Mod 4 - Extend Open Cut

I wish to express my concerns for the proposal of Coalpack continuing to open cut the Garden of Stones near my home.
I believe that this place, like all places on this earth that rely on the ecosystems, to be left alone to survive and maintain the rare breeds of flora and fauna that they produce. And the extraordinary country side for which we are so humbly blessed to belong too. It is up to us to protect our world from truly greedy people because if we continue to let them destroy and rape our land, we will have no lively hood, we will have no life and there money doesn't have the power to buy any of it back.

Mining and Industry Projects
NSW Department of Planning & Infrastructure
GPO Box 39
Sydney NSW 2001

Dear Sir/Madam,

Reference with to

Part 3A Modification 4 - Invincible Mine Extension (07_0127 MOD 4) and
Part 3A Modification 2 - Cullen Valley Mine Extension (DA 200-5-2003 MOD 2)

I oppose the above Part 3A Modifications because they will destroy unique biodiversity, threaten recognised pagoda formations, adversely impact on the health and well-being of residents living in Cullen Bullen though respiratory and cardiovascular disease and provide a low quality coal when better quality is available at less environmental cost.
destroy unique biodiversity, including a Grassy Box Woodland and nationally endangered plants such as Clandulla geebung shrubs and 2,300 threatened Capertee Stringybark trees.
The proposal will destroy by open-cut mining the unique biodiversity, scenery and geological values associated with the pagoda landform complex. Its outstanding values including a Grassy Box Woodland - a nationally endangered ecological community, many nationally endangered Clandulla Geebung (Persoonia marginata) shrubs and 2,300 threatened Capertee Stringybark (Eucalyptus cannonii) trees.

The Planning Assessment Commission recommendation for independent vegetation study should not have been ignored.

threaten internationally recognised pagodas by ignoring the 300 metre minimum buffer recommended by the Planning Assessment Commission.

The proposal fails to provide the 300 metre minimum buffer recommended by the Planning Assessment Commission from the base of the pagoda rock formations and the open-cut area. The buffer provides protection for wildlife including many Lyre Birds and the threatened broad headed snake. If such a buffer were provided, there would be no mine.

increase morbidity and mortality in Cullen Bullen from respiratory and cardiovascular disease linked to dust.

The proposal is less than two kilometres from Cullen Bullen and dust from this project will lead to increased morbidity and mortality in the community from respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Noise, truck movements and blasting will also adversely impact on residents. The proposal intends to vastly increase water extraction from underground workings from
26Ml/year to 750Ml/year, but fails to address the ongoing fires underground and in waste heaps. Where 2Ml/day of water pumped from old workings is to be released in not explained.

The Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment lacks credibility because it did not find any cave art site in the proposed disturbance area for the Cullen Valley Mine. Previous studies had missed other important Aboriginal cave art sites in the area. Inadequate assessments such as this should automatically discredit the Company's proposal.

Despite Coalpac's claim ecosystems cannot be replanted on farmland and especially after open-cut mining. No mature woodland has ever been established in mine rehabilitation. The biodiversity offsets are inadequate, and cannot replace a Gardens of Stone Stage 2 reserve.

provide poor quality coal at a massive impact when other sources are already available.
On a global scale continued coal mining only exacerbates the current problems of global warming. One only has to read the latest National Geographic magazine to note the march is on to stop using coal. China has become the greatest user of this resource and they now realise their folly due to massive health impacts and perpetual grey skies. Indeed China is leading the march to uncouple from this fuel source. Consequently the dollar value of a ton of either coking coal or steaming coal has not recovered since the global financial crisis. Any rush to develop fresh coal reserves with immediate large local environmental impacts should therefore be avoided.

I strongly object to the proposal to modify the Invincible and Cullen Valley mines. Among other severely negative impacts, the proposal will:
◦threaten internationally recognised pagodas by ignoring the 300 metre minimum buffer recommended by the Planning Assessment Commission.
◦destroy unique biodiversity, including a Grassy Box Woodland and nationally endangered plants such as Clandulla geebung shrubs and 2,300 threatened Capertee Stringybark trees.
◦increase morbidity and mortality in Cullen Bullen from respiratory and cardiovascular disease linked to dust.

I strongly object to this application as the short term prospect does not justify the long-term environmental devastation it would cause to an area that is home to unique landforms and rare species.

I support the economic benefits that mining brings to the area and believe this project should be approved to secure employment for the 150+ people that rely on the mine for their income and to support their families.

1. I support mining jobs in Lithgow, a town with a proud history of mining and a strong future if the Colliery and Cullen Valley Mine extension projects can proceed.
2. There have already been too many job losses in mining over the past 12 months and these projects should be approved to secure employment for 150+ people that rely on these mines for their income and to support their families.
3. I support the economic benefits that mining brings to the area and the state. These mining projects would be worth around $150 million a year to the local economy.

I am writing to give my general support for projects in the Lithgow area.

The coal industry is already undergoing tough times in NSW, as are the people that work in the industry, and their families.

It makes good sense economically, that if projects which are actually deemed economically viable go ahead, to, in part, avoid the avalanche of troubles that often hit areas like Lithgow disproportionately hard in times such as these.

I also support tough environmental regulations on mines, but also believe that many operate to the best of their ability to comply with such regulations.

If the mine extensions proposed in Lithgow can achieve these regulatory requirements, it also makes sense to support the area economically.

Regards and Thanks,
Stewart Reeve

I object to any further damage to Ben Bullen State Forest. The existing areas damaged by coal mining should be fully and properly rehabilitated.

I object to Coalpac's modifications to the Invincible and Cullen Valley coal mines. The proposal will:


- destroy unique biodiversity, including a Grassy Box Woodland and nationally endangered plants such as Clandulla geebung shrubs and 2,300 threatened Capertee Stringybark trees.


- threaten internationally recognised pagodas by ignoring the 300 metre minimum buffer recommended by the Planning Assessment Commission.


- provide poor quality coal at a massive impact when other sources are already available.


- increase morbidity and mortality in Cullen Bullen from respiratory and cardiovascular disease linked to dust.

Coal mining directly contributes to the damaging effects of Climate Change -coal is an inefficient fossil fuel that we should be transitioning out of and into renewable forms of energy -I request this mine not be approved to proceed

It should be allowed to go ahead.

I object to these proposed modifications to the Invincible and Cullen Valley coal mines because it will adversely impact on the internationally significant pagoda landform complex located on the western edge of the Great Dividing Range in Ben Bullen State Forest. This public forest should be fully protected from open-cut mining in a state conservation area for nature conservation, recreation and tourism.

The coal in this proposal is of poor quality and there are better quality substitute resources that can provide for at least 25 years electricity generation by the two power plants in the Lithgow Region. The claim of increased costs to electricity consumers if the Coalpac proposal does not proceed is a wild exaggeration. Nearby underground mines have provided for local electricity power plants for over 20 years.

The proposal will destroy by open-cut mining the unique biodiversity, scenery and geological values associated with the pagoda landform complex. Its outstanding values include a Grassy Box Woodland - a nationally endangered ecological community, many nationally endangered Clandulla geebung shrubs and 2,300 threatened Capertee Stringybark trees. Given the importance of the natural environment, the Planning Assessment Commission recommendation for independent vegetation study should not have been ignored by Coalpac in its current environmental assessment.

The proposal fails to provide the 300 metre minimum buffer recommended by the Planning Assessment Commission from the base of the pagoda rock formations and the open-cut area. The buffer provides protection for wildlife, including many Lyre Birds and the threatened broad headed snake. If such a buffer were provided, there would be no mine.

The proposal is less than two kilometres from Cullen Bullen and dust from this project will lead to increased morbidity and mortality in the community from respiratory and cardiovascular disease. Noise, truck movements and blasting will also adversely impact on residents. The proposal intends to vastly increase water extraction from underground workings from 26Ml/year to 750Ml/year, but fails to address the ongoing fires underground and in waste heaps. Where 2Ml/day of water pumped from old workings is to be released in not explained.

The Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment lacks credibility because it did not find a cave art site in the proposed disturbance area for the Cullen Valley Mine. Previous studies had missed other important Aboriginal cave art sites in the area.

Despite Coalpac's rehabilitation claims, ecosystems cannot be replanted on farmland or after open-cut mining native forests. No mature woodland has ever been established through mine rehabilitation. The biodiversity offsets are inadequate, and cannot replace a Gardens of Stone Stage 2 reserve over Ben Bullen State Forest.
Please refuse consent to both proposed modifications and stop open-cut mining in the Gardens of Stone region.

I declare that I have not made any donations to political parties in the last year.

Yours sincerely,
J Lewis

Submission to Mining and Industry Projects
NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure
GPO Box 39
Sydney NSW, 2001

Part 3A Modification 4 - Invincible Mine Extension
Part 3A Modification 2 - Cullen Valley Mine Extension
(DA 200-5-2003 MOD 2)

I object to Coalpac's modifications to the Invincible and Cullen Valley coal mines.

Due apparently to the lack of appreciation of real values as opposed to commercial values displayed by the Government in altering the legal conditions under which permission for environmental destruction is given, Coalpac has again proposed to mine in the vicinity of the township of Cullen Bullen and threatens a section of State Forest public land that is part of the Gardens of Stone Conservation Area (315 Hectares).

The aim of this project is to take commercial advantage of this land - but is this from the point of view of the Australian people a valid action? This is a short-term prospect only. I submit that while the company will profit in the short term (which is convenient for the present Government) the long-term outlook is somewhat different:

a. Exposure to dust generally and coal dust in particular has a very deleterious effect on the lungs of the people so exposed, giving rise to such conditions as asthma, emphysema and serious cardio vascular conditions. These all involve lifelong treatment, impacting upon government provided Medicare, hospitalisation and pharmaceutical benefit funding.

b. When world demand for coal falls as the world takes on other less polluting sources of energy (not in this Government's period in office of course) but in the foreseeable future that may arrive sooner than we think. (Australia will have to look for other industries).
In the past, tourism has been at least once, (more often I think) the foremost revenue earner for our country. We may need this as a large factor in developing income again. The Gardens of Stone are an area that can be developed as a major tourist attraction of course, the present Government does not care about these things, but surely it has the moral obligation not to destroy the areas their great grand children may need to support themselves

c. Regeneration after mining is a myth. While one may grow some trees and under-storey and, to the untutored eye it looks the same, the creatures, the food-chain, the delicate balance of the ecosystem in its entirety will be missing, though it could be supposed by the general appearance of the area, that real regeneration had been achieved.

d. The geological structure of the Gardens of Stone provides niche habitat particularly suited to the protection of some of the endangered species that inhabit it.
Too many of our plants and animals are losing their natural wild habitat and have to be supported by breeding in zoos. They may well become extinct unless we leave them space to live their lives as they did before we, the original boat people, first arrived.
This is to our everlasting shame. By 2114, (yes that time, however unbelievable, will come) are we to be known as the selfish generation - The Generation of Vandals?

Isobel Higgins
27th May 2014

SUBMISSION TO MINING AND INDUSTRY PROJECTS
NSW DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Bathurst Community Climate Action Network (BCCAN)

Part 3A Modification 4 - Invincible Mine Extension (07-0127 MOD 4)
Part 3A Modification 2 - Cullen Valley Mine Extension (DA 200-5-2003 MOD 2)

The Bathurst Community Climate Action Network (BCCAN) is opposed to any further expansion of the coal industry in the Central West and urges the government instead to create a State Conservation Area on the site of the current Ben Bullen State Forest to protect the high conservation values of the area, to serve the recreational needs of the expanding population in western Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the Central West, and to create sustainable local employment.

BCCAN objects to the mining in the Ben Bullen State Forest for the following reasons. Ben Bullen State Forest is publically owned land set aside for the harvesting of a renewable resource (timber). The recently modified proposal threatens a section of State Forest public land which is part of the proposed Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area. It sets a disturbing precedent as, if approved, it is difficult to see how similar mining applications in the State Forest could be rejected in future.

The mine threatens the outstanding geology and the habitat of a number of species including the lyrebird, the Regent Honeyeater, the Tiger Quoll and the Powerful Owl. There is no way that Coalpac would be capable of restoring this habitat. The biodiversity offsets are inadequate and cannot replace the unique biodiversity, landscape and geological values of the pagoda landform. The damage will be permanent. This permanent environmental destruction will be all for the sake of a shortterm economic gain.

The proposed open cut is close to very sensitive topography of iconic stone pagodas and sandstone cliffs, under which it is proposed to high-wall mine. A small surface buffer zone around the pagodas and sandstone cliffs cannot guarantee that the effects of mining will be confined to the open cut itself.

The proposed mine will affect watercourses, fracture aquifers, block and pollute surface and groundwater, adding to salinity and pollution downstream in the Turon and Macquarie Rivers. Not only would this have costs to native species dependent on the water quality, but could have permanent implications for agriculture downstream and for communities which draw up on the Macquarie.

We note the EPA and the Department of Health have raised serious concerns about the noise and health impacts of the proposed mine. A mine should not be considered this close to rural communities with nearby school and residences. The impact on the Cullen Bullen community would be devastating.

There are a number of precedents of ghost towns near coal mines in the Hunter Valley and Queensland where noise, dust, water and light pollution 24/7 have forced residents to move. The strong westerly winds of late winter-early spring will carry dust from the mine onto forested areas and into the nearby Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, to cloak these areas and impact wildlife and habitat further.

Recently a group of BCCAN members visited parts of the Newnes Plateau & the eastern perimeter of the Ben Bullen State Forest which had been undermined by long-wall coal mines. We noted numbers of drained swamps, the dessication of a major Indigenous occupation and art site, Mayinygu Marragu, substantial cracking across beautiful sandstone features and shearing off of cliff faces in a number of places.( See included photos) We did not see, but were informed about, substantial contamination of creeks fed from the run-off from the mines. This can never be rehabilitated and the damage is unavoidable. Off-setting does not avoid the permanent damage.

Viewing the damage caused by underground mining in this area makes us sceptical of the value of environmental consultants' predictions about the impact open cut mining on the surrounding area's ecology and the capacity of the government to ensure that undertakings by mining companies will be honoured. Past breaches of environmental regulations at the Invincible Colliery are further evidence of the likelihood that large coal companies may breach the conditions of their mining approvals.

However, equally important is the long term impact that this policy of burning fossil fuel will have on biodiversity over future generations through contributing to climate change. If, indeed, the Mount Piper and Wallerawang power stations are running out of local sources of coal this must be a good time to rapidly phase in a move to renewable sources of energy and explore means of energy efficiency. At a national level, wind, solar, geothermal, wave and tidal energy have the potential to fill any vacuum caused by the scaling down of the burning of fossil fuel.

The Central West is not a quarry. The coal industry juggernaut does not have the right to destroy the finest sections of our local environment and jeopardise the future climate of our grandchildren. This is a good place and time to call a stop to the unfettered expansion of coal.

The coal industry is heavily indirectly subsidised and the economic benefits are often over- stated and short term whereas the costs are long term since most of the damage is irremediable. (Too much of a good thing? The macroeconomic case for slowing down the mining boom.Richard Dennis and Matt Grudnoff Policy Brief No 37, March 2012 The Australia Institute.)

The supply of low ash coal from the Lithgow seam is finite and those companies which presently depend upon it will inevitably have to transition to other energy sources. . We note the recent observations by Professor Tim Flannery that Investment in renewable energy has increased six fold since 2004 and for the first time businesses around the world are investing more in renewables than coal, oil, and gas. In many parts of Australia solar and wind energy have reached `grid parity' and are more cost effective than fossil fuels (Sydney Morning Herald, 14/8/2012). If mines like this are approved Australia will be trapped in the energy economy of the twentieth century and transition will be made even harder.

To conclude. 'The devastating damage being done by mining in the Hunter Valley surely proves that open cut mining is just not to be tolerated by Australians. The licence to proceed with the devastation of close to 315 hectares of timbered land next to the village of Cullen Bullen should not be countenanced by us, since we are responsible to pass this land on to our descendants in the best possible condition.
Restoration of what now exists in Ben Bullen State Forest is obviously impossible. One hundred year old, two hundred year-old trees cannot be replaced, nor the topsoil that has taken aeons to form. You cannot replace a stream of pure clean water if you collapse its base. You destroy the flora and fauna and damage magnificent sandstone outcrops forever.

This is what will occur to the environment if mining is approved, and that is without considering the dangers to the health of nearby residents and the complete destruction of their particular lifestyles. This is not a time for figures and statistics . This is a time for emotion, forethought and foresight. We share the views of Mr Ian Kiernan `As a species we have a finite time on the planet and have a responsibility to leave it in as good a shape as we found it or better.' However if this project is approved it will sadly demonstrate that ` We have the attitude that we are some kind of supreme being and we own the earth.' Western Advocate August 22,2012.

I object to the Coalopac's modifications to the Invincible and Cullen Valley coal mines. The proposal will:
- destroy unique biodiversity, including a Grassy Box Woodland and nationally endangered plants such as Clandulla geebund shrubs and 2,300 threatened Capertee Stringybark trees
- threaten internationally recognised pagodas bay ignoring the 300 metre minimum buffer recommended by the Planning Assessment Commission.

I strongly object to Coalpac's modifications to the Invincible and Cullen Valley coal mines. The proposal will destroy unique biodiversity, including a Grassy Box Woodland and nationally endangered plants such as Clandulla geebung shrubs and 2,300 threatened Capertee Stringybark trees.
It will threaten internationally recognised stone pagodas by ignoring the 300 metre minimum buffer recommended by the Planning Assessment Commission.
It will provide poor quality coal at a massive impact when other sources are already available.
In addition, it will increase morbidity and mortality in Cullen Bullen from respiratory and cardiovascular disease linked to dust.

I object to the Coalpac's modifications to the Invincible and Cullen Valley coal mines. My objection is for the following reasons.

The proposed modifications will destroy unique areas biodiversity, including a Grassy Box Woodland, nationally endangered plants such as Clandulla geebung shrubs and threatened Capertee Stringybark trees. There is no call to permit the destruction of nationally endangered and threatened species and ecological communities for the short term exploitation of a non-renewable energy resource.

The proposed modifications will threaten a number of the internationally recognised stone pagodas by ignoring the 300 metre minimum buffer recommended by the Planning Assessment Commission. These pagodas are remarkable and irreplaceable, and deserve full national park or heritage protection so that they can be appreciated by future generations. They should not be destroyed for short term gain.

The quality of the coal at the proposed expansion sites is low. Given that high quality coal is available from numerous other sources across the state and the country, there is no call to extract this low quality coal at such a high environmental toll.

The proposed mine extensions will also increase morbidity and mortality in Cullen Bullen from respiratory and cardiovascular disease linked to dust. The World Health Organization recently published new findings that particulate pollution is dangerous to humans at any level; the community at Cullen Bullen should not be subjected to these negative health impacts.

I object to the Coalpac's modifications to the Invincible and Cullen Valley coal mines. The proposal will:
destroy unique biodiversity, including a Grassy Box Woodland and nationally endangered plants such as Clandulla geebung shrubs and 2,300 threatened Capertee Stringybark trees.
threaten internationally recognised pagodas by ignoring the 300 metre minimum buffer recommended by the Planning Assessment Commission.
provide poor quality coal at a massive impact when other sources are already available.

I object to the Coalpac's modification proposal to the Invincible and Cullen Valley coal mines. The proposal will:

1. Destroy unique biodiversity, including a Grassy Box Woodland and nationally endangered plants such as Clandulla geebung shrubs and threatened Capertee Stringybark trees. No environmental offset, nor the the proponents claim they will re-vegetate is adequate compensation for this loss. Endangered ecological communities and listed plants have this classification because so little is left of them, and thus what remains should not be 'traded-off', nor are they demonstrably, with any evidence base, easily re-created. What remains should be protected.

2. Threaten an internationally recognised Landscape of Geo-physical significance, containing the rock 'Pagodas' by ignoring the 300 metre minimum buffer already recommended by the Planning Assessment Commission. The re-examination of this proposal should provide at least definitive support for any standards so far recommended by the PAC, and only seek to extend rather than diminish environmental protection in response to the continuing community valuing of this landscape. Integrity and community trust needs to be re-established by a decision in line with the past PAC findings, especially in view of what is emerging as the general context in the immediate past of a decision making system threatened by undue influence of mining interests over those of the community and the environment, as a result of the NSW ICAC (2014) revelations.

3. Only provide poor quality coal at a massive impact when other coal, and indeed energy sources, are already available. This resource is considered as of very marginal low value, and not worth the tremendous external 'costs' that it imposes both socially and environmentally.

4. Increase human morbidity and mortality, in Cullen Bullen, from respiratory and cardiovascular disease linked to dust, and provide a huge and unacceptable nuisance in terms of traffic, and a general loss of quality of life for the community to be blighted by this development.

In conclusion, I have enjoyed very much bushwalking in this area in the past, and look forward to a future for this beautiful place that respects it natural and intrinsic values without the destruction that open cut coal mining of a low value resource would inflict upon it.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Part 3A Modification 4 - Invincible Mine Extension (07_0127 MOD 4) and

Part 3A Modification 2 - Cullen Valley Mine Extension (DA 200-5-2003 MOD 2)

I am writing to register my objection to these proposed modifications to the Invincible and Cullen Valley coal mines. My interest is as a local resident (I live in Little Hartley, a short distance from the Gardens of Stone which I regard as a very precious local amenity), and as a smallholder with a great respect for the natural environment, for the welfare of the people who live in and around Cullen Bullen, and for our cultural heritage that is embodied in the natural landscape.

In the first place, I believe these modifications are unnecessary: the coal in this proposal is of poor quality and there are better quality substitute resources that can provide at least 25 years electricity generation by the two power plants in the Lithgow Region. The claim of increased costs to electricity consumers if the Coalpac proposal does not proceed is seriously exaggerated; nearby underground mines have provided for local electricity power plants for over 20 years.

Secondly, the site of the proposal is less than two kilometres from Cullen Bullen, and the dust from this project will lead to increased illness and deaths in the community, from respiratory and cardiovascular disease. The noise from truck movements and blasting will also have an adverse impact on local residents.

There are a number of significant questions that are not addressed. The proposal intends to vastly increase water extraction from underground workings from 26Ml/year to 750Ml/year, but fails to address the issue of ongoing fires underground and in waste heaps. It does not deal with the question of where 2Ml/day of water pumped from old workings is to be released, and this is a matter for concern.

Furthermore, the proposal fails to provide the 300 metre minimum buffer recommended by the Planning Assessment Commission from the base of the pagoda rock formations and the open-cut area. That buffer would provide protection for wildlife including many Lyre Birds and the threatened broad headed snake. If such a buffer were provided, there could be no mine.

If the proposal goes ahead it will destroy by open-cut mining the unique biodiversity, scenery and geological values associated with the internationally significant pagoda landform complex located on the western edge of the Great Dividing Range in Ben Bullen State Forest. This public forest should be fully protected from open-cut mining in a state conservation area for nature conservation, recreation and tourism. Its outstanding values including a Grassy Box Woodland - a nationally endangered ecological community, many nationally endangered Clandulla geebung shrubs and 2,300 threatened Capertee Stringybark trees.

I would like to point out that the recommendation of the Planning Assessment Commission for independent vegetation study appears to have been ignored: this should not have happened.

The Aboriginal cultural heritage assessment lacks credibility since it failed to find a cave art site in the proposed disturbance area for the Cullen Valley Mine. Previous studies had also missed other important Aboriginal cave art sites in the area.

Despite Coalpac's claim, whole ecosystems cannot be replanted on farmland and especially after open-cut mining. No mature woodland has ever been established in a mine rehabilitation area. In addition, the biodiversity offsets are woefully inadequate, and simply cannot replace a Gardens of Stone Stage 2 reserve.

In making this submission, I declare that I have not made any reportable donations to political parties in the last year.

Yours sincerely,