Northern Coal Logistics (MOD 2) - Road transport

Please see attached Hunter Community Environment Centre's Objection

Submission to the Modification Applications for Northern Coal Logistics Hub (SSD-5145 Mod 2 and Myuna Colliery (MP10_0080-Mod-2)

I am making this submission to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment in response to the proposed modification applications for the Northern Coal Logistics Hub and Centennial Myuna.

1. Road Topography
Wangi Road is bendy and hilly, particularly in the proposed modification zone (Figs 1-4). Sight distance can be short particularly in bad weather.
A fully laden haul truck will need to make a right hand turn from Wangi Point Road, without a merge lane, with approximately 280 metres before the incline which is on a bend. This will be a traffic hazard, especially in wet weather. This is not safe for on coming northbound and southbound traffic, nor for drivers of the trucks.

2. Road Access.
The increased truck movements will generate up to 352 truck movements per day. This road is well used by locals. The suburbs of Rathmines, Fishing Point, Balmoral, Buttaba, Arcadia Vale and Wangi Wangi, suburbs of more than 9000 people, are dependent on Wangi Road for access. The Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) does not appear to appreciate or acknowledge the importance of this road to local communities since there is no Social Impact Assessment undertaken.
Summerhill Road is an important intersection. Summerhill Road is one of two direct routes from Wangi Road to Wangi. The report, underestimates the current importance of the Wangi Point Road intersection, which it is used as unofficial turning bay for motorists.

There are three public schools in the area, Rathmines, Arcadia Vale and Wangi Wangi. Both Rathmines and Wangi Wangi have small shopping villages and playing fields. Parents and carers use Wangi Road access to retail and other services in the Toronto and Morisset townships. There is a public transport bus service that uses the road and two independent schools, north of the modification proposal. Residents from the south and north of the proposed modification use Wangi Road for work, family and recreational pursuits.
Rathmines and Wangi Wangi are also important to west Lake Macquarie’s tourist industry.
Buttaba’s population is likely to increase substantially as it has a subdivision pending. Please see Lake Macquarie City Council’s website. https://shape.lakemac.com.au/buttaba-paper.
The west side of Lake Macquarie is growing in its population with new subdivisions being approved in Teralba, Fassifern, Morisset and Cooranbong, with Wangi Road again being emphasised as a main route down the western side of the Lake.
Wangi Road also functions as an alternate route when the M1 is blocked by traffic or accidents.
A turn lane is absolutely required as a minimum.

3. Road Pollution.
Up to 352 truck movements per day generating diesel exhaust- a human carcinogen.
Locals complain now about the amount of coal and coal dust coming from coal trucks- full and empty- now. Even with covers coal and dust escape especially going around bends and corners. More coal trucks will just add to the problem.

4. Cycling danger.
Local residents want to see an increase in safe cycling. The intersection of Donnelly and Wangi Roads has a green safety marked on road cycle lane (Fig 5 and there is signage on the north bound carriage way going up the hill from Wangi Creek.(Fig 6) The proposed high frequency movements of large trucks during the day-time of operational hours would compromise even the most competent of cyclists using these roads for transport. Lake Macquarie City Council is aiming to increase active transport and improve cycling safety.

5. Wildlife safety.
Locals value the wildlife in this area. Wangi and Wilton Roads are surrounded by bushland. A significant portion borders the proposed Awaba Conservation Area. High volumes of heavy vehicle road traffic could result in a significant increase of road kill, particularly during the early and later hours of coal truck operation.

6. Stakeholder engagement.
Stakeholder engagement appears to be very limited. A Social Impact Assessment was not undertaken. Feedback from the original communication by Mandalong and Newstan/Awaba Community Consultative Committees of the pending proposal before lodgement was not acknowledged in the modification report. The Newstan/Awaba Community Consultative Committee was not informed of the modification report lodgement. Notice of lodgement came via the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.

A Better Option Than Trucks
Could the the existing overland electric driven conveyer belts from Myuna and Cooranbong be modified and used to transport coal to the Cooranbong Entry Site for blending? Can there be an examination of this as a serious option?
This would keep the diesel trucks off the road and ensure the safety of residents, commuters, cyclists and wildlife.
Blending coal in order to make it ‘clean’ enough to burn hints at the existing problems with burning coal in the area. Decades of supplying, burning and dumping of coal ash waste to produce electric power has taken a toll on the local environment and health. There is an urgent need for a plan to quickly transition to clean renewables for power and an urgent need for a realistic rehabilitation plan to clean up the mess.

Yours sincerely
Kim Grierson

As no carbon footprint data has been included in EMMconsultants submission for Centennial Coal's intended road haulage of 1.2 million tonnes of coal on Wilton and Wangi Roads, in addition to possible road trauma to be expected with coal trucks sharing this vital and important link to the Central Coast [13,000 daily users], it is imperative submissions in respect of this project be extended another 30 days or more. It is also noted secrecy surrounds this act of environmental vandalism with the vast majority of affected residents with no knowledge of the impending road haulage. EMMconsultants should immediately make public the road haul project in local newspapers, radio and TV, which will alert residents from Toronto to Morisset of the impending environmental disaster on their major road.