Mod 6 - Product Optimisation

I support the application by Wilpinjong Coal mines submission as this company has proven excellent support and contributions to the community including donations to various 0rganisations and local Government. As an employee I see first hand the environmental comitment this company has on its mine site to protect existing areas and surrounding towns. To increase the mines ROM capacity would not damage or effect any of the infrastructure or interrupt the community in any significant way, in fact it would even more support the local area as much as they have already.
I fully support there application.

I oppose the increase in run-of-mine coal production proposed in Modification 6.

I have travelled to the township of Wolar many times over the years, and wholehartedly 'object' to any modifications to increase production from the Wilpinjong Coal Mine. This little town has already seen too much disruption since the commencement of this mine, and I fear that any further increases and modificattions could see the end of an already fragile community.

I strongly object to this modification on the grounds that we already suffer from to much noise and dust. More coal dug out means more noise and more dust. Spontaneous combustion is something else we have to bear with this mine

As a resident and a member of the CCC for this mine. I strongly object to Wilpinjong mine being allowed to mine more coal as it already caused major impact on the Wollar community with noise dust and spontaneous combustion.

As a recent visitor to the town of Wollar I write to put forward my objection to the above mentioned Development Application. The impact of increasing the current production levels of the mine will negatively impact the village of Wollar and wider area. The existence of the mine is in direct juxtaposition to the beauty that can be found in this beautiful area of the country. The management of the Wilpinjong Coal Mine have little respect for the village or the villagers. None of the modifications that the mine managers are considering will in any way positively impact the village of Wollar. Therefore, I ask that you refuse this planning application and ensure that Wilpinjong Coal Mine become more sensitive to the character of this village.

Title: Wilpinjong Coal Mine Modification 6


I'm,Theresa Audretsch, objecting to Mod 6 because of various reasons.

* Greater social impact on Wollar community

* Increased noise and dust affecting a wider area

* More traffic through district threatening road safty

This modification will help with the flexability and mine planning for the company. This helps in becoming a lower cost producer and competitive in the market looking after local jobs and generates revenue spent in the surrounding towns.

I am against the above mentioned modification which involves the increase in the run-of-mine coal production rate from 15 million tonnes to approximately 16 million tonnes. The enviromental impact this action will have will be catastrophic.

My residence in Wollar already is impacted by mine noise and dust, More mine production will certainly increase the impact level of both of these real occurances, ( dust inside the house , the noise of dump trucks being loaded . dozers tracking). Spon com is a major issue at Wilpinjong mine at present and to think more coal storage on site to be allowed is not taking this into consideration,( stench of burning coal ).Overall my experience of conformance in these regards by the Wilpinjong coal mine to be lacking at present extraction rates, means more extraction can only be detrimental to air and noise quaility for Wollar village and surrounding areas.

I object to the proposal for the following reasons:

1. The proposal to further increase extraction of Run of Mine coal from 15 million tonnes per annum to 16 million with additional overburden production has not been adequately assessed for noise, dust, blasting and spontaneous combustion impacts

2. There is no evidence that the spontaneous combustion events at the mine have been reported under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007

3. Current noise, dust and spontaneous combustion odour impacts are not adequately managed or regulated with existing operations

4. Wilpinjong Mine has not completed the new plans of management for Modification 5 approved in February 2014

5. The assessment does not consider cumulative social impacts on the Wollar community. Peabody Energy now owns about 70% of all property in the district and has distorted the property market:
* Ongoing acquisition of properties
* Loss of Wollar Bushfire Brigade - increased vulnerability to emergencies
* Loss of families attending the local school

6. The cumulative mining impacts in Mid Western Regional Council area including ongoing loss of community and social cohesion has not been assessed

thank you
sincerely,
charlotte mccabe

To whom it may concern
Provides positive contribution to the region. I've witnessed positive impacts over the past seven years from mining.
I strongly support the proposed modification.

I think the Wilpinjong mine submission is positive and I am in favour of it. The mine can provide growth employment to the region and local coal for NSW. It can also help the near by towns and beef farms coexist with this important industry. By this I mean the wilpinjong mine should provide a high standard of environmental awareness and care to water, air, noise, flora and fauna interruptions.

The Mudgee community generally has benefited from the mining industry in the range of employment opportunities mining both directly and indirectly offers. The number of new families coming to the area has also had a positive impact on the number of new dwellings, increasing numbers at schools, small businesses, etc. With all of the mines located some distance from Mudgee many tourists are unaware that coal mining is carried out locally.

I support the proposed Modification 6 to Wilpinjong Coal Mine.

I believe that mining contributes positively to the Mid Western region, NSW and Australia. For me, the most important way mining contributes is through direct employment. I moved to Mudgee with my family and we all shop locally and use local services; helping to make those sectors more profitable than if they were solely relying on agriculturally employed people or tourists. I don't think my family is unusual in this regard because every weekend Mudgee is a bustling little town and this doesn't change with the seasons that affect tourism and agriculture.

I support the proposed Modification 6 to Wilpinjong Coal Mine because it will help Wilpinjong to stay profitable during this time of low coal prices; thereby enhancing the stability of the employment of me and my co-workers and allowing life in Mudgee to continue the way it has been for the past few years.

I wish to support the proposed Modification to Wilpinjong Coal Approval.

Currently Mudgee is feeling the negative affects caused by the down turn in the coal industry, which is impacting on job security, viability of local businesses and economic prosperity of the local region.

Therefore any improvements to the mining operation that will allow Wilpinjong to be more competitive and sustainable during a period when many other mines and industries are suffering must be supported.

I am concerned for the people of Wollar. This coal mine is already having a detrimental effect of the residents and extending the mine doesn't consider cumulative social impacts on the Wollar community:
Now that Peabody Energy is the largest landholder, why do they want to become even bigger when coal use is dropping

I am concerned that the operation of the mine is not managing spontaneous combustion under current approvals. (Schedule 3 Condition 16). Offensive odour emissions from the mine are interfering with the comfort of the local community

The proposal will cause greater noise impacts through the addition of 3 more D11 dozers to the mining fleet. The simultaneous operation of four full mining fleets 24 hours, 7 days per week is already causing sleep disturbance and annoyance, which is detrimental to all people in the community. The Industrial Noise Policy does not protect the health of the Wollar community

The extraction of 16 million tonnes per year of coal and increased movement of overburden will generate more dust. Residences in Wollar have coal dust coating external and internal surfaces of their homes and businesses.

Gae Mulvogue

Submission in SUPPORT of the proposed Modification 6 to Wilpinjong Coal Mine.

We are visitors to the Mudgee region two or three times annually. Initially it was to see our daughter, and still is , but have increased visits and the length of time we stay because of the increased vibrancy and improvements in the region. Other family members and her friends have also visited with more visits planned this year.
We see the Wilpinjong Coal Mine as providing a positive contribution to the region as we have read in the Mudgee Guardian of its financial input into various community organisations which benefit many residents.
The local improvements to the area have come about through the economic flow on effects of increased disposable income being spent in the retail and hospitality industries as well as increased revenue through rates.
Our daughter has made Mudgee her home. She purchased her first house and has employed tradesmen to carry out repairs thus providing employment for others.
Mudgee, as a desirable place to live, has the potential to lure people from large cities which we believe the NSW Government is encouraging. More employment opportunities will assist this.
All this happens because of one person employed at the Wilpinjong Coal Mine.
Please consider favourably the spin off effect that potentially happens when one person is employed and give another person the same opportunity.

I am employed by Wilpinjong Coal Mine. The employment offered has been positive for me, the local region, the state and the country.

At 24 years of age, I have been able to pursue a career that dreams are made of. I have made a home in Mudgee and actively participate in sports that are offered. When I first arrived, there were a few sports but over the previous few years I have seen the touch competition grow in size and this year a first ever women's league tag team was established. Young people are now staying in the area and with employment at Wilpinjong Coal Mine, staff join these sporting teams. This is positive for the local area in terms of health and community spirit.

The local region benefits in terms of the food I eat, clothes I wear and social events I attend. My rates help beautify the township area which has vastly improved over the last year or two. Friends and family visit me and always have a good spend up in Mudgee, visiting local wineries, restaurants and businesses. If I wasn't here they wouldn't come and their cash would go elsewhere.

NSW Government gains royalties from Wilpinjong Coal Mine and this will increase for 2014 with the additional ROM tonnes mined under the proposed Modification 6. My taxes from employment at Wilpinjong Coal Mine are divided where needed throughout the country.

Wilpinjong Coal Mine is a good employer to its staff and this results in a happy workplace environment. It also plays a very generous part by way of financial contributions to the local community.

I support Wilpinjong Coal Mines Modification 6 because I can see how the economy of Mudgee has been boosted and improved by more disposable income being spent by its residents, a large proportion of whom work at Wilpinjong. I welcome and wish for others to have their dream fulfilled. Thank you for the opportunity to offer my submission.

I am objecting to the modification 6 for Wilpinjong Coal Mine.
The proposal for increased extraction of coal has not been adequately assessed for noise, dust, and blasting impacts.
The current noise, dust and spontaneous combustion odour impacts are not adequately managed or regulated with the existing operations.
There has been no consideration of cumulative mining impacts including loss of community and social cohesion in the Mid
Western Regional Council area.