Moolarben OC3 Extension Project

I object to expanding the open cut mines into the Upper Moolarben Valley by the Moolarben Coal Complex. The area of concern is a particularly special area that needs to be preserved for our and future generations. It is unique. It is an area rich in biodiversity, ringed by natural springs and bounded by the outstanding Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve that straddles the Great Dividing Range. PLEASE protect the environment. Do NOT allow drilling near by which would deplete the water table. There are very few areas as precious as this area.

Submission : Moolarben Coalmine Extention to open Cut 3

I oppose this extension of this coal mine on several grounds:it has been clearly stated by environmental scientific experts that coal is the main contributor to the increase in carbon in our atmosphere which is increasing global warming;

Acid mine drainage (AMD) refers to the outflow of acidic water from coal mines or metal mines, often abandoned mines where ore- or coal mining activities have exposed rocks containing the sulphur-bearing mineral pyrite. Pyrite reacts with air and water to form sulphuric acid and dissolved iron, and as water washes through mines, this compound forms a dilute acid, which can wash into nearby rivers and streams.[3]


Coal dust stirred up during the mining process, as well as released during coal transport, which can cause severe and potentially deadly respiratory problems.[

Coal fires occur in both abandoned coal mines and coal waste piles. Internationally, thousands of underground coal fires are burning now. Global coal fire emissions are estimated to include 40 tons of mercury going into the atmosphere annually, and three percent of the world's annual carbon dioxide emissions

Coal combustion waste is the nation's second largest waste stream after municipal solid waste.[11] It is disposed of in landfills or "surface impoundments," which are lined with compacted clay soil, a plastic sheet, or both. As rain filters through the toxic ash pits year after year, the toxic metals are leached out into the local environment.

Coal sludge, also known as slurry, is the liquid coal waste generated by washing coal. It is typically disposed of at impoundments located near coal mines, but in some cases it is directly injected into abandoned underground mines. Since coal sludge contains toxins, leaks or spills can endanger underground and surface waters.

Loss or degradation of groundwater - Since coal seams are often serve as underground aquifers, removal of coal beds may result in drastic changes in hydrology after mining has been completed.

Heavy metals and coal - Coal contains many heavy metals, as it is created through compressed organic matter containing virtually every element in the periodic table - mainly carbon, but also heavy metals. The heavy metal content of coal varies by coal seam and geographic region. Small amounts of heavy metals can be necessary for health, but too much may cause acute or chronic toxicity (poisoning). Many of the heavy metals released in the mining and burning of coal are environmentally and biologically toxic elements, such as lead, mercury, nickel, tin, cadmium, antimony, and arsenic, as well as radio isotopes of thorium and strontium

According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, in an average year, a typical coal plant (500 megawatts) generates the following amounts of air pollutants:[41]
3.7 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), an amount equivalent to chopping down 161 million trees. CO2 pollution is the principal human cause of global warming and climate change.
10,000 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2), which causes acid rain and forms small airborne particles that can cause lung damage, heart disease, and other illnesses.
10,200 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx), equivalent to half a million late-model cars. NOx leads to formation of smog, which inflames lung tissue and increases susceptibility to respiratory illness.
500 tons of small airborne particles, which can cause bronchitis, reductions in lung function, increased hospital and emergency room admissions, and premature death.[42]
220 tons of hydrocarbons, which contribute to smog formation.
720 tons of carbon monoxide (CO), which causes headaches and places additional stress on people with heart disease.
170 pounds of mercury. 1/70th of a teaspoon of mercury deposited in a 25-acre lake can make the fish unsafe to eat. Mercury also causes learning disabilities, brain damage, and neurological disorders.[43]
225 pounds of arsenic, which leads to cancer in 1 out of 100 people who drink water containing 50 parts per billion.
114 pounds of lead, 4 pounds of cadmium, and other toxic heavy metals. These toxic metals can accumulate in human and animal tissue and cause serious health problems, including mental retardation, developmental disorders, and damage to the nervous system.[

COAL is KILLING THE PLANET. This extension must not go ahead!

Objection from Hunter Environment Lobby Inc

Submission objecting to project attached

I object to the Moolarben OC3 Extension because I have a property downstream on the Goulburn River and have been impacted by the large volumes of water being discharged from the mine.
The health of the river is deteriorating because of the three large mines on its headwaters. There must be no more expansion of coal mining in the catchment.
The enormous annual tonnage of coal extraction and transport from the three mines is adding to global warming at a time when extreme weather events are getting worse. There is no justification to dig up more coal until 2038.

Submission of objection attached

Here we go again, the fossil fuel industry continuing on its path of destruction. Yancoal proposes a new coal mine, not an extension, adjacent to Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve! This project has to be stopped in its track. I’ve recently left Mudgee after living there for 17 years. I know what the future holds there. We are already witnessing untold damage absolutely everywhere on the planet. To quote Mick O’Malley this week in the Sydney Morning Herald: “the clear threat to our way of life, as everyone in this incinerated and inundated state knows, is climate change”.
Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve is a beautiful spot in the Mudgee area and deserves to be protected. Already so many hectares of habitat have been destroyed. Biodiversity is collapsing everywhere, just check the news from Cop 15 in Montreal.
Despite all this, multinationals continue unpunished to trash our land, our First Nations cultural heritage, our flora and fauna. For years we had water restrictions in Mudgee for our sustainable garden, but these foreign companies are allowed to deplete ad nauseam our water reserves. This is criminality of the highest order.
We know we have alternatives.
The government should do what is right for our children, not what multinationals greedily propose. Stop mining, stop this new project.

As Attached

I object to this project because 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.

1. 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.

2. 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)

3. 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.

I strongly protest this extension.
Climate change is a big factor to my opposition to this project as well as the desecration of First Nations sites in the area. This has happened at other mines and is unforgivable….. where is your inner moral compass , can’t you see the planet has to stop mining and selling coal.
Native habitat will be decimated if you allow the felling of the forests.
Renewable energy is the best way forward, why not put your focus on turning towards a renewable future.
stop this madness ….
and start considering the ramifications of what more mining will mean for the future of the planet.

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 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.

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.

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))

Please find submission attached

Hello Gen,

I am writing in response to a Notice of Exhibition in relation to Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project (SSD-33083358).

We are located on Maiala Lane and are concerned with what we have read outlined in the exhibition.

Reviewing the maps provided it appears that the Mining Licence Boundary will be substantially closer which is a concern.

At the mines current location we can already see lights all night, have excessive in addition to the dust that blankets out property and the shocks from the mine blasting.

With the new boundary moving even closer to our property we are extremely concerned in regards to the heightened impact these activities are going to have.

Our family has existing medical conditions and it troubles us considerably that there is a significant risk of detrimental impacts on our health as this project advances.

We are aware that the properties directly behind us which are only located x away from us have been purchased already and we would appreciate knowing if there is scope to review an offer for our property. We believe this could be in our best interests due to the reasons outlined above. We purchased this property many years ago with an appreciation for the quiet, undisturbed location. Due to the upcoming changes we feel that we will be unable to enjoy our home life that has already been significantly disrupted.

Thank you for consideration,

Kerry & Lisa Death

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

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

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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I am more than concerned about this proposal to expand Moolarben’s operations adjacent to Munghorn gap nature reserve ,I am alarmed.If this is allowed to go ahead it will mean a significant area of natural habitats ;hosting an emerging Koala colony ,an existing regent honey eater population and numerous other native animals some also on the endangered listing(gliders Gang Gang cockatoos) will be bordered on half their habitats by coal mining operations.These animals are not contained within the reserve by some invisible barrier and will be seriously impacted .The area will be affected by dust ,noise and light pollution.
The expansion area is planned on fertile once productive agricultural land in close proximity to the township of Mudgee ,this land is in short supply.
The area is the headwaters of the Goulburn River which already carries increased salt loads from a existing mining .Mines I might add that have far surpassed their planned and approved water discharge limits.The accumulative effect should be considered .This expansion should not be judged as a stand alone development.I have experienced first hand the effects of the increased salt load and changes to the flows of the Goulburn as I own a property on the river.
Their is insufficient buffer planned in this project from creeks and other water courses .
It is my view we have already enough approved extraction licences ,in fact more than we need considering that we need to transition away from the burning of fossil fuels (especially coal)to avert an existential crisis of global warming.
It would be reckless and damaging to approve this project ,not just endangering our environment but jeopardising the future for all so I ask that you consider closely and ask can we afford to take anymore risks with the environment and our future.