MOD 3 - Capacity Increase

I think the project will be great for the community and the economy. Having the extra capacity will secure our place in the global market when/if demand for cleaner burning coal increases in the future.

Great to see NCIG can increase capacity without increasing infrastructure or foot print.
Working smarter through optimisation and still remain within approved environmental limits is excellent for the industry and the community.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide a submission in regards to the Mod 3 – Capacity Increase application by NCIG.

Since 2010 NCIG have become a key part of the Hunter community and economy. As a business owner and employer of local people, I have personally seen NCIG’s commitment to using local businesses and people as well as supporting local community groups.

NCIG is on the forefront of technology with innovative changes to its operation resulting in increased potential operating capacity in excess of its currently approved throughput capacity of 66 million tonnes per annum. The modification will allow NCIG to utilise the potential increased capacity.

Seeing NCIG’s commitment to Newcastle and Hunter and the social and economic benefits they generate for the region, I fully support the Mod 3 – Capacity Increase application.

Ben Belfield

Good day,

I am writing to support this submission.
The export of coal through the Port of Newcastle provides many jobs for the people of Newcastle and will continue to do so for many years to come.
NCIG have stated in their submission that there will be no detrimental environmental effects on the surrounding environment as a result of the proposal. NCIG have a strong environmental record and "have the runs on the board" with 10 years of production to demonstrate they are a good corporate citizen.
As such I support the approval of this submission.

Kind regards,
David Nelmes.

Australia has some of the highest quality coal in the world, so it is important that whilst the world still needs coal fired energy sources, that Australia has every chance to provide coal that decreases the total emissions worldwide in the interim.

NCIG have confirmed they will continue to maintain their environmental focus, which is a key to the ongoing export of coal from Newcastle.

I have been employed by NCIG for almost 9 years. I have previously spent my 22 year career in heavy industrial facilities in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley. I have visited every coal handling terminal in Australia, among this group NCIG is unique for its cleanliness standards, reliability, efficiency and the relationship it enjoys with it's workforce. Never before have I experienced a business that is willing to trust so much of its success to the innovation of the workforce.

On this occasion the challenge was to extract the true capability from the $3B+ investment in the infrastructure (circa 2010). A broad interview process across employees and contractors to collect ideas, collaboration teams to develop the concepts, comprehensive engineering of the details has resulted in an improvement project that is all upside. The positive result is achieved by working towards eliminating the time conveyors are running with breaks in the coal stream.

This is a project built on efficiency, it uses the same equipment, running for materially the same amount of time to deliver more capability for the Hunter Valley Coal Chain. It has little if any negative impact to the workforce, local community or surrounding environment.

It has been a pleasure to be involved in the creation, development and implementation of the improvement works and I look forward to the approval of this modification so that NCIG can provide increased services to the industry.

Yours sincerely,

Barry ARENS

I support this project.

An increase in capacity at NCIG of an extra 13 Mtpa would have Newcastle well placed for the future. If there was any increase in demand it would be easily handled through the 3 currently operating Coal Export Terminals. This would see an end to ever needing a 4th Terminal built on Kooragang Island, which would have a far bigger environmental impact than a rather small increase in capacity at one of the currently operating Terminals.
From the research I have seen, it is unlikely there will ever be higher demand for coal through the Port of Newcastle, however if NCIG were granted a higher operating capacity, they could work towards winning a higher market share through the Port of Newcastle. This would see more tonnes go through a newer, more efficient and more environmentally friendly Coal Export Terminal than what currently happens
Therefore, in my opinion, an increased capacity through NCIG would actually be more beneficial to the environment, community and people of Newcastle, than what already exists

I support this project to enable the maximum throughput capacity of the NCIG terminal to be in line with the capability created through the innovative optimisation initiatives identified and implemented by NCIG employees. The optimisation initiatives will deliver greater flexibility for NCIG's customers to make better use of the overall coal chain infrastructure through NCIG's unique dedicated stockpiling service that de-links rail transport and vessel loading functions. The modification requires no new infrastructure and will not impact compliance with NCIG's existing approved environmental limits. Expert environmental assessments also confirm no impact on neighbouring residential properties as a result of the proposed increase in terminal capacity. By submitting this modification, NCIG is making further commitment to the Hunter region that operations will remain strong and sustainable well into the future.

I have lived next to the Newcastle Harbour my entire life and Coal is the lifeblood of Newcastle and the Hunter Valley. This project allows the Coal Chain to flex up and move Coal via NCIG to our world wide customers. This allows the generation of jobs, incomes and a good life for the people in the area. We live in troubled times and we hear of negative comments around the Coal Industry but I believe this Industry is supporting our Government and its people at a crucial time. We all want to do right by our Planet but you cant just flick a switch and go green overnight, this will take time. I think this Project is a positive step for Newcastle and its people.

The project will support mining operations in the Hunter, essential for strengthening the local economy and in turn, our organisation and the 100 locals we employ.

Pegasus is a Newcastle tech company which provides software services to pre-qualify and ensure the safety of contractors working at NCIG. We are a local business supported by and supporting a local business. During these uncertain times, the NCIG modification represents a commitment to our region and workers that operations will remain strong and sustainable well into the future. As the modification will not impact compliance with approved environmental limits, increased capacity and efficiency at NCIG’s coal terminal will help the industry meet demand.

NCIG has a proven track record of environmentally responsible operations. This application does not change the project footprint and appears to have no materially detrimental impacts on environmental factors. I am confident that NCIG will achieve its expansion whilst delivering its planned environmental outcomes and securing economic benefits throughout the mining regions servicing the terminal.

NCIG is a great supporter of local businesses in the Hunter region. They are also a major contributor to the community through their community investment initiatives. I 100% support their submission for a modification.

To the department of Planning, Industry and Environment
I wish to object to the NCIG application to expand their export licence from 66 million tonnes per annum to 79 million tonnes per annum on the following grounds:

This modification is unnecessary.
NGIG's environmental management reports show that current annual export tonnage is well within 66million tonnes. In 2015 they exported 49.5 million tonnes, in 2016 they exported 52 million tonnes, the 2017-18 report declared 53.4 million tonnes and in 2019 it was again 53 million tonnes. Since opening in 2010 as far as I'm aware, 53 million tonnes is the most NCIG has ever exported. This gives them a 13 million tonne buffer to expand. It makes no sense to increase their licence just because they have improved site efficiencies. There is no clear coal market modelling that suggests that NCIG will ever need to export 79 million tonnes per annum

This sends the wrong signal to our region
While this modification will not necessarily result in greater quantities of coal being exported, it sends a powerful message about the commitments of the NSW government. Globally our temperatures are heading towards a 3 degree increase which will result in the collapse of most ecosystems and severe impacts on all aspects of our lives. Already we are experiencing record droughts, catastrophic and unprecedented bushfires and record air and ocean temperatures being recorded. We urgently need to transition our domestic and export markets to a low carbon future. By approving this licence application the NSW government will be demonstrating its commitment to the future of the coal industry while it provides no plan to diversify the region, remove subsidies from the fossil fuel industry or provide retraining or redeployment for those working in the coal industry.

Thank you for your consideration
Charlotte McCabe

I do not want the licence to increase because:
There is no case for increase, NCIG have not exceeded or gotten anywhere near their maximum capacity in the last 5 years.If fact they barely reached 80% of tehir fill capacity.
We don't need to export more coal from Newcastle, the pollution from coal dust is bad enough as it is.
The market for coal globally is not increasing but decreasing, as most of the planet are moving to renewables, this is a positive thing for the planet and an increase in coal use and export should be discouraged.
It is time Australia started looking at increasingly alternative sources of income to coal.

Thank you for referring this proposal for consideration.
No comment is required from Mining, Exploration and Geoscience in relation to MOD3 Capacity Increase (MP06_0009-Mod-3).
Scott Anson
Manager Assessment Coordination
Mining, Exploration and Geoscience

Provides many jobs and supports the community in many ways

Not effecting environment and securing local jobs

I believe this is good for the local economy and there is no impact on the environment.

It is a credit to NCIG to be able to increase capacity without the need for any further infrastructure using current footprint. NCIG takes the environmental requirements seriously and puts a large focus and resources to manage this and is always looking at ways to improve further