Modification 5 Bloomfield Colliery Continuation Project

I strongly object to this proposal. The proposal site encompasses a highly endangered plant community of spotted gum and ironbark. This site is also known area for the Regent Honeyeater because of the spotted gum, a known feed tree species. The Regent Honeyeater is listed as critically endangered in NSW and Commonwealth conservation legislation. The Regent Honeyeater feeds mainly on nectar from a small number of eucalypt species, acting as a pollinator for many flowering plants and a major threat is habitat loss and degradation. Considerable economic effort (eg a breeding program using public funds) has been expended to preserve this endangered bird and habitat. This public effort and support should NOT be wasted.

The continuation of Bloomfield Colliery has economic benefits for the local community and NSW through employment, support of local contractors/suppliers and state royalties. Living in the adjacent suburb and only 3 kilometres away, I experience no noise or other impact from the operation and fully support its continuation.

Please see attached

Dear DPHI,
I strongly support the Modification 5 Bloomfield Colliery Continuation Project-MP07_0087-MOD5, noting:
1. The proposed Bloomfield Colliery Continuation Modification 5 is substantially the same development as the development for which consent was originally granted in September 2009;
2. In its current state, the mine has operated within a locality where many of the newer suburban residents are unaware of its existence. Surely this alone would prove the best practices applied to the operation are effective and not problematic to the wider community;
3. The Bloomfield Colliery has operated on a continuous basis since 1937 providing stable employment for generations of local people;
4. In addition to the federal and state royalties, taxes, etc., The Bloomfield Group Foundation continues to provide community support to various local organisations.
A rejection of the project would only have negative impacts on the wider community, therefore, I strongly support the approval.
Your Sincerely
Sten Fraser

I support the continuation of the Bloomfield Mine for a further five years to the 31st of December 2035.

The project provides significant economic benefit for the employees and the community.

The continuation project has minimal short-term environmental impact, whilst delivering significant long-term environmental benefits. Improvements to the final landform design, informed by engineering studies, enable the delivery of long-term safe, stable and non-polluting rehabilitation outcomes. The removal of legacy underground mine workings also allows for a lower long-term risk than sealing of entries.

I would like to voice my support for the Bloomfield continuation project. I believe this will be an opportunity to help with local employment therefore flow onto spending in the community, will allow The Bloomfield Group to continue to invest in community projects.

thankyou.

I have been retired for approximately 18 months now. Prior to this I was employed in the coal mining industry for 43 years, with the last 35 years being in a supervisory role as an Open Cut Examiner.
My family's history in this Black Hill area commenced when they first settled here in 1897, some 128 years ago. We have a long and close connection to this area which continues to this day.
During this time the Bloomfield Group through its various company forms, have been successfully mining coal locally here.
I would very much like to see this continue.
They have shown over the years that they will do as much as humanly possible to minimise any impacts on the local area and operate within their licence conditions.
They support local employment along with using local businesses etc.
They have contributed to many local projects and charities. One of which I have been involved with, Angel Tree, supports the families of people who have a family member parent or grandparent, who is incarcerated through the Christmas period.
They have shown me directly that they are extremely willing to assist and lessen any impacts and effects should the mining operation present.
As an example, I recall quite a number of years ago that there was a light issue coming from their mining operations. I gave them a phone call about the light, and within an hour the light was altered and there were no further issues. That is part of what working with the community is all about.
I would wish them all the best with their continued working in this area and hope that their application is successful.
Unfortunately there has been a small group of individuals in this area, who would believe that they would be the negative voice for this project as well as many others. This is not the case, I would support this application wholeheartedly.
Kind Regards Dave Balcombe

I have worked for this company for over thirty four years.
In this time have found Bloomfield to continue to strive for efficiency ,innovation,safety and sustainability with the environment.
The rehabilitation of this mine speaks for itself,quality grazing country sustaining a Angus Stud beef enterprise
I truly believe that that the continuation of this mining operation will only benefit the local economy and communities

Bloomfield has good respect in the community and for the project to go forward is good for every one involved for me and my family and grandchildren and businesses around the town and the economy

I would just like to express my full support for the Bloomfield continuation project.
I have been employed at the Bloomfield mine for 13 years , in that time I have been very happy working there and been able to support my family .
In my time there I have found the Bloomfield group to be very environmentally positive in every way.
The Bloomfield group is always giving back to the community.

I support the Bloomfield Mod 5 continuation that will support many local families and community groups

I strongly support the Bloomfield Colliery Continuation Project MOD 5.

The Project is clearly a modification and is substantially the same development as originally approved.

The benefits of this project both economically and environmentally outweigh the minor impacts. This modification will provide a smaller final void, a better and more functional landform with a demonstrated sustainable grazing land use which will not preclude any future development if required.

The project will resolve several historic mining legacies and will provide continued employment for Bloomfield personnel including by husband. The project will also provide continued royalties and revenue for the benefit of the people and the State of New South Wales.

Mining in the Hunter has provided a livelihood for many families including my family. My husband has worked in the mining industry for nearly 30 years. This has allowed us to provide our three daughters with an excellent education and supported them through their university studies.

Mining has also benefited my career as a civil engineer working in an engineering consultancy where we have been able to provide our services to the mining companies including Bloomfield and surrounding communities. Mining does not only provide a livelihood to the employees of the mine but also external companies who provide services and products to keep the mines going.

My childhood home where my parents still live is across the highway in Metford opposite the TAFE. Growing up, I was not aware that there were mines across the highway. It was only as an adult working as an engineer on projects in these mines that I was made aware of their location. We were not impacted in any way from the mining activities in this area when I was a child and 40 years later my parents are still not impacted by the mining activities in this area now. I believe this is the case for many people living in Metford and Ashtonfield. They are not aware of the mines and are not impacted by them.

I strongly support the Bloomfield Colliery Continuation Project MOD 5, not only because it will directly benefit my family, but it will benefit many other families in the area, the community in general and the state.

I strongly support the Bloomfield Colliery Continuation Project MOD 5. The Project is clearly a modification and is substantially the same development as originally approved. The benefits of this project both economically and environmentally outweigh the minor impacts. This modification will provide a smaller final void, a better and more functional landform with a demonstrated sustainable grazing landuse which will not preclude any future development if required. The project will resolve a number of historic mining legacies and will provide continued employment for Bloomfield personnel. The project will also provide continued royalties and revenue for the benefit of the people and the State of New South Wales.

I write in strong support of the Modification 5 Bloomfield Colliery Continuation Project. Please see attached submission.

The Bloomfield Group is a very important part of the Newcastle - Hunter area. The amount of families it supports, the amount of other companies it uses to support itself, the amount of support it gives to local communities and charities. Its integral for this project to continue.

I believe the continuation of this project will provide many benefits for the employees of The Bloomfield Group, contractors to The Bloomfield Group and the surrounding communities. Continued mining will mean continued investment in local charities, continued revenue for the governments through taxation and royalties and the company will have time to address any issues with rehabilitation and legacy matters in regard to underground mining that had been carried out on the site since the mid 1800s.

I adopt any submissions made by the Black Hill and/or Buttai Environmental groups.
I have lived on Browns Road for 40+ years and I can say that the noise from the mine has only become worse. Last week or so we had almost a full day of blasting/rumbling - it is very hard to work from home when this is going on. Apart from the relentless noise, the traffic is appalling on John Renshaw Drive - trucks compression braking all day/night.
The project notes the 'benefits' to the area. How many people that live in Black Hill work there? We're professionals and so there are no mining/digging jobs that we want to do. We get all the disadvantages while the mining company profits from our distress from the noise and environmental vandalism. We're supposed to be zoned rural residential but there are so many industries around the area that it is no longer recognisable. The noise is never-ending. When you add this to the 'new' quarry, the new industrial estate at the other end of John Renshaw and the mine stuck in the middle, it is to the point where we feel like we're living in Glendale. So, yes, I object to this proposal. Fossil fuels are supposed to be being elimintated and so this mine should not be extended. The project pamphlet states that by extending the mine, they can do all this wonderful remediation - but nothing is stopping you from doing that now. Enough is enough. There is a climate emergency. How will we reach our 2030 targets if you continue to open mines (no distinction between opening a mine and extending it). Scientists from the IPCC have given the world until 2030 to substantially reduce CO2 emissions to restrict global warming to 1.5 degrees C - extending operations to 2035 are contrary to this advice. There are arguments that we have flown past that 1.5 and are now at 2 degrees.
You are killing our wildlife. Drive along JR Drive and check the dead kangaroos and echidnas and other wildlife. The biodiversity significance of the Buttai/Black Hill area is understated by the mining project. The Hunter Regional Plan 2041 highlights the need for conserving high environmental value lands, and supporting biodiversity connections across the Four Mile creek (Bloomfield) site.
Bloomfield's biggest customers are in Japan - a wealthy country that can choose to phase out coal fired power and replace it with low CO2 emissions energy eg expanding off-shore wind. Why is the Black Hill community being disadvantaged so that you can make billions of dollars from the Japanese and destroy our environment. Really does not seem fair.
Further evidence of killing our native fauna/flora. Project was determined to be a controlled action by DCCEEW (Dept of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water):
o DCCEEW requested further assessment for Koala and Pied Bat;
o DCCEEW required additional assessment of Regent Honeyeater, Gang-gang Cockatoo, Swift Parrot, Greater Glider, Yellow-bellied Glider, New Holland Mouse and Spot-tailed Quoll;
o The additional assessment concluded that the Swift Parrot will require offsets;
We all know offsets are a bit of a joke - they are certainly not for the environment but rather companies. There are koalas around here but nobody seems to care. Sorry for the cynicism. We have protested against this for a very long time. None of us get paid for this like the mining companies and consultants - and we are the ones that get hurt. I would love the government to stand up for its public over fossil fuel companies. It would be great if this project were terminated, the land properly rehabilitated and so the country can heal. We of the community might also get some sleep.

The Bloomfield Group are an excellent Corporate Citizen in this local area, they provide employment and support many local Charites etc.
Continued mining will mean ongoing employment for our employees, Contractors and Suppliers in this area.
The shut down of Modification 5 would be devastating for the local area

Employment and economic benefits for the local community, the State of NSW, and Australia: Continued mining will mean ongoing employment for our employees, contractors and supply companies. There will be additional taxation payable to both the State and Commonwealth Governments from the additional years of mining. Royalties will also be paid to the State on the additional resource that will be mined. These royalties contribute to funding NSW hospitals, schools, essential services, and infrastructure projects.
Community investments: Continued mining will mean ongoing investment in the many community organisations Bloomfield supports in the local area through The Bloomfield Group Foundation.
Improved final landform: The proposed modification would result in beneficial changes to the currently approved post mining landform by reducing the size of the final void and reducing rehabilitated slope angles, which benefit the final land use (cattle grazing).
Opportunity to address legacy matters associated with the site: Mining has been carried out at the site since the late 1850s. The project provides the opportunity to mine an area of shallow historic underground workings, thereby removing the potential for subsidence and voids to occur at the surface and providing improved long term stability benefits for the final landform.
Results of key studies
As part of preparing the EIS, a series of specialist technical studies were completed, indicating that the continuation of operations can be undertaken and managed to meet the requirements for air quality, noise and blasting.
A biodiversity offset strategy will also address the ecological impacts associated with the disturbance of vegetation.

The Hunter Bird Observers Club objects to the Modification 5 Bloomfield Colliery Continuation Project predominantly on the basis of the failure for the biodiversity assessment to adequately assess potential impacts to the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater. Refer to attached submission.