Moolarben OC3 Extension Project

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Submission by John L & Rosie Hayes concerning the
Moolarben Coalmine Extension to Open Cut 3
https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/moolarben-oc3-extension-project
We object to this extension
We have lived in Newcastle since 2004, and have had a chance to observe the actions of Coal Mining companies, and the development of the Coal Chain infrastructure in the Hunter Valley over nearly 20 years.

We have worked hard to educate and inform ourselves of the Advantages and Disadvantages of Coal Mining in our beautiful Hunter Valley.
We have a son in law who is a Coal Miner in the Hunter Valley

We have attended and participated in very many PACs - and the like, over that time; and have examined the evidence put forward by Mining Companies to support their applications for Mine Approvals and Extensions.
We have also examined the evidence put forward by many Industry Groups, and Environment, Climate and Planning groups, and individuals, in opposing these applications.

John has, for many years, been a member or the Community Consultative Panels – and the like with:

Port of Newcastle (PoN) – and its predecessor Newcastle Port Corp;
Port Waratah Coal Services (PWCS);
Newcastle Coal Infrastructure Group (NCIG);
Orica - Kooragang Island;
Stolthaven Fuel Terminals;
Koppers Chemicals;

He has also, for many years, been a member of:
The Social Justice Council for the Catholic Diocese of Maitland Newcastle;
Many other Climate, Environment and Planning groups;
And
An active member of the committee that supports the work of
Zara’s House for Refugee Women and Children.

Rosie has been engaged in Child Care for much of her life – and continuing;
And
For 15 years - in Newcastle and then Maitland, an active volunteer with the Op Shops run by Fr Chris Reilly – Youth Off The Streets.
In that role she has provided valuable assistance to the impoverished and marginalised members of the Hunter Community.

We are the parents of 5 children aged in their late 30s and early 40s, who between them have produced 10 grandchildren all aged under 12, with another one due to arrive in February

In our role as parents and grandparents we share their concerns about very poor planning practices at the Global, National, State and Local level that negatively affect - and lead to;

The poor state of the Planet;
Climate Change and Global Warming;
the emergence of Mega fires, and Storms, all of which contribute to;
catastrophic flooding, damage & destruction;
Deaths,
Social Disruption,
The loss of Species and Habitat,
The damage and loss of Valuable Agricultural Land.

With our backgrounds and learned experience we express our opposition to this Coal Mine Extension.
We endorse the valuable reasoning expressed below:


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.

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.



John L & Rosie Hayes 10th Dec 2022

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.

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.

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.
.

Ms Gen Lucas
Senior Environmental Assessments Officer
NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment

Dear Ms Lucas,

Please find attached my objection to the application by Moolarben Coal Mine to extend their Open Cut mines (south of The Drip at Mudgee NSW) – Moolarben OC3 Extension Project SSD-33083358 EXH-50540708Moolarben OC3 Extension Project SSD-33083358 EXH-50540708.

Yours sincerely,

Michael Mangold

1/5 Cremorne Road
Cremorne Point NSW 2090

Phone: 0411 575009

As a member of the local community, I OBJECT to the project of the Moolarben Coalmine Extension to Open Cut 3. My reasons are as followed:
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. This is NOT supporting Australia to become a leading country to solve climate change issues, this is the complete opposite. I grew up in the town of Mudgee, luckily enough on the side where there are no coal mines. However, now I am bringing my own child up in the area and wanting to support a brighter, cleaner and better future for my child in regards to cleaner energy and clean water in the area, this proposal does not support the choice of young families in the area to build a better future for the next generations to come. I feel embarrassed to live in this area where coal mining is continuing and now wanting to expand when the whole world understands we must all change to renewable energy and stop burning coal so we can reverse the extinction of humankind and many flora and fauna species.
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. The region of Mudgee has significant sacred sites that have been either claimed by coal mines and not seen as of importance the First nations People and local people in the area. Once these sacred sites are destroyed they are gone forever. I work as a local teacher where I would take local students to sites such as The Drip and Hands on Rocks, only to know it is extremely close to the coal mines, blastings, destruction of land and not caring for the rivers and waterways. Wondering if future generations will be able to connect to these sacred places that should never have been taken away from the First Nations People.
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. This is a place where I swim in the beautiful Goulburn River but do not feel completely safe of what is actually in the water once it is released up stream from the coal mines. Again bringing children and families to this place to connect with the local environment helps keep the community spirit alive. But how can we trust that this water is truly safe to swim in. It should be safe to drink in flowing parts, just like it would have been for First Nations People before us.
• 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. This is a huge impact on such a drought significant landscape. We know that there will be droughts again and to know that this water will be used for the coal mines rather than life itself is sickening.
• 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. This is not going to help the natural vegetation grow healthy and strong and to help the land and wildlife recover.
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. We all know that the koala species is being threatened across the whole of Australia. We must be protecting these areas that we know is where they live. Koaas only eat a certain type of Eucalyptus Tree which is found in the area where the extension open cut is proposed. This means more koalas will be fighting for less food sources, less habitat to live in. We must be protecting these areas not destroying them.
• 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. These species will not be able to live in such a noise polluted area. Once again, if they are moved on, where will they go as this is where there food source is and need to survive here.
• 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. This will destroy so much habitat, wildlife, eco-systems that we as humans rely on to survive. IF we continue to disrupt these areas of woodlands in such a short term life span, these will destroy the endangered ecological communities that cannot be just moved on.
• 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) . These species must be protected in the area as this is their home, they cannot simple just be moved on.
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.
More and more we are seeing food shortages due to the flooding in the area of NSW, SA and VIctoria, Queensland. We must support more sustainable food farming land for families.
Thank you for your time in reading my submission.

i am objecting to the project for the reasons below
we lived here before moolarben mine was established and enjoyed the peace and quiet of the area , which why we escaped the noise of the big smoke sydney
we had put up with the noice of machinery operating , noice of constant blasting , horrid smell of wet coal for years without being taken into consideration of our personal well being
the last couple of years were bareable , but if we have to go through all of the above again our mental health especially will take a beating for sure.
we will be puttin g up a fight this time about this project thats for sure
we will and can not live with the mines overruning us anymore

regards ralf and erika steines

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

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