Russell Vale
,
New South Wales
Message
(See attached PDF - also here in case PDF does not work)
27 August 2019
Submission to Russell Vale Underground Expansion Project
As a resident with experience gained from living behind the mine, I
have grave concerns about:
(1) the credentials of the company;
(2) a coal mine that is it so close to residential; and
(3) risks in expanding on a very old and potentially unstable
operation.
Can Wollongong Coal be trusted to operate an expanded mine in Russell
Vale?
* As a resident, I can say that Wollongong Coal has shown little
interest in complying with government laws regarding its care and
maintenance obligations. This makes us very worried about the
company's ability and intentions to safely operate a mine.
* This year they were ordered to remove a huge waste pile. We were
excited to receive the letter from Wollongong Coal saying they would
do this by July with many truck movements planned. But after only a
day of lots of trucks, things quietened considerably and currently
there is still a huge pile visible from Broker Street with no trucks.
This pile is way too big to be considered "part of the landscape" or
able to be covered up by some grass.
* The waste pile is the source of a lot of dust at our house and we
rarely see the sprinklers operating when they should be, and I wonder
whether they can with water restrictions. The solution is obvious
which is to comply with the order and remove the pile.
* I also read that Wollongong Coal is basically broke and under
investigation as to whether they are fit to hold a mining license. If
this is true, how can they have the trust of government or faith of
residents?
Why would a mine exist so close to a residential area in today's age?
* I hear the argument about the mine being here before the houses, but
honestly this does not make sense in terms of assessing its
suitability against current day laws which have developed with good
reason and knowledge about impact on the environment and people.
* I also hear the argument about jobs but people who are living in
Russell Vale work and spend money in the area and sustain the local
economy. The township is worth more as an attractive residential area
today than it is as a working mine and I don't think you can have both
because of the impact on residents of a mine which is so close.
Risks
* I worry about the waste pile impact on my kids from coal dust. I
don't really understand why the mine is responsible for monitoring and
reporting instead of an independent regulator.
* However, my greatest concern is that under an expansion, our
backyard becomes a graveyard and a sad memorial for families of miners
who are buried alive, gassed or incinerated because of a dangerous
combination of an unfit company and a very old mine.
Attachments