Springvale Coal Mine Extension

United Mine Workers Union

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Dear Sir/Madam

I have grave concerns regarding the impact of the Springvale proposal.

The Newnes Plateau is a special place with many rugged pagodas and amazing places to explore. Carne ck, Bungleboori Creek and Rocky Creek have pristine waters that flow into wilderness areas. I feel that risking or destroying these areas now, when they could give many future generations the same sort of enjoyment is destroying the special values of the State of New South Wales for a relatively small short term gain.

Please ensure that:
- Carne Creek is preserved. What will the successful Emerites resort say when their water is sullied by mining or disappears completely, as the Wolgan river has been.
- our drinking water supplies are managed at the highest level of quality possible. Water from mining should not flow into the Cox river.
- maintain the beauty of the Newnews plateu. It is a special place. Here is one photo in National Geographic of the Newnes plateau http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/10/australia-canyons/peter-photography#/10-tiger-snake-canyon-squeeze-670.jpg. This is Rocky Creek http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/10/australia-canyons/peter-photography#/09-rocky-creek-canyon-light-670.jpg. This is 'hole in the wall' - http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/10/australia-canyons/peter-photography#/19-canyoneer-descending-670.jpg There is another of the magnificent pagodas in the area attached.
- manage for conservation. The plants and animals in the area are amazing. Walking through the Newnes Plateau we can see many magnificent birds in particular. These plants and animals provide us with wonder. They also important to our own existence and well being. Endangered swamps are important and must be conserved.
- preserve the magnificent cliff lines and pagodas.

Yours Sincerely
John Robens

Please find attached my submission in relation to the proposed Springvale Coal longwall coal mine expansion.

I object to the Springvale mine extension.
I do not want to see further degradation of the Newnes Plateau.
It is a special place, like nowhere else, that should be put in a National Park or State Conservation Area.
(see attached file)

Should this proposal be permitted, the objections below must be considered.
See attached submission

Please refer to attached document for the Society's submission.

Please refer to attached document for the Society's submission.

pdf submission attached.

A submission on behalf of Lithgow Environment Group Inc has been uploaded as a PDF.

Yours faithfully
Chris Jonkers
Vice President

Submission on State Significant Project - Springvale Mine Extension (SSD 12_5594

Mining and Industry Projects
NSW Department of Planning & Infrastructure
GPO Box 39
Sydney NSW 2001
This project is an outrageous proposal to mine the beautiful pagoda country that the Department of Planning and Infrastructure and Planning Assessment Commission have already rejected due to unacceptable environmental impacts. In fact, the Office of Environment and Heritage has recommended that the Gardens of Stone region should be protected in a conservation reserve. Coalpac has claims that unlike its earlier proposal, this extension of mining will not have a significant impact on threatened species and communities listed under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. This is completely false; the habitat in question is home to lyrebirds, spotted-tail quolls, squirrel gliders and the critically endangered leek orchid and the grey-headed flying fox - just to name a few. Interestingly the endangered persoonia marginata has been found within the area but was not identified in Coalpac's reports. The new plan proposed by Coalpac will exstinguish all plants and wildlife within the open-cut area and will for all time destroy the unique geological features of the area. The Ben Bullen State Forest is a unique and precious pagoda wonderland that must be protected for the benefit of future generation of Australians. Coalpac is in breach of its previous obligations to rehabilitate the areas already mined, directed by the Commonwealth to pay reparation, indicating that its management and business strategies do not warrant approval of yet another ill-conceived project. As more and more countries (in particular, India, China and Great Britain) globally move towards sustainable forms of energy (ie solar energy) it is unbelievable that Australia should even consider the destruction of landscapes and ecosystems that have taken millions of years of evolution to create for the short term gain of a very small minority, who have invested in a technology that is not only not sustainable but also threatens the well being of the global human community.
I therefore fully support the following:


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 if the proposal were to proceed, 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. Any reduction in water purity, as with the Wolgan River following mining will put World Heritage status at risk and be a further example of Australia's environment recklessness.
- Carne and Bungleboori Creeks, pagodas, cliffs and the many nationally endangered swamps swamps that the current proposal puts at risk does not justify the short term financial gains of this mining proposal and under no circumstances should the proposal be approved.

Yours sincerely,
Dr Graham R Cam PhD
79 Honour Avenue LAWSON NSW 2783
23 May 2014

Letter attached.

Please refer to attachment

Dear Sir/Madam,

Please find attached a submission from the Colong Foundation for Wilderness Ltd.

Yours faithfully

Keith Muir

Springvale Mine Extension SSD 12_5594

Please find submission attached