MOD 3 - Pit 8 Extension

I currently work at the mine and fully support the submission. I also support the mines support for our community and its excellent rehabilitation work. The community benefits greatly from its ongoing operation.

I strongly support the wilpinjong mine extension project in support of the Mudgee community to continue supporting the locals with jobs

I strongly support the proposed modification for the Wilpinjong mine to support the local and larger NSW community. This extension will support many families and community projects. It will also support my family and keep us local.

I currently work in mining and see the extension as a positive for the community and industry it will help keep people employed and the community growing

The extension will be great for the current workers at wilpinjong and also be good for the community of mudgee

I work at wilpinjong coal and my job is essential for me to support my family

Wilpinjong Mine has a strong history supporting the Mudgee Region. Over 700 jobs rely on this operation, including my own. The Mine supports local community and organisations.

I strongly support the proposed modification for wilpinjong mine as i live in mudgee with my little family.
It enables me to continue my employment into the 2030’s and support my family for years to come.

Key points of objection:

Releasing over 25 MT of additional Greenhouse Gas emissions

First stage of a bigger mine expansion and should be assessed as a new project

Mining to the boundary of Wollar Village
Disturbing an additional 155 ha:
• loss of Aboriginal cultural heritage and spiritual landscape for Wiradjuri Nation
• destroying more important habitat for the nationally threatened Large-eared
Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Regent Honeyeater and Koala

Permanently altering and degrading alluvial groundwater sources and surface flows in
the Wollar Creek catchment.

Increasing pollution through poorly assessed noise, dust, blasting, onsite coal ignition, lighting and water contamination

Increasing social impacts, loss of amenity and ongoing disturbance of rural way of life

Slowing the transition to clean energy future – competing with the Central West Renewable Energy Zone that starts at Wollar
This project is not needed to provide regional jobs – there is a huge workforce shortage for renewable energy projects in the Central West

There is no economic justification, the increased climate change impacts will cost more than public income generated through royalties and taxes

This project releases over 25 MT of additional Greenhouse Gas emissions and is the first stage of a bigger mine expansion and should be assessed as a new project. The mining is planned to extend to the boundary of Wollar Village and is disturbing an additional 155 ha resulting in:
• loss of Aboriginal cultural heritage and spiritual landscape for Wiradjuri Nation
• destroying more important habitat for the nationally threatened Large-eared Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Regent Honeyeater and Koala
This project permanently alters and degrades alluvial groundwater sources and surface flows in the Wollar Creek catchment and increases pollution through poorly assessed noise, dust, blasting, onsite coal ignition (spontaneous combustion), lighting and water contamination.
This project slows the transition to clean energy future – competing with the Central West Renewable Energy Zone that starts at Wollar. This project is not needed to provide regional jobs – there is a huge workforce shortage for renewable energy projects in the Central West. There is no economic justification, the increased climate change impacts will cost more than public income generated through royalties and taxes.

I support the wilpinjong project because I work there. Wilpinjong supports the mudgee area and provides jobs for the region.

I strongly support the proposed modification to Wilpinjong mine. My family and I live local with more family looking to move to the area. Its an incredible area to live in and the mine is a large contributor to this.

I strongly support the proposed modification for Wilpinjong mine to maintain local jobs and economy that Wilpinjong has provided for myself and many other local families and businesses over many years.

I’m all behind this project as I work at wilpinjong mine and enjoy working there, it provides a good life style for my family as it does for many other local families and supports the local community,Keeping local people in jobs
Supporting the community

I strongly support the Wilpinjong mine modification as it has provided Me and my family our first home, puts food on the table and pays our bills.
I wish for there to be more work to continue supporting my family and to support our local community and to give our younger people opportunities for careers in the future.

I support Wilpinjong project

The project will release over 25 MT of additional Greenhouse Gas emissions making climate change worse.
As the first stage of a larger mine expansion it should be assessed as a new project, the new boundary also comes too close to Wollar Village.
The proposed extension would also destroy important habitat for the nationally threatened Large-eared
Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Regent Honeyeater and Koala.
It would permanently alter and degrade alluvial groundwater sources and surface flows in the Wollar Creek catchment.
It would slow the transition to clean energy future – competing with the Central West Renewable Energy Zone that starts at Wollar.
This project is not needed to provide regional jobs – there is a huge workforce shortage for renewable energy projects in the Central West.
There is no economic justification, the increased climate change impacts will cost more than public income generated through royalties and taxes.

As a concerned Australian, I object to Wilpinjong Coal Mine Mod 3 – Pit 8 Extension on environmental, cultural and social grounds. This project should be considered as a new project rather than a modification as it is part of a larger expansion.

In the process of creating this extension it would threaten two critically ecological communities and eleven endangered animal species. Areas affected includes two rocky hills which provide habitat for the Large-eared Pied Bat and the Eastern Cave Bat, as well as breeding areas for the Regent Honeyeaters and habitat for koalas.
There would also be an impact on groundwater which Wilpinjong Mine has had a neglectful history of water management by taking more water than predicted. There has been a lack of assessment on how the water extraction would impact dependent ecosystem.

Culturally the proposed extension would see the destruction of 15 culturally significant Aboriginal sites to the Wiradjuri people. The existing mine has within the area over 1,000 recorded cultural sites and has an impact on those already.

If approved, this extension would release over 25 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to the climate crisis the NSW government acknowledges and has set emissions reductions targets for.
Despite stating that it would contribute a ‘net public benefit of $21 million dollars,’ this would not cover the costs the impacts climate change would have on local communities and land in climate induced weather events.
This extension also contradicts the push for the Central West Renewable Energy Zone where there is a need to transition workers to more climate friendly industries, but also competes for skilled labour that the zone needs. The NSW government is supporting a transition for Mudgee workers, supported by the Central West Future Jobs and Investment Authority. Should this not be prioritised over expanding coal mining?

A great support for the local economy

I support this project due to the ongoing positive impact it will have on the local community including but not limited to
Ongoing employment
Support to local business and service providers
Support of local charities and not for profit organisations
Taxes and Royalties supporting local infrastructure and services