MOD 3 - Pit 8 Extension

The modification proposal is invalid, as it relates to substantially increasing the mine, that was planned to cease in 2033 - the proposal is effectively for a new mine, not a modification! The proposal includes mining up to the boundary of a rural village and mining of a large area, affecting a number of species. Extending the mine would also increase the environmental and noise pollution for nearby residents.

I do not support this modification, the number of modifications that these mines are making has become beyond a joke. It reminds me of children asking for as much as what they think they can get away with, then come back tomorrow for more. It needs to stop.
I believe all proposals going forward must go through the whole process from scratch. This will stop the drip process of changes.
Proper management of dust needs to be implemented and I believe the EPA should be doing all monitoring and the mines should pay for this monitoring. The current system is just as good as the fox looking after the hen house.
The mines go on about how good they are for the community, yet when they downsized their accounting team, the only person they got rid of was a local person. Yet, this local person was offered the commercial manager role originally, decided to do the commercial manager role with contractor for five years. Came across to Peabody when they took over the contract. Worked for them for a few years, then was made redundant when on long service leave. Every other person working in the accounts department moved to Mudgee to work at the mine! All these people moved on within a few years.
The land they are about to mine has farming on it. I thought we had to protect farming land!
I'd prefer to see the whole project held to its original design and commence shutting down. If this can't be the case, then the full process including the IPC process must be used.
Thank you for your time.

No Peabody coal mine expansion. Once a coal mine gets the appoval to expand its coal lease they will destroy everything in its path. Renewable energy is now cheaper to produce than coal.
NO COAL=CLEANER FUTURE for those who haven'nt been born yet!!

Please see attachment providing my comments in Objection to the proposed development.

I strongly object

Object - see attachment

Reasons for objection in attached documents

Please see attached submission.

Please view attachments full page first ie, IMG-3294, then IMG-3293. Thank you.

Mudgee District Environment Group objects to this proposal. See attached document for details.

Please refer to the attached letter. Thank you.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Wilpinjong Coal Mine Extension Project (Application Number SSD 6764; hereafter referred tom as “the Project”), with a focus on the likely impact that this proposed extension of open cut operations at the Wilpinjong Coal Mine will have on the Critically Endangered Regent Honeyeater (Commonwealth Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 [EPBC Act], NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 [BC Act]) and other threatened woodland birds.

BirdLife Australia is an independent science-based conservation organisation with a significant, long-term, and ongoing presence in the Hunter Valley. The Project lies within a vegetated connection between the forests of the Hunter Valley and the dry woodland remnants of the western slopes of NSW. It is considered to be important not only as functioning habitat for Regent Honeyeaters (and other woodland birds), but also as a key component of a corridor that facilitates movement for birds between the sub-coastal forests of the Hunter Valley and the woodlands of the western slopes. The area cannot withstand further clearing or fragmentation.

In 2016 BirdLife raised our serious concerns regarding the impacts to Regent Honeyeater and other threatened woodland birds by the Project when the initial application was submitted under Part 4 of the Environment Planning and Assessment Act 1979. Our concerns remain largely unchanged, with the following exceptions.

Firstly, we note that Swift Parrots have been recorded close to the Wilpinjong expansion site (Appendix C - Biodiversity Development Assessment Report, Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project 2022) and therefore this species should be treated as a key species of concern in the assessment of this proposed expansion. Furthermore, numerous threatened woodland bird species that occur in the vicinity have been added to both the BC Act 2016 and EPBC Act threatened species schedules since the 2016 submission was made. These include Hooded Robin, Brown Treecreeper, Southern Whiteface and Diamond Firetail (EPBC Act) and Dusky Woodswallow (BC Act). Notwithstanding, we have provided our 2016 submission as a reference.

I strongly object

The key points of my objection to this project are:
1. Releasing over 25 MT of additional Greenhouse Gas emissions
2. First stage of a bigger mine expansion and should be assessed as a new project
3. Mining to the boundary of Wollar Village
4. 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
5. Permanently altering and degrading alluvial groundwater sources and surface flows in the Wollar Creek catchment.
6. Increasing pollution through poorly assessed noise, dust, blasting, onsite coal ignition (spontaneous combustion), lighting and water contamination
7. Increasing social impacts, loss of amenity and ongoing disturbance of rural way of life
8. Slowing the transition to clean energy future – competing with the Central West Renewable Energy Zone that starts at Wollar
9. This project is not needed to provide regional jobs – there is a huge workforce shortage
for renewable energy projects in the Central West
10. There is no economic justification, the increased climate change impacts will cost more than public income generated through royalties and taxes

Fulll Submission - see attached
Summary - This review identifies the deficiencies in the environmental groundwater assessment for the Wilpinjong Coal Mine's (WCPL) proposed Pit 8 extension (MOD 3). The project's groundwater impact models are often unvalidated and historically inaccurate, baseline data for the sensitive Wollar Creek aquifer is insufficient, and the assessment fails to account for the mine's legacy of saline water discharge and long-term environmental damage to the water system and catchment.
The assessment of the proposed Wilpinjong Coal Mine Pit 8 extension has significant data and methodological shortcomings. Primary issues include the accuracy of modelling that predict mining impacts on the alluvial and fractured rock groundwater and insufficient baseline monitoring of coal seam and alluvial aquifers in the Wollar Creek water source, designated as 'highly productive alluvium’ and a lack of creek flow gauging data. This proposal will expand mining impacts outside the local Wilpinjong catchment into the Wollar Creek catchment, within EL9399.
Since gaining approval in 2006 (PA 05-0021), modelling for the Wilpinjong Coal Mine (WCPL) has failed to confidently predict the full impact of mining on the groundwater system and alteration of the flow regime on the downstream Goulburn River ecosystem and National Park.
The proposed mine expansion is not a modification; it differs substantially from the current approved mine footprint and requires forensic, independent expert assessment. It is likely to be used to facilitate the much larger expansion (Pit 9 and Pit 10) straddling Wollar creek, further embedding and expanding irreversible impacts.

I object to the The Peabody Energy Wilpinjong Coal Mine expansion - Modification 3- on several grounds.
* In a time of climate crisis, to knowingly extend the mining of coal - the burning of which the world KNOWS is a major contributor to global warming- is outright sabotage of the efforts being made in other parts to try and contain spiraling temperatures. Global warming/climate change and the catastrophic consequences are with us now. We have a duty to future generations, and those who are even now unable to escape the current urgencies and repercussions, to do all in our power to minimise and turn around the impact of fossil fuel extraction and use.
* Any perceived 'good' - mainly profits for shareholders- in NO WAY compensates for the destruction of the habitat of the already at-risk Regent Honeyeater, as well as the many flora & fauna whose places of existence are being depleted annually.
* The social impact of this proposed 'extension' on the Wollar Community has already caused great angst and uncertainty, impacting income, well-being and mental health of those who are still able to call Wollar home.

Please refer to the attachment, for my concerns regarding Wilpinjong Coal Mine - Mod 3- Pit 8 Extension.

I have previously objected to the ongoing expansion of coal extraction in this region on the basis of adverse impacts on remaining natural habitat in this region, including the areas formally reserved under the NPWS National Parks & Wildlife Act ie Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve and Goulburn River National Park;
I consider the proposal to be an early stage of a new project rather than an ex tension and thus assessed on that basis;
I am opposed to expanded mobilisation of fossil fuels thereby contributing to increased emissions which exacerbate climate change wherever ultimately burnt.
Furthermore, the MOD 3 - Pit 8 Extension proposal has serious adverse implications for revitalising Wiradjuri interests in this part of their country and the Wollar community and successful implementation of the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone as a component of clean energy transition strategy.

I support the employment and other benefits the mining industry brings to our region

To Whom It May Concern,

Strait Up Cranes & Rigging is a proud local crane and rigging supplier based in the Mudgee region.

The team at Strait Up has provided cranage and rigging support to the Wilpinjong Coal Mine at various times over recent years and the team at Strait Up would like to offer our full support for the Wilpinjong Coal Mine’s Modification Application to extend the mine’s operations.

Since our establishment in 2008, we have worked alongside many of the region’s major industries and have seen first-hand the positive influence that organisations such as Peabody and their ongoing investment have on our local economy and community. Projects of this scale provide essential continuity of work for local contractors, create new opportunities for employment, and inject significant flow-on benefits throughout the entire Mid-Western Region.

The continuation and expansion of the Wilpinjong Coal Mine will enable businesses like ours to continue growing and prospering, ensuring ongoing stability for our employees and their families. Our ability to employ local people, invest in training and development, invest in major equipment to serivce our region, and reinvest back into the Mudgee community is directly supported by projects of this nature. Without this continued level of local industry activity, small and medium-sized businesses like Strait Up would not be in the strong position we are today.

Wilpinjong Coal Mine's operations, and Peabody’s commitment to local engagement, play a vital role in sustaining regional jobs, supporting local suppliers, and contributing to the long-term economic resilience and sustainability of our area. Their presence provides certainty not only for businesses like ours but for the broader community that relies on the opportunities and investment generated by these projects.

Wilpinjong Coal Mine has consistently demonstrated a genuine commitment to supporting local suppliers and contributing to the long-term future of the Mudgee region and for these reasons, the team at Strait Up Cranes & Rigging fully supports the proposed modification and strongly encourages its approval.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours sincerely,
Grant Gjessing, Managing Director of Strait Up Cranes and Rigging
and
Nicole Gjessing, Commercial Manager of Strait Up Cranes & Rigging