservation Area proposed to be mined under the Modification proposal.

While these comments are for an earlier referral 2013/6819 they are equally relevant to this proposal.

Thank for the the opportunity to provide this evidence to support the remarks made in the initial Colong Foundation submission on this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Keith Muir
Director
The Colong Foundation for Wilderness Ltd

I am agreeable to first workings in the current mining lease area, but the Modification documents do not make it clear whether second workings and full extraction are planned after the 1 year period of the Modification.
Figure 5 of the Modification Environmental Assessment shows extensive areas of full extraction under the whole of the Airly-Genowlan mesa.
Full extraction, with subsidence of up to 1.8 m, would not be acceptable because of the damage it would cause to the State Conservation Area which is over the same area.

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

This is an absolutely stunning area of national significance. I submit that existing Consent Conditions are inappropriate. This area should not be subject to coal mining that could threaten the natural aesthetic of the area, which attracts tourists.

*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 refused.

*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.

*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.

*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,
Penn Short

I object if the intent is to carry out full extraction after the first workings proposed in the Modification.
Subsidence of up to 1.8 m, as allowed in the current Development Consent, is not acceptable in an area of such sensitive biodiversity and geodiversity.
This is an area that should not be damaged, and should be protected for the future in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.

Our submission is as per the pdf attachment

Please refer to attached .pdf submission: FW8Jul14toAirlyDA162_91_MOD3

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.

I am really sad that nothing is apparently more important in today's world than mining, extracting, fracking or making profits. Our governments have the absolute responsibility to sustain our natural environments, heritage and all other unique areas in a state that is free from any form of "rape", pillage or theft by companies wanting to carry out their business.

It is the government's responsibility to ensure, that future generations of Australians have wonderful wilderness areas to expore, enjoy and cherish for hundreds of years to come. It would certainly be most disappointing - and grossly negligent - to see damaged areas that were once natural spectacles brought on by typical short-sightedness that is only too prevalent in today's leadership and society in general.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

Yours sincerely,

Akos Lumnitzer

Please find below my Submission as an Objection to the Airly Colliery DA 162/91 Modification 3
I believe that the existing Consent Conditions are Inappropriate for the following reasons:

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,

Bernard Jean

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,
Damian Jones

This is a signed copy of the submission sent in yesterday. Thecontent is the same so it replaces the one submitted yesterday (8.7.14).

I am concerned about the proposed development as it lacks the necessary environmental safeguards for coal mining in a State Conservation Area. Im particularly concerned about the potential for downstream impacts on the World Heritage Area Gardens of Stone National Park, part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area

I agree with the 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.

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

I live in Rylstone but have 80 hectares of land in the Capertee Valley near Glen Alice. I have held this land since 1999.

The Capertee Valley is a beautiful part of Australia, with wonderful sandstone cliffs, areas of white and yellow box grassy woodland which are an important part of the landscape with an abundance of bird life. It has been declared an internationally important birdwatching area and visitors come from around the world to view the many species, some endangered, such as the Regent Honeyeater. The Valley also has a number of agricultural enterprises, principally raising beef cattle, also sheep, alpacas, horses and goats.

I wish to object to Modification 3 on the following grounds:

More intensive coal mining could cause up to 1.8 metres of vertical subsidence. This could cause cliff collapses and destroy some of the sandstone pagodas, which are a unique feature of the local landscape.

Centennial Coal originally planned to remove only half the coal, leaving pillars that would support the surface and lead to a maximum subsidence of 125 mm. This seemed to be acceptable to many people in the Valley at the time. However, there is a vast difference between a subsidence of 125 mm and one of 1.8 metres, especially in relation to impact on the environment and visual amenity.

There is a serious risk that creeks as well as underground water will be affected by the mining. This could have serious consequences for residents in the valley, in particular farmers, whose enterprises require reliable access to water. It would also have a negative impact on tourism.

In addition to the negative effect on residents and visitors, damaged aquifers and creeks containing mine water discharges would affect the unique flora and fauna of the Valley.

This consent should lapse and a new DA be submitted by Centennial Coal for the entire operation.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

As a past resident of the Greater Blue Mountains I am deeply concerned about the proposal to extend the mine with it's environmental impacts on the surrounding areas. The Capertee Valley is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful Valleys in the Blue Mountains.

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 . - See more at: http://www.colongwilderness.org.au/node/539#sthash.ZtoOth06.dpuf

My other concern is the effect on the Garden of Stones. I ask that this proposal either be refused outright or be amended to prevent any subsidence greater than 125mm. - See more at: http://www.colongwilderness.org.au/node/539#sthash.ZtoOth06.dpuf

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. - See more at: http://www.colongwilderness.org.au/node/539#sthash.ZtoOth06.dpuf

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. Now, not after mining! - See more at: http://www.colongwilderness.org.au/node/539#sthash.ZtoOth06.dpuf

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.
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.
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 do not support the proposed Airly Mine Modification 3 in its current form because of the proposed mining methods which will result in unacceptable subsidence and associated damage in this important environmental area.
A careful bord and pillar mining plan should be used to minimise subsidence. The mining is beneath a State Conservation Area which is packed with remarkable biological and geophysical features including very rare plants, a threatened ecological community, pagoda rock formations, canyons and clifflines. The cliffs and pagodas are of outstanding scenic significance. The area also contains important heritage values of Aboriginal art sites and historic mining relics associated with oil shale extraction.
All of these values are potentially threatened by the level of subsidence which is proposed, combined with the limited extent of the plateau and hence proximity of undermining to most features of significance.
The area contains values equal to that of the adjacent Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and would be a worthy addition to the WHA...provided it is not subject to the level of damage which the current proposal could cause.

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.
Excessive damage to nearby forest and many kilometers of down stream water quality will be very distressing to me. I strongly object to this proposal

I wish to oppose the extension of Centennial Coal's mine extension in the Mugii Murum-Ban State Conservation Area (Mount Airly and Genowlan Mountain in the Capertee Valley).
This is an area of exquisite beauty and it is incomprehensible that it should be destroyed for short term profits when, left unspoiled, it could give so much pleasure to future generations.

The World Heritage Advisory Committee recommended that this should be added to the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.