Springvale Coal Mine Extension

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am extremely worried about the potential negative effects of the proposed Springvale Mine Extension, especially on the nationally endangered upland swamp communities on the Newnes Plateau. Longwall mining could cause subsidence and cracking of the sandstone base of these swamps, which could result in the groundwater levels dropping, and the swamps consequently drying out and becoming extinct. Centennial coal has already caused significant damage 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, thus showing that they are not capable of carrying out longwall mining in a way that is environmentally responsible. Please do not let them endanger what little remains of these significant and beautiful swamp communities.

Yours sincerely,

A worried citizen.

The Spingvale colliery adds to the local community through the direct employment and indirect employment of a large percentage of the lithgow community and takes in workers from the surrounding districts.
Also sponsors local sporting teams and is the major sponsor for the local rugby league comp.

We must stop mining fossil fuels and concentrate research on renewable energy sources.

I object to any further disturbance on the Newnes Plateau by coal mining.
Longwall mining is especially damaging to the environment causing surface subsidence.
The EEC listed endangered ecological community of Newnes Plateau Shrub Swamps should not be mined under.

Dear Sir/Madam,

State Significant Project - Springvale Mine Extension (SSD 12_5594)

I am writing to you to object to the proposed extensions of the Springvale Mine. I strongly believe that the environmental impacts that would result from the extension are unacceptable. The areas within the Gardens of Stone are of significant environmental value and need to be protected. The proposed extensions however do the exact opposite of that.

- 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.

Yours sincerely,
Rebecca Lewis

I am a bushwalker and have walked extensively in the upper Carne Creek Catchment, around Birds Rock and in the headwaters of Bungleboori Creek. I have been visiting these areas for nearly 40 years. I strongly oppose the Springvale Mine Extension Project due to its detrimental effects on the environment. I would not like to see the pristine catchments damaged due to mining subsidence.

Submission on the proposed Springvale Mine Extension Project
Ian Wright University Western Sydney 26 May 2014

Angus Place and Springvale Coal Mines are both currently causing water pollution
The EIS documentation for both mines provide inadequate data for a reader to assess whether an operation of this scale is causing water pollution and whether that pollution is or is not adversely affecting river and stream ecosystems.

However, the information is sufficient to show that the current mining operations are both causing serious levels of water pollution and damage to receiving aquatic ecosystems. The information also shows that both mines are currently failing to comply with their NSW EPA `Environmental Protection Licences' (Angus Place = EPL 467 and Springvale = EPL 3607). Both current mining operations contaminate surface waters with salinity; nitrogen; phosphorus, zinc; nickel and a large number of other water contaminants. The current operation also causes degradation to surface water ecosystems according to the sketchy macroinvertebrate data supplied. The EIS details the proposed increased in waste water discharges and this will probably cause a resulting increase in water pollution and degradation of aquatic ecosystems.

The family-level macroinvertebrate identification used in the Springvale Aquatic Ecology and Stygofauna Assessment failed to report statistical significance of differences and failed to clearly compare the ecological results from nearby reference (unpolluted sites) such as Marrangaroo Creek, the upper Coxs River (in Ben Bullen State Forest). I am also very puzzled by the lack of sampling sites directly below the mine waste discharges. For example, why is there no sampling site in Springvale Creek below Springvale Mine (LDP001)? This epitomises the inadequacies of `baseline data' provided for this EIS. In my profession of water science such data in this form would be unpublishable. If this data was submitted to a quality scientific journal in this field, it is my opinion that it would be rejected. To enable informed assessment such an important development in such a sensitive location is my expectation that the data collected should be of publishable quality in professional industry journals.

I recommend that further macroinvertebrate and water chemistry sampling be conducted of a standard that is scientifically rigorous and would be of publishable quality. Water pollution and ecological damage from the existing coal mine is a major issue of considerable community concern and it is not possible to form a strong conclusion about the impact of the existing coal mine, let alone make an assessment of future impacts in the absence of `sufficient baseline data' for this key issue. In my opinion the macroinvertebrate and water chemistry survey needs to include more sampling sites and be repeated on several occasions. At each site replicated quantitative species-level macroinvertebrate data needs to be collected. All raw water quality and aquatic ecology data should be made publically available.

The study should include multiple clean reference sampling sites (for invertebrates and water chemistry) located in naturally vegetated local catchments to provide a detailed set of `reference' data to compare with the coal mine affected sites, particularly the sites below the waste water discharge.

The main question that the macroinvertebrate survey (for Springvale Mine) needs to answer is how does the macroinvertebrate community (i.e. the aquatic ecosystem) downstream of the many waste discharge points (LDP001 and LDP009 in particular) compare to upstream and non-mining reference locations? Again, the biggest problematic issue is the lack of sampling data from Springvale Creek above and below the mine discharge. This single issue renders the proposal and EIS documents incomplete.

One of my other concerns that is not addressed in any of the EIS documents for Springvale was the recent closure of the Wallerawang Electricity Powerstation. This has far reaching implications on water management and water pollution from Springvale Colliery as the EIS document makes many references to the mine wastewater being transferred to the power station as cooling water. This is called the `Springvale Delta Water Transfer Scheme (SDWTS) and the transfer was projected to increase from 30 ML/day to 50 ML/day. Since the power station has closed in early 2014 how will this change water management and the discharge of mine waste water to Springvale Creek and other waterways?

It is my professional opinion that the current coal mining operations (Angus Place and Springvale) are both currently polluting the surface waters of the Coxs River (and other catchments and waterways), according to Section 120 of the NSW Protection of the Environment Operations Act (1997). This is based on my assessment of water quality data provided in the EIS documents (Springvale Mine Extension Project 2014) and the relevant legislation, NSW Protection of the Environment Operations Act (1997).

Dr Ian Wright, University of Western Sydney

26 May 2014



Springvale is currently failing to comply with its Environmental Protection Licence

Both current mine operations are not currently meeting their EPA Environment Protection Licence (EPL) requirements. The Angus Place mine currently holds an Environment Protection Licence (EPL) 467 and the Springvale Colliery has an EPL 3607. The only pollutants that are permitted to be discharged from the Angus Place Colliery (according to EPL 467) are:
* Oil and Grease (10 milligrams per litre)
* pH (6.5-9 pH)
* Total Suspended Solids (30 milligrams per litre)

Springvale Colliery EPL 3607 has a more complex array of discharge points and licence conditions. It has five waste discharge points specified in its EPL. The two main discharge points are `LDP001' and LDP009' according to the Springvale Mine Extension Project 2014.

There are two main waste discharges from Springvale Colliery (LDP001) that releases contaminated water to the environment (see Table 4.7 of Springvale Surface Water Impact Assessment). LDP001 water was highly saline and alkaline and was enriched with many water contaminants including major anions and cations; metals and nutrients.

EPL 3607 (Springvale) has a second major waste discharge point (LDP009) and it has a total of 12 different pollutant discharge limits in EPL 3607. It includes nine metals (including zinc, nickel and copper); salinity; turbidity and oil & grease). It was impossible to compare the actual water quality discharges from this point as the Springvale Surface Water Impact Assessment (Table 4.7) indicated that no data was collected. This is a major deficiency and contributes to my inability to form a detailed assessment of current water pollution impacts from the current operation or proposed development. The concentrations specified on EPL 3607 for salinity and metals are too high for protection of aquatic ecosystems.

The Angus Place mine discharge (from the discharge points indicated on EPL 467) generally meets the current EPL discharge conditions for pH; Oil & Grease and TSS. Rather than signifying that the mine is not causing water pollution it points towards the current EPL regulations provide inadequate waste discharge conditions. The EPL licence for the mine (EPL 467) contains the following clauses (copied extract from EPL 467):




Of particular note in the Angus Place EPL 467 is clause L2.3 `To avoid any doubt, this condition does not authorise the pollution of waters by any pollutant other than those specified in the table\s.'

The Springvale EPL 3607 has an identical clause.

The water quality data presented in the Angus Place Mine Extension and the Springvale Mine Extension Project reports both clearly indicate that the mines generally discharged water polluted by salt, metals and nutrients. According to the clause L2.3 of its EPL 3607 the current mine operation is polluting the water due to waste discharges that include pollutants not specified in EPL 3607.

The ANZECC (2000) Water Quality Guidelines for Protection of Aquatic Ecosystems (see table 3.3.2) provides guidelines for lowland rivers in south east Australia which include default trigger values of 125-2200 µS/cm, with associated text stating `NSW coastal rivers are typically in the range 200-300 µS/cm'. This means the appropriate guideline for water salinity for the Angus Place and Springvale Extension mines are both 300 µS/cm. Both mines are discharging water that is more saline than this guideline. This indicates that both existing mine discharges have caused salinity pollution and this is in contravention of clause `L2.3' of EPL 467 and EPL 3607.

These observations are made after consulting the water quality data presented in both the Angus Place and Springvale Mine Extension project water quality reports.

The following extract is from the `Springvale Extension Project Surface Water Impact Assessment' page 66:
Salinity and pH
The median salinity at LDP001 is 910μS/cm (measured TDS was 580mg/L) and median pH is 8.3.
There are less samples obtained at LDP009, however, of the data available, median salinity is
1,055μS/cm (TDS of 710mg/L, noting that TDS is not measured directly at LDP009). Median pH at LDP009 is 7.9.

Previous research on salinity of natural streams in the Coxs River headwaters and western Blue Mountains area reveals that typical salinity levels are generally below 60 μS/cm (Wright & Burgin, 2009; Wright 2012). The median level of salinity of 1055 μS/cm is more than 3 times higher than the ANZECC (2000) water quality guideline for protection of ecosystems. It is also more than 17 times higher than the typical salinity levels of natural streams in the western Blue Mountains (Wright & Burgin, 2009; Wright 2012). Such levels of salinity are harmful to aquatic ecosystems.

From p70 of Springvale Mine Extension -Surface Water Impact Assessment

Dissolved Metals
Median value of Aluminium of 0.02mg/L at LDP001 and 0.085mg/L at LDP009 exceeds ANZECC guideline value marginally, and is less than ADWG aesthetic value. There is no health relative criteria in ADWG for Aluminium due to insufficient data.
All other metals except Zinc are consistent with ANZECC. Median values for Zinc at LDP001 is 0.022mg/L compared to ANZECC value of 0.008mg/L.
Nutrients
There is no monitoring of nutrients at LDP009 and it is not a current requirement of EPL3607.
Observed value of Nitrate (NO3) at LDP001 of 0.45mg/L is in excess of ANZECC guideline value but is far below the ADWG health value of 11.3mg/L. Discharge at LDP001 exceeds ANZECC guideline for Total Nitrogen, with median value of 1.0mg/L compared to guideline of 0.25mg/L, however, is not significant. Similarly, concentration of Total Phosphorous is slightly in excess of ANZECC guidance value; however, there is no ADWG value with respect to either health or aesthetics. There is also no concentration limit in regard to Total Phosphorous on the EPL.


The water discharges from Springvale Colliery (see extract above from p70 of the EIS Surface Water Impact Assessment) indicate that along with releasing salt, the mine is currently causing metal pollution (in particular aluminium and zinc) and releasing waste with very high nitrogen nutrient levels (nitrogen, phosphorous and nitrate) at concentrations much higher than those recommended by ANZECC (2000) protection of aquatic ecosystems. The EIS quotes mean zinc concentrations of 22 µg/L (from one of the mine waste discharge points) which is much higher than ANZECC (2000) guidelines for protection of aquatic ecosystems (`Trigger Values of Toxicants' see Table 3.4.1). Such levels of pollutants are stressful for aquatic ecosystems and are incompatible with the environmental sensitivity of the receiving surface waters. The failure to address such pollutants in the EPL 3607 is serious.

The Coxs River, Lake Wallace and Lake Lyell regularly experience elevated nutrient levels and problematic weed and algal growth. These waterways are popular with local communities and tourists for recreation and water supply. They are also an important water supply for Wallerawang and are part of the drinking water catchment for Sydney (Warragamba Dam). Such elevated nutrient levels are not safe for aquatic ecosystems of local waterways and contribute to water supply and recreational problems from algae and weed growth.

The waste discharges from the current Springvale Mine are modifying surface water geochemistry and this is a major form of water pollution. The mine wastes that are discharged contain highly elevated (and unnatural) concentrations of minerals calcium, potassium, magnesium, sulfate, alkalinity, chloride and sodium. This provides another theme of water pollution from the current mine operation that contributes to the ecological stress that the mine discharge is currently placing on local waterways and aquatic ecosystems. This corresponds to previous published research on the geochemical impact of coal mine discharges in the Sydney Basin (Wright, 2012) which revealed that four coal mine waste discharges caused elevated pH and salinity and also modified the geochemistry of downstream waters. In all cases there was a change to the relative concentration of major anions and cations. Most of the coal mine drainage discharges caused increased concentrations (and often dominance) of sulfate and bicarbonate and other ions, in downstream waters. The levels and types of salts discharged to waterways from the coal mines are inadequately regulated and represent an emerging environmental pollution dilemma. The mine waste discharges from Springvale Colliery also modifies the geochemistry of surface waters with unknown environmental implications.

What are the implications of the water pollution from the Springvale Colliery?

I am unable to form a conclusive view about the nature and extent of any impairment from the Springvale mine discharge to local stream ecosystems. The format of the aquatic ecology reports (the macroinvertebrate data in particular) in both assessments are not provided in a manner that would be, in my professional opinion, to be publishable in the current peer-reviewed scientific literature. The aquatic ecology data has a major role to play here to inform the readers as to whether the mine waste discharges are having any adverse impact on stream ecosystems. Both reports have a very large volume of information available, but try as I do, I just cannot determine whether the mines are having an adverse impact or not.

One of my many serious concerns is why there was no sampling site for macroinvertebrates on Springvale Creek below the Springvale mine waste discharge. This study really needed a design that compared macroinvertebrate communities above versus downstream of the mine discharges.

The manner in which the data is presented makes interpretation very difficult. For example, both reports quote macroinvertebrate family richness, SIGNAL 2 scores and AUSRIVAS results but does not compare results using hypothesis testing (such as analysis of variance) or community structural differences using multivariate statistics (e.g. PRIMER). It is a very basic question, but are the community differences statistically significant?

Another major concern with both reports is that they include non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) plots, but the critical R statistics and probability scores that `analysis of similarity' (ANOSIM) statistical tests were not presented. This also removes the ability for the reader to see if the macroinvertebrate community was changed below the mine (upstream versus downstream) in a statistically significant manner. An example of such statistical testing from previous research on the ecological effect of a coal mine discharge to a stream ecosystem in a nearby catchment (Grose River) utilised such statistical tests (Wright & Burgin, 2009).

In my opinion the discharge of coal mine wastes into such a sensitive location (part of the Coxs River and a major part of the Sydney's water supply - the Warragamba Drinking Water Catchment and the Coxs River, Wolgan River and Carne Creek of ecological and heritage sensitivity Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area) I would have expected that the Springvale and Angus Place EISs would have both presented a detailed study that used `state of the art' ecological assessment design that used multiple impact and reference locations; multiple replicate samples; species-level taxonomic resolution and appropriate statistical hypotheses testing.

However despite my major concerns about the quality of the report, the conclusion (see extract below) of the Springavle Aquatic Ecology clearly indicates that the mine does cause water pollution that is degrading the aquatic ecosystems:


Extract below, Conclusions, p80 of `Aquatic Ecology and Stygofauna Assessment Springvale Mine Extension Project:



References
 NSW EPA Search for Environment Protection licences, applications, notices, audits or pollution studies and reduction programs: EPL 467. and EPL 3607. (http://www.epa.nsw.gov.au/prpoeoapp/)

 ANZECC, (2000). Australian and New Zealand guidelines for fresh and marine waters. National Water Quality Management Strategy Paper No. 4. Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council. Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand, Canberra.

 Wright, I.A. and Burgin, S. (2009) Comparison of sewage and coal-mine wastes on stream macroinvertebrates within an otherwise clean upland catchment, south-eastern Australia. Water, Air and Soil Pollution. 204: 227-241.

 Wright, I.A. (2012) Coal mine `dewatering' of saline wastewater into NSW streams and rivers: a growing headache for water pollution regulators. In Grove, J.R. and Rutherfurd, I.D (eds). Proceedings of the 6th Australian Stream Management Conference, Managing for Extremes, 6-8 February, 2012 Canberra, Australia, published by the River Basin Management Society p.p 206-213.

Undermining the Environment

The proposals for the Springvale Colliery will undermine the environment, as has already happened at East Wolgan Swamp, Junction Swamp, Narrow Swamp North and Narrow Swamp South. An extension of longwall coal mining would place further risks on recognised endangered ecological communities, a high price to pay for the maximum of 30 extra jobs created.

The downplaying of threats from mine subsidence, fractured sandstone and toxic mine effluent does not reflect the fact that the company is prepared to gamble against the environment and the pristine Carne Creek, as damage to the Wolgan River confirms.

It is time we stopped undermining the environment.

Please do not allow the extension of the Springvale mine.
We cannot allow the resulting environmental impacts including:
Loss of beautiful sandstone structures, and swamps and the plant and animal species that live in and around them;
Poisoning of Sydney's drinking water with metal salts via the Cox River;
Poisoning of water rats and native species that live in and along the Cox River and others;

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

Dear Sir/Madam,

State Significant Project - Angus Place Mine Extension (SSD 12_5602)

- Important terrestrial and stream environments in this significant part of the Gardens of Stone region must not be damaged by longwall mining but protected in a state conservation area.
- The Angus Place and the adjoining Springvale 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 strata supporting the 22 nationally endangered swamps, including the 7 shrub swamps must not be fractured.
- The proposed clearing of 14 hectares of forest for an additional ventilation facility is excessive and its proposed location close to the Wolgan River is unacceptable.
- The proposed discharge of up to 43.8ML/day of eco-toxic mine effluent must be treated using reverse osmosis technology to remove all metals and salts before discharge to the Coxs River.
- 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 Creek, pagodas, cliffs and the many nationally endangered swamps that the current proposal puts at risk must not be damaged.
Yours sincerely,

Emma Rooney

I work at springvale coal, this approval means I will have a job into the future.
Having this job will mean my family will stay local and spend money locally.
Also springvale supports many local community events, with out there support there will be no events.
I hope you consider my input into the out come because it will affect me and my family.

My husband works here and needs a job his family depend on him working.
Springvale have a good working relation with the environment so they should be aloud to mine in the areare the need to

I respectfully submit the following submission in support of the Springvale Mine Extension Project submitted by Centennial coal.

I have been a lifelong resident of Lithgow and spent 34 years in the coal industry( not with Centennial). I served on Lithgow City Council for 25 years,16 as Mayor and represented the Lithgow area in the NSW parliament for 12 years.

I believe this experience gives me an objective viewpoint on this submission. Having read the proponents submission I believe it directly addresses the environmental ,community and economic issues .Centennial Coal have a reputation in the western coalfields as being a responsible and responsive operator in
the important coal industry.

Springvale Mine is an important employer locally and it's continued operation is vital to job security to its workforce but also important as a reliable cost effective supplier to the local electricity generators.

The 300 plus jobs at Springvale have a flow on effect to local suppliers and businesses and at a time when the Lithgow economy has suffered because of job losses in government services,the electricity,coal and defence industries any impediment to the future of Springvale mine would be a blow to the local community.

Yours faithfully
Gerard Martin J P

It is about time we kept some jobs in Australia. We have recently watched as they closed down Wang Power Station ,locally, as well as many other companies in the local area. We need jobs to be kept in town to keep the community viable and strong. As more companies shut down, no more are opening up which means that this area could become a ghost town.

Dear Sir or Madam,

I wish to lodge an objection to the Springvale Mine Extension Project for the following reasons:

- 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 should be enough to disallow this project. However, if it is approved the discharge 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.

- If this project is approved, which I believe should not happen, 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,

Barbara Wakefield

Dear Sir/Madam,

Submission: Objection to State Significant Project - Springvale Mine Extension (SSD 12_5594)

Gardens of Stone is a nationally unique place of quiet canyons and beautiful sound scapes. It is a place I would love to take my children when they are old enough to go on an overnight camping trip.

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.

Yours sincerely,

Dear Sir/Madam,

State Significant Project - Angus Place Mine Extension (SSD 12_5602)

Important terrestrial and stream environments in this significant part of the Gardens of Stone region must not be damaged by longwall mining but instead protected in a state conservation area.
The Angus Place and the adjoining Springvale 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 strata supporting the 22 nationally endangered swamps, including the 7 shrub swamps must not be fractured.
The proposed clearing of 14 hectares of forest for an additional ventilation facility is excessive and its proposed location close to the Wolgan River is unacceptable.
The proposed discharge of up to 43.8ML/day of eco-toxic mine effluent must be treated using reverse osmosis technology to remove all metals and salts before discharge to the Coxs River.
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 Creek, pagodas, cliffs and the many nationally endangered swamps that the current proposal puts at risk must not be damaged.
Yours sincerely,

Dylan Sutton

Hello,
Please stop this madness for the sake of our drinking water, cultural heritage and future generations.
It's simple: listen to the people. Full stop.
Thank you.

Hello,
Please stop this madness for the sake of our drinking water, cultural heritage and future generations.
It's simple: listen to the people. Full stop.
Thank you.

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

I often visit and walk in the areas near this extension application. I am concerned that any extention will cause damage of gigantic proportions, as yet unknown.

There are many 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.

Yours truly


Gae Mulvogue