Modification 11 - Time Extension

This must be Approved to give the worker of the colliery to continue

I am writing as a direct employee of the mine to express my strong personal support for the proposed mine extension and to respectfully urge the NSW Government to approve it.
This mine is not just a workplace to me, it is the foundation of my livelihood and the livelihoods of more than three hundred workers, many of whom are local residents raising families in this community. The income and stability provided by these jobs allow families like mine to stay in the region, support local schools and services, and contribute to the long-term strength of our town. The mine’s operation also flows through the wider economy by supporting local contractors, small businesses, and service providers that depend on its continued success.
Mining has been a defining part of our community for generations. I am proud to work in an local industry that has built and sustained our town. Approving this extension would protect skilled local jobs, preserve our community’s identity, and give certainty to families who rely on the mine for their future. Without the extension, the loss of employment would have serious social and economic consequences for many households in the area.
From my experience working on site, I have seen firsthand that the mine operates under strict environmental controls and responsible management practices. The company takes its obligations seriously and actively works to minimise environmental impacts while maintaining safe and efficient operations. This commitment gives workers and the community confidence that the mine can continue to operate responsibly alongside environmental protections.
Approving the proposed extension would secure ongoing employment, sustain local businesses, and provide continued economic benefits to the region. As someone whose family and future are directly tied to this operation, I respectfully ask the NSW Government to support the extension so our community can continue to grow and remain strong.
Thank you for considering my submission.

I am writing to support the proposed mine extension. This mine provides steady work for more than three hundred people, many of whom live locally, including myself and people I know. These jobs help families stay in the area and give our community security and stability. The mine also supports many other local businesses, contractors, shops, and services that rely on it.
Mining has always been a big part of our community. It’s part of who we are and has supported generations of local families. Keeping the mine going helps protect that history and ensures our town continues to grow and stay strong.
The mining methods used here are carefully managed and designed to have very little impact on the environment and the land on the surface. The company monitors this closely, and the community sees the benefits of mining done responsibly.
Most importantly, this is a local mine that employs local people. The extension means ongoing work, ongoing support for local families, and ongoing benefits for the whole region. Losing these jobs would hurt our community, but continuing the mine will help keep it thriving."

I am writing to support the proposed mine extension. This mine provides steady work for more than three hundred people, many of whom live locally, including myself and people I know. These jobs help families stay in the area and give our community security and stability. The mine also supports many other local businesses, contractors, shops, and services that rely on it.
Mining has always been a big part of our community. It’s part of who we are and has supported generations of local families. Keeping the mine going helps protect that history and ensures our town continues to grow and stay strong.
The mining methods used here are carefully managed and designed to have very little impact on the environment and the land on the surface. The company monitors this closely, and the community sees the benefits of mining done responsibly.
Most importantly, this is a local mine that employs local people. The extension means ongoing work, ongoing support for local families, and ongoing benefits for the whole region. Losing these jobs would hurt our community, but continuing the mine will help keep it thriving

I am writing to support the proposed mine extension. This mine provides steady work for more than three hundred people, many of whom live locally, including myself and people I know. These jobs help families stay in the area and give our community security and stability. The mine also supports many other local businesses, contractors, shops, and services that rely on it.
Mining has always been a big part of our community. It’s part of who we are and has supported generations of local families. Keeping the mine going helps protect that history and ensures our town continues to grow and stay strong.
The mining methods used here are carefully managed and designed to have very little impact on the environment and the land on the surface. The company monitors this closely, and the community sees the benefits of mining done responsibly.
Most importantly, this is a local mine that employs local people. The extension means ongoing work, ongoing support for local families, and ongoing benefits for the whole region. Losing these jobs would hurt our community, but continuing the mine will help keep it thriving.

I am writing to support the proposed mine extension. This mine provides steady work for more than three hundred people, many of whom live locally, including myself and people I know. These jobs help families stay in the area and give our community security and stability. The mine also supports many other local businesses, contractors, shops, and services that rely on it.
Mining has always been a big part of our community. It’s part of who we are and has supported generations of local families. Keeping the mine going helps protect that history and ensures our town continues to grow and stay strong.
The mining methods used here are carefully managed and designed to have very little impact on the environment and the land on the surface. The company monitors this closely, and the community sees the benefits of mining done responsibly.
Most importantly, this is a local mine that employs local people. The extension means ongoing work, ongoing support for local families, and ongoing benefits for the whole region. Losing these jobs would hurt our community, but continuing the mine will help keep it thriving.

Clarence Mine has been in operation for many years since 1979 supplying coal to domestic and international markets. It is an important mine for the region employing over 300 people. I support the extension for another 5 years for this operation a per documentation supplied by Centennial for this application.

I am writing to support the proposed mine extension. This mine provides steady work for more than three hundred people, many of whom live locally, including myself and people I know. These jobs help families stay in the area and give our community security and stability. The mine also supports many other local businesses, contractors, shops, and services that rely on it.
Mining has always been a big part of our community. It’s part of who we are and has supported generations of local families. Keeping the mine going helps protect that history and ensures our town continues to grow and stay strong.
The mining methods used here are carefully managed and designed to have very little impact on the environment and the land on the surface. The company monitors this closely, and the community sees the benefits of mining done responsibly.
Most importantly, this is a local mine that employs local people. The extension means ongoing work, ongoing support for local families, and ongoing benefits for the whole region. Losing these jobs would hurt our community, but continuing the mine will help keep it thriving.

Mod 11 guarantees continued employment for approximately 300 full‑time equivalent workers, with approval for up to 400, sustaining jobs that anchor the local economy and support families across the Lithgow region.
The modification introduces no new surface disturbance, no expansion of the mine footprint, and no new infrastructure, ensuring the project remains within already‑assessed and environmentally managed areas

I make this submission in support of DA504 00 MOD 11, which seeks approval to extend the approved life of Clarence Colliery for a further five years beyond 31 December 2026, within the existing approved footprint and operating conditions.
This proposal represents a time extension only. It does not involve new mining areas, increased disturbance, or changes to the approved mining method. Operations would continue under the same consent conditions, environmental controls, and monitoring frameworks that have already been subject to detailed assessment and regulatory oversight. In this context, the modification is reasonable, low risk, and consistent with the intent of the original approval.
From an environmental perspective, the continuation of an existing, well regulated operation provides certainty. Maintaining established management systems, reporting requirements, and compliance arrangements is preferable to forcing closure on an arbitrary time basis, particularly where no additional environmental impact is proposed. Responsible mining outcomes are best achieved through continuity, accountability, and adherence to approved controls.
From a broader public interest standpoint, Clarence Colliery plays an important role in supporting regional employment, local businesses, and the economic resilience of the Lithgow area. More broadly, responsibly produced coal remains part of the current energy mix that underpins NSW’s electricity system. A pragmatic approach to energy and resources requires managing this transition responsibly, rather than creating unnecessary economic disruption without commensurate environmental benefit.
For these reasons, I support approval of Modification 11, as it enables the orderly completion of an already approved operation while balancing environmental responsibility with economic and energy system realities.

Extension of coal extraction critically endangers the environment, and in particular, the waters connected to the Sydney water catchment and other local areas. It is disgraceful and unnecassary in the curent climate situation. NO extension of ANY coal extraction should be contemplated. Additionally, the old slag heaps/dumps should be ehabilitated as a matter of urgency. No doubt the foreign owners of such coal extraction facilities in NSW will object, but Australian climate conditions should prevail over foreign corporations' greed.

This submission will ensure jobs in the local area are maintained and that the economy in the local area is stable. Lithgow residents rely heavily on the mining industry to ensure other businesses in the community are sustainable as well as injecting much needed funds into community organisations. If 300+ jobs are lost in the area communities do not recover from this. The indirect impacts this causes would be double if not triple this number.

Please see attachment.

The burning of coal is harmful both in terms of toxic pollution and greenhouse gases. Australia is crucially vulnerable to global warming and coal is the worst contributor to carbon emissions per unit energy. The mining of coal is particularly harmful to landscapes and especially should not be taking place in the Blue Mountains.

If the mine extension is approved despite community opposition, conditions should be imposed to mitigate the local harms implicit in the proposal. For example:

- the claim of “no or negligible” impacts from truck transport of 300,000 tonnes of coal is outrageous. Anyone who lives in or ever goes through the Blue Mountains is continually exposed to extra diesel fumes, road congestion, and road hazards from all the coal trucks. Rail is available and its use should be required.
- If coal is to be extracted its local use should be prioritised. Local coal should supply Mount Piper Power Station to avoid pressure for destructive new coal mines in the region, not exported as it is now.
- Land rehabilitation requirements must be modernised, strengthened, and enforced. This upgraded rehabilitation requirement should not only apply to new waste dumps and landscape damage from after the extension, but apply also to waste dumps already produced by the mine and never cleaned up.

Sincerely

Dr N Rasmussen

Having lived in the local area for 54 years I would like to see this project move forward. Clarence is a major employer in the area and have a proven mining method that has minimal if any environmental impacts. I can see no negative impacts by continuing with project.

I am a local and have serious concerns about this proposed modification. We do not need to keep producing coal and the climate pollution caused is affecting everyone in so many ways. But if approval is to be given then the Lidsdale coal unloader should be upgraded. This critical infrastructure would reduce reliance on the polluting, wet Springvale mine. Furthermore, I reject the continued approval of 300,000 tonnes of coal being transported by truck.There is no justification for extending years of heavy truck movements through the Blue Mountains and Sydney. As a rate payer in Lithgow shire we pay for the huge wear and tear on our roads caused by the coal trucks, not to mention the traffic and safety impact. Rail is available and its use should be mandatory.
If extraction continues, it should supply Mount Piper Power Station to avoid pressure for new coal from more damaging mines in the region.
Most of the community thinks that rehabilitation is a con - it never happens! Strengthen rehabilitation requirements.Existing rehab commitments are outdated and inadequate. Any extension must impose modern, enforceable rehabilitation standards.
Approval should be linked to rehabilitation of old waste dumps. The disused coal waste heaps of this mine must be rehabilitated immediately to prevent fine sediments washing into the Wollangambe River, a listed wild river.
Thank you for the opportunity to put my views forward.

I am writing to support the proposed mine extension. This mine provides steady work for more than three hundred people, many of whom live locally, including myself and people I know. These jobs help families stay in the area and give our community security and stability. The mine also supports many other local businesses, contractors, shops, and services that rely on it.
Mining has always been a big part of our community. It’s part of who we are and has supported generations of local families. Keeping the mine going helps protect that history and ensures our town continues to grow and stay strong.
The mining methods used here are carefully managed and designed to have very little impact on the environment and the land on the surface. The company monitors this closely, and the community sees the benefits of mining done responsibly.
Most importantly, this is a local mine that employs local people. The extension means ongoing work, ongoing support for local families, and ongoing benefits for the whole region. Losing these jobs would hurt our community, but continuing the mine will help keep it thriving.

I am writing to support the proposed mine extension. This mine provides steady work for more than three hundred people, many of whom live locally, including myself and people I know. These jobs help families stay in the area and give our community security and stability. The mine also supports many other local businesses, contractors, shops, and services that rely on it.
Mining has always been a big part of our community. It’s part of who we are and has supported generations of local families. Keeping the mine going helps protect that history and ensures our town continues to grow and stay strong.
The mining methods used here are carefully managed and designed to have very little impact on the environment and the land on the surface. The company monitors this closely, and the community sees the benefits of mining done responsibly.
Most importantly, this is a local mine that employs local people. The extension means ongoing work, ongoing support for local families, and ongoing benefits for the whole region. Losing these jobs would hurt our community, but continuing the mine will help keep it thriving.

I believe this is an essential approval for the local community

I wish to support the Gardens of Stone Alliance in its opposition to the extension in its current form. Mining and burning coal is highly damaging to the environment. It harms our waterways, landforms and climate, and adds low level radioactive waste to the atmosphere and into ash dams.
If you refuse to ban this filthy new project then the following requirements mush be added to the approval:
Link approval to the upgrade of the Lidsdale coal unloader. This critical infrastructure would reduce reliance on the polluting, wet Springvale mine.
Reject the continued approval of 300,000 tonnes of coal by truck. There is no justification for extending years of heavy truck movements through the Blue Mountains and Sydney. Rail is available and its use should be mandatory.
Acknowledge the real impacts of truck transport. The claim of “no or negligible” impacts does not reflect the experience of communities dealing with noise, traffic, diesel pollution and road safety risks from over 7000 truck trips every year.
Prioritise local use over export. Most Clarence coal is exported. If extraction continues, it should supply Mount Piper Power Station to avoid pressure for new coal from more damaging mines in the region.
Strengthen rehabilitation requirements. Existing rehab commitments are outdated and inadequate. Any extension must impose modern, enforceable rehabilitation standards.
Link approval to rehabilitation of old waste dumps. The disused coal waste heaps of this mine must be rehabilitated immediately to prevent fine sediments washing into the Wollangambe River, a listed wild river.