Mod 4 - Extend Open Cut

I object to Coalpac's modifications to the Invincible and Cullen Valley coalmines because:
- Unique biodiversity including grassy box woodland and nationally endangered plants will be destroyed
- the wonderful internationally recognised pagodas will be threatened because the 300 metre minimum buffer recommended by the PAC will be ignored
- the massive impact of this proposal is not worth the poor quality coal that will be produced
- the village of Cullen Bullen will suffer from respiratory and cardiovascular disease linked to dust

I object to these proposed modifications to the Invincible and Cullen Valley coal mines because they will destroy the internationally significant pagoda landform complex located in Ben Bullen State Forest. This public forest should be fully protected from open-cut mining in a state conservation area.

Also destroyed will be areas's unique biodiversity, including a Grassy Box Woodland - a nationally endangered ecological community, many nationally endangered Clandulla geebung shrubs and 2,300 threatened Capertee Stringybark trees, not to mention the numerous and varied native wildlife that will no longer have a home!

The proposal is less than two kilometres from the township of Cullen Bullen which will be severely impacted too by this project.

The area's pagodas, cliff and cave overhangs will be susceptible to subsidence yet the proponent did not propose to protect these features as recommended by the Planning Assessment Commission.

Finally, the coal in this proposal is of poor quality and there are better quality substitute resources available. So the open-cut mine is NOT EVEN NECESSARY from an industry standpoint!

The resource is not valuable and critical enough when balanced againts the natural environment it will destroy.

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
Bruce Diekman

I object to the Coalpac's modification of the Invincible and Cullen Valley coal mines because:
- Cullen Bullen township will suffer from respiratory and cardiovascular problems and diseases linked to dust
- there will be a massive impact from this proposal but it's not worth the poor quality coal that will be produced
- the unique biodiversity including Grassy Box Woodland and nationally endangered plants such as Calandulla Geebung shrubs and Capertee stringy bark trees will be destroyed
- the fantastic internationally recognised pagodas will be threatened because the 300m min buffer recommended by the pack will not be followed

I support the extension to Invincible Mine as outlined in the EA. The modification has amended the original proposal to accommodate potential adverse impacts to the environment and to the community.

The Lithgow and district community has been hit hard by the recent mine closures which have a direct impact on the mine workers and their families but also on the broader businesses and their families.

The mine was operated by operators who managed and operated the mine in accordance with the consent until it closed at the end of the project approval. Many of these staff have taken casual jobs away from the Lithgow area.

Coal mines in NSW are managed by staff who have professional qualifications and who are more than capable of complying with the EA and any additional conditions of consent aimed at mitigating any adverse impacts.

This is a small mine compared to those in the Hunter, Mudgee and Gunnedah areas and the impacts, both positive and negative are smaller and localised. Smaller operations are more responsive with key personnel working at the site.

As a bushwalker who frequently visits this area, I strongly object to this proposal. I and many others would like to see this area protected for bushwalking so that ourselves and future generations can enjoy this beautiful area.

I object to the Coalpac's modifications to the Invincible and Cullen Valley coal mines. The proposal will threaten or destroy significant natural landscape values. These include already endangered ecological communities such as Grassy Box Woodland, nationally endangered plants such as Clandulla geebung shrubs and threatened Capertee Stringybark trees.

In addition, the proposal threatens internationally recognised pagodas by ignoring the 300 metre minimum buffer recommended by the Planning Assessment Commission. The pagodas provide important habitat for many endangered plants and wildlife.

Lastly, the proposal will likely increase human morbidity and mortality in Cullen Bullen due to respiratory and cardiovascular disease linked to dust.

Coal Scuttle

The proposals for the Invincible Colliery and the Cullen valley mine need to be scuttled. This will not only impact the statue-like pagoda rock formations found in the area (recognised as internationally significant) but also the biodiversity of such a sensitive area, an assessment upheld by your own previous planning processes.

Any expansion of the mine within its natural setting would affect woodland habitats like that of the threatened Capertee Stringybark and fauna that includes squirrel gliders, spotted quolls and lyrebirds. The potential health impacts on the nearby town of Cullen Bullen are just as bad, especially given that Coalpac reports on page 45 of its submission that there has been no specific monitoring at Invincible or Cullen Valley.
The likelihood of increases in respiratory and cardiovascular disease caused by dust is recognised by your own previous findings, findings which cannot be changed by the O'Farrell's government legislation to move the goalposts on this issue.

Such negative economic impacts to residents need to be considered because of the adverse health impacts. Increases in respiratory and cardiovascular disease from mine dust potentially increase mortality and morbidity, an awful human cost.

There may well be environmental offsets for flora and fauna but there are no environmental offsets for the residents of Cullen Bullen.

I object to the Coalpac's modifications to the Invincible and Cullen Valley coal mines. The Gardens of Stone is an area that is too valuable to be put at risk from this mining activity. It is a unique site that should be preserved intact for the future. Mining in or near this area presents the possibility of cracking and could also affect water quality.

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

I fully support mining in Lithgow and the surrounding areas. The employment mining creates and the economic benefits are vitally important to this area. The Invincible project needs to be approved to help sure up a strong future for the families that rely on mining for an income.

I fully support mining in Lithgow and the surrounding areas. The employment mining creates and the economic benefits are vitally important to this area. The Invincible project needs to be approved to help sure up a strong future for the families that rely on mining for an income.

I fully support mining in Lithgow and the surrounding areas. The employment mining creates and the economic benefits are vitally important to this area. The Invincible project needs to be approved to help sure up a strong future for the families that rely on mining for an income.

I fully support mining in Lithgow and the surrounding areas. The employment mining creates and the economic benefits are vitally important to this area. The Invincible project needs to be approved to help sure up a strong future for the families that rely on mining for an income.

I fully support mining in Lithgow and the surrounding areas. The employment mining creates and the economic benefits are vitally important to this area. The Invincible project needs to be approved to help sure up a strong future for the families that rely on mining for an income.

I fully support mining in Lithgow and the surrounding areas. The employment mining creates and the economic benefits are vitally important to this area. The Invincible project needs to be approved to help sure up a strong future for the families that rely on mining for an income.

I fully support mining in Lithgow and the surrounding areas. The employment mining creates and the economic benefits are vitally important to this area. The Invincible project needs to be approved to help sure up a strong future for the families that rely on mining for an income.

I fully support mining in Lithgow and the surrounding areas. The employment mining creates and the economic benefits are vitally important to this area. The Invincible project needs to be approved to help sure up a strong future for the families that rely on mining for an income.

I fully support mining in Lithgow and the surrounding areas. The employment mining creates and the economic benefits are vitally important to this area. The Invincible project needs to be approved to help sure up a strong future for the families that rely on mining for an income.

I fully support mining in Lithgow and the surrounding areas. The employment mining creates and the economic benefits are vitally important to this area. The Invincible project needs to be approved to help sure up a strong future for the families that rely on mining for an income.

I fully support mining in Lithgow and the surrounding areas. The employment mining creates and the economic benefits are vitally important to this area. The Invincible project needs to be approved to help sure up a strong future for the families that rely on mining for an income.