Mod 6 - Expansion of Coal Mine

Dear Minister,

I support Coal & Allied's Warkworth Modification application to gain access to an additional 350m of land owned by the mine, to avoid a significant drop in production and employment.

I currently work at Mount Thorley Warkworth and have been here for the past 18 months. I came here from the Aluminium smelter at Kurri Kurri (Hydro) which was recently closed down.

I came to MTW in the belief that I would have long term employment and I would be able to take care of the needs of my family.

Unfortunately if the mine was to shut down I would be very worried about securing decent fulltime employement locally and may have to look elsewhere for work.

Mount Thorley Warkworth provides a stable income for over 1,300 full time employees in the Hunter Valley. And the operation of the mine reaches into many other businesses that supply MTW. Thousands of people depend on this mine and if production was to drop, the result could be devastating.

We need certainty. We've been wondering what the future holds now for four years. If this minor modification to an existing, 30 year old mine does not get approved, I am worried about what this will mean for local jobs and investment across the NSW mining industry.

Please accept this submission in support of the Warkworth Modification.

Regards

Mark Hoult.

I support the expansion 100%. No expansion equals job loss, and a major 'snowball' effect for the entire community. Employees lose their jobs meaning there will be less money being spent in the community, small business' will be not be making money so then they will have to let go staff, Also the companies & business' relying on the mines purchases will have to let go staff aswell. People may have to move to find new work. How is a town meant grow & prosper without the growth & expansion of the companies & business that support it.

I support the modification to the expansion proposal by Rio Tinto at Mt Thorley Warkworth mine in the Hunter Valley.

support local jobs and infrastructure

Support Local jobs & infrastructure

SUPPORT LOCAL JOBS & INFRASTRUCTURE

This small expansion of Warkworth Mine will be key in securing the Jobs of people at the mine and ongoing employment of many more people in related businesses in Singleton and the surrounding areas.

If this extension does not go ahead it will devestate the Singleton township as well as the businesses that services the mine and affiliated areas.

I object to this proposed modification for the following reasons:
1. This area is in an area that was intended to be a Permanent Conservation Area, as agreed in a Deed signed by the mine in 2003.
2. Over the last 10 years the mine has shown that they are unable to comply with the conditions imposed on them in 2003 regarding noise and dust. This will only make these problems worse for the village of Bulga.
3. As the mine slowly creeps closer to the village, the property values in the area must decline, with no compensation being offered by the mine.
4. The area proposed to be mine has already been previously denied by the NSW Land and Environment Court.
5. It appears the mine is trying to mine Saddleback Ridge by stealth: are they planning on making further applications every 2 years?

I support the submission of the Mt Thorley/Warkworth extension. If the extension does not get through it will greatly affect me and my family. It will put immense financial pressure and stress on me, my family and the community. I fear that in this current economical downturn it will be hard for me and the 1300 strong workforce to pick up work if the extension does not go proceed. I also think the chain reaction effect will shatter the local community businesses the local and state governments.

My partner has worked at Mount Thorley Warkworth for around 3 years. We are relying on this expansion for my partners job security which will enable us to build a future together here in Singleton.

I also work within a mining company that provides services to MTW which is one of out major customers. The company needs this expansion to go ahead for me as well as my fellow employees to keep their jobs.

I wish to object to DA 300-9-2002-1 MOD6 on the following points.

1. Firstly, to make promises and sign agreements that effect families futures then turn around and renege on them is outrageous. It will affect me, and will affect my children that have bought properties in Bulga. One has already been effected and had to leave the district.
It will also effect many other families in Bulga
2. This is part of their previous application that was rejected by the land and environment court on good reasons, To apply to do part of the same in another application is nothing more than a loop hole in the system created by the current Government.
3. Dust and noise will increase regardless of what their computer model says, they can't control dust and noise now with exceedences and fines occurring.
4. The offset for this application is not like for like, but that doesn't matter, they will apply to mine the offset as well if they get the chance. The agreements mean nothing.
5. They claim there will be job losses, tell that to the companies that have lost their employees because they were poached by Warkworth and deskilled to truck drivers. If you look at their truck drivers you will find carpenters, Butchers, Plumbers, Electricians etc. all lured by the big Dollars and employed by the mines because the generally tradesmen have a better attitude than labourers or the unemployed.
6. Bulga is affected by the impact from four mines already and enough is enough.
7. The coal beneath is still available for underground mining but Rio Tinto don't like underground mining and that's what it is all about.
Bulga residents do not have any objection to underground mine this or any of the previous application.
I do not make political donations

Hubert Upward
95 Inlet Rd
Bulga 2330

I wish to object to DA 300-9-2002-1 MOD6 for the following reasons

Warkworth agreed to a previous governments request to protect this land so a previous application could be approved.
There were reasons for this request back then and they should be honoured.
Going back on this agreement has dearly affected my family and the family of others.
We already have problems with dust and noise and this application will bring those problems closer.
We already have a terrible view of dirt dumps and this will only bring it closer as well.
Bulga has suffered enough from mines already.
I do not make political donations.


Helen Upward
95 Inlet rd Bulga

I support the proposed extension of the Mount Thorley Warkworth mine to continue in keeping the hunter valley and surrounding areas viable. Continue with employment opportunities and maintain a good future for our next generation. Approx 1300 job losses cannot be good for the hunter valley.

I am in support for the Mount Thorley Warkworth extension. I do not only feel that this decision will have a huge affect to me and my family's lives directly but thousands of people in the hunter region. Not to mention the local businesses that are affected by the Warkworth mine. The mine generates a huge amount of economical benefit to the country and it would be absolutely ludicrous to go against the extension approval.
Regards

Times are already tough and we need mines like Mount Thorley Warkworth to stay strong so there is work for our people.

Times are already tough and we need mines like Mount Thorley Warkworth to stay strong so there is work for our people.

I am opposed to further expansion of existing open cut coal mining in the Hunter Valley Region.

The cumulative impact comes at a high cost to communities in terms effect on health thru fine dust pollution, particulate matter from diesel engine exhaust systems.

This is a interim change in consent conditions, there is more to come which we are not necessarily being told about. For example the Mount Thorley Warkworth joint venture are planning future underground operations, and possibly further open cut operation. This interim submission is only to give them breathing space and to test changes in how changes in consent conditions get approved and changes in how appeals can be lodged.

I say hold up and stop this change to the existing consent conditions until a clear picture is presented from Rio Tinto Coal Australia as to the direction of both Mount Thorley and Warkworth coal operations. We need to know where this will end and what will be the ultimate impact will be. I live in Maitland and I am sick of fine dust both rock and coal settling on my property.

support local jobs

The planned modification of Warkworth mine by Rio Tinto is necessary as the area heavily relies on the mining sector for employment.