Mod 6 - Product Optimisation

I would like to object to the Wilpinjong Modification 6 Ref No: MP 05_0021 MOD 6 Because this proposal to further increase extraction of ROM coal from 15 mtpa to 16 mtpa has not been adequately assessed for noise, dust, blasting or spontaneous combustion impacts.
I see that there is no evidence that the spontaneous combustion events at the mine have been reported under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Act 2007.
I feel that the current noise, dust and spontaneous combustion odour impacts are not adequately managed or regulated with the existing operations.
I also see that Wilpinjong Mine has not completed the new plans of management for Modification 5 approved in February 2014.
The assessment does not consider cumulative social impacts on the Wollar community and the fact that Peabody Energy now owns over 70% of all property in the district has the effect of distorting the property market.
There needs to be ongoing acquisition of properties which are affected, and the effects on the community include the loss of the Fire Brigade and loss of families attending the local school.
It is disappointing to see that cumulative impacts on the MId Western Regional Council area have not been assessed in so far as the ongoing loss of community, and social cohesion.

Being a citizen of mid western regional council my concerns re the 6th modification for Wilpingong mine by Peabody energy my concerns are as follows.
The cumulative social impacts on the wollar community must be assessed as this is essential for wellbeing of community.
Modification 5 plans by Peabody energy have not been completed
Noise and dust have continued to be a major issue for community and have not been assased adequately

I object to Wilpinjong mine extracting even more coal. Mod 6

Under current approvals the mine is not managing spontaneous combustion. The odour in Wollar is often disgusting and surely we don't need people dying to realise the emissions are dangerous. (Or do we?)

Yet more noise from bulldozers, trucks, speeding contractors, trains & all that goes with a larger extraction, I do not feel protected under the industrial noise policy.

Environmental impacts Going, going, parts of it gone forever.

Sir
I object to peabodies proposed Mod 6 expansion of Wilpinjong quarry for all the usual reasons. Dust.noise,smell, the destruction of environment , habitat, and fouling of our water resources.
But mainly I object in the face of indisputable scientific evidence of our effects on global temperatures, that we allow multinational companies to rape our world in their rabid search for fossil fuels and stupendous Profits.
Why, with all the technological advances of the last few hundred years are we still burning dinosaur .fuels when we have so many other alternatives.
Evolve humans, our future generations and the rest of the planet will appreciate it.

I support the proposed Modification 6 to Wilpinjong Coal Mine.

I moved to the Mudgee region for employment in the coal industry and to use this opportunity to start a family. Which I am happy to say we were blessed with twin boys. Wilpinjong Coal Mine supports families and local industries directly and is a positive influence to the region.

I would like to see the submission of Modicafication 6 to be passed.

I support the implementation of Mod 6 at the Wilpinjong coal mine. Wilpinjong is located 45 minutes from Mudgee and has no adverse affect on Mudgee's tourism. Frankly, Wilpinjong has, through its employment, significantly contributed to Mudgee's financial picture while revenue from its agricultural (wine) industry has declined. Incidentally, Mod 6 only amounts to a coal production increase of 6.7% which should positively affect Mudgee's revenues with minimal environmental impact.

No real issues of concern, therefore I don't see a problem with the application or reasoning as to why it should not proceed.

wilpinjong mine has destroyed the village of wollar, where people live , now with the mine getting bigger a lot of peoples history will be lost.

wilpinjong mine has already destroyed the village of Wollar that my mum grew up in and my grandsparents live there. mining for extra coal would only make it harder for the remaining people living there because of the extra noise dust and more spontaneous combustion

wilpinjong mine has already destroyed the village of Wollar that you grew up in and mining for extra coal would only make it harder for the remaining people living there because of the extra noise dust and more spontaneous combustion

wilpinjong mine has already destroyed the village of Wollar that my mum grew up in and my grandparents still live. mining for extra coal would only make it harder for the remaining people living there because of the extra noise dust and more spontaneous combustion

Major Project Assessments
Department of Planning and Environment,
Sydney

17 July 2014

Wilpinjong Coal Mine Modification 6
Ref No: MP 05_0021 MOD 6

Dear Madam/Sir,

Stop Coal Seam Gas Blue Mountains (SCSGBM) is a community group comprising about 450 people. It is based in the Blue Mountains but concerned about the detrimental effects of coal and coal seam gas mining on communities and the environment both here and much further afield. We thank you for the opportunity to comment on this application.

On behalf of SCSGBM I submit that the application should be rejected for the following reasons:

1. The assessment does not consider cumulative social impacts on the Wollar community:
* Ongoing acquisition of properties. Peabody Energy is now the largest landholder
* Loss of Wollar Bushfire Brigade - increased vulnerability to emergencies
* Reduction in numbers of children attending the local school
* Distortion of property market

2. 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

3. 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

4. The Industrial Noise Policy does not protect the health of the Wollar community

5. 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 internal surfaces

6. The assessment does not consider impacts of speeding mine traffic through the district threatening safety of local drivers and children in the village.

Sincerely,

Jan O'Leary
For Stop Coal Seam Gas Blue Mountains

Major Project Assessments
Department of Planning and Environment, Sydney

17 July 2014

Dear Sir or Madam,

Wilpinjong Coal Mine Modification 6
Ref No: MP 05_0021 MOD 6

I am a Blue Mountains resident but know the town of Wollar having had relatives living there. I am most concerned for the future of this town due to the prospect of increased mining activity. The impacts are already too great.

I therefore wish to oppose this application. My reasons follow:

1. The assessment does not consider cumulative social impacts on the Wollar community:
* Ongoing acquisition of properties. Peabody Energy is now the largest landholder
* Loss of Wollar Bushfire Brigade - increased vulnerability to emergencies
* Reduction in numbers of children attending the local school
* Distortion of property market

2. 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

3. 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

4. The Industrial Noise Policy does not protect the health of the Wollar community

5. 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 internal surfaces

6. The assessment does not consider impacts of speeding mine traffic through the district threatening safety of local drivers and children in the village.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this application.

Yours sincerely,

Barbara Wakefield

Wilpinjong Coal Mine Modification 6
Ref No: MP 05_0021 MOD 6

Thank you for the opportunity to make this submission.

I am making this submission because I am very concerned that mining companies like this one, using "Modifications" to keep expanding their operations, are destroying towns, like Wollar in this instance.

I strongly oppose this application because:

1. The assessment does not consider cumulative social impacts on the Wollar community:
* Ongoing acquisition of properties. Peabody Energy is now the largest landholder
* Loss of Wollar Bushfire Brigade - increased vulnerability to emergencies
* Reduction in numbers of children attending the local school
* Distortion of property market

2. 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

3. 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

4. The Industrial Noise Policy does not protect the health of the Wollar community

5. 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 internal surfaces

6. The assessment does not consider impacts of speeding mine traffic through the district threatening safety of local drivers and children in the village.

Yours sincerely,

Tom Coley

The proposal to increase production at Wilpinjong Mine to 16 million tonnes per annum has not been adequately assessed for dust, noise, blasting and spontaneous combustion impacts are not currently adequately managed or regulated

Wilpinjong Mine has not completed the new plans of management for Modification 5

My family and I object to the mod 6 application for Wilpinjong coal. Since the introduction of the mine our lives have been altered and health has been exposed to toxins and stress. Our community has been ripped out from from underneath us and we feel I life is on idle.

The dust is extreme in our house, the air we breath, on our clothes and on everything we touch. 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 internal surfaces.

The odour from Wilpinjong's spontaneous combustion is an ongoing issue and literally gets buried until it gets out of hand. It is NEVER extinguished and we continually are subjected to the toxic soup and on many occasions cannot go outside. Windows cannot be opened to let the fresh air in as there NO fresh air.

The Industrial Noise Policy does not protect the health of the Wollar community The noise is unbearable and the noise level only reduces after a complaint is made. The noise from the trains is unbearable and Peabody have not addressed the noise coming from the train horn ever time the train is loaded. This had been discussed via a complaint and Wilpinjong spokesperson stated "the train is not their responsibility". 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.

Our old house has been standing for nearly 100 years and has only started to show real cracks since Wilpinjong commenced blasting. Which they deny they are the cause of. When tests were undertaken to determine the vibrations and depth of rock around the property the correct procedures were not followed.

The modeling is flawed and inaccurate, how can a property less than 1km away be identified as "affected" and somewhere in between there is an invisible line that stipulates they are affected and we are not? But we are clearly affected.

The assessment does not consider impacts of speeding mine traffic through the district threatening safety of local drivers and children in the village.

The coal industry already does enough damage to the environment through carbon emissions, dust emissions during transportation, destruction of habitat and negative impacts on health and amenity of local communities. We don't need any expansion - all future energy investment should be directed towawrds renewables not fossil fuels.

I am submitting this support for Modification 6 at Wilpinjong Coal on behalf of both myself and Strait Up Services.

I have personally been involved with the mine from its construction phase, and our company has been involved there since 2010.

The mine has always shown a very high standard since the construction phase with all regards to WHS, EPA and community relations. It supports a wide range of community based activities, and I've not known of any negative impact to either the community or the environment.

Any upgrade or improvement done to any mine in the area, done though the correct planning and approvals are also very beneficial to the surrounding towns with added money coming in.

Any further information can be requested on the details below.

Regards Richard Gooley
0408 669 859
[email protected]

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on Wilpinjong coal mine's Modification 6.
In the past I've been a supporter of mining in the area, for reasons of employment and moving the district forward on an economic footing. Over time my position has changed to being neutral to now being negative as more and more changes are being proposed.
It seems that the idea is that you ask for permission to do something, then keep adding modifications till you end up with what you wanted in the first place. This drip factor needs to stop. I notice that in the forward projections for the mine that output will drop to 5.9Mt in 2019 (Page 20 of 54 in document 00595386 Version 1) , this will never happen as I'd suggest that it wouldn't be economically viable, they will put yet more modifications in. I believe that the mine should have to put forward the final plan so comment can be made on the complete picture.
I also believe that only one modification should be allowed every five years. There is no argument that we need coal, it is the process of how mining companies go about its business that needs to be reviewed.
I've made several complaints about blasting about the noise and in some cases vibrations felt. I've never heard anything back. I notice in this submission there is no reference to noise level or pollution in the Cooks Gap area. They seem to concentrate on Wollar, which they own most of the town now anyway. I would like to see some proper studies done on the impact of the mine in the Cooks Gap area. I've never heard Moolarben coal mines blasts and they are closer to me than Wilpinjong Coal Mine
There appears to be no effort to reduce the visual pollution from mine blasting, the dust is allowed to come up and then blow over the neighbourhood. I believe the mine should be forced to mitigate against dust from explosions, be it fine water sprays being activated over the blasted area before and after blasting. It is a shame that unless forced to perform such works, the mine will just refer back to their pollution guild lines that it is within allowable limits. Obviously these limits are set way to high and need to be reviewed. Yet the community is forced to breath this air containing coal dust and other chemical residue from the blast.
The mine was slow to respond to spontaneous combustion issue taking days to remedy the problem. The residences have to put up with the smell, what compensation do we get having to put up with their stink, nothing, yet they keep making profits. This is not acceptable!
In gathering information for this submission it has become apparent that they also need to work on their customer relations skills. Good customer relations skills calm situations rather than exasperate the situation. Some comments made by a senior person to me should have never been made.
It is interesting to read in the executive summary that to be more efficient they need to dig up more ground to produce the same amount of coal. Seems strange to me, surely it costs more to dig up more. There must be a better way, I think they should be forced to find it, therefore I'm against allowing this modification.
Thank you for your time.

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

I have donated $60 in membership fees to NSW Greens in July2014