Springvale Coal Mine Extension

Doug Benson
Botanist/ Plant ecologist,

Comments on EIS for proposed Longwall Mine Extensions for Centennial Coal's Angus Place and Springvale Mines,
23 April 2014

My comments apply to both Angus Place and Springvale as the issues are the same. My comments are primarily concerned with the impacts of the mining on the endangered Newnes Plateau Shrub Swamps(NPSS) and their component flora. These impacts are likely to be most damaging through the results of mine subsidence and loss of water flow in the groundwater dependent ecosystems. The issues are as follows

1.I have had a long professional experience as a botanist and plant ecologist with the NPSS beginning in the late 1970s in searching for the rare species and subsequently mapping the vegetation and providing the first descriptions on the swamps (Benson and Keith 1990). At that time we were concerned about impacts of damage by the proposed Birds Rock Colliery in the 1980s which did not go ahead.This proposed colliery site directly affected swamps in the upper catchment of Carne Creek and we provided input on the swamps into the Public Inquiry at the time, so we had field experience of these swamps at that time. Many of the claims in the EIS assume that comments on previous conditions are invalid as the EIS uses only Centennial data which only begins recently.

2.I have also presented an account of the groundwater dependence of the swamps in the Carne Creek catchment in Benson and Baird (2010) and have argued that changes in the groundwater levels will have significant impacts on the swamp biodiversity, such that all measures should be taken to reduce subsidence impacts to a minimum. Primarily these should be to have no mining under the swamps as has protected Sunnyside Swamp, or if not possible to reduce the width of the longwalls which are proposed to be up to 261 m to between 115-160m as used elsewhere to reduce subsidence. Neither of these issues has been done for the Springvale Angus Place mining particularly under the Carne Creek catchments which are the most significant group of NPSS and. where drop in water levels is likely.

3.The impacts of past mining has been dealt with cursorily in the EIS which essentially argues that there have been no direct impacts on swamps by subsidence. There have clearly been impacts but these have been covered up by a) convenient absence of piezometer data for pre-mining conditions in some swamps (East Wolgan, Narrow), and b) confounding of the subsidence impacts by the large quantities (well outside approved levels) of excess mine water that were pumped through these two important swamps .

4.Impacts of mining on the swamps have been also obscured by the assignment of swamps in about 2008 as either dry or wet swamps, and the failure to update these with subsequent knowledge, thus the swamps denoted as dry swamps - West Wolgan, Kangaroo Creek, and incorrectly in my view East Wolgan and Narrow), were by definition not going to be impacted by subsidence on groundwater or at least this would not be evident for several decades and therefore not detectable. This classification did have some foundation in our 1990 work (Benson & Keith) which described some of the western swamps on th upper plateau as being more clay-based with a predominance of Leptospermum species. This does apply to West Wolgan, and Kangaroo Creek Upper (confirmed in Benson & Baird) but does not apply to East Wolgan and Narrow which are valley floor swamps and typical of the wet Type A in geomophology and air photo interpretation. Both swamps have now been severely degraded by mining impacts (Goldney et al 2010) and acknowledged in the imposition of the Enforceable Undertaking, though the impacts of the excess mine water is conveniently used as cause of the damage, damage which has left the drainage line of East Wolgan in particular a 30m wide stretch of bare dry earth with no evidence of recovery after nearly 6 years. While this may be partly due to the impact of the chemicals composition of the excess mine water, the real longterm environmental impact is the absence of any flow in the drainage line. As a wet Type A swamp it would have had a permanent surface flow as is evident in the other Type A swamps of Carne West Swamp but there has been no flow in East Wolgan since the undermining in 2008. I visited Narrow Swamp in 2008 and East Wolgan in 2009 immediately after the impacts (i.e. the big holes) were evident and from the plant species evident in the remaining vegetation at that time we could see that these were groundwater dependent Type A swamps. Centennial has refused to correct the classification on the ground that they did not see the pre-mining conditions, and that there is no groundwater data piezometers for the premining conditions. However there is data from Junction Swamp which is further upstream on the same drainage line as East Wolgan. Data from here was recorded from c. 2005 and the stream has a measuring weir of a size indicating that it was for recording substantial flows yet has been dry certainly since 2008. Goldney et al and M. Krogh pers. comm have shown that both Junction and Kangaroo Creek Lower have had subsidence impacts and that the previous more or less permanent water flows in these drainage lines has disappeared.

5.East Wolgan and probably Narrow Swamps appear to be suffering similarly, and it can be expected that the remaining swamp vegetation will gradually dry out and change, probably after a major bushfire that will probably kill off remaining swamp plants and allow woodland species to invade. The death of the characteristic groundwater dependent species Gymnoschoenus plants on the edges of Junction swamps is already (March 2014) occurring.

6.The EIS data states that maximum observed subsidence recorded in undermined swamps at Springvale and Angus Place are 1-1.4m and it is clear that there have been impacts that have changed the water flow conditions in the catchments and swamps of Kangaroo Creek, Wolgan East and likely in Narrow Swamp. These make up the main swamps that have been undermined with longwall mining and the EIS proposes similar longwall mining treatment is to be applied to Sunnyside East Swamp, Carne West Swamp, GangGang swamp south west, Gang Gang swamp East, pine Swamp, Nine mile swamp, Pine upper swamp, Paddys Creek Swamp, and Marrangaroo Creek Upper swamp and Marrangaroo Creek Swamp. These swamps form the best groundwater dependent of all the NPSS with the highest components of endangered biodiversity (B&B).

7.The EIS states that "modelling has predicted that changes to the watertable heights and baseflow may occur to a limited extent as a result of subsidence (RPS 2014a)" but that "monitoring of swamp water-levels and surface water gauging has shown over the life of the current mining operations that no impacts to the swamps or surface water flows have occurred as a result of mining to date at Springvale". This reference to Springvale is plainly misleading as the impacts described above (particularly at East Wolgan) have occurred in the immediately adjacent area of Angus Place and are completely relevant to determining the impacts at Springvale.

8.That Centennial now indicate that "changes to the watertable heights and baseflow may occur to a limited extent as a result of subsidence" is a warning sign. Our field experience in the NPSS indicates that the swamp species and patterns are closely related to soil moisture and surface morphology and that any waterlevel drawdown of water levels will have major impacts. The roots of the swamp species are concentrated and generally restricted to the restricted to the top 30-50 cm of substrate so drawdown in any swamp of 15-25 cm is likely to affect much of the vegetation area as permanently wet conditions are replaced by ephemerally wet, and ephemerally wet conditions become permanently dry with consequent loss of species. An indication of the rate of change is the death of the longlived but moisture dependent sedge Gymnoschoenus at Junction Swamp which is only now evident 8-10 years after mining.

9.Modelling data in the EIS indicate that there will be drawdown in all the swamps with a maximum drop of 36 cm in Gang Gang Southeast Swamp, though the EIS does not think this will cause any impact, though if one considers the ecological dynamics in the swamp it is evident that a permanent waterlevel drop of 36 cm will cause major drying out of surface substrate and dislocation of swamp species. It is likely that these water level changes will be permanent and result in reduction in size of the swamps over time as swamps gradually dry out and are invaded by woodland species. Certainly the East Wolgan drainage line has been completely drysince for the last 5 years and is showing no sign of recovery when I visited in March 2014.

Conclusion
Despite the repeated statements by Centennial that there will be no impacts from longwall mining on the threatened NPSS swamps,the EIS clearly provides evidence that such impacts are likely. Centennial's argument is that their monitoring does not show any significant impacts but this is based on their past monitoring that has involved a history of inadequate sampling, monitoring without adequate pre mining data, and minewater issues masking likely evidence of subsidence, as well a poor understanding of swamp ecology. It is clear from the groundwater modelling that the NPSS will be impacted by the proposed mining operations at Springvale and Angus Place. These NPSS swamps particularly those in Carne Creek catchment are of great scientific and biological value and must not be impacted by the proposed mining. This can be achieved by not mining under individual swamps, or by using bord and pillar operations or by sustantially reducing the longwall dimensions. Proposed longwall are to be up to 261m width but in area where subsidence is to be reduced longwall widths are 115-160m. These measures must be taken if we want the swamps to survive as they are at present, rather than dried out and invaded by woodland species.


References
Benson D & Baird I (2012) Vegetation, fauna and groundwater interrelations in low nutrient temperate montane peat swamps in the upper Blue Mountains NSW Cunninghamia 12, 267-307.
Benson D & Keith D (1990) Natural vegetation of the Wallerawang1:100 000 map sheet. Cunninghamia 2, 305-335.
Goldney D, Mactaggart B & Merrick N (2010) Determining whether or not a significant impact has occurred on Temperate Highland Peat swamps on sandstone within the Angus Place Colliery Lease on the Newnes Plateau. Prepared for Dept of Environment Water Heritage and the Arts January 2010.

I strongly object to the Springvale Mine Extension Project. It will destroy the environment around the Wolgan Valley which is so beautiful and now a world famours site. After mining, the surface sandstone cracks and that then permanently drains the swamps.

The project will pollute Sydney's drinking water supply and undermine more than 5,000 hectares of forest and pagoda rock formations in the Newnes State Forest, north of Lithgow.

If this is done, it will be regretted for future generations. Destroying nature for money is not a viable reason.

Please see below a note that was sent to the Premiers' office earlier this year - our position still stands:

On a very different matter that is of even greater concern:

Angus Place Colliery is planning on dramatically increasing their holdings.
Please see their plans attached. Map is from Department of Planning website.
They are going to take out the area between Wolgan and Carne Creek (LW 1001 - 1019).
This is the colliery on your right hand side on Wolgan Road, a few km's before The Gap and into our valley.

There are a number of concerns:

1 In the past 2 months Wolgan River has dried up as well as the swamps above Wolgan Falls which feed Wolgan River. Some of that might be due to recent lack of rain, but I assume it is not just the dry weather but new cracks in the catchment area from expanding mining operations from Angus Place colliery
2 Also, there are the construction works (new bore holes, power lines, pipelines and access roads) being undertaken at the moment in the area of Sunny Ridge Road (off Blackfellows Hand Road). This activity resulted from recent approvals for long wall mining expansions into the Carne Creek catchment area - - - this is our water supply and the lifeline of the Wolgan further down.
3 Carne Creek is the wonderful creek that runs from the World Heritage Area through our property from South to North, connecting with Wolgan River that runs West to East. Carne Creek has been described by researchers from the University of Western Sydney as:'one of the cleanest and pristine water sources in Australia'. It is a wonderful resource to have and we have seen a dramatic return of wildlife in the past 4 years that rely on Carne Creek: platypus, lace molitors, lizards, various fish and yabbies' etc etc.
4 Carne Creek is also our only source of water when we do not have enough rain to fill our tanks - as we have seen the past 5 months.


Also attached are 2 pictures that I have been able to lay my hands on to show the scale of their plans:

The first picture is at around GR 379 053. The old pine plantation has been totally cleared and there is a flat area without any trees surrounded on most sides by an earth wall about 2m high. The area is probably 200m x 200m; there is also a spot with some concrete foundations for a structure being built.
The second picture is detail of a much more extensive area nearby, totally cleared of all living matter, about 500m x 500m, with huge drilling rigs, buildings etc on it, at around GR 375 055. This area is above the Wolgan River which is about 500m to the W.
There are also new pipelines being put in the ground along the road.

Jaymes, I am raising serious concerns about these operations and I oppose the plans - mining in the Carne Creek catchment area is highly contentious and in my view greedy. It WILL affect the 100% pure water supply to Carne Creek and rob this world class resort from a secure and clean water source as well deplete a valuable conservation resource.

May I ask you to raise this with the Premier as well as the Department of Planning and Mining/Resources minister. The restrictions and conditions that will be applied for this will be too loose and impossible to enforce - it needs to be stopped.

This project will significantly harm the pristine swamps of the Newnes Plateau and risks polluting the water supply of Sydney. This beautiful, untouched area of nature is a jewel in the crown of NSW, a magnet for tourists and visitors of all persuasions and nationalities, from the Newnes Hotel through to the Emirates Resort. What better way to destroy NSW's reputation to national and international tourists than to destroy a prestige destination spot now and for future generations?

Springvale Mine and the Mine Extension Project

Springvale Mine is a well-established underground coal mine with well-defined surface and mining environments. Due to knowledge gained from historical operations, Springvale Mine has an excellent understanding of mine design principles and requirements for the protection of surface features, and management of potential environmental impacts. The mine design, which has been successfully implemented in adjacent mining areas with minimal adverse impacts, shows that Springvale Mine is committed to achieving sustainable development.

A key Project benefit is the sustainable mining of coal with no significant environmental impacts. The socio-economic output of the Project will continue to provide direct and indirect employment and flow on benefits to the Lithgow Government Area and the surrounding region. There will be an injection of approximately $902 million into the local, regional, state and national economies over the life of the Project.

Based upon the predicted environmental impacts of the Project and the ability to manage these impacts to minimise harm to the environment, the Project will present an overall minimal residual consequence.

The EIS demonstrates that the Project meets environmental performance and socio-economic benefit requirements to be considered for approval.

The Project can be appropriately managed and result in residual consequences that do not have significant impacts on the receiving environment.


Springvale Mine as Part of the Local Community

The locally based workforce and their families are fully embedded within the Lithgow community, supporting a number of local businesses, sports facilities and community groups. Further, Springvale Mine and its employees provide financial contributions to local organisations and charities to assist with the upgrade and maintenance of equipment in addition to supporting others within the local community.


Closing Remarks

Springvale Mine has a good environmental record and strong community links within the locality in which it operates. Sustained operations at Springvale Mine are essential to offer continued local employment opportunities whilst providing a much needed energy resource.

Mining supports the local economy. In the Lithgow area many people rely directly and indirectly on the mines as well as the related businesses. Without the Springvale and Angus Place projects several hundreds of people will be without income and the local economy will suffer. These mines have been the livelihood for several generations, and now have the potential to continue.
Centennial has completed an extensive Environmental Assessments and understand the potential impacts. The EISs propose measures to manage these Impacts appropriately.
I support these projects. My family depends on these projects being approved. These projects should continue.

Both the Springvale and Angus Place mines have become a pivotal part of the economy in the Greater Lithgow area. Springvale has operated with great efficiency minimising impacts on the environment whilst providing a direct income for over 300 families .Springvale have co operated with the numerous Government departments that form part of the modern regulatory framework and have a sound reputation in the local area. Failure to approve this project will have a devastating affect on the local area with no other local employment opportunities available.

I would like to support this project to support the jobs it will create for the local district and continuing supply of coal to the local power station at Mt Piper.

Supporting local jobs at least 300

electricity supply to australia

Angus pl do lost of sponsorship

Help the local town sustain jobs associated with mining ie. housing, manufactoring.

If springvale closes down many people will be forced to leave town.

I believe this extension should be approved due the operator's long term commitment to the local communities, the state of NSW and the Australian economy. Springvale Colliery has provided direct employment and indirect employment for a sustained period of time. Springvale Colliery has a good track record of safety and environmentally sustainability. The operator has always supported local organisations and charities. The workforce at Springvale Colliery has a strong presence within the local and surrounding communities. To not approve this extension will have a devastating effect on the local communities, the state of NSW and to the national economy. A non approval would also display a unjustified move away from supporting coal mining by the NSW Government.

Important swamps, pagodas, and stream environments in this significant part of the Gardens of Stone region must not be damaged by longwall coal mining but instead protected in a state conservation area.

The Springvale and the adjoining Angus Place mine extension proposals must be subject to a Planning Assessment Commission review with concurrent Public Hearings.

Centennial Coal must not be allowed to simply replicate the damage it has already caused to nationally threatened upland swamps on the Newnes Plateau for which it was required by the Commonwealth Government to pay $1.45 million in reparations.

The sandstone rock supporting the 41 nationally endangered swamps, including the 11 shrub swamps affected by the proposal must not be fractured.

The proposed discharge of up to 43.8megalitres/day eco-toxic mine effluent must be treated by reverse osmosis technology to remove all metals and salts before discharge to the Coxs River.

The scenic western edge of the Newnes Plateau must be protected from further scarring by new roads, pipeline and electricity easements.

Carne Creek is currently in a pristine state, and its waters that flow through the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area are of the highest standard. This creek must not run bright orange or suffer reduced flows, just like the Wolgan River after Centennial Coal wrecked it.

Please require Centennial to revise this proposal to improve environmental outcomes. Carne and Bungleboori Creeks, pagodas, cliffs and the many nationally endangered swamps must not be damaged.

The rock formations above this proposed mine extension are beautiful, and the damage that subsidence would cause to them would be barbarically tragic. It is similarly obscene to cause creek flows and swamp waters to move many metres underground and pretend that nothing has happened.

As a miner of 30 years in this area (20 of those at the Springvale mine) I have seen firsthand what this industry provides for local communities. We supply coal for power generation that keeps familys warm during winter and cool in summer. We support those in our community that are less fortunate than ourselves through generous and regular donations and fund raisers. We spend our money locally and support local business and sporting groups. Springvale mine employs 300 hundred people and there are many flow on jobs created in the local area as well. This community will not survive as it is without mining. We have a community/family based spirit that has been built for generations around mining and other ascociated industries and we need to retain that spirit

Hi i have been an employee of springvale mine for the pass five years and would like to be there for the next thirty years..... i think that the mine should be continued as it has impacted my life, in the sporting world, also for the town of lithgow and central west as jobs are becoming less and less

I overwhelmingly object to this proposal.
I have bushwalked extensively in this area and know how precious and irreplaceable it is. What Centennial is proposing to do is called environmental vandalism. The entire area is a unique part of our national heritage, it must be protected as a State Conservation Area and underground mining should only be allowed to continue if it causes no damage to the environment.
The past record of Centennial Coal points at pagoda cliff collapses, waste water discharges that poisoned the Wolgan River and ruined high swamps.
In summary,
*Important swamps, pagodas, and stream environments in this significant part of the Gardens of Stone region must not be damaged by longwall coal mining but instead protected in a state conservation area.
*The Springvale and the adjoining Angus Place mine extension proposals must be subject to a Planning Assessment Commission review with concurrent Public Hearings.
*Centennial Coal must not be allowed to simply replicate the damage it has already caused to nationally threatened upland swamps on the Newnes Plateau for which it was required by the Commonwealth Government to pay $1.45 million in reparations.
*The sandstone rock supporting the 41 nationally endangered swamps, including the 11 shrub swamps affected by the proposal must not be fractured.
*The proposed discharge of up to 43.8megalitres/day eco-toxic mine effluent must be treated by reverse osmosis technology to remove all metals and salts before discharge to the Coxs River.
*The scenic western edge of the Newnes Plateau must be protected from further scarring by new roads, pipeline and electricity easements.
*Carne Creek is currently in a pristine state, and its waters that flow through the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area are of the highest standard. This creek must not run bright orange or suffer reduced flows, just like the Wolgan River after Centennial Coal wrecked it.
*Please require Centennial to revise this proposal to improve environmental outcomes. Carne and Bungleboori Creeks, pagodas, cliffs and the many nationally endangered swamps must not be damaged.

I totally object to this proposal.
Please require Centennial to revise this proposal to improve environmental outcomes. Carne and Bungleboori Creeks, pagodas, cliffs and the many nationally endangered swamps must not be damaged.
*Centennial Coal must not be allowed to simply replicate the damage it has already caused to nationally threatened upland swamps on the Newnes Plateau for which it was required by the Commonwealth Government to pay $1.45 million in reparations.
*The sandstone rock supporting the 41 nationally endangered swamps, including the 11 shrub swamps affected by the proposal must not be fractured.
*The proposed discharge of up to 43.8megalitres/day eco-toxic mine effluent must be treated by reverse osmosis technology to remove all metals and salts before discharge to the Coxs River.
*The scenic western edge of the Newnes Plateau must be protected from further scarring by new roads, pipeline and electricity easements.
*Carne Creek is currently in a pristine state, and its waters that flow through the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area are of the highest standard. This creek must not run bright orange or suffer reduced flows, just like the Wolgan River after Centennial Coal wrecked it.

Springvale has a local work force of over 300 employees, who all support the local communities, Lithgow, Wallerawang and Portland.
The mine has a good track record of mining in our local area with MINIMAL impacts to the local environment.
They are highly involved in supporting local sporting groups and community groups.
It will have a MAJOR IMPACT on the local community if the mine was to ever close.

The local community will be hit very hard if the mine was not to be granted its extension, from Local shops, schools and sporting groups who receive support from the mine and its workers. Losing 300+ jobs will not be good for the community.

leave our beautiful blue mtns alone!!! we must protect this area not destroy it!

Mining and Industry Projects
NSW Department of Planning & Infrastructure
GPO Box 39
Sydney NSW 2001

Dear Sir/Madam,
State Significant Project - Springvale Mine Extension (SSD 12_5594)

Important swamps, pagodas, and stream environments in this significant part of the Gardens of Stone region must not be damaged by longwall coal mining but instead protected in a state conservation area.
The Springvale and the adjoining Angus Place mine extension proposals must be subject to a Planning Assessment Commission review with concurrent Public Hearings.
Centennial Coal must not be allowed to simply replicate the damage it has already caused to nationally threatened upland swamps on the Newnes Plateau for which it was required by the Commonwealth Government to pay $1.45 million in reparations.
The sandstone rock supporting the 41 nationally endangered swamps, including the 11 shrub swamps affected by the proposal must not be fractured.
The proposed discharge of up to 43.8megalitres/day eco-toxic mine effluent must be treated by reverse osmosis technology to remove all metals and salts before discharge to the Coxs River.
The scenic western edge of the Newnes Plateau must be protected from further scarring by new roads, pipeline and electricity easements.
Carne Creek is currently in a pristine state, and its waters that flow through the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area are of the highest standard. This creek must not run bright orange, just like the Wolgan River after Centennial Coal wrecked it.
Please require Centennial to revise this proposal to improve environmental outcomes. Carne and Bungleboori Creeks, pagodas, cliffs and the many nationally endangered swamps must not be damaged.
Yours sincerely,

Dody Sinfield