Rocky Hill Coal Mine

Looking at the amended application. I am in support for the proposal and feel it meets acceptable requirements.

I oppose the Rocky Hill Coal Project on the basis that it is too close to the township of Gloucester. I feel that he local residents are entitled to a healthy lifestyle ..., free of noise, traffic and polluted air. Our community does not want it - OUR government needs to respect out right to live the way we wish...we don't want Gloucester to change into an ugly eysore!
Just listen to the people who are going to be effected.

I feel this coal mine is far to close to homes, schools and aged care facilities and I'm very concerned about the health impacts that will inevitably ensue. The visual and noise impact on this beautiful valley and the effect this will have on the town residents can not be ignored along with the negative impact on tourism. I do support renewable energy ventures and feel coal has an uncertain future.

I think having a coal mine this close to the town of Gloucester is a crazy idea because it is not sustainable for the town.

I oppose the rocky hill coal mine.

I do not want Rocky Hill Coal Mine as it is too close to the community of Gloucester, the catchment and risks to health and downstream water recipients.

I oppose the rocky hill coal mine
I do not want Rocky Hill Coal Mine as it is too close to the community of Gloucester, the catchment and risks to health and downstream water recipients

I object to the establishment of any more mines in our region. Please leave our natural environment and our farming food bowl alone.

First point the NSW Govt can support alternate energy by stopping this mine. It defies logic for it to proceed.
I spend a lot of my time in catch and release fishing on the Manning River. Over the years I have noticed the decline of the river and although there are many reasons I am sure coal mining in the Gloucester Valley is the culprit. Manning River water is a major source of drinking water for the Mid North Coast area. We have seen many instances where disasters occurring in mining have caused problems downstream. It has happened for all environmental issues to be met only for an "unforeseen" disaster to occur. Not often in Australia but it does happen, Hillgrove for example.
One only has to fly over the hunter valley to see the destruction coal mining has created, despite rules for repatriation many times this does not occur. A permanent overburden site so close to a beautiful town is just shear lunacy.
Please stop this project, the community of Gloucester does not want it nor do the vast majority of Mid Coast Residents.

The Avon Valley, Gloucester, is a small farming and residential area not open for mining. No new coal mines are to be operated in this valley. Existing coal mining operations are to cease this year, 2016.

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE TO OVER-THROW CORPORATIONS, MINING OR GOVERNMENT.

This proposed mine will adversely affect the well-being of the Gloucester community.
It will have negative impact on tourism, amenity, local residents health and the future of this district. Real estate values will also be effected as new residents will not want to move into a dirty, noisy, unhealthy, coal region.
Without coal, Gloucester has great prospects as a clean healthy
beautiful destination for visitors and tree change escapees from Sydney.
Coal will destroy the long term prospects for this area.

I wish to express my objection to Rocky Hill going ahead.

I am a 42 year old wife, mother of three children and own a tourism business in Gloucester. My husband and I both grew up in Gloucester

I believe that Rocky Hill is too close to the township of Gloucester. As well as damaging our health and our children's health it will also damage the natural beauty of the Gloucester area - which is why our Tourists visit this area.

I own an accommodation business in Gloucester, managing 12 accommodation properties, therefore I do talk to quite a few guests whose opinion on the proposed project is utter disbelief. Tourism is a major contributor to the Gloucester area, if Rocky Hill went ahead it would impact the town greatly - immediately and into the future - we do not want "industrial tourism" in Gloucester.

The natural beauty of our area is very special , My husband & I chose to live here so our three children could grow up in the natural beauty, clean air and country lifestyle that is not polluted in anyway.

Please do not allow Rocky Hill to go ahead

I strongly oppose the Rocky Hill Coal Project on the following grounds:

1. Proximity to the township of Gloucester, which will impact both residents health and the local economy. Yes, we are a small town, but why does that mean our health and the towns prosperity and beauty accounts for nothing?

2. Environment - In a time when global warming and climate change are no longer deniable how can we keep supporting fossil fuel industries? More resources need to be diverted to growing our renewable energy sector or there will be devastating repercussion for future generations.

3. This is not a long term sustainable industry for the local area - as we have seen in recent years following the closure of the Stratford mine and reductions at Duralie.

This mine should not be approved.

I AM COMPLETELY OPPOSED TO THIS PROJECT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS
* It is far too Close to the village of Gloucester, local residences and housing estates because of:
* Noise, lighting and airborne impacts these impacts have a major impact on every aspects of a person's well-being. People can't sleep, they inhale carcinogenic dust their lives and properties are destroyed.
* The local economy will be destroyed, now and into the future:
* Gloucester Valley's future is in tourism and clean green produce. This will all be lost if this mine goes ahead
* The mine is an environmental nightmare because:
* It will inevitable negatively impact on the underground water resources which are a community asset.
* Mining coal in this time of climate change crisis is a crime against the planet and its creatures

Rocky Hill Coal Project - Application No. SSD-5156

Dear Sir/Madam,

I oppose the Rocky Hill Coal Project on the following grounds:

1. Proximity to residential areas
The mine is proposed only 900metres from the residential area of Forbesdale. These residents
will carry an unacceptable burden and will be impacted by dust, noise and loss of amenity,
resulting in risks to their health and loss of property value.
2. Impacts on Health
Health impacts from open-cut coalmines are well documented. With most of Gloucester
township, including the hospital and schools, falling within the 5km health impact zone of the
Rocky Hill mine, this places a large percentage of the population at risk. Those most affected by
the health impacts are the very young, the elderly and the sick.
3. Impact on Tourism, worth $51M per annum to the Gloucester economy
An open-cut coalmine within 5km of Gloucester and within sight of the Bucketts Way will have
an impact on the visual amenity of the area. The mine will risk the jobs of hundreds employed in
the tourism industry.
4. Environment
The proposed mine is on the Avon River floodplain and in the catchment area of the Manning
River, which supplies drinking water to over 80,000 people. The Avon River has flooded 5 times
in 4 years, with 2 floods occurring in 2013. There is definite potential for contamination of the
water in the catchment.
This mine should not be approved.

Yours faithfully'
Sue Coleman

I object to the Rocky Hill Coal Mine because it would ruin the landscape, destroy natural habitats and create unacceptable noise, dirt and dust.

I am extremely opposed to the proposed Rocky Hill mine. Gloucester township and the Forbesdale residences are far too close. They will be severely impacted by the air pollution and noise. In fact it is unbelievable that it is being proposed. The Hospital and High School are both within reach of the dust and the consequent health impacts are inevitable. The effects on the tourist industry will be felt severely. Please do not permit this mine.

Submission re Amended Development Application, Rocky Hill Coal Project SSD 5156 and associated Modification of Stratford Extension SSD 4966 MOD1

I oppose both this amended DA and associated mining modification.

I wish the Rocky Hill coal mine would go away.
Two weeks ago I stood on Fairbairns estate looking down over the meadows where the proposed mine would be situated. This week there was an advertisement in the local paper with photos showing how the mine workings would be hidden by earth mounds.
The photos were taken from a much lower angle and lied about the implication that earth mounds could possibly hide the mine.
Why do I wish the mine would go away?
* I wish it for my friends, who live in the area, and are so stressed and made ill by the years of living with the threat of the mine far to close to Gloucester.
* I wish it for my friends and the community,who have to gird their loins and fight on against the mine, knowing that it will destroy Gloucester.
* I wish it because I fear the noise and dust pollution that the mine will cause and the harm that this will do to the people of Gloucester.
* I wish it for my family, the hours spent considering the evil effects of the mine and the need to protest, spoiling family life.
* I wish it for myself, that Rocky Hill mine, so inappropriate for Gloucester, which causes so much stress and sadness for me, would go away.

Pippa Robinson 8.9.16

Rocky Hill Coal Project - Application No. SSD-5156

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am totally opposed to the Rocky Hill Coal Project.

I am opposed to any more mines in the Gloucester area. The Rocky Hill mine will be the beginning of the end for our wonderful town.

Various groups in Gloucester, including Groundswell Gloucester, Environment Group and Forbesdale Residents Action Group will be lodging submissions against this mine. I totally support the content of these submissions.

Despite GRL's statement that there will be no negative health impacts from Stage 1 of their mine, I cannot see how the evidence in the public domain regarding health impacts from opencut coal mining can be ignored. I refer to: Drs for the Environment and Dr Au of Singleton.

I am horrified that the proposed mine is to be built within 900metres of 30 homes and families. Why is the health of these people dismissed? I know some of those families and I know that the mental health impacts have been devastating. Why are these people considered collateral damage?

The visibility barriers are not aptly named. The barriers, erected to hide the mine workings, are in themselves, an eyesore. The steepness of the barriers will not allow vegetation to grow successfully but rather will be eroded by rain or create dust storms when it is windy.

GRL's claim that the mine will bring local employment is exaggerated and misleading. The Stratford mine had 60% of its workforce as DIDO's and the township did not reap the monetary rewards as promised.

The application for the Rocky Hill mine should be refused.

Yours faithfully

Paul Goldsmith (Gloucester resident and father)

Dear Sirs/ Madams,

I oppose the Rocky Hill Coal Project and Stratford Mine modification on the following grounds:

The mine is far too close to residential and other properties used by the resident of Gloucester. In general, the proximity being so close to town is unacceptable. Some but not all reasons why this is not acceptable are listed below :

a) Health impacts on resident from noise, airborne particulate matter, incessant noise, increased traffic, degradation of the groundwater and river systems. These factor alone are ground NOT to allow these mines to be approved.

b) This mine will seriously affect the local tourism industry. People simple don't go to coal mining towns for fun. Gloucester is well visited because of its natural beauty and tranquil setting of the village. These aspects will be destroyed with a coal mine so close to town.

c) The well documented environment damage and risks to the environment are well documented. Such damage is from : noise, water contamination, air contamination, increases traffic flow, and new roads required. The knock on effect to the wildlife in the area including the river and tributaries that will be impacted will be significant.

d) The lack of foresight and generally known ineffective `rehabilitation' of the land post mining. The land simply can NOT be restore anywhere near its original status and the cost is prohibitive and would dwarf any profits supposedly generated.

e) The Coal industry is in decline and hence the overriding damage this mine will cause does not in any way match the positive aspects being local employment and some revenue for the State. The cost to the community and land I believe is far greater than the benefits anticipated.

f) Further I believe the approval process for NSW Coal mining has been awash with corruption and insider information. The environmental laws have been softened to permit such disastrous project to proceed.

Please read a recent article in the ABC re: damage from the Tahmoor Colliery fro just one small example.: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-29/coal-mining-to-blame-for-poor-state-of-thirlmere-lakes/7455320

This whole project is too damaging to the local and region area and should not proceed.

I strongly object to the proposed Rocky Hill Coal Mine.

The Department of Planning and Environment would be better PLANNING for renewable resources - not 21+ years of a destructive and soon to be defunct energy generation industry. The Department would be better thinking about the immediate ENVIRONMENT, not only within 900 metres from Gloucester residents and visitors, stock and crops, but the future of the water, air and ecological security of the whole state.

Globally the shift away from burning coal because of the carbon dioxide and other toxins generated, that leads to smog, acid rain, breathing difficulties, cancers and a hotter climate to name a few of the devastating impacts this industry causes, is the reason for this shift.

My Major concerns with Gloucester Shire in particular:

HEALTH
These are some of the symptoms that impact the residents of Stratford to Wards River already:
Eye and throat irritations
Sleep disturbances
Difficulty breathing
Depression
Anxiety
Headaches

FARMING
The area of the Gloucester Shire has been since time in memorial a sustainable food bowl and in the last one hundred years has become a place of intensive agriculture taking advantage of the rich volcanic soils and adequate rainfall. After mining excavation the land and it's strata will never be rehabilitated for such use again and shows that this industry will not sustain our community into the near nor the far future.

LIFESTYLE
Gloucester benefits from the local coal industry only a bit. Less than 1% of this industry gives back to Gloucester's service and retail and none to the farming industry, our major employer. As an employer the mining industry is one of our smallest.

The community, local and tourist, as a whole benefits in many ways from the peaceful serenity, various recreational options and scenic grandeur of our small rural township. The benefits are our better mental health and financial security.
The beauty for us that are lucky enough to live in this area is the reason for our passion to not see this place devastated and become an unlivable, unviable and uneconomic waste land.

Philippa Tait