Warkworth Coal Mine Continuation

Please keep Mt Thorley, Warkworth open and running!!!

I strongly support the application.

I am a civil engineer with 16 years experience. I was made redundant from the engineering services firm I worked at for 8 years in September last year due to the downturn in mining in the Hunter.

I have seen redundancy after redundancy in Newcastle and the Hunter, and for those looking for employment, it is now extremely difficult.

Of course there has to be a balance given to the economic and social impacts on the mine continuing. However, over the last decade, I have personally seen the direct benefits that the Coal and Allied mines have brought to the community in which I live.
Our firm hired numerous local members of the community to service the work which came from thier mines.

We need to manage the impacts, but progress the mine. Progressive mine closures such as this (if not approved) will be extremely detrimental to the Hunter Valley in terms of employment, and social contribution to the local community.

Regards

Kieren Fitz-Gibbon

i have worked at mt thorley warkworth for 7 years and i and my family depend on the mine continuing for our future, also the community would benifit .

My family and I need Mount Thorley Warkworth to keep going into the future for as long as possible. We are directly affected but almost my whole family's employment is indirectly linked to the Hunter Coal Mining industry.

Without this approval jobs will become even more scarce and local businesses will be forced to shut or slow.

I support the mining industry in the Hunter Valley. I have grown up in Singleton & mining has always been a part of my life. My father worked at the mines for most of his working life. My husband works at a mine now. We rely on his job to provide for our family. If he should lose his job where will that leave us? Looking for work along with 100's more. Drive around SIngleton, you can see the effect the down turn in mining is already having on the community. I can never recall seeing so many 'for lease' or 'for sale' signs around the town. Singleton is dying a slow death because of the extension rejections & the effects they are having on the community. Let's get real. People who live in SIngleton have one way or another benefited from the mines, even if they have never been employed directly by the mines. Businesses rely on the mines. Sporting & Community groups receive donations from the mines. We will all suffer if mines start scaling down or closing. Give SIngleton back it's livelyhood. Approve the extensions.

As an MTW employee and resident of Singleton I would like to express my support for the extension of MTW. I have lived in Singleton and worked at MTW for the past 6 years. My wife is a teacher at a local High School and my 3 children attend local schools. We are actively involved in our community and enjoy the benefits of living and working in this region.
This extension will provide ongoing opportunities for individuals, families (such as mine) and businesses in our area.

My husband and I moved away from our family to make a
Life for our selves. A time later we were transferred to Singleton. We have chosen to make a
Life here in this town. My husband
Being the only worker. With out the mines here
It is not financially viable for us to stay. We have 3 a children in school. This will have drastic effects of the township of Singleton and surrounding areas. People will relocate, back to their families to to where money is available. Everything is worth more $ here, which means all of our bills are higher, and
Our mortgages are as well. Removing the mines means so many families will struggle. The town will suffer economically. Families will have to flood to centerline to receive welfare. Schools will loose valued teaching staff due to the loss of children. Please don't close Warkworth mines.

I rely on this extension for my employment future, family support for my wife and young children and to allow me to continually support businesses through local spending (charities, sports, groceries, fuel, vehicle servicing etc).

I fully support the Warkworth continuation project, countless families, jobs and businesses rely on the approval and continuation of MTW. The flow on effects from the shutdown of this operation will be felt throughout the hunter and NSW.

My husband works at the MTW operation and we rely on this for our lifestyle, family and community commitments. It is a hard time in the industry with some many jobs being lost, don't make it harder for our families and local businesses by reducing the life span of a mine which has been in operation for 30 years already and supported so many dreams in the past.

We need this extension to ensure people stay employed in the Hunter Valley.

I wish to make this submission in the hope that it will help with the Mt Thorley Warkworth extension approval. I have recently started working at MTW via a traineeship through skilled. i love my new career path and want this extension so that i have a secure future. in my first few weeks i have been shown the steps that Rio have taken to minimize the environmental impact on the surrounding areas and how they continue to improve on these procedures. i have many friends and family in the mining industry and i believe that it plays a major part in the hunter economy. Not only does the mine keep people like me employed but it also helps the local area of singleton and surrounding areas to thrive. Both of my parents have small businesses in the Maitland area which have both been affected by the downturn in mining. Neither of these companies related to the mining industries. My mother is the former Maitland Business of chamber president and is the owner/manager of a restaurant who has said many times that since the downturn in mining less people are spending money. She used to have company bookings from mining companies occasionally which bought in great business. My Father owns a development business, which has also taken a dive due to less people being employed by the local mines and has reduced the number of people needing development consultancies such as this. We also have many friends who are small business owners who have also taken a hit, ranging from business clothing suppliers to beauticians to pet stores. I for one believe that the best thing for the entire hunter right now would be for the extension of the Mount Thorley Warkworth site to be given full approval.

I believe the extensions applied for by RTCA at both the Warkworth and Mt Thorley sites are critical to supporting not only the 1300 jobs at the site but also the 1000's of external jobs that will be affected further down the chain. If rejected, the economical impacts in the region will be quite substantial. Increased unemployment, lower wages, decreased retail spending etc. I think the gains will also be of great benefit to the region and to the state.

The approval of the MTW extensions will be of great benefit to not only the 1300 employees but 1000's of other workers who are employed indirectly by MTW.Employees,their families and the wider community have all benefitted from the prosperity mining has brought to the region.If the extension is approved it will provide employment and a stable future for families and the community as a whole.

It's so important for this extension to be approved for the future not only 1300 employees but for all business that will be affected.how many people need to be unemployed before the nsw government stands up and overrides the green decisions.there is actually people that work for mt thorley that live in the Bulga community.....what Hippocrates and bullshit.

As a local owner of a small mobile business that works in the Hunter Valley coal mines, I think it is very important to approve the expansion for Warkworth. Not only is this important on a business side, but for the continuing life of the surrounding communities, the people of these communities and the country. The coal mining industry is a very important part of the Australian lifestyle and many families and their future depends on this ongoing project.

My family relies on MTW to provide work to my husband and I and it also provides funding to our kids sporting organisations and the local community. Im scared of what will become of Singleton if this application is not granted!

I'm a contractor at MTW and live in a nearby town. The continuation of the site will ensure my future and that of a lot of my friends who rely on it remaining open. The town of Singleton also relies on the mine remaining viable, not just the contractors who work on the site but the shops that need our custom. The flow on effect of MTW closing down will be devastating.

This proposal will have a direct impact on my family if this is not given approval. My job as an operator will likely be terminated leaving me as sole bread winner unable to provided for my family. there is also many businesses i spend my money at both too and from work. being the broke general store and PK's Old General Store in Cessnock both of which are supported me and many other workers at the mine. Plans i have building a new home are on hold until this proposal is finalized and is placing great stress on me and my family. i hope the pac will approve this quickly thank you

I support miners