Northern Coal Services Project

I support this this project along with its northern mines that support so many local businesses and families without the mines there would more unemployment and small business would shut .

We have 5 generations of family mining history , we have currently 2 employed with Centennial Coal and without these projects we would not be able to work in the area and support the local businesses

As an employee of Centennial coal i believe that this project needs to go ahead as to support my family my friends and businesses within this community who rely on this business .

My company has worked closely with Centennial Coal over many years and during this time they have helped us not only grow but also have helped the company become more environmentally responsible and safer through many practices that have been implemented throughout their mine sites.
I strongly support this project in the belief they will continue to provide a safe and environmentally friendly environment for all concerned.

Centennial Coal - Northern Coal Logistics Project
Water Treatment Services (Australia) Pty Ltd (WTS) is a provider of speciality chemical products and engineered water treatment programmes to numerous industrial operations and clients. WTS has supported Centennial Coal in their achieving environmental targets at a number of their operational locations (specifically in the Centennial Coal Western Region Operations at existing and rehabilitated coal mine sites). We also support the NSW Power industry with similar engineered water treatment programmes at a number of power station sites.
Through our dealings with Centennial Coal, WTS has found that the company is fully committed to ensuring negligible environmental impact at all their sites and associated operations. We also understand that they support their employees and local communities wherever possible.
The successful approval, and hence the future implementation of this project, would provide significant benefits for the people of the Newcastle Region, increasing employment in the local job market and, from the obvious flow-on effects, an increased standard of living and increased revenue for many local and associated businesses in the currently economically depressed local region.
Hence, WTS fully support's Centennial Coal's application for the Northern Coal Logistics Project, Application Number SSD-5145.

Centennial Coal provides employment opportunities for the local community.

I fully support this submission on economic and environmental grounds.

I am the longest serving staff member at Mandalong Mine. I started employment in the Coal Industry on 14/01/1985 at Cooranbong Colliery which joins Mandalong Mine underground, as a trainee Mine Surveyor, and am writing this submission in support of the Mandalong South Project.
During the almost 3 decades that I have worked in the coal industry, I have witnessed a lot of change in the key areas of safety, environment and legislative compliance. These have all been positive changes.
No longer can we accept that employees are injured at work as they are employed in a dangerous industry. Everyone at Mandalong Mine is focused on the safe production of coal and are proactive with workplace safety.
In part of my role as the projects surveyor, I work closely with the environmental team, being involved with the constant improvements to the mine's surface water management and noise compliance. The mine has further tried to reduce it's environmental foot print, by constructing a trial VAM RAB plant, that converts the mine fan emissions of low concentrations of methane into less harmful carbon dioxide. Also Mandalong Mine has tried to reduce the volume of inseam methane gas that is vented to atmosphere through the mine ventilation fans, by drilling gas drainage boreholes within the coal seam. This methane is currently being burnt off at a purpose built surface facility, with plans to install a power generation unit in the near future.
I am proud of my role as project manager for exploration drilling at Mandalong Mine. The mine is undertaking a drilling program to prove the location of an igneous sill which will define the limit of the minable coal resource and will continue in 2015. The Department of Planning recently conducted a 3 yearly audit of our mines operation. The audit found no non compliances in relation to exploration drilling. The mine spent 1.2m last financial year conducting this drilling program which directly employed 4 drillers and countless subcontractors.
The Northern Coal Logistics Project will ensure the continuation of Mandalong Mine. My main role at the Mine is the measurement of mine subsidence. The mine uses an innovative mine design that minimises the effects of mining on the surface. Voussoir Beam Theory is based on civil engineering design and was adapted to the geotechnical design of the longwall blocks used at Mandalong Mine. The mine extracts up to 4.8m of coal with little of this mining void transferred to the surface topography as the Munmorah Conglomerate unit that lies approximately 70m above the coal seam, spans across the pillars either side of the longwall void. This conglomerate "bends" rather than breaks and so the mine subsidence has no relationship to the extracted void height, rather it is a function of the beam sag, maingate Pillar loading, and floor compression. Contrary to popular belief, subsidence doesn't cause damage to surface structures, it is the tilts and stains that are associated with this movement that does. The maingate pillars absorb half of the total vertical movement due to loading from the extracted void. This reduces the differential subsidence between subsequent longwall blocks, which in turn significantly reduces the tilts and strains on the surface, minimising the effects of mining on surface structures.
I live only 20 minutes from the mine site. My wife also works at the local hospital as a registered nurse. I have lived in this community for almost 50 years and am proud to be a third generation coal miner, both of my grandfathers were coal miners, and my father was also a coal miner. Both my wife and myself spend our wages locally which benefits the whole community.
I feel the continuation of Mandalong Mine and the associated Northern Coal Logistics Project, will not only guarantee the employment of its existing workers but also the many local support contractors who rely on the mine for work. The whole state will also benefit from the continuation of Mandalong Mine through payrole taxes, employees personal taxes and mining royalties.
The local power generators, which Centennial Coal is a major supplier, will benefit from guaranteed fuel supply through Northern Coal Logistics Project and its associated long term contracts.
I hope that the NSW government will approve the granting of the Northern Coal Logistics Project, for the benefit of all of the people who live in the community where it operates.

This is a formal submission to lodge my support for the Northern Coal Logistics Project. It is my firm belief that this project will have a wide ranging and positive impact for the local community and the wider community through a number of direct and indirect channels.

One of the main positive impacts that this project will have is the creation and maintenance of jobs for workers in the coal industry in the local area. With three major coal mines dependent on this project for their continued operations the employment generated extends much further than just the Northern Coal Logistics project itself.

Also when you take into account the support and secondary industries such as manufacturing workshops, mechanical workshops, labour hire companies etc, that rely on the local coal mines for business, the flow on affect for employment in the local community cannot be underestimated.

With so much employment in the local community being generated directly and indirectly by this project it soon becomes evident that these employees will be living and involved in the local community in Lake Macquarie and Newcastle. With so many people involved they will be contributing to businesses and services by spending money and time. This is not only good for the local community in an economic sense but also in building strong, positive communities that people can be part of and contribute too.

Centennial Coal is an important part of this community in more ways than just the employment that it generates. Centennial has an excellent history of operating in the community and maintaining a positive standing through minimal impact mining and movement of coal. Through community consultation and participation Centennial has always ensured that the community is at the forefront of any decisions made by the company to ensure that the local people and the industry can co-exist.

Community consultation and rigorous management has also allowed for Centennial to maintain an excellent track record on environmental matters in the local area. With continued operations having minimal to no impact on the local environment there is no reason that any environmental issues or concerns that people have with this project can't be managed in a way that delivers a positive, suitable result for all the parties concerned.

Looking wider than the local area the benefits that this project will deliver to New South Wales (NSW) should not be underestimated. The Northern Coal Logistics Project will ensure that the ongoing delivery of high quality thermal coal to the local power stations will continue providing reliable and affordable power to the state. The project will also allow for the export of coal to international markets, supporting not only the export industries such as the ports, but also directly providing royalties to the NSW government.

Again I reiterate my firm belief that this project will deliver wide ranging positive results for the local community and the wider NSW government. Through supporting thousands of jobs and the local community the approval of this project will ensure continuance of these positive factors for many years to come.

I am the Secretary of the Macquarie Scorpions Rugby League Football Club and make this submission in support of Centennial Coal for the Northern Coal Logistics Project to improve their coal handling and processing capabilities. Centennial Coal has provided financial support to the Macquarie Scorpions for a number of years and without their support it is doubtful whether the club would be able to compete in the Newcastle Rugby league competition and provided sporting opportunities for the 300 young rugby league players in the western and southern area of Lake Macquarie. I am also aware that Centennial Coal also provides funding for many other sporting clubs and community organisations in the area and has worked closely with not only the Macquarie Scorpions but all community and sporting groups. My family and I have lived at Blackalls Park only 2kilometers from Newstan since 1959 and over those years there has only been very minimal impact from living so close to the operation. In fact the infrastructure (roads) in the local area has been improved by the mines presence over those years

I support the project, as coal mining is an integral part of the community in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie. The project will create long term employment in the industry during this difficult period.

There appear to be no major hazards presented by the project.

I am writing a submission in support of the Northern Coal Logistics Project.
Over the years Centennial Coal has giving the opportunity to local people in the Lake Macquarie area.
Small businesses have a strong relationship with Centennial and continue to expand and employ more people in the area.
With the population in Newcastle growing up to a 1000 people per week, we cant afford to lose any more jobs in the region.
Personally I rely on Centennial, so I can provide for my family, being able to travel 20mins to get to work, makes it easier to be there for my family.
We need this project to go ahead, not just for myself or Centennial, but for Newcastle and the Lake Macquarie region.

Thanks

I am writing a support submission for the project.
I believe the project will provide the ability to maintain and improve job prospects in the area not only within the mine but also in surrounding businesses.
There is a large effect on the community as people either stay or leave the area dependant on work ability and then wages spent in local companies reflect that population level hence impacting yet again on employment levels and monies spent in the local area.
There is a greater sense of community that is able to be upheld if the mine has the financial ability to continue it's support of local sporting groups and institutions as well as community charities.
Many groups depend on the support to continue operating and providing children and adults with their services.
I strongly believe the greater community would benefit from this project being approved.

i support it.It will be good for the community.

 Centennial's Northern Coal Logistics along with its northern mines (Mandalong, Newstan and Myuna) will continue to support a local workforce of over 500 employees and potentially over 1,000 when/if Newstan re-opens
 Centennial has a good track record of operating in our local area with minimal impacts to the people that live here and the local environment.
 Centennial plays a big part in supplying coal for local electricity generation
I will be moving into the area to be closer to my work which will inturn will allow me to spend my salary on local businesses and services
My family's and my way of life, as well as my employment, rely on this Project.

I would like to submit my absolute approval for the applications that Centennial/Northern Coal logistics have before the State Government, my Husband is directly employed as a part of what centennial do around Lake Macquarie and My Son is seeking Employment as part of it as well.
I the current climate of the Mining recession it's good to see a Company actually making plans to move forward and I know that a lot of direct and indirect Jobs will be affected by the outcome of these applications, Lake Macquarie and NSW needs this Company to exist and expand.
The plans in for approval have to approved and a positive spin needs to be put back in to an industry that is full of doom and gloom and uncertainty.

Regards,
Jane Lunn

I support this project as I work for a contractor for Centennial Northern Coal Logistics and the continuity of my employment is dependent on Centennial. The flexibility to allow coal to be allocated to either domestic or export markets would increase job security for both Centennial employees and their contractors.
I have worked on Newstan site for 10 years and I believe Centennial has made every effort to ensure there has been minimal impact on the local residents and environment.
I am also aware of the major part that Centennial plays in providing coal to the local power stations and consequently their contribution to generation of local electricity.

I have worked for Centennial Coal for the past nine years and look forward to coming to work.
I want to see the Northern Coal Logistics Project go ahead as I don't want to lose my job and would like to retire in the next 10 years. It would be extremely hard in my early fifties to seek employment elsewhere.
Centennial Coal has always done the right thing and been conscious of the environment and the many land owners in the community.
Centennial Coal is a major supplier of coal for local electricity generation, keeping our lights on.
Centennial Coal is also the major sponsor of my son's football club. They sponsor many sporting and community groups in our area.
My grandfather was a miner and I hope my family and I continue this tradition for many years to come.
I want this project to go ahead!

I support the submission for the project because I work for a subcontractor to Centennial Coal and if this project does not go ahead the company i work for will be forced to downsize dramatically and I will likely have to seek work elsewhere.

I am an apprentice with Centennial Coal.
I want to see the Northern Coal Logistics Project go ahead as I want to continue working for Centennial Coal for many years to come. I am from a third generation mining family.
I am involved in a local sporting group and Centennial Coal is also the major sponsor of my club.
I really enjoy my job and the lifestyle it provides me. I need my job!!