MOD 3 - Pit 8 Extension

submission attached

I have visited the Wollar and the surrounding natural area. It’s a special place with unique nature and first nations cultural heritage. It would be a shame to see the expansion of an already destructive mine, impacting endangered wildlife and natural landmarks such as The Drip.

I strongly object to this ill-considered project and feel it should not be assessed as a modification, but only be evaluated as a NEW PROJECT becauses it differs substantially from the currently approved mine.
I base my objections on the following points:
1. It will destroy an additional 155ha of animal habitat for nationally threatened animals - the Pied Bat, Eastern Cave
Bat, Regent Honeyeater and the Koala.
2. It will destroy and additional 155h of prime farm land.
3. It will destroy Aboriginal cultural and spiritual landscape for the Wiradjuri Nation.
4. It will permanently alter and degrade alluvial GROUNDWATER SOURCES and surface flows in the Wollar Creek catchment.
5. It will increase pollution: poorly assessed noise, dust, onsite spontaneous coal ignition and water contamination. (These real issues have already driven over 300 people from living in the area!)
6. Increased social amenity and the on-going rural way of life.
7. This project is not required to provide regional jobs as there is a big workforce shortage for renewable energy projects int he Central West.
8. There is no economic justification for this project: the increased climate change impacts will cost more
than public income generated through royalties and taxes.

Thank you for evaluating this project in light of my above objections.

Regards,
Cynthia Alexander




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

This extension is too close to national parks, I don't believe the proposed enhancement and conservation aria is large enough to offset the negative effect on local ecology.

This proposed expansion of the Peabody mine would have significant impacts on two Critically Endangered Ecological Communities (CEEC) and eleven endangered fauna species. In particular, it would form a radical barrier between the conservation areas of Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve and Goulburn River National Park. This would remove a series of intact remnant vegetation areas that, for mobile species, form a functioning corridor between these reserves. These points of landscape connectivity are of vital importance for a variety of woodland birds in the area, including the Critically Endangered Regent Honeyeater. There is also a population of the Endangered koala in the area. This is a highly mobile species that has a robust capability to make use of such corridors. The severing of such landscape connections is a well-documented extinction process because it results in genetically isolated populations, depleting genetic health and reducing resilience against natural and other perturbations. There can be no justification for this proposed mine expansion when we know that it will have a high likelihood of causing further risk of local extinctions to these and other Endangered species in the area.

Scientists have known the dangers of human-induced Climate Change since the 1950s and we, the members of Dubbo Environment Group, have been aware for some 15 years of the scientific research, including from the UN, which states that we cannot keep accessing fossil fuels if we are to have any chance of reducing our emissions. And yet, Australia, irresponsibly and ignoring the duty of care to its citizens, keeps digging up fossil fuels! Our members have been actively protesting the opening of Santos's Narrabri Gas fields for 15 years. We have actively protested and sent many letters and submissions to our elected politicians regarding the continuation, new openings and new extensions of coal mines for 15 years. The reason is - we are deeply concerned for the future of our planet! We are deeply concerned for our precious natural resources. We are deeply concerned for the world our grandchildren will inherit with a +2 degree C. average increase in World temperatures. Already we are living in this Climate emergency with the evidence of extreme weather events occurring worldwide because we have reached 1.5 degees C.
NSW and Queensland lag disgracefully behind other Australian states in current use of renewable energy. NSW needs to proceed with haste to catch up to the progressive S.A.
DEG strongly requests that NO new coal mine extensions be opened for the sake of us all.

THIS PROJECT IS THE LIFE BLOOD OF THE REGION - FOR CENTURIES MINING HAS BEEN DONE IN THE HUNTER AND TAKING THIS EXTENSION AWAY FROM THE GOOD AUSSIE WORKERS WOULD BE CONSIDERED UNAUSTRALIAN. CLIMATE CHANGE CAN WAIT, PEOPLE EATING CANNOT. TIME TO GET REAL AND GET THIS PROJECT APPROVED.

I don't want Australia to have any new Coal or Gas, and any extensions to existing Coal and Gas projects. Australia is fast becoming a renewable energy country. There are days when the grid in Australia goes green. At least only allow existing Coal and Gas projects to continue.
International law now says Australia must assess climate harm, so extensions to coal projects risk Australia's reputation by breaking the rules.
Instead stop all government funding of Coal and Gas projects and direct funding to renewable projects like the Sun Cable project.
Australia spends $11-12 billion/yr on fossil fuel subsidies which is $110-120 billion every 10 years.
The Sun Cable project is estimated to be $30 billion. That's including the whole solar farm, batteries, and 4,200km of undersea cable!
Australia could have an income as one of the first solar electricity exporters and help Singapore to go Green with electricity!
Instead of a bigger Coal mine.
Australia's coal fired power plants aren't being renewed or repaired for a reasion. Those owners and operators of those plants can see the future coming fast. They aren't needed.
Do you really want to risk Australia's future by continuing to allow the export of coal, rather than funding projects that employ so many more people than coal mines.
That would improve Australia's reputation in the world. And potentially make us wealthy with income from renewable energy.
Thanks,
Shaun Gorman
0400 380525

Over many years, Wilpinjong Mine has supported more than 160 community groups in the Mudgee area, whilst also providing job opportunities for hundreds of locals. The company has always maintained a fantastic relationship with the Mudgee community and the extension of the existing pit, allowing an additional 14 million tonnes of coal will continue to benefit the Mid-Western region for the next decade.
Wilpinjong Mine has been a fantastic supporter of the Rotary Club of Mudgee Sunrise and we welcome their commitment to supporting community groups, including ours.

I am writing to formally object to the proposed Wilpinjong Modification 3 (Mod 3) – Extension of Pit 8, which seeks to expand the existing mining operations near Wollar Village.
Having recently retired with more than thirty years agricultural experience in the Mudgee region. I am devastated to learn of the extent of this expansion . At a time when the world has recognised that climate change is a reality. Why is the NSW government allowing this environmental and ecological disaster to happen ?
I have personally experienced the effects of climate change in this region. Our horticulture business was dependent on a pristine environment. Fossil fuel’s changed the elements essential to my long term viability.
My children and grandchildren are now faced with witnessing an environmental disaster beyond comprehension.

I object to the proposed extension. It should be assessed as a new project because it is not substantially the same as the current mine approval for the following reaons:
The extension falls outside the current mining lease.
The extension is part of a larger expansion project.
The extension mines to the Wollar Village boundary.
The extension encroaches on Wollar Creek catchment.
The extension destroys an endangered microbat hotspot.
The extension causes additional biodiversity impacts under Federal environmental law.
The extension destroys a new area of Aboriginal cultural heritage significance.

I object to the proposed extension for the following reasons.
1. It would exacerbate climate change by releasing over 25 MT of additional greenhouse gas emissions.
2. It would have biodiversity impacts by destroying important habitat for the nationally threatened Large-eared Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Regent Honeyeater and Koala.
3. It would permanently alter and degrade alluvial groundwater sources and surface flows in the Wollar Creek catchment.
4. It would increase air, water and noise pollution.
5. It would slow the transition to clean energy future, competing with the Central West Renewable Energy Zone that starts at Wollar.
6. There is no economic benefit as the increased climate change impacts will cost more than public income generated through royalties and taxes.

I strongly oppose this extension proposal due to environmental and community impacts as outlined in my attached submission. Additionally, neither the NSW nor the Australian Federal government should even be CONSIDERING additional fossil fuel projects that contribute DIRECTLY to climate change.

For reasons including those in the attached submission, I OBJECT to this Project.

Major impact related air quality on health from world health organisation there is no safe levels, pollution causes harm and serious health impacts
Green house gas emissions will be increased
The village of Wollar, should not be threatened or destroyed, mining has caused extinction of too many villages a across the state

Please see attached pdf

Haul Tek Electrical Pty Ltd provide workers to Wilpinjong Coal Mine on a full-time basis. We currently have 5 Full-time Equivalent Workers on site on a rotating roster of 7 / 7. To keep the mine open until 2033 would be a great asset as it provides hundreds of jobs. These workers have families to look after, and it would be hard to find new jobs.

This project is done and dusted, and the community of Wollar should be looking forward to a wind down of operations as per their approval. Instead, we are forced to submit more reasons why Peabody should not be allowed to further ruin our valley.

To Whom it May Concern,
I care deeply about the future of my children, which means I care deeply for the future of Earth.
My children are good people who will adapt to their climate changing within their capacity. However, as we have seen in Lismore, Spain, the Blue Mountains and Los Angeles, even the most educated and very wealthy amongst are not immune to the impacts of unpredictable weather events. Please, please don't do anything that might make things worse for my two gorgeous sons. They, like every human that has come before them, have hopes and dreams for their futures. Why would 'we' - our generation - do anything that might make things harder for our children? Let's stop enabling anyone/company to continue to burn fossil fuels that are increasing the uncertainty our sons, daughters, younger loves ones are currently feeling and facing.
Kind regards,
Louise Stokes

Please see attached submission

The proposed mine expansion should not be assessed as a modification because it differs
substantially from the current approved mine. Its purpose is to facilitate a much larger
expansion in the near future that surrounds Wollar village.
This ‘modification’ proposal should be assessed as a new project.
Wollar community is preparing to rejuvenate and rebuild including a return of Aboriginal people
through successful land claims. The Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (CWOREZ)
starts at Wollar being the first approved REZ in NSW. Wollar is the starting point for the transition
to clean energy. There should be no more expansion of coal mining.



Key points of objection:
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