Mod 3 - Airly Coal

Mining and Industries Projects
NSW Department of Planning & Infrastructure
GPO Box 39 SYDNEY NSW 2001

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




My husband & I bought our property in Bogee in 2001. We have been coming to the area since that time.

We have enjoyed the beauty of the countryside and working up to the time when we will move here permanently.

Recently we have retired and are now in the process of permanently settling down in the valley.

We love the beauty and the peacefulness of the valley and if there is too much mine activity the area will lose the beauty of all the different species of bird life in the valley and the hundreds of tourists that visit each year.

In the future we don't want our valley to look like Queenstown in Tasmania. We also need our underground water to be protected so it lasts for the future.

We need to preserve the valley for future generations.


Yours sincerely


Krysia & Andrew Truszczynski

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

I wish to object to Centennial Coal's application to extend its Existing Consent Conditions as these are 23 years old and are clearly inappropriate for the following reasons:

- The 1991 development consent was put in place nearly a quarter of a century ago and community standards as to the amount of environmental impact mines can be responsible for have changed considerably in that time. The 1991 consent 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 un-detectible levels of surface movements, that is mine subsidence.
- The 1991 development consent allowing for up to 1.8m of subsidence is totally unacceptable in such an area as that amount of subsidence would totally destroy the sensitive rock pagodas of the area. I believe 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 it is quite appalling that Centennial Coal's environmental impact statement does not even mention them. They are one of the best preserved heritage sites of their kind in NSW, and are already a tourist attraction with potential to be developed considerably more. I oppose any coal mining that does not fully protect these historical Oil Shale Ruins from any form of coal pillar extraction.
- The World Heritage Advisory Committee has already stated 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 wholeheartedly agree with this assessment and believe it should happen as soon as possible, it is totally inappropriate to continue coal mining in such an area.

I am also extremely concerned that the environmental impact statement completely failed to consider downstream impacts on the World Heritage Area in the Modification 3 proposal where operations proposed 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.

I urge the PAC to consider stipulating that Centennial Coal must treat the effluent from Airly Colliery to remove all salts and dissolved metals for any discharge to a World Heritage listed property.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

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.

Sincerely

Rachel Melrose
PhD MSc
Environmental Scientist

Please see attached submission in PDF document format.

Submission Airly Colliery DA162/91 Modification 3

Re: Airly Mine Modification 3,

Dear Sirs,

I am often a visitor to this area because I have been a keen bushwalker. in particular Mt Airly village is an interest and historic place. Australia is destroying so many such historic and beautiful places for short term profit of private companies.

Mugii Murum-ban State Conservation Area is a fabulous walk that is accessible to almost everyone, nature, views and historic Heritage in one location. It is an asset 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 that 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 surface and ground water, aquifers should be preserved and left undamaged for future generations.

Agriculture is not mentioned in Airly Coals application and should be considered. 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.

Environmental assessment
The environmental assessment does not mention the oil shale ruins, or that mine water discharges could put Airly Creek which flows into the World Heritage listed Gardens of Stone National Park at risk. Other creeks affected will be Gap Ck, Genowlan Ck and Emu Ck which feed the Capertee River.

If the water fails then unique flora and fauna will be affected and our own personal enjoyment and tourism will be seriously affected.

I'm 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.

It is time Australia woke up to the fact that we are rapidly ruining so many aspects of our natural environments and this area should be left undamaged.

The USA has much stricter rules about the care of the environment and its very careful rehabilitation. Australian authorities are much too careless and it is time we were more careful.

I trust you will act on the requests of people who wish to take more care of our environments instead of only serving big money.

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,

Mork

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,

see PDF file attached

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 New Hartley is one of the best preserved heritage sites of its kind in NSW. The history of oil shale mining in NSW has had insufficient public recognition, but represents a significant part of the State's mining history.
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

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 New Hartley 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. There is a significant risk to the Gardens of Stone, home to several already endangered species.
*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.
Marion Connaughton

Airly Colliery DA162/91 Modification 3 Submission

SUBMISSION TO MINING AND INDUSTRY PROJECTS
NSW DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Part 3A - Airley Mine Modification 3

Centennial Airly Pty Limited application to modify the Airly Mine's development consent to allow for the continuation of mining for a period of 12 months beyond the expiry date of the current approval.

Bathurst Community Climate Action Network (BCCAN)

The Bathurst Community Climate Action Network (BCCAN) is opposed to any further expansion of the coal industry in the Central West. The modification 3 proposal would continue to allow intensive coal mining that causes significant vertical subsidence and threatens to destroy the spectacular mesa with its thousands of pagodas, dramatic cliffs and the "New Hartley" oil shale ruins. The environmental assessment fails mention the New Hartley oil shale ruins nor the mine water discharges which could put at risk Airly Creek that flows into the World Heritage listed Gardens of Stone National Park.

The mine is already negatively impacting on tourism in the Capertee Valley, due to unsightly coal and rock waste piles. BCCAN members have visited other State Forest's in the area which had been undermined by long-wall coal mines. We noted numbers of drained swamps, the dessication of a major Indigenous occupation and art site, Mayinygu Marragu, substantial cracking across beautiful sandstone features and shearing off of cliff faces in a number of places. We are also informed about, substantial contamination of creeks fed from the run-off from these mines. This can never be rehabilitated and the damage is unavoidable. Off-setting does not avoid the permanent damage.

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. Centennial Coal agreed to limit mine subsidence to almost undetectible levels and should be held to this standard.

The historic Oil Shale Ruins are of special significance and represent one of the best preserved heritage sites of its kind in NSW.
Visually prominent waste and product heaps would greatly detract from the surrounding parks and popular tourist destinations in the Capertee Valley, such as Pearsons Lookout ,

BCCAN is also concerned about the failure to consider downstream impacts on the World Heritage Area. 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.
BCCAN recommends that reverse osmosis water treatment of all effluent from Airly Colliery be required to remove all salts and dissolved metals from any discharge to a World Heritage listed property.

However, equally important as the damage to the local environment caused by ongoing coal mining is the long term impact that this policy of burning fossil fuel will have on biodiversity over future generations through contributing to climate change. If, indeed, the Mount Piper and Wallerawang power stations are running out of local sources of coal this must be a good time to rapidly phase in a move to renewable sources of energy and explore means of energy efficiency. At a national level, wind, solar, geothermal, wave and tidal energy have the potential to fill any vacuum caused by the scaling down of the burning of fossil fuel.

The Central West is not a quarry. The coal industry juggernaut does not have the right to destroy the finest sections of our local environment and jeopardise the future climate of our grandchildren. This is a good place and time to call a stop to the unfettered expansion of coal.

The coal industry is heavily indirectly subsidised and the economic benefits are often over- stated and short term whereas the costs are long term since most of the damage is irremediable.
(Too much of a good thing? The macroeconomic case for slowing down the mining boom.Richard Dennis and Matt Grudnoff Policy Brief No 37, March 2012 The Australia Institute.)

The supply of low ash coal from the Lithgow seam is finite and those companies which presently depend upon it will inevitably have to transition to other energy sources. . We note the observations by Professor Tim Flannery that Investment in renewable energy has increased six fold since 2004 and for the first time businesses around the world are investing more in renewables than coal, oil, and gas. In many parts of Australia solar and wind energy have reached `grid parity' and are more cost effective than fossil fuels. If mines which have reached the extent of their approvals are granted continual extensions Australia will be trapped in the energy economy of the twentieth century and transition will be made even harder.

BCCAN urges the government to reject this application to extend this mining consent. BCCAN recommends that the Mugii Murum-ban State Conservation Area be added to the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area as recommended by the World Heritage Advisory Committee. This would protect the high conservation values of the area, and serve the recreational needs of the expanding population in western Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Central West, as well as creating sustainable local employment.

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,
Fillipe

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,

Adam Curry

Im against the mining in this area .
This is a disaster! for the next generation to come!