Mod 4

I strongly object to the proposed modification application by Narrabri Coal at the Baan Baa site, situated 28kms south-east of Narrabri.

This mine is located on the ridge above our farm, with our closest boundary fence 2.5 kms from the mine. We are extremely adversely affected already by the constant night noises of the conveyor belt and the beeping and driving noises associated with heavy machinery being used. These noises constantly interrupt our sleep and make sleeping with a window open impossible. Camping around our property, (an activity previously enjoyed by our family and friends), is also no longer possible due to the unpleasant noise.

We are extremely vulnerable to excessive amounts of dust, depending which way the wind blows. This dust contaminates the air we breathe and also our water, because, as we are not connected to town water, we drink rain water collected from our roof.

We also suffer from long, loud and clattering coal trains that are noisy and inconvenient. These trains sound their horns at our crossing, before increasing their speed on the incline into Baan Baa. The resulting rumbling noise and vibrations echo up at our house early in the morning causing windows to rattle and floors to shake. Any increase in capacity of the stockpiles will only increase this sleep depriving problem.

We feel current monitoring practises for dust and noise are a pathetic joke.

The operators of the noise monitoring systems "measure" the amount of noise in the shade of our machinery shed, often placing not only the shed but also their vehicles in front of the microphone, showing complete disregard for the legal requirements regarding trees and buildings and the placement of microphones to give an accurate and true reading.

We do have a low tech dust monitoring device, that is checked irregularly, but as yet, no offer has been made to test the safety of our drinking water or the other water we have stored on our place under the coal stockpile.

As close neighbours, we know any extension to the mine and its capacity to produce coal will have an extremely detrimental effect on the quality of our home lives and health and would make continuing to live in our own home impossible.
We were here first.

I wish to lodge my formal objection to the proposal on the grounds of coal dust polution on our property

The EPA has reviewed the environmental assessment (EA) for the Narrabri Coal Mine Stockpile Extension Modification (08_1444 Mod 4) and offers the following comments:

Construction Hours
* The EPA's Interim Construction Noise Guideline (ICNG) defines the standard construction hours that apply throughout NSW. The construction hours proposed in the EA extend well outside the standard construction hours.
* In these circumstances the ICNG states that the proponent needs to justify the need for longer construction hours and indicates that this can't just be for the sake of convenience. The proponent has not provided any such justification within the EA.
* However, in the context of ongoing coal mining operations at the site (24hrs a day, 7 days a week), the noise limits applying to the site and the relatively minor nature of the construction works associated with this modification proposal, this is not considered to be a significant issue. The EPA therefore accepts that no restriction of construction hours relative to the other operations at the site is likely to be necessary.

Noise
* The EPA notes that a minor exceedance (1dBA) is predicted at one private residence (`Belah Park') as a result of the proposed modification.
* The EPA understands that the proponent has initiated negotiations with this landholder and that it is working towards developing a private agreement with this receptor.
* The EPA recommends that this agreement defines a mutually acceptable level of impact at or above the predicted level of impact, and that this accepted level is adopted as a licence limit at the property in question.
* The EPA accepts the other recommendations made within the Noise Assessment.
* The EPA understands that the proponent has successfully negotiated a private agreement with the owner of `Bow Hills'. Again the EPA recommends that any agreed level of mutually acceptable noise impact is applied as a noise limit at this location.
* The proponent will need to submit an application to vary its environment protection licence if the proposed modification is approved by DoP&E, to reflect the necessary adjustments to the noise limits applying to the site. A copy of the application form is available at the EPA's website via the following link: http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/licensing/licenceforms.htm

Air
* The EPA accepts that any additional air quality impacts associated with the modification are negligible and therefore the existing monitoring and air quality mitigation measures are considered adequate.

Water
* The EPA has no objection to the proposed modifications to the water management systems at the site. Appropriate design criteria appear to have been adopted for the proposed structures.
* The proponent will also need to vary its EPA licence to reflect the proposed changes to the water management systems and discharge points at the site.

Letter attached

Letter attached