Mod 4 - Sound Power Levels

Please find our attachment for this development, please respond to inform us our submission is received - I have tried twice today and your web page did not respond.
Regards, Jan Davis

12 October 2017

Carolyn McNally
Secretary
Department of Planning and Environment
[email protected]

Dear Ms McNally,
Re: Maules Creek coal mine Project Application Number: 10_0138 Mod 4

The proponent Whitehaven Coal, are seeking to remove a section from Condition 12a, Schedule
3 from Planning Approval 10_0138 regarding the Maules Creek coal mine. That is the deletion of the wording and requirement to-

"ensure that all equipment and noise control measures deliver sound power levels that are equal to or better than the sound power levels identified in the EA, and correspond to best practice or the application of the best available technology economically achievable;"

I objects to the Mod 4 and Whitehaven Coal removing a specific requirement for continuous environmental noise improvement by maintaining or reducing mining equipment sound power.

As a resident and farmer of Maules Creek I am already living with noise levels that are too high, being emitted from this mine. On many occasions the noise levels have resulted in me not getting adequate sleep. This creates knock on effects to health, such as stress and anxiety and depression.

MINE NOISE READING
10.30pm. 9/10/17. 30meters from my house
See attachment File 2


An important part of the proponents project approval back in 2012 was condition 12a.
For the sake of surrounding local residents this condition must remain.
Should it be removed it would reflect badly on the integrity of planning in NSW
It would create an unlivable environment for My Family and other long-term residents of our district.

Whitehaven seems to have a history of non-compliance on noise dust and other environmental breaches. Having had an official warning by the Dep. of planning in August 2017 for noise management and recently having its environmental risk rating set at "maximum "by the EPA - one of only 3 mines in the state.
This would indicate to me that they should be held to their original approval conditions and not be rewarded by deleting 12a

I believe Modification 4 will be bad for my family and would Urge that Whitehaven should be made to comply with its existing conditions at Maules Creek Mine

Yours Sincerely

Submission letter uploaded

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See attached EPAs response

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pdf attached

objection attached

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12 October 2017

Carolyn McNally
Secretary
Department of Planning and Environment
[email protected]


Dear Ms McNally,

Re: Maules Creek coal mine Project Application Number: 10_0138 Mod 4

The proponent Whitehaven Coal, are seeking to remove a section from Condition 12a, Schedule 3 from Planning Approval 10_0138 regarding the Maules Creek coal mine. That is the deletion of the wording and requirement to-

"ensure that all equipment and noise control measures deliver sound power levels that are equal to or better than the sound power levels identified in the EA, and correspond to best practice or the application of the best available technology economically achievable;"

I object to the Mod 4 and Whitehaven Coal removing a specific requirement for continuous environmental noise improvement by maintaining or reducing mining equipment sound power.


The Department of Planning let down the community at Maules Creek by ignoring community concerns and objections prior to the mine being approved. However, in approving the mine, the Department argued that they imposed many strict conditions on the mine in order to minimise the impact on the local community. It now appears that Whitehaven Coal are unable to meet many of these conditions, and are gradually seeking to remove them, making a mockery of the initial approval process.
The removal of the section from Condition 12a which I have referred to above, will have a negative effect on my family and other members of the Maules Creek community. The noise created by the mine is already having a major impact on the quality of sleep and health of my family and it is of great concern to me. I strongly urge you to reject this Modification 4 which Whitehaven Coal have applied for.
Yours Sincerely,

See attached