Mod 6 - Expansion of Coal Mine

I SUPPORT IT

I support Coal & Allied's Warkworth Modification application to gain access to an additional 350m of land owned by the mine.

I am a local resident in Singleton, and I am also employed at the mine so would be significantly impacted if the mine was to close or downsize it's workforce. Having relocated from Sydney to work and live here, I would be devastated if I had to move my family from the area.

My husband and I also have friends who have businesses that would be impacted on the mine closure.

I am also concerned about the impact on the community - theservices that support the town and people that work there - the hospital, child care, schools and community activities and events would be impacted if the mine had to reduce or shut down..

The government appears to be conspiring with Rio Tinto to push this project through the approval system without due process,. In light of recent revelations from the ICAC inquiry into mining lease corruption in NSW, this is not a good look.
The NSW Land and Environment Court has previously rejected Rio's application to mine Saddle Ridge. That decision must be respected.
We from Victoria do not want any precedents established that would threaten us with the same set of circumstances, no doubt the Victorian Government and Rio Tinto and others would go right ahead and seize any opportunity to ravage our state too.

Until there is a study of cumulative health impacts from coal in the Hunter, I don't see why this should go ahead. The World Health Organization now classifies particulate pollution as a Class 1 Carcinogen. And the vast majority of PM10 particles in the Hunter come from coal.

Often, with mine proposals and mine expansions, jobs are the reason given for going ahead. But Rio Tinto have provided no economic assessment in support of the project. I think it would be unwise to just take them at their word that this project needs to go ahead 'to maintain jobs'. Ask for some more information, please! They need to show cause!

This is a submission against the proposed expansion of the Warkworth coal mine (DA 300-9-2002-i MOD 6).

I object to the project, and I submit that it should be refused on the following grounds.

BROKEN PROMISES
The proponent, Rio Tinto, signed a Deed of Agreement in 2003 promising not to mine Saddle Ridge, which protects the town of Bulga from the worst impacts of the Warkworth mine. Rio committed to approach Singleton Council and have Saddle Ridge and the endangered woodland around it rezoned for environmental protection.

The company is breaking both of these promises, and cannot be trusted to keep any committments it makes in the present application. The NSW Land and Environment Court has previously rejected Rio's application to mine Saddle Ridge. That decision must be respected.

DECEITFUL BEHAVIOUR
Local residents learned of the new application the day before it was lodged. Residents attended a community consultation meeting with Rio Tinto just three weeks before that. At that point in time, the Environmental Assessment for the project would have been ready to lodge, but yet residents were not told about it. This is deliberately deceitful and sneaky behaviour from Rio Tinto, who clearly have no commitment to genuine consultation with the Bulga community.

UNFAIR PROCEDURE
This application was lodged just two business days after new mining regulations came into force, which require the economic significance of a coal resource to be the primary factor influencing the government's determination of a mine application (the "Resource Significance" SEPP). This was surely not a co-incidence, and erodes public trust in the objectivity of government in this process.

Ordinarily, a significant mine expansion such as this would go on public exhibition for up to 6 weeks. Yet this project was sprung on the public without any notice, with just two weeks for public submissions. A formal appeal by local residents for an extension to the public exhibition period was rejected by the Planning Department, with no reason given.

For the government to accept this application from Rio Tinto in the first place shows a blatant disregard for the outcome of the previous Land and Environment Court ruling, and the current proceedings in the Supreme Court. It is difficult not to see the Modification application as the first step in a strategy to have the disallowed Warkworth Extension approved bit-by-bit to avoid full assessment.

The government appears to be conspiring with Rio Tinto to push this project through the approval system without due process,. In light of recent revelations from the ICAC inquiry into mining lease corruption in NSW, this is not a good look.

IMPACTS ON RESIDENTS
Noise
The proposed expansion would bring the mine closer to Bulga, and remove some of the landform which currently shields the town from the worst of the mine's impacts. Noise from the mine already has a major impact on the mental and physical health of the residents of Bulga. The mine has been in continual breach of the NSW Industrial Noise Policy, and its current approval conditions. Despite this, and despite 800 noise complaints against the mine from local residents last year alone, the NSW Government has not taken any action to enforce the mine's approval conditions.

How can the Government approve a project that would increase noise impacts on local residents, when the mine cannot even adhere to its existing approval conditions to control noise impacts?

Particulate emissions
The World Health Organization now classifies particulate pollution as a Class 1 Carcinogen. According to the EPA, 87% of PM10 sized particle pollution in the Upper Hunter comes from coal mines. It is likely that the existing Warkworth coal mine has a significant impact on the health of local residents, and and the proposed expansion would cause an unacceptable increase in these impacts. A cumulative health impacts study of the Hunter coal industry is needed.

BIODIVERSITY IMPACTS
The proposed Warkworth modification project would destroy 16 hectares of Endangered Ecological Communities. The promised "offset" for this irreversible loss of endangered species and their habitat does not compensate for its loss, and would not protect equivalent habitat to that proposed to be bulldozed. In any event, Rio Tinto have shown that their so-called 'offsets' are not protected anyway, and may be subject to future mining applications.

The Warkworth mine must not be allowed to expand into an area that Rio Tinto agreed, in 2003, to protect in a permanent conservation area, and in which open cut mining was rejected by the Land and Environment Court in earlier this year..

SOCIAL IMPACTS
Sadly, too many Hunter Valley villages have already been swallowed up by coal mining. Bulga, a close-knit community with deep historical significance for the Hunter, must be protected.

It is disappointing to note that Rio Tinto has been misleading its employees about the reasons the Warkworth Extension was rejected in court, and has failed to publicly acknowledge the agreement it has broken - to protect this area from mining. This has lead to conflict in the community.

ABORIGINAL HERITAGE
The proposed modification project would destroy four known Aboriginal artefacts, that Rio Tinto has previously agreed to protect (under the Deed of Agreement). This agreement must be kept, and these important cultural artefacts of the Wonnaruah people must be protected.

JOBS AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS
Rio Tinto have provided no economic assessment in support of the project, and their bland public statements to the effect that this project is needed to maintain jobs have not been supported by any information provided.

Rio Tinto's estimates of the employment and economic benefits of expanding the Warkworth mine have previously been rejected by the NSW Land and Environment Court, and they remain untrustworthy. Threats of jobs losses by the proponent should not be a factor for consideration when assessing the merits of this project, and they certainly should not take precedence over the protection of public health, adherence to the Deed of Agreement to protect Saddle Ridge from coal mining, and the right for the community of Bulga to persist.



Sincerely,

Alison Smith

27th Nov 2013
Mining in NSW is a must not only for each individual regional community, Sydney but most of all to keep the major revenue feed to the state
Currently within the Hunter Valley we have 3 projects at different status these being -
* Coal & Allied - Warkworth Mine
* Glencore - Bulga Optimisation Project
* Anglo American - Saddlers Creek
Locally, these projects must go ahead so as to support the local communities by offering jobs, infrastructure, and community support, etc.
The fortunes within the Hunter Valley has been built on the back of the mining industry which has allowed growth to a region that would have never happened without the mining industry
I personally believe while there have been issues associated to this industry, as we develop our technology the majority of these have been addressed. This will be a continuing process however I truly believe from my direct experience the majority of the industry is compliant to meeting the requirement to the mining licences that has been issued and or are progressing the situation at hand
If I can offer any more assistance please do not hesitate to contact me on - 0488 020 424
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Business Development Manager


Safety Reliability Availability
Confidence in Performance
Office: 1300 712 100
Mobile: 0488 020424
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.hvlgroup.com.au

It is deplorable that this area is again under an application for expansion.
It has been refused on environmental grounds before. To change the rules and resubmit is dishonest.
Part of the area has already been promised as a saved area from previous applications (more dishonesty).
The thing that is so much more abhorrent is the total disregard for the health of the local community, in the name of "economic" advancement.
The coal community is starting to behave like the asbestos and tobacco industry in years past; and the government is complicit.

I've been an employee at Mount Thorley Warkworth for 27 years and this mine has become more than just a job,It's a way of life. My children are looking to follow in my foot steps and if the mine closes or downsizes it will be devastating to us and the community at large as the flow on to support buisnesses will be devastating as well.

i have been employed at mtw past nine years . i move my family to area for lifestyle and future.my family and hundreds like me would be devastated if the mine closed or down sized

i feel as tho the mine really needs its extension to keep the employees employed, the effect on the community and employees if the mine does not get this extension will be of great loss. people will lose there jobs small buisness that really rely on the mines will be greatly effected causing more job loss not only with n the mine but in the community, i find the amount of jobs that will be affected because some people dont want a bit of noise i find selfious.

I have a young family and have been trying to get into the mining industy for many years. Without this extension I will be out of a job with a young family to surrport. If this extension does not go ahead I will have to try and get another job within the mining industry with very little experience, which will be difficult. Without the extension I wil more than likely have to pack up my young family and relocate away from my friends and family as well as my childrens friends and family.

I have a young family that live localy in the area & not getting this expansion could mean losing my job,my house,disrupting family life with friends,kids school friends,relocating would be costly.Plus local business could loose income that the mining community support,schools & sporting clubs would decline in numbers.It affects anyone & everyone in the community

how this will affect my self and my famly is i have 2 children wife the morgage in town two support. i fell that if we dont get the extention singleton will go down the tube so the in vestment that i have will lose value not to mention quity time with my childen and wife. my faimly and i and singleton need this

My family depends on this mine as it is our only source of income and so do thousands of other people in the Hunter region. So it is important that this mine is able to keep operating to support the employees and their families and also the wider community.

The approval of the minor extension and also the total approval of the warkworth extension I believe is in the best interests of the community as well as my own best interests.
The immediate and also the flow on effect that the downsizing of the warkworth mine will have is not something that I would like to see.
1300 on site jobs are in danger as well as hundreds of casual contractors and thousands of suppliers in the local and greater local areas will be affected.
Please see fit to grant our site the minor extension we require to continue our operations whilst we await the judgements for the larger scale application.

This is a submission against the proposed expansion of the Warkworth coal mine (DA 300-9-2002-i MOD 6).

I object to the project, and I submit that it should be refused on the following grounds.

BROKEN PROMISES
The proponent, Rio Tinto, signed a Deed of Agreement in 2003 promising not to mine Saddle Ridge, which protects the town of Bulga from the worst impacts of the Warkworth mine. Rio committed to approach Singleton Council and have Saddle Ridge and the endangered woodland around it rezoned for environmental protection.

The company is breaking both of these promises, and cannot be trusted to keep any committments it makes in the present application. The NSW Land and Environment Court has previously rejected Rio's application to mine Saddle Ridge. That decision must be respected.

DECEITFUL BEHAVIOUR
Local residents learned of the new application the day before it was lodged. Residents attended a community consultation meeting with Rio Tinto just three weeks before that. At that point in time, the Environmental Assessment for the project would have been ready to lodge, but yet residents were not told about it. This is deliberately deceitful and sneaky behaviour from Rio Tinto, who clearly have no commitment to genuine consultation with the Bulga community.

UNFAIR PROCEDURE
This application was lodged just two business days after new mining regulations came into force, which require the economic significance of a coal resource to be the primary factor influencing the government's determination of a mine application (the "Resource Significance" SEPP). This was surely not a co-incidence, and erodes public trust in the objectivity of government in this process.

Ordinarily, a significant mine expansion such as this would go on public exhibition for up to 6 weeks. Yet this project was sprung on the public without any notice, with just two weeks for public submissions. A formal appeal by local residents for an extension to the public exhibition period was rejected by the Planning Department, with no reason given.

For the government to accept this application from Rio Tinto in the first place shows a blatant disregard for the outcome of the previous Land and Environment Court ruling, and the current proceedings in the Supreme Court. It is difficult not to see the Modification application as the first step in a strategy to have the disallowed Warkworth Extension approved bit-by-bit to avoid full assessment.

The government appears to be conspiring with Rio Tinto to push this project through the approval system without due process,. In light of recent revelations from the ICAC inquiry into mining lease corruption in NSW, this is not a good look.

IMPACTS ON RESIDENTS
Noise
The proposed expansion would bring the mine closer to Bulga, and remove some of the landform which currently shields the town from the worst of the mine's impacts. Noise from the mine already has a major impact on the mental and physical health of the residents of Bulga. The mine has been in continual breach of the NSW Industrial Noise Policy, and its current approval conditions. Despite this, and despite 800 noise complaints against the mine from local residents last year alone, the NSW Government has not taken any action to enforce the mine's approval conditions.

How can the Government approve a project that would increase noise impacts on local residents, when the mine cannot even adhere to its existing approval conditions to control noise impacts?

Particulate emissions
The World Health Organization now classifies particulate pollution as a Class 1 Carcinogen. According to the EPA, 87% of PM10 sized particle pollution in the Upper Hunter comes from coal mines. It is likely that the existing Warkworth coal mine has a significant impact on the health of local residents, and and the proposed expansion would cause an unacceptable increase in these impacts. A cumulative health impacts study of the Hunter coal industry is needed.

BIODIVERSITY IMPACTS
The proposed Warkworth modification project would destroy 16 hectares of Endangered Ecological Communities. The promised "offset" for this irreversible loss of endangered species and their habitat does not compensate for its loss, and would not protect equivalent habitat to that proposed to be bulldozed. In any event, Rio Tinto have shown that their so-called 'offsets' are not protected anyway, and may be subject to future mining applications.

The Warkworth mine must not be allowed to expand into an area that Rio Tinto agreed, in 2003, to protect in a permanent conservation area, and in which open cut mining was rejected by the Land and Environment Court in earlier this year..

SOCIAL IMPACTS
Sadly, too many Hunter Valley villages have already been swallowed up by coal mining. Bulga, a close-knit community with deep historical significance for the Hunter, must be protected.

It is disappointing to note that Rio Tinto has been misleading its employees about the reasons the Warkworth Extension was rejected in court, and has failed to publicly acknowledge the agreement it has broken - to protect this area from mining. This has lead to conflict in the community.

ABORIGINAL HERITAGE
The proposed modification project would destroy four known Aboriginal artefacts, that Rio Tinto has previously agreed to protect (under the Deed of Agreement). This agreement must be kept, and these important cultural artefacts of the Wonnaruah people must be protected.

JOBS AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS
Rio Tinto have provided no economic assessment in support of the project, and their bland public statements to the effect that this project is needed to maintain jobs have not been supported by any information provided.

Rio Tinto's estimates of the employment and economic benefits of expanding the Warkworth mine have previously been rejected by the NSW Land and Environment Court, and they remain untrustworthy. Threats of jobs losses by the proponent should not be a factor for consideration when assessing the merits of this project, and they certainly should not take precedence over the protection of public health, adherence to the Deed of Agreement to protect Saddle Ridge from coal mining, and the right for the community of Bulga to persist.


Sincerely,

Phoebe Everingham

I am a worker at MTW and have been for over ten years. When the original submission for our expansion was approved all the workers knew that we had a secure future. Now we are in limbo not knowing what the future holds for us. What's worse is that not only will we all be affected but the wider community will also be affected by job losses as the $220 million that we now spend per year in the community will disappear as well as the $210 million in wages that MTW generates will also disappear. That's over $400 million taken out of the local towns. This cannot be a good thing. Also the state will miss out on hundreds of millions of dollars in royalties if the mine closes. This will mean schools, hospitals etc will not get the vital funding they need.
Some protester will whinge and moan about this expansion BUT most of these do not even live in the area and most have been bought in from outside the area to bolster their numbers and make them look good. Recently our neighbouring mine, Bulga, had get together with our neighbours and not one protester turned up. According to Bulga all our neighbours were for the expansion of the mine and the reason that there were no protesters was that there was not enough time to organise the protesters to be busses in from around the state. 100% of the neighbours turned up and all were in favour of MTW and Bulgas expansion.
I strongly urge you to pass this expansion not only for the sake of the employees there but for the wider community and the well being of the State of NSW.

My 12 year career is now on the line without this extension.As a father of 3 teenagers,their job prospects would be severely diminished from the flow on effect of our mine closure

I work at MTW and if this extension isn't granted hundreds of jobs will be lost including mine.

Hundreds of jobs will be lost if this extension is not granted including my wife's.