Mod 6 - Product Optimisation

18 July 2014

Dear Madam/Sir,

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

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this proposal.

I am a Blue Mountains resident and, while this proposal does not affect me directly, I have visited the area and am aware of how much the current operations of the mine impinge on the town of Wollar and fear the repercussions of an expanded mining operation. I am also aware that an overwhelming majority of the residents do not want the mine.

I strongly oppose this application for the reasons which 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.

Sincerely,

Janis O'Leary

18 July 2014

Dear Sir/Madam,

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

I am a resident of Katoomba. I am most concerned at the implications of the expansion of this coal mine for the local residents. I certainly would not want it to happen where I live and do not think the Wollar community should have to endure living in what would be an industrial landscape.

I thank you for the opportunity to comment.

I oppose Wilpinjong Coal Mine Mod. 6 for the reasons which 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.

Yours sincerely,

Bronwyn Gahan

My objections are as follows

The current noise, dust and spontaneous combustion odour impacts are not adequately managed or regulated within the existing operations. The 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. Peabody Energy now owns about 70% of all property in the district and has distorted the property market. This has resulted in the loss of the Wollar Bushfire Brigade - which means increased vulnerability to emergencies and the loss of families attending the local school. The cumulative impacts of mining in the Mid- Western Regional Council area is not being addressed. This includes the ongoing loss of community and social cohesion .

As one of the only remaining residences (receiver 137) within Wilpinjong coal mines 'Noise management zone' please accept my strong objection to Modification 6.
The assessment does not consider cumulative social impacts on the Wollar community. Peabody energy is now the largest landowner, most of the mine owned houses are leased to mineworkers and the community as we once knew it is gone. With the ongoing loss of neighbours and support systems, everyone is a stranger. I no longer allow my children to ride their push bikes around the area due to speeding mine traffic which I feel is threatening the safety of children within the village as well as local drivers.
Mod 6 will cause greater noise impacts through the addition of more dozers. The simultaneous operations of four full mining fleets 24hrs day 7 days a week is already causing my family sleep disturbances and annoyance. My family is regularly woken up through the night to the sound of dozer tracks and the roar and changing gears of the dump trucks. Complaining gets you nowhere as when you do you're told 'we'll check and see if the levels are compliant', well if my 54db dishwasher doesn't wake me up why does mine noise if it's operating under the approved 37db limit?
The industrial noise policy does not protect the health of the Wollar community.
The extraction of 16 million tonnes of coal per year together with increased movement of overburden will generate more dust. The amount of black dust that has settled on my roof is unbelievable. As rain water is our only source of water I now have to buy bottled water for my children to ensure they don't consume contaminated water.
I am aware of my right to mitigation to reduce noise and/or dust in my home but was previously advised by Peabody project manager that my home was neither suitable or feasible for such improvements. I have since been advised by my legal representative that in fact I should formally apply in writing for such measures which I will be doing now.
I again would like to reiterate my strong objection to Modification 6. If I would have foreseen this mine and all the stress it would bring myself and my family I would never have purchased my dream 11yrs ago.

Yours Sincerely
Amanda Chetcuti

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Submission on Wilpiniong Coal Mine Modification 6

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