Moolarben OC3 Extension Project

Mining coal here until 2038 will add enough carbon to the atmosphere to blow our carbon budget, so Yancoal should certainly not be allowed to mine more and for longer. The additional 40 million tonnes of coal would increase greenhouse gas emissions by 86.59 Mt CO2. For that reason alone, as a grandmother I consider it your duty to refuse this extension application.
But there are many local issues as well. This Upper Moolarben Valley has already suffered enough degradation and pollution from existing mines, a major loss of threatened species habitat and First Nations culture, sandstone cliff removal and collapse, and permanent loss of irreplaceable water sources.
The proposed expansion would push even further into the Valley, an area rich in biodiversity, with natural springs and bounded on three sides by the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve.
This Reserve holds important conservation values, especially native bird and Koala habitat and the extended mining operations will come within 100m of it. The noise, dust and lights from the 24 hour operations would undoubtedly disrupt the many identified threatened and endangered birds, mammals and bat species that live in and around the valley.
Given our tragic state of species and habitat loss, we can lose no more. Yet this would cause ecosystem habitat loss for 22 threatened fauna species including: Regent Honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia), Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), Squirrel Glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) and Large-eared Pied Bat (Chalinolobus dwyeri).
The project would result in the clearing of 624.18 ha native vegetation including 477.75 ha of Box-Gum Woodland Critically Endangered Ecological Communities. This is irreplaceable and cannot be adequately offset, no matter what conditions are imposed. Offsets inevitably result in a net loss of biodiversity; they are not a solution. Rejecting the proposal is the ONLY solution.
The impacts on First Nations heritage would be substantial, given that a total of 130 cultural heritage sites were identified within or overlapping the subject area, including shelters with artefacts (one with possible burial), and an axe grinding groove site.
Water impacts would be extremely serious, adding to the damage already caused to water sources in this area from mining.
There would be a permanent loss of potable, good quality (low salinity) groundwater from springs that provide fresh flows to creeks and the Goulburn River. It is predicted that there would be a loss of base flows to the Goulburn River between 180 – 225 million litres /year and 600 million litres in wet years. Of course this will impact on river health and downstream water users, including Goulburn River National Park. It is not to be considered, and no amount of conditions will 'mitigate' it.
On-paper solutions do not match with reality: the 200m buffer zone to Moolarben and Murdering Creeks (aimed at protecting them from mining) includes mine haul roads and other infrastructure impacting crucial riparian vegetation.
In an area almost destroyed by coal, no further adverse impacts must be allowed on agriculture. It would entail a loss of food production potential on large areas of prime agricultural land that previously supported many farming families. This land should be assessed as Biophysical Strategic Agricultural Land (BSAL) and assessed through the Gateway process.
As one who has watched with horror and sadness the demise of this area and the River, I urge you to reject this expansion proposal.

The present Moolarben Coal mine operates within a fragile environment with significant First Nation cultural heritage values.
The cumulative impacts of current mining operations in the Goulburn River catchment pose immediate and continuing threats to threatened species habitat and First Nations culture as well as permanent loss of water resources.
The proposed Extension to the Moolarben mining operation will increase cumulative impacts and exacerbate climate change impacts with an increase in greenhouse gas emissions at a time when the EPA now has the responsibility to take meaningful action on climate change.
Respect for and protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage, the farming industry that relies on predictable and uncontaminated water resources, a considered and fair appraisal of cumulative impacts of neighbouring and regional operational mines on existing ground water and biodiversity, and the endangered wildlife that crucially relies on habitat protection is far more important than the anticipated quick dollar return for the proponents.
It is unconscionable that an unsustainable, highly polluting industry should be allowed to expand in the face of the unavoidable, permanent damage and costs that will need to be addressed by the future community.
The Project extension should be rejected.

1. State of Significance Status is both grossly overused, and used as a Government tool to enable large scale destruction of NSW country and natural areas.
2. Such proposals are gifted to big business and presented to the Minister for Planning to tick off.
3. My past very recent experience with Snowy Special Activity Precinct, Snowy 2.0 and related Transgrid overhead lines provide for the destruction and desecration of large tracks of valuable, rare and iconic Kosciuszko National Park. The KNP catchments are being further damaged, despite their contributing to 30% of the Murray Darling Basin inflows.
4. This Moolarben OC3 extension, will also deplete, damage and destroy the catchments of the Goulburn River. You well know the damage, so I don't need to spell it out, including the riverine areas and overall water resource, for the surrounding natural areas, towns and the rural sector.
5. All for 10 years extension of a mine, and a mine owned by an overseas company (Yancoal) and overseas country.
6. Data from 2021 states: Chinese-owned Yancoal paid no tax on $18 million of profit and more than $5 billion in revenue.
7. Just to give my submission further credibility, given that the project will be approved, I suggest you allow, at a minimum, the buffer zones to the various creeks and waterways; protect the box-gum woodlands; koala and regent honey habitats (they are endangered species); recognise that these area are full of springs, in fact the catchment to the Goulburn River is one large spring; and take some cognisance of the importance of the whole area to the Aboriginal people.
8. I have been visiting the area for 40+ years, and stayed in Munghorn Gap NR and the Goulburn River NP, plus many of the regional towns. I have a daughter and family living in the Hunter area, a major urban and industrial growth area, and am aware that the Goulburn River is a major tributary of the Hunter catchment. I also know quite a lot about the paucity of Box Gum woodlands in NSW, as the ACT where I live has the largest remaining Box Gum woodlands in Australia, and the ACT is a tiny landlocked blip within the NSW boundaries. None of this is anything to be proud of.
9. I am sick to death of the swathe of accompanying reports, ie the 45 reports associated with the 'hollow' EIS and other formalised documents to this proposal.
10. Finally I do hope my submission goes towards triggering an action thru the EPBC Act, will allow the Federal Government to disallow this extension proposal.

North Coast Environment Council opposes this massive expansion of the Moolarben /Yancoal mine.
The science is clear and unequivocal. The UN Secretary General has said that civilisation itself it at risk of collapse if we don't begin to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions. That means leaving the fossil fuels in the ground. This proposal will produce an additional 86.59 Mt CO2-e. It is a risk that we humans cannot afford to take. Besides, the people of NSW make little profit from the royalties that instead go to prop up a dictatorship.
We all oppose this on the grounds that there will be a serious impact on First Nations heritage and the proposal is opposed by them. It will destroy many of the identified cultural heritage sites.
The biodiversity impacts are significant. Having explosions and dust within 100m of a Nature Reserve that includes koala habitat is not on. Nature Reserves are meant to be the highest form of conservation protection. But they are not islands. They need connectivity and sympathetic habitat around them. Not a huge gaping void growing ever bigger with 24hour machinery movements etc.
We understand that the project would mean the clearing of 478 hectares of Critically Endangered Ecological Community. The remaining Box-Gum Woodland must be protected. It is critically endangered because so much has already been cleared. There is no offset for this vegetation community. Besides, we saw with Whitehaven Coal that it's offsets were a sham. No price is acceptable for wiping from the face of the earth, the unique vegetation associations that have formed over tens of thousands of years. This plus the additional clearing proposed would see habitat loss for many threatened fauna species.
Coal mining has unacceptable impacts on groundwater. This can include the loss of permanent springs. Our country cannot afford to jeopardise any of our good quality groundwater. As the climate gets increasingly hotter- from the burning of coal- that groundwater will make the difference between human habitation in western NSW or not.
For all of the above reasons, this proposal should be rejected.

Submission in Opposition to Moolarben Coalmine Extension to Open Cut 3

I am opposed to the above Coal mine for the following reasons:

1. Climate Change impacts:
The burning of coal emits hazardous air pollutants, including particulate matter, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, mercury and arsenic. Coal is a fossil fuel, and is the dirtiest of them all, responsible for over 0.3C of the 1C increase in global average temperatures. This makes it the single largest source of global temperature rise.

The proposal is set to produce an additional 40 million tonnes of coal and increase greenhouse gas emissions by 86.59 Mt CO2-e. Biodiversity impacts:

The extended mining operations will come within 100m of the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve threatening important conservation values especially native bird and Koala habitat. The Koala is now a vulnerable species and must be preserved. Any extension will destroy connectivity, which enable Koalas to move from one area to another

The noise, dust and lights from the 24 hour operations will disrupt the many identified threatened and endangered birds, mammals and bat species that live in and around the valley.

2. Biodiversity Impacts

The recently released 2021 Australia: State of the Environment report is a strong reason why this project should not be approved. In detailing the vast scale of the environmental challenges we face, it seeks to inform and educate both everyday Australians and decision-makers about the health of our forests, rivers, wildlife, cities and reefs. And it provides an indisputable basis to inform, and measure, the future policy responses of Australian governments and businesses. The report provides a measure of the scale of our environmental problems, so we can come up with adequate solutions.

One of the most media-quoted statistics from the report is that 7.7 million hectares of threatened species habitat was destroyed in Australia between 2000 and 2017. This is an area of forest and woodland larger than Tasmania. What’s more, 93% of this threatened species habitat, or 7.11 million hectares, was destroyed without federal government assessment or approval, despite the fact that Australia's national environment laws are meant to protect the habitat of threatened species.

It is now time to stop approving damaging coal mines and other industries to further protect biodiversity.

This project will result in the clearing of 624.18 ha native vegetation including
477.75 ha of Box-Gum Woodland Critically Endangered Ecological Communities. This is irreplaceable and cannot be adequately offset.

Ecosystem habitat loss for 22 threatened fauna species including: Regent Honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia), Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), Squirrel Glider (Petaurus norfolcensis), Large-eared Pied Bat (Chalinolobus dwyeri)



3. First Nations heritage impacts:
There is a culture of tokenism and symbolism in relation to protecting First Nations Heritage impacts in Australia. This is evident by the current EPBC Act. Indigenous knowledge or views are not fully valued in decision-making. The EPBC Act prioritises the views of western science, and Indigenous knowledge and views are diluted in the formal provision of advice to decision-makers.
A total of 130 first nations cultural heritage sites were identified within or overlapping the subject area including shelters with artefacts (one with possible burial), and an axe grinding groove site

4. Water impacts:

Mines release dangerous substances such as arsenic, cadmium, copper, cyanide, zinc or mercury that are harmful to fish, wildlife and humans. Many also leak acid into waterways, killing almost every living thing downstream.

Problems that can be associated with mine drainage can also include contaminated drinking water.

The project will result in the permanent loss of potable, good quality (low salinity) groundwater from springs that provide fresh flows to creeks and the Goulburn River

It will also have a predicted loss of baseflows to the Goulburn River between 180 – 225 million litres /year and 600 million litres in wet years. This will impact on river health and downstream water users, including Goulburn River National Park.

A 200m buffer zone to Moolarben and Murdering Creeks (aimed at protecting them from mining) includes mine haul roads and other infrastructure impacting crucial riparian vegetation.

5. Agricultural impacts:

Mining ‘crowds out’ other industries. The expansion of mining causes a contraction in non-mining industries, particularly manufacturing, tourism, agriculture and education. This results in business closures, job losses and food security issues.
This project will cause the loss of food production potential on large areas of prime agricultural land that previously supported many farming families. This land should be assessed as Biophysical Strategic Agricultural Land (BSAL) and assessed through the Gateway process.



Linda Bowden
[email protected]

12/12/22

We object to extending the Moolarben coal mining complex because of its Climate Change impacts, environmental and cultural desecration, permanent loss of freshwater springs feeding the Goulburn River and loss of base flow to that river, the intrusive impact on Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve (habitat to a wide range of native birds, microbats etc and also the loss of food production potential. When the impact of climate change on NSW already ( extreme drought, fire and flood events) is factored in then there is clearly no cost benefit to support the expansion of coal projects such as this one.

Further coal mine production will further warm the climate. It is destructive and unnecessary. It is also self evident that it is criminally irresponsible. People who do this will one day face prosecution for their crimes against humanity. This expansion must be stopped.
The Hunter Valley ecosystem is facing unparalleled extinction threats already. This sort of greedy destruction will only make things worse. This expansion must be stopped.
The beauty of our local scenery is worthy of protection from this destructive vandalism. This expansion must be stopped.
How can the world possibly stay at 1.5 degrees of warming if rouge states dig up coal to peddle overseas or here. It is akin to selling our future for short term gain, often for foreign shareholders. This expansion must be stopped.

I am writing to vehemently oppose the Moolarben OC3 Extension Project.

The world is moving away from coal. Existing NSW mines are producing less than their capacity.
Global demand for coal is decreasing and will continue to do so as our major trading partners implement renewable options. Local coal-fired plants are closing early as they are rapidly becoming uneconomic.

Any benefits will be short term. There is no question that coal has no future. The destruction it brings is long term.

It is clear who will lose:

The world will lose
Coal exploration, mining, exporting and burning, creates more greenhouse gases, worse fires, the very real impacts of climate change we have had to face globally and locally. The proposal is to produce an additional 40 million tonnes of coal and increase greenhouse gas emissions by 86.59 Mt CO2-e

Aboriginal cultural heritage sites will be lost
A total of 130 first nations cultural heritage sites were identified within or overlapping the subject area including shelters with artefacts (one with possible burial), and axe grinding groove site

Critically endangered ecological communities will disappear
The project would result in the clearing of 624.18 ha native vegetation including 477.75 ha of Box-Gum Woodland Critically Endangered Ecological Communities. This is irreplaceable and cannot be adequately offset.

Endangered species will lose their habitat
The extended mining operations will come within 100m of the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve threatening important habitat for many endangered bird species including the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater, as well as the Squirrel Glider and Large-eared Pied Bat.

Noise, dust and lights from the 24 hour operations will disrupt the many identified threatened and endangered birds, mammals and bat species that live in and around the valley.

Waterways will be negatively impacted and potentially destroyed
The permanent loss of potable, good quality (low salinity) groundwater from springs that provide fresh flows to creeks and the Goulburn River. There is a predicted loss of baseflows to the Goulburn River between 180 – 225 million litres /year and 600 million litres in wet years. This will impact on river health and downstream water users, including Goulburn River National Park.

Water is one of our most precious resources that cannot be easily replaced… but proposals like this easily destroy. It’s short term thinking.

Agricultural Land will be lost
There is a real potential loss of food production on large areas of prime agricultural land that previously supported many farming families. This land should be assessed as Biophysical Strategic Agricultural Land (BSAL) and assessed through the Gateway process.

Please reject this proposal

I am opposed to the Moolarben OC3 Extension Project because there is no future in coal.
The proponent has failed to protect endangered and threatened species by proposing to clear large areas of threated box-gum woodland amongst other things.
The proponent has failed to consider other water users by contaminating and polluting groundwater, streams, rivers, springs and other sources of potable water destined for downstream users and will continue to do so.
The State must ensure all water supplies are protected for other users and for future use.
The proponent already mines near this area and it is unnecessary to expand the existing mine given coal fired electricity generation in NSW will be reduced in the coming years due to its contribution to Climate Change.

Please find submission attached

To whom it concerns:

I object to any expansion of coal mines, given the current climate change crisis that’s contributing to the fires, floods and extreme weather that has affected every corner of NSW in the past two years. I also have a range of other concerns.

1. Climate Change impacts:
The proposal is to produce an additional 40 million tonnes of coal and increase greenhouse gas emissions by 86.59 Mt CO2-e
2. First Nations heritage impacts:
A total of 130 first nations cultural heritage sites were identified within or overlapping the subject area including shelters with artefacts.
3. Water impacts:
• The permanent loss of potable, good quality (low salinity) groundwater from springs that provide fresh flows to creeks and the Goulburn River
• A predicted loss of baseflows to the Goulburn River
• A 200m buffer zone to Moolarben and Murdering Creeks (aimed at protecting them from mining) includes mine haul roads and other infrastructure impacting crucial riparian vegetation.
4. Biodiversity impacts:
• The extended mining operations will come within 100m of the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve threatening important conservation values especially native bird and Koala habitat.
• Noise, dust and lights from the 24 hour operations will disrupt the many identified threatened and endangered birds, mammals and bat species that live in and around the valley.
• The project would result in the clearing of 624.18 ha native vegetation including
477.75 ha of Box-Gum Woodland Critically Endangered Ecological Communities. This is irreplaceable and cannot be adequately offset. (offsets now should be a last resort, since they have been roundly criticised in many reports))

This extension increases the negative cumulative effect of three large coal mines in the area.
The extension brings the project to 100 meters of the Munghorn Gap Reserve. I have many enjoyable hours here ,bushwalking, bird watching, observing wildlife and plants in this peaceful environment. This reserve is one of the very few public places in the Mid Western Regional Council area where the public can enjoy nature.
624,18 of native vegetation will be destroyed, of this is 477.75Ha of Box Gum Woodland Surely with only 5% of this woodland left in NSW ,it is logical that remaining woodland is kept intact There are 22 threatened endangered species in this area. Both the federal and state governments acknowledge species extinction so they must take action.
A report by the NSW Auditor General has shown that NSW biodiversity offsetting scheme is failing to protect threatened
species and without urgent changes ongoing clearing for development will drive future animal and plant extinction. Offset credits are not effective, there is a risk that these obligations are never fulfilled.
There are 130 Aboriginal cultural heritage sites noted The practice of disturbing these sites and placing artifacts in "safe keeping' must cease, as it totally ignores the concept of "place' and belonging for the first nation people.
I have only addressed a couple of the many issues associated with this proposal.
.

The Moolarben Coal Complex (MCC - owned by Yancoal) has applied to expand its open cut mines into the upper Moolarben valley, an area rich in biodiversity, ringed by natural springs and bounded by the outstanding Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve that straddles the Great Dividing Range.

The proposal is to increase the size of Open Cut 3 pit and develop four new open cut pits with a combined development footprint of 825.58 hectares (8.26 km2) producing 40 MT of coal, extending mine life to 2038.

This expansion is in addition to the already huge mining footprint of MCC (Stage One & Stage Two) comprising of four open-cut pits (29 km2) and three underground mines (21.7 km2) with plenty of coal still to mine under their current approvals to 2034.

The mining surface disturbance footprint covering 66% of the remaining upper Moolarben Valley (126km2) that lies between the ridge-lines of the adjoining Munghorn Nature Reserve, and sits at the headwaters of the Goulburn River.

 

There is irrefutable evidence that greenhouse gases are causing damaging changes to our weather and ecosystems. Australia should be decreasing its coal mining footprint at every opportunity and informing the public it is doing so. Australia should lead in moving to renewables not grabbing the last bit of profit from this destructive practice.

 

Please disallow this application to expand coal mining into the upper Moolarben valley. This beautiful area needs our care and protection. We should not be going against global attempts to save our remaining ecosystems by permitting this area to be destroyed by coal mining and increasing climate impacting greenhouse gas emissions.

Our group objects to this extension because of the following;
- Further extraction of coal will increase carbon dioxide emissions well into the future adding to climate change impacts.
- Expansion of the coal operation will impact on groundwater, such as springs surrounding the valley.
- There will be increased dust pollution.
- Threatened species including an emerging koala population in the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve will be impacted.
- Haulage roads and other infrastructure will be constructed within 200m of Moolarben Creek and this will impact on the creek

I am very opposed to this project. I live in the Mudgee area (Rylstone). During the 2019/20 bushfires, I watched parts of the beautiful Wollemi burn like an inferno. Nothing but rain was going to put it out. This was a direct result of climate change as a result of burning fossil fuels over the past 200 years. Since then there have been major climate disasters worldwide - five year drought in Somalia causing widespread famine, floods recently in Pakistan leaving 10,000,000 children in need of food, shelter and medicine to mitigate water born disease, and closer to home floods 3 times in 2 years in the Northern Rivers. Yet still we have the extraction industry refusing to act in the interests of our species and future generations - for what? We now know that we have the means to provide clean renewable energy that is non-polluting, that is cheaper to produce, that will eventually overtake dirty coal built on dirty money and deception re the influence of fossil fuel consumption on the climate. As capital investment is moving rapidly away from coal mining - we who live in the area know full well that in a few years, should this extension go ahead, there will be cries from Moolarben for compensation to re-habilitate their stranded asset. This extension should not be approved under any circumstances. It doesn't make scientific, environmental, moral, or economic sense.

Science and experience / observations are very clear about the impact of fossil fuels on global warming and we can see the devastating impacts now, at 1.2 degrees warming. Even working with full commitment towards zero emissions in the next 20 to 30 years, we will be lucky to achieve 1.5 degree warming and the associated worsening extreme weather events and tipping points associated with that increase. That is with no further exploration and mine extensions. It is absolutely detrimental and unjustifiable to even consider short-term gain and comforts for the longer-term disastrous impacts this will cause.

I wish to express my concerns about the Moolarben Coal Mine extension.
The project will have significant biodiversity impacts. Clearing of a significant area of native vegetation is planned, resulting in a significant habitat loss for vulnerable species of fauna. This loss of native vegetation cannot be replaced, repaired or effectively offset.
The area in question and its surrounds is a place of great beauty and deserves preservation. Many first nations cultural sites are also contained within the area for planned extension.
The proposed extension reflects a planned increase in the life span of the Moolarben Coal mine, and a further 40 million tonnes of coal production. The greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the burning of such coal are profound. It is clearly evident that we need to be moving away from the use of coal for energy generation. Global temperature increases are already nearing 1.5C and without significant changes to how we obtain energy will rise beyond 2 degrees, with resultant catastrophic changes to the climate and the livelihood of people around the world. Planning for extensions to current coal mines in the current climate crisis could reasonably be described as absurd.
As a Mudgee resident I readily acknowledge the contribution that coal mining makes to the economy of our region and the many jobs provided by coal mining and related services. However, the cost of expanding our mining of coal far outweighs the financial benefits brought to the region (and to the coal mine operators.) In considering the planned extension please be mindful of the impact that expanding the mining of coal will have both for our generation and the generations to come.

Background
Moolarben Coalmine is a very large operation near Mudgee on the headwaters of the Goulburn River, a major tributary in the Hunter River catchment. The mine is owned and operated by Yancoal, a Chinese owned multinational. It has current approval to produce 22 million tonnes of thermal coal per annum until 2038 from four open cut mines and three underground mines. The mining complex covers over 80 sq. kms of sensitive environments with significant cultural heritage values. The cumulative impact of current approvals has caused a major loss of threatened species habitat and First Nations culture, sandstone cliff removal and collapse, and permanent loss of irreplaceable water sources.
The proposed expansion on exhibition intrudes further into the upper Moolarben valley, an area rich in biodiversity, ringed by natural springs and bounded on three sides by the outstanding Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve that straddles the Great Dividing Range.

I see no justification for this.
This project should also be considering the scope 3 emissions -- IE those emissions which will arise offshore, once the coal is exported and burned

Key points of objection:

1. Climate Change impacts:
The proposal is to produce an additional 40 million tonnes of coal and increase greenhouse gas emissions by 86.59 Mt CO2-e
2. First Nations heritage impacts:
A total of 130 first nations cultural heritage sites were identified within or overlapping the subject area including shelters with artefacts (one with possible burial), and axe grinding groove site
3. Water impacts:
• The permanent loss of potable, good quality (low salinity) groundwater from springs that provide fresh flows to creeks and the Goulburn River
• A predicted loss of baseflows to the Goulburn River between 180 – 225 million litres /year and 600 million litres in wet years. This will impact on river health and downstream water users, including Goulburn River National Park.
• A 200m buffer zone to Moolarben and Murdering Creeks (aimed at protecting them from mining) includes mine haul roads and other infrastructure impacting crucial riparian vegetation.
4. Biodiversity impacts:
• The extended mining operations will come within 100m of the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve threatening important conservation values especially native bird and Koala habitat.
• Noise, dust and lights from the 24 hour operations will disrupt the many identified threatened and endangered birds, mammals and bat species that live in and around the valley.
• The project would result in the clearing of 624.18 ha native vegetation including
477.75 ha of Box-Gum Woodland Critically Endangered Ecological Communities. This is irreplaceable and cannot be adequately offset.
• Ecosystem habitat loss for 22 threatened fauna species including: Regent Honeyeater (Anthochaera phrygia), Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), Squirrel Glider (Petaurus norfolcensis), Large-eared Pied Bat (Chalinolobus dwyeri)
5. Agricultural impacts:
Loss of food production potential on large areas of prime agricultural land that previously supported many farming families. This land should be assessed as Biophysical Strategic Agricultural Land (BSAL) and assessed through the Gateway process.

JUST DON'T !!!!!!!!!

1. Climate Change impacts:
Putting an additional 80+Mt of CO2 into the atmosphere is totally unacceptable given what we now know about climate change and its impacts. Surely we have learned SOMETHING from 2022
2. This area is rich in Aboriginal cultural heritage sites. Does even more coal warrant this level of cultural destruction
3. Water impacts: The cumulative loss of inflow into the Goulburn River is already unacceptable. The longterm impacts of the loss of a further200ML of inflow cannot be allowed
4.That this project would be allowed to come so close to the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, a biodiversity hotspot, especially for birds, is also unacceptable. Box/gum woodland is already critically endangered. There are no so called offsets available.
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