Tarrawonga Coal Mine

Submission Tarrawonga Coal Project - Open-cut coalmine extension

I object to the Tarrawonga Coal Project extending into Leard State Forest and diverting Goonbri Creek to prevent flooding of the open-cut mine pit and final void. I write on behalf of Armidale National Parks Association of NSW.

One of the most serious impacts of this proposal is the destruction of the southeastern part of Leard State Forest, which must be added to the destruction of forest ecosystems by the Boggabri Coal extension proposal plus the Maules Creek project. The three projects together remove about three quarters of the forest, leaving only the northeastern corner of the forest still standing. The cumulative impacts on biodiversity of this loss of vegetation are unacceptable.

This total clearing of vegetation and all its ecological communities by open-cut mining cannot be mitigated by progressive rehabilitation of re-contoured land after mining, or by the proposed biodiversity offsets. This violates the principle of Â"no nett loss Â...maintain or improve vegetation/biodiversity.Â" This justifies refusal of all three projects.

Cumulative impacts

The Flora Assessment indicates the Tarrawonga Project would require the progressive removal of approximately
397 ha of native vegetation. This includes approximately 145 ha of native vegetation in the Leard State Forest, and approximately 13 ha of Box-Gum Woodland, which is an endangered ecological community.

The impact of this clearing for the Tarrawonga project must be added to the clearing of 1,665 ha of native bush and 545 ha of endangered EECs for the Maules Creek Coal project, plus the total clearing for the continuing and extended Boggabri Coal project. These three projects will destroy more than three quarters of Leard State Forest, plus a total of more than 1,165ha of the Grassy Box Woodland endangered ecological ecosystem, an EEC of national significance. Leard State Forest, 7,464 hectares, is the single biggest remnant of native vegetation left on the heavily cleared Liverpool Plains. The cumulative impact of its destruction will have a very high and probably irreversible impact on biodiversity values of the bioregion.

Leard forested land will be replaced by a desert landscape of open-cut coal pits, with statutory rehabilitation unable to compensate for many years, if ever. This will mean absolute destruction of a significant woodland area in a cleared landscape, plus irreparable loss of biodiversity, with little or no hope of effective remediation or mitigation from offsets for many years, despite the EP&A ActÂ's statutory requirements for rehabilitation and offsets for each project site.

The adverse effects of the open-cut mines will be compounded by the clearing for coal seam gas extraction in the Pilliga East forests by Santos (formerly Eastern Star Gas), which will severely fragment the most iconic and largest woodland and forest west of the Dividing Range in NSW and effectively disrupt any connectivity benefits from replanting and rehabilitation proposals.

Offset areas and corridors for the mines are purported (in the environmental assessment documents) to link the Pilliga forest area a few km west of the mines with the Nandewar Range a few km to the east. The cumulative impacts of all the developments taken together will certainly greatly devalue these Â"corridorsÂ" and make them unable to Â"maintain and improveÂ" or Â"compensateÂ" for the destroyed environment.

This justifies refusal of all three projects.

Diversion of Goonbri Creek, and provisions to prevent flooding of open-cut pit and final void.

I have serious concerns that the provisions to divert Goonbri Creek and prevent flooding of the open-cut pit and final void will prove inadequate to contain the extreme rain events that are likely to become more frequent and more extreme in the local area, due to global warming and accelerating climate changes

These concerns are heightened by the Feb 2012 flooding of the Boggabri mineÂ's current open-cut pit, forcing a 30ML per day pump-out and licensed discharge of potentially contaminated water to the Namoi River. (ABC rural news bulletins and programs 16/17 Feb 2012). This is a serious worry for downstream water users in the Namoi valley, and indicates the need for a review of flood and spill risk in all three coal projects operating in Leard State Forest, plus SantosÂ's coal seam gas operations in the Pilliga.

I submit there must be an urgent review of water and flood management proposals for the Tarrawonga Coal Project to take full account of measured levels of rainfall, amount of runoff and levels of accumulated floodwater in the Boggabri Coal mine pit and dams, and the levels reached in all creeks and drainage lines during the flooding and subsequent discharge to the Namoi River. No approval should be issued if it is found that there is a significant risk of future flood and spill events from the operations of Tarrawonga Coal PL.
Biodiversity offset proposal.

The acquisition of 1660 ha of well-vegetated private land adjoining Mount Kaputar NP as a biodiversity offset is a welcome improvement on the proposals of Boggabri Coal and Maules Creek projects, but can in no way compensate for the total destruction of ecosystems and biodiversity by the three projects in most of the relatively intact public forest in Leard State Forest.

It should be questioned whether the offset area situated on the 600m elevation contour is truly similar in its soil types, ecosystems and array of species to the impacted areas of Leard State forest on the 200-300m contour some 20-30 km to the south. Biodiversity offsets are supposed to provide Â"like for likeÂ" replacement vegetation and habitat to compensate for what will be destroyed on the impacted areas affected by the projects.

It is futile to try to mitigate the impacts of each individual site without taking account of the total cumulative impacts on the region and the environment.

Conclusion

Armidale Branch of the National Parks Association of NSW believes that the Tarrawonga Coal Mine project should be rejected for all the above reasons.

We ask for refusal of the Tarrawonga Coal Project open-cut coalmine extension in Leard State Forest because of its contribution to the cumulative impacts of mining on the region and the environment, as identified above.

The destruction of Leard State Forest by open-cut mining will have a very high and probably irreversible impact on biodiversity values of the bioregion, justifying refusal of all three coalmining projects in the area.


Submission compiled by Beth Williams, Project Officer, Armidale National Parks Association of NSW 19/2/12
25 The Avenue, Armidale NSW 2350. Phone 02 6772 4454

see attached PDF

24 February 2012
Re: Tarrawonga Coal Mine proposed development.

To whom it must concern,

South East Forest Rescue welcomes the opportunity to make our submission in opposition to the proposal.
We reject the notion that this proposal will be of benefit to the community, nor will it be of any benefit to the environment. We object the proposal.

Greenhouse Gases
"The Project is predicted to generate a total of some 3.5 million tonnes (Mt) of direct (scope 1) greenhouse gas emissions associated with mining activities. In addition, a total of some 0.6 Mt of indirect (scope 3) greenhouse gas emissions associated with the processing of Project ROM coal (at the Whitehaven Coal Handling and Preparation Plant or the Boggabri Coal Mine Infrastructure Facilities), the transportation of product coal to the Port of Newcastle and on-site diesel usage would be generated."

We object on this ground because of the obvious imperative to reverse, or at least contain, the trend of increasing greenhouse gas emissions. The scientific evidence is irrefutable. Any project such as this which adds more greenhouse gases to the global atmosphere is placing into further risk the health and welfare of current and future generations of all inhabitants of the planet.

Clearance of native vegetation
"The Project would result in the loss of carbon sequestration benefits from the clearing of Leard State Forest and other vegetation (397 ha). It is considered that the loss of carbon sequestration benefits associated with the clearance of this vegetation would be offset by the revegetation of approximately 752 ha of revegetation at the Project site."

We strongly object on this ground, and it is the main driver of our submission. South East Forest Rescue has forest protection as its core objective, any proposal that negatively effects remnant native forest anywhere in the nation is our grave concern, not just in our patch in south east NSW. We say that the clearance of 379 hectares of native vegetation is 379 hectares too much. We do not give credence to the notion that any offsetting will act as a replacement for what is removed.

"The externality costs associated with the clearing of native vegetation would occur at the State or National level and would be counterbalanced by the offset actions proposed by TCPL. Other potential environmental externalities would largely occur at the State or Local level and were found to be minor or negligible."

We also do not give any credit to the notion that the impact are minimal when looked at in the state or national scale. The vegetation destroyed and the greenhouse gases released from the project are all part of the global impact of these activities

Surface Water
"The Project would result in changes to flows in local creeks (including the removal of a section of Goonbri Creek) due to the progressive extension of the open cut and associated subsequent capture and re-use of drainage from operational disturbance areas and controlled releases from licensed discharge points. Prior to the open cut advancing into the existing Goonbri Creek alignment, the permanent Goonbri Creek alignment would be established to the east of the open cut, low permeability barrier and permanent flood bund. The permanent flood bund would be constructed to prevent inundation of the open cut both during operations and post-mining. The maximum predicted reduction in contributing catchment over the life of the Project (alone) when compared to the total catchment of the Namoi River is 0.02%. Potential impacts of the Project on surface water quality include:
* the reduction in surface water quality due to controlled licensed discharges to receiving waters or uncontrolled runoff from disturbed areas and/or release of contaminants,
* acid rock drainage from mine waste rock emplacements,
* saline runoff from Project irrigation areas
* alteration of groundwater quality affecting baseflow in surface water resources."

We object that this proposal will alter the land and natural watercourses. This land and water is vital for the ecological health of threatened species and non-threatened species.

Flora and Fauna
"Endangered ecological communities and some threatened fauna species were identified in the Project area and surrounds, an assessment of the impacts of the Project indicated that despite the likely impacts neither the endangered ecological communities nor the threatened fauna species would be significantly impacted by the Project due to a range of impact avoidance, mitigation and offset measures.
The Project incorporates progressive rehabilitation of disturbance areas and a biodiversity offset comprising some 1,660 ha. The conservation of the proposed biodiversity offset areas would be secured in perpetuity through one of a selection of mechanisms being considered. With the implementation of the progressive rehabilitation of Project disturbance areas and mine landforms and implementation of the biodiversity offset proposal, it is considered that the potential impacts of the Project on terrestrial fauna and flora would largely be offset and hence no significant economic cost would arise that would warrant inclusion in the BCA. Land opportunity costs and operational expenditure associated with the offset areas have been included in the BCA.
The Project would include the removal of a section of Goonbri Creek. However, it is unlikely to have a significant effect on aquatic ecology given the current condition of the section of Goonbri Creek proposed to be disturbed and the proposed management approach including establishment of a permanent Goonbri Creek alignment and revegetation along the downstream (southern extent) sections of Goonbri Creek (i.e. upstream of the existing sized ROM coal haul road crossing)."

We object that the proposal will have significant impacts on the local flora and fauna due to the proposed vegetation clearance and creek realignment. We do not believe that the avoidance, mitigation and offset measures will reduce the impact to a tolerable level.

Aboriginal Heritage
"The Project has the potential to impact Aboriginal heritage sites in Project land disturbance areas. Of the 61 known Aboriginal heritage sites located within the study area, 38 would be subject to direct disturbance and one may be subject to direct disturbance. However, these are of low to moderate archaeological significance. The potential economic non-use values of these sites have not been estimated in this analysis, but are assumed to be minor."

We object that this is patently not good enough. If 60% all revenue from the proposal was given to the traditional owners of the country, then our objections on this ground would be rescinded.

The proposal should not proceed.

Yours sincerely
South East Forest Rescue

I am opposed to this project because it would require further clearing of Leard State Forest. Leard State Forest is public land, and harbours high conservation value ecological woodlands. It has already been severely impacted by the Boggabri mine, and any further loss of this remnant vegetation in this heavily cleared landscape constitute an unacceptable impact. It is well known in the Hunter that mine site "rehabilitation" does not bring back the lost ecological communities, due to ruined soil structure, changed hydrology and other impacts.

I support the Northern Inland Council for the Environment and will be guided by them in my views and reactions to decisions about resource extraction in northern NSW.

thanks for the opportunity to comment.

see attached PDF

I hope the "Water" section of this grand Commonwealth Dept is jumping up and down at the proposal to expand the Tarrawonga Coal Mine.

Realigning the Goonbri Creek? That is so 60s and 70s. This is a 4th order sytream in good to excellent condition that provides a natural catchment and groundwater recharge for the lagoon and for the Boggabri township. Why mess with it? Stop the expansion 500m or so from the Creek line.

Clearing 400ha of PUBLIC Land, the Leard State Forest, so a mostly foreign-owned PRIVATE company can expand? Some tin-pot dictator somewhere couldn't have done better. It is fundamentally a "systems corruption" that robs the people of their natural assets.

Assessing what the increased rainfall has meant to the existing overburden banks of the mine? Large volumes of mine water from the project area has ended up on the floodplain over this summer's increased rainfall. Expanding the mine will only worsen the situation and compromise groundwater wells further.

Agreeing to "lip-service" rehabilitation conditions? How very MBA of the department.

I am sorry to be so scathing. This is just the next in a long line of decisions by all sorts of government depts (state and federal) that leave me breathless and so annoyed.

This expansion will probably not provide too many more jobs (a consideration for the dept. and fair enough, to a certain extent) and I think it's fair to say that a fair whack of the profits will go overseas.

There is nothing Sustainable about a Coal mine.
Let's keep what intact creek Environment we have.
Let's look at Water as a big picture. Consider the impact of creek re-aligning and mine water discharge into the wider Water Cycle.
Populations and Communities (humans, other animals and plants) need habitat and a truly sustainable lifestyle and economy. Once you mess with an environment it's gone and so is the profit overseas.

Please stand up for the name of your Dept. and either say no or make the conditions truly in the name of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Populations & Communities.

Thank you for your time

Jane Watson.

To whome it may concern, I am outraged that any mining operation exists at all within the Namoi catchment area. The destruction of sustainable O2 producing forests to be replaced with H20 guzzling C02 producing toxic spilling mining operations to profit overseas companies appals me to my very core! Be aware to expand upon this operation would be negligence. To avoid the most stingent rehabilitation operation and leave a toxic void in our landscape will have dire consequences for not only the landscape, the flora and fauna of the local region and the water down stream all the way to the SA for generations to come. Please say no to the exploitation of our sustainable eco-system for someone elces profit, after all we have to live here.

To whome it may concern, I am outraged that any mining operation exists at all within the Namoi catchment area. The destruction of sustainable O2 producing forests to be replaced with H20 guzzling C02 producing toxic spilling mining operations to profit overseas companies appals me to my very core! Be aware to expand upon this operation would be negligence. To avoid the most stingent rehabilitation operation and leave a toxic void in our landscape will have dire consequences for not only the landscape, the flora and fauna of the local region and the water down stream all the way to the SA for generations to come. Please say no to the exploitation of our sustainable eco-system for someone elces profit, after all we have to live here.

I have flown over this area to inspect it and object to this proposal.

1. The proposed "permanent" re-alignment of Goonbri Creek which is a 4th order stream in good to excellent condition, will turn a natural asset into a drain. The mine should halt 300m prior to Goonbri Creek and leave the creek in its current, natural and permanent location. Goonbri Creek is a major component of the groundwater recharge for the area of Barbers Lagoon and the township of Boggabri.

2. The clearing of 397 Ha of Native Vegetation including some vegetation in the Leard State Forest. The consequence of this clearing is to increase the cumulative impact to the Leard Forest from the Boggabri Coal and Maules Creek Coal mines. This Forest is PUBLIC LAND and is being provided to a largely foreign owned company for private profit.

3. The project area will be rehabilitated by spreading a thin layer of topsoil over the overburden embankment. This is not sufficient to ensure the water holding capability can sustain White Box and other native trees which are currently found in the area.

4. The disturbance of surface water flows from the existing mine due to the overburden embankments has directed large volumes of mine water from within the project area onto the flood plain during the Nov 2011 and Feb 2012 floods. The increased project area in the Goonbri Creek Catchment due to the mine expansion will exasperate this issue.

5. The plan to leave a final void where there was native vegetation is not best practice. The void does not return the land to its pre-mining land capability and creates an evaporative pump that permanently negatively impacts on the ground water.

6. The water contained in the final void will increase in toxicity and be a threat to native animals in the area and as shown in the recent flood event could be a major threat to the floodplain.

Best Regards Donald

Prof. Don White
___________________________________
Don White and Co Pty Ltd
ABN 32 084 601 169
___________________________________
Please consider our environment before printing this email

Please dont destroy more of our o2 producing native forests for h2o poisoning, co2 producing, toxic waste spilling unsustainable mining activities in the Namoi basin. Putting short term profit over sustainable practice will destroy our environment for generations to come.

I am advised and concerned that the proposed "permanent" re-alignment of Goonbri Creek will turn a natural asset into a drain. The mine should leave the creek in its current, natural and permanent location. Goonbri Creek is a major component of the groundwater recharge for the area of Barbers Lagoon and the township of Boggabri.
The clearing of 397 Ha of Native Vegetation will increase the cumulative impact to the Leard Forest from the Boggabri Coal and Maules Creek Coal mines. This Forest is PUBLIC LAND.
Incidentally, is your security code _meant to be so very difficult to read and reproduce?
The project area will not be rehabilitated by spreading a thin layer of topsoil over the overburden embankment. This is not sufficient to restore the water holding capability to White Box and other natives.
The disturbance of surface water flows from the existing mine due to the overburden embankments has directed large volumes of mine water from within the project area onto the flood plain during the Nov 2011 and Feb 2012 floods. The increased project area in the Goonbri Creek Catchment due to the mine expansion will exasperate this issue.
The plan to leave a final void where there was native vegetation is not best practice. The void does not return the land to its pre-mining land capability and creates an evaporative pump that permanently negatively impacts on the ground water.
The water contained in the final void will increase in toxicity and be a threat to native animals in the area and as shown in the recent flood event could be a major threat to the floodplain.

I have not actually visited the site but people I know have and they assure me there are issues with the below and I urge you to fully consider them.

The proposed "permanent" re-alignment of Goonbri Creek which is a 4th order stream in good to excellent condition, will turn a natural asset into a drain. The mine should halt 300m prior to Goonbri Creek and leave the creek in its current, natural and permanent location. Goonbri Creek is a major component of the groundwater recharge for the area of Barbers Lagoon and the township of Boggabri.
The clearing of 397 Ha of Native Vegetation including some vegetation in the Leard State Forest. The consequence of this clearing is to increase the cumulative impact to the Leard Forest from the Boggabri Coal and Maules Creek Coal mines. This Forest is PUBLIC LAND and is being provided to a largely foreign owned company for private profit.
The project area will be rehabilitated by spreading a thin layer of topsoil over the overburden embankment. This is not sufficient to ensure the water holding capability can sustain White Box and other native trees which are currently found in the area.
The disturbance of surface water flows from the existing mine due to the overburden embankments has directed large volumes of mine water from within the project area onto the flood plain during the Nov 2011 and Feb 2012 floods. The increased project area in the Goonbri Creek Catchment due to the mine expansion will exasperate this issue.
The plan to leave a final void where there was native vegetation is not best practice. The void does not return the land to its pre-mining land capability and creates an evaporative pump that permanently negatively impacts on the ground water.
The water contained in the final void will increase in toxicity and be a threat to native animals in the area and as shown in the recent flood event could be a major threat to the floodplain.

1. The proposed mine expansion will clear almost 400 hectares more of irreplaceable woodland ecosystem including some in the publicly owned Leard State Forest. No amount of offset can replace this old woodland.
2. The proposed rehabilitation is totally inadequate, with the proposed topsoil layer too thin to support a healthy growth of locally appropriate woodland vegetation.
3. The proposed mine expansion will harm surface water quality by increasing the risk of polluted mine water discharging onto local floodplains in times of flood, as has already happened in November 2011 and February 2012.
4. The proposed mine will destroy native woodland vegetation and replace it with a hole in the ground. This would permanently lower the local groundwater. The landscape would never return to its pre-mine condition.
5. The mine as proposed will destroy the natural flow of Goonbri Creek which is currently in good condition. It is essential for there to be an undisturbed buffer zone 300 metres wide for Goonbri Creek. The mine as proposed will harm the hydrological systems well beyond Goonbri Creek because this drainage system contributes to groundwater flow to Barbers Lagoon. Barbers Lagoon is a very important Aboriginal cultural site and historic site. It was documented as long ago as 1832 by Thomas Mitchell. It is wrong to damage this heritage.
6.The water in the post-mine hole will increase in toxicity over time, further transferring the real costs of this project to future generations and to the ecosystem.
7. This expansion of Tarrawonga coal mine further expropriates the public interest in land and gifts it to private interests for profit.
8. This proposed mine expansion is against the principles of ecologically sustainable development, especially inter-generational equity and not destroying future use options.
9. The purpose of this mine is to produce coal that will be burnt and so it will result in additional greenhouse gasses. This activity is destroying the entire human habitat and is no longer justifiable or excusable.

We don't need another coal mine on the Western river system that will contribute to the toxic inflows at peak flow times. The recent release of toxic waste shows the danger posed by storage dams.
These mines cause a lot of dust that settles in the vacinity of the mine. All of this dust eventually finds its way into the surface water and adds to the toxins that are acumulated across the entire system. The Darling should not be used as a drain by multinational corporations so that they can profit by mining our public land.
Any pretense of rehabilitation is lip-service to the legislative requirements. There must be some forest left for the native animals. if this, and other proposals in the area, there will be scarce resources left for wildlife and all of this will be effected by dust.

The proposed "permanent" re-alignment of Goonbri Creek which is a 4th order stream in good to excellent condition, will turn a natural asset into a drain. The mine should halt 300m prior to Goonbri Creek and leave the creek in its current, natural and permanent location. Goonbri Creek is a major component of the groundwater recharge for the area of Barbers Lagoon and the township of Boggabri.

Please think of the future and our need for clean fresh water.

The proposed "permanent" re-alignment of Goonbri Creek which is a 4th order stream in good to excellent condition, will turn a natural asset into a drain. The mine should halt 300m prior to Goonbri Creek and leave the creek in its current, natural and permanent location. Goonbri Creek is a major component of the groundwater recharge for the area of Barbers Lagoon and the township of Boggabri.

Please think of the future and our need for clean fresh water.

I object STRONGLY to the fact that mine companies and developers seem to be excempt from the rules that apply to others in the community, especially farmers. Why is it that farmers can't realign creeks, cut down trees etc. to improve their capacity to earn more income, not that many would do so anyway, as they take care of the land. These forign owned companies will make a fortune from Australia and when all the coal is gone, they will leave and we will end up having to fix up the mess. As can be observed in the Hunter Valley the rehabilitation program does not bring the land back to the original condition, no matter how hard they try to convince us that it does. Australia's have to stand up for the future of our farming land and the security of our water.

I oppose the proposed mine based on the highly contentious and (from previous works) damaging ecological approaches that are often employed....without adequate consideration or due concern for the long-term implications to: water quality (surface & groundwater); native flora & fauna; and long-term social implications for residence and land-holders (eg agricultural). The area under consideration is highly sensitive, & contains many endemic species (fora & fauna). Loss of such vital habitat (& fragmentation) has long-term implications & once gone can never be brought back. It is a short-term (selfish) gain for a few, that ultimately leaves the landscape & humanity in a poorer state.

1. The proposed "permanent" re-alignment of Goonbri Creek which is a 4th order stream in good to excellent condition, will turn a natural asset into a drain. The mine should halt 300m prior to Goonbri Creek and leave the creek in its current, natural and permanent location. Goonbri Creek is a major component of the groundwater recharge for the area of Barbers Lagoon and the township of Boggabri.
2. The clearing of 397 Ha of Native Vegetation including some
vegetation in the Leard State Forest. The consequence of this
clearing is to increase the cumulative impact to the Leard Forest from the Boggabri Coal and Maules Creek Coal mines. This Forest is PUBLIC LAND and is being provided to a largely foreign owned company for private profit.
3. The project area will be rehabilitated by spreading a thin layer of topsoil over the overburden embankment. This is not sufficient to ensure the water holding capability can sustain White Box and other native trees which are currently found in the area.
4. The disturbance of surface water flows from the existing mine due to the overburden embankments has directed large volumes of mine water from within the project area onto the flood plain during the Nov 2011 and Feb 2012 floods. The increased project area in the Goonbri Creek Catchment due to the mine expansion will exasperate this issue.
5. The plan to leave a final void where there was native vegetation is not best practice. The void does not return the land to its pre-mining land capability and creates an evaporative pump that permanently negatively impacts on the ground water.
6. The water contained in the final void will increase in toxicity and be a threat to native animals in the area and as shown in the recent flood event could be a major threat to the floodplain.

1. The proposed "permanent" re-alignment of Goonbri Creek which is a 4th order stream in good to excellent condition, will turn a natural asset into a drain. The mine should halt 300m prior to Goonbri Creek and leave the creek in its current, natural and permanent location. Goonbri Creek is a major component of the groundwater recharge for the area of Barbers Lagoon and the township of Boggabri.
2. The clearing of 397 Ha of Native Vegetation including some
vegetation in the Leard State Forest. The consequence of this clearing is to increase the cumulative impact to the Leard Forest from the Boggabri Coal and Maules Creek Coal mines. This Forest is PUBLIC LAND and is being provided to a largely foreign owned company for private profit.
3. The project area will be rehabilitated by spreading a thin layer of topsoil over the overburden embankment. This is not sufficient to ensure the water holding capability can sustain White Box and other native trees which are currently found in the area.
4. The disturbance of surface water flows from the existing mine due to the overburden embankments has directed large volumes of mine water from within the project area onto the flood plain during the Nov 2011 and Feb 2012 floods. The increased project area in the Goonbri Creek Catchment due to the mine expansion will exasperate this issue.
5. The plan to leave a final void where there was native vegetation is not best practice. The void does not return the land to its pre-mining land capability and creates an evaporative pump that permanently negatively impacts on the ground water.
6. The water contained in the final void will increase in toxicity and be a threat to native animals in the area and as shown in the recent flood event could be a major threat to the floodplain.