Mod 8 - Extension of time

Please find submission attached

It is very difficult to understand the current failure of government to act in the public interest. The vital need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is even recognised in legislation now, for instance in the NSW Climate Change (Net Zero Futures) Act 2023.

I strongly object to “Mod 8” by Glencoe to their Hunter Valley Operations mining approval. This application for an eighteen month extension of mining most properly is assessed against the need to be on a net zero trajectory pursuing a target of keeping global average warming below 1.5 degrees. It should be rejected as it is not consistent with this.

I understand that the Department of Planning must obtain advice from the EPA and assess this modification against the NSW EPA Guide for Large Emitters.

It is simply wrong to proceed as if it’ll be all right in the long run or that society can continue with a business as usual attitude.
The Department of Planning has the responsibility to take heed of the recently released Net Zero Commission Annual Report. NSW has emission reductions targets. Are we serious or not?

There would be significant increased emissions from Mod 8, including the fugitive methane gas from the deep seams of HVO South. Any extension of time for HVO north should not result in any increase in greenhouse gas emissions, its focus could only be on appropriate preparation for the closure, planning that should have already been done.
I submit that the Department must consider the consequences of approving Mod 8. Global average warming must be curtailed and the administrators have the capacity and responsibility to work towards this end.

Please see attached MS Word attachment.

submission attached for the objection

I object to the HVO North-West Pit Consent 2003 Modification 8 (DA450-10-2003-Mod-8)
As I am a landowner in the village of Jerry's Plains I strongly object to the extension of the HVO North-West Pit mod 8 as the dust and the noise will be greatly increased in the village of Jerry's Plains and surrounding areas. The dust monitors in the area are
already constantly excessing the limits.
High quality agricultural land and flood Plans should never, ever be mined. They might try to rehabilitate; however, it is impossible to restore to their previous, natural state.
Digging to the depth they are proposing is ludicrous next to the Hunter River as the Hunter River is the lifeblood of the Hunter Valley whether it is for agricultural, mining, power generation, vineyards, towns or communities, we all need this precious resource water. By digging close to the Hunter River is a major concern for all.
Another of my major concerns is the levee bank that they are proposing to construct to prevent flooding of the mine in the event of high flows in the river in other words flooding, this will back water up causing flooding and damage to all of the upstream farms. This will also cause the Golden Highway to be closed a lot earlier than it would be with flood waters. Also downstream of the levee with the narrowing of the flood flow, the velocity of the flood waters will be greatly increased causing massive erosion problems.
I have lived at my present address for over 68 years, and I have made my living off the land all of my working life.
If this country is to have a future after mining, extensions like this must not be allowed to proceed.
Thank you
Ian H Moore.

Why?
Because fossil fuels - coal, oil and gas are cheap and plentiful and will do as they have done before, deliver the cheapest and lowest electricity prices and provide the essential elements for Australia to be able to prosper again and Australian constituents to be able to pay their electric bills again without fear of unacceptable blackouts by unreliable renewables that CANNOT be built or run without fossil fuels.

There is no way we can continue functioning as a society or continue making the 6000+ products we have grown very accustomed to having in our lives that are made out of coal, oil and gas, including the clothes you are wearing without continually using the very plentiful resources of coal, oil and gas and most importantly, prioritising them above unreliable and unaffordable renewables.

https://stopthesethings.com/2024/09/08/energy-essentials-why-modern-civilisation-critically-depends-on-coal-oil-gas/

"That is what will actually happen in the real world because even the uncountable ranks of enthusiasts and activists will continue to lead lives that are entirely dependent on fossil fuel while they condemn it. The protest signs they paint, the bikes they ride to demonstrations, the clothes they wear, the food they eat, the drums they beat and the whistles they blow – all are made by, contain or are transported by fossil fuel. But the activists don’t see it and none has any idea what decarbonising the globe actually means."

"Happily, the US Department of Energy has published a handy list of 6000 everyday products made with “petrochemicals derived from oil and natural gas”.

Early in the alphabet soup of essentials comes antihistamines, antiseptics and artificial limbs. It moves on through bandages, cellphones, clothes and cortisone, takes a personal hygiene turn at deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste, and makes a point of adding solar panels.

And right before it plants its full stop at yarn, it lists wind turbine blades."

https://stopthesethings.com/2024/08/20/life-support-coal-fired-power-plants-only-thing-keeping-the-lights-on/

"Hiding the costs of renewables until after the next election.

The largest coal plant in Australia was supposed to close in August next year, but the NSW government decided to buy a two year extension until a few months after the next state election. Now the modeling comes out showing that they decided to keep the Eraring coal plant running to prevent the shocking price spikes from disturbing the voters. Keeping the coal plant will reduce wholesale electricity bills by a few billion dollars. (Why don’t we keep it open for ten years?)

Presumably his reelection chances would be worse if “saved the planet”, and shut the coal plant a few months before the election instead.

They know the voters don’t want the transition. They know it will cost more. And yet they do it anyway…"

https://stopthesethings.com/2024/01/27/prosperity-essentials-why-coal-oil-gas-keep-delivering-heaven-on-earth/

"But I’m only getting started. The paint on the walls, the flooring beneath your feet, the blinds over the windows – these are also derived from petroleum. The tube that holds your toothpaste, the detergent you use to wash your clothes, the containers you store your food in, the bottles that hold your medicine and your vitamins. They’re all made from petroleum.

Your computer screen, your cell phone, your keyboard, your mouse, your mouse pad, the coating around the cords that charge your phone; the casing for your car battery, the buttons on your shirt…

Yep: fossil fuels. Specifically, plastic–another fossil fuel derivative.

But that’s still only a fraction of a fraction of the full portrait."

https://stopthesethings.com/2024/09/17/no-competition-hopelessly-unreliable-wind-solar-cant-beat-coal-gas-nuclear/
https://stopthesethings.com/2024/06/23/demand-for-hydrocarbons-proves-wind-solar-no-match-for-coal-oil-gas/
https://stopthesethings.com/2024/04/02/never-reliable-wind-solar-mean-ever-reliable-coal-fired-power-only-hope/
https://stopthesethings.com/2024/03/27/slash-burn-the-cult-hates-coal-fired-power-but-loves-whole-forest-fired-power/
https://stopthesethings.com/2024/03/08/chinas-indias-coal-fired-power-push-ignores-wests-suicidal-wind-solar-embrace/
https://stopthesethings.com/2024/01/19/wind-solar-fail-to-dent-worlds-record-demand-for-coal/

Detailed submission is attached: summary follows here:
We oppose any extension of time for the applicant to continue operations beyond its current approval. Greenhouse gas emissions are a cumulative problem: delay does not merely postpone reductions, it actually increases total levels in the atmosphere.
This application is simply an attempt to extend the life of significant coal mining operations beyond the time previously approved, resulting in excessive greenhouse gas emissions at a time when the state is struggling to reach its emission reduction targets, when previously reported emissions are found to have been underestimated, and even those targets have been shown to be inadequate.

This continuation is the future of my career, and so many others. As an operator, and coal being slowly stopped, if this continuation doesn't pass there will be hundreds of people struggling to find new roles elsewhere due to mines not having any positions available.

This job has provided me with alot of opportunity, and financial benefits. Finally earning enough to pay off a mortgage, and afford that holiday every now and then.

HVO are always contributing to the local community surrounding the mine aswell, whether it be financial donations or employees volunteering in local projects.
Thank you for your time, and i hope you make the right decision.

Keep HVO operational.

It is obscene that this approvals procedure even exits because new fossil fuel extraction should have been banned years ago. The fact that it has not attests to the depravation and greed of all those involved.

You know the climate science. You know that approval of extended or further coal extraction is against the public interest (the NSW public, Australians, future generations, the GBR, and all life on Earth). Approval can be legally refused on that basis ---- you do not need a "climate trigger", or laws that include Scope 3 emissions, to conclude that any new fossil fuel extraction is AGAINST THE PUBLIC INTEREST.

I support this project because it brings a lot of jobs, money and support to the local community including putting food on the table for my family and gives me the ability to also help other families in these tough times!

Hvo is a massive employer providing financial support for thousands of families and businesses throughout NSW. Hvo follow processes and procedures to maintain minimal impact while extracting minerals. I do not see any reason they should not be granted consent to continue mining. If their application were to be denied the financial impact on the Hunters economy would be devastating.

I object to the project because extending coal mining comes at a great cost to the community in the long term.
Ongoing usage of coal will result in increased emissions which will have an adverse effect on climate change and ultimately result in increasing losses to the community due to extreme weather.
Open cut coal mines also are likely contributers to respiratory and cardiovascular disease, which is both ethically and economically problematic.

I support this project, hvo supports so many families and businesses.

Hvo has provided for my family for a combined 30 years and counting myself and my partner work there also my dad , mum , brother and all my best mates work out there we all have family’s who hvo supports every day and if it where to close it would not only cripple our family it would cripple all our community’s with the amount of work hvo does for our community’s

The Hunter Valley needs this project to support
Local jobs and Without it the local economy will no doubt suffer.

It is my strong belief that this project is in the best interest for the nation and the local community. If the project is not approved the local community will be affected

This project will allow hundreds of people to keep their jobs and open up hundreds of opportunities for new jobs along with community development.

I fully support the project go ahead as it will continue to create future employment for the local area.