Warkworth Coal Mine Continuation

I am making a submission in support of the Warkworth Continuation Project application.
I have been employed at MTW since 2007. In that time I have seen the significant contribution that MTW, Coal & Allied, its employees, contractors, and suppliers makes to the local community. Not only in direct employment, and community funding support, but just as importantly in the contributions and involvement in our schools, sporting groups, and local volunteer organsations.
In a time when the industry faces pricing and cost challenges, and many are already dealing with or facing unemployment, the Warkworth Continuation Project is opportunity to save local jobs and continue an existing 30 year old productive mining operation.
The local and regional significance of losing another 1300 jobs has to be considered and appreciated in this application. The impact on Singleton, Cessnock and local communities of MTW closing down would be severe.
Coal & Allied and MTW has a strong culture and history of health & safety and the impact on others with everything we do at work that has also filtered into the community, schools and our supplier base. I was previously employed with Ford Motor Company in Victoria which was struggling financially even in 2007 and is now closing down. Moving to the Hunter Valley has given my family (wife and two daughters) the ability to plan a secure future in great community with good schools and prospsects.

MTW is on a coal lease that was established in 1981. For 33 years, the operation has contributed and been an integral part of the local community. This application is being betrayed by some as an "expansion" and that the impacts of continuing outwieght the benefits.
The continuatton project is only maintaining MTWs current production levels and current employment levels by mining on the coal lease that has been in place since 1981.
Being on site I have seen the commitment and lengths the company goes to in reducing noise, light, dust and water runoff from the mine. Every worker is responsible to monitor and correct any concerns in these areas.

The benefits and significance of the MTW mine to the local community far outweigh the impacts of noise, light, and dust which are actively managed.

The Mount Thorley Warkworth extension is a key part of my life and the lifes of many workers. The mine is a major part of the income to not just the mine workers themselves but also that of many others, like the person who delivers the mail or the person who delivers the fuel. These people are generally looking after one site not others.
I believe the site are doing everything they can to adhere to governing body requests.
The mine closure would impact my family greatly. I have a wife & 3 children who rely on me going to work to provide food and a roof.

Hi,
I have lived in Singleton for the past 34 years and seen the highs and lows of the mining industry but never as low as it is right now. I am commited to the community of Singleton through various volountary groups. I support mining jobs in Singleton. I am one of the 1300 people employed at MTW and rely on this income to support my family. There has been too many job losses in the mining industry over the past 12 months. For Singleton, the Hunter and the State these mining projects need to be approved as they are a major economic benefit.
Regards
Daniel Halsey

The future of this town and the vast majority of the occupants rely
on mining for our lively-hoods.

The equipment, people and community are all here and ready to mine.
The community has been hit hard already, another blow is likely to cause consequences of a significant scale.

I support this project.

I support the extension of warkworth, because of the job which would be lost and the impact this will have on Singleton area.I am a employer also, employing another 22 people in my business. Warkworth has been 1 of our key customers we have had since we started in 2003 and lossing warkwoth would affect our business and the families which rely on us.

I am a contractor at MTW, I would like to keep my job.

I am in support of the continuation project so that job security for the mine employees and economic development for the Singleton community is ensured.

I support the Warkworth Continuation Project. I am a local resident, I work local I shop local, my kids go to a local school. I am a local rate payer. I am dependant on this mine site as primary income for my family. In a limited job market there is no way my family could survive in this area without my current job. The area does not have many other jobs going, we would definitely have to sell and move. Its already happening with the market decline, my friends now FIFO Hunter Valley to Darwin 2wks out of 4 each month, its a family killer but better than no job. If the existing compliant mine site owner is not allowed to access the resources on their lease; that is less Australian product sold to the market. Where do the buyers go then; Somewhere else that can provide. Coal is a competitive market most likely elsewhere; is not Australia. Less Coal sold = less Mining = less Industry = less Jobs = less families = 1300 less tax payers = less Australia. Grow not decline.

In my view there are enough environmental restrictions in place that this continuation will support the community with little to no impact into the future. I see no reason it should not go ahead.

As a long term resident of Singleton and working for a supplier of Rio, I support the application

In my role as the Aboriginal Business Advisor for the Hunter I would like to support the Warkworth Coal Mine Project. Although I am fully aware of some of the impacts mining has had on our region, the impact resulting from the loss of jobs, and employment opportunities would be devastating. Towns such as Singleton and Muswellbrook in particular would become virtual ghost towns with no industry in a position to fill the void. It is not just direct employment effected but the support industries that operate throughout the Hunter, it's the small business operator who is already struggling to keep the doors open, it's the schools and community organisations that mining companies support through a variety of funding options and programs that will suffer. Is the government going to support them?

I am not a miner nor do I make my living from the industry, I also believe in finding the balance and protecting our natural and cultural resources for future generations, but I have also seen the opportunities for positive economic development for our communities as a result of mining in the region. The reality is that the Hunter Valley would not be as prosperous as it is and has been if mining wasn't here. We can't sit back as a society and benefit from an industry during our generation and than oppose for the next.

Supporting RTCA's Mount Thorley ? Warkworth application is an absolute must as without this project the whole region will be impacted. This included SME businesses and also the communities

Supporting the Industry that has supported the community

I support MTW and the 1300 plus jobs that will be saved if this submission is successful. Without it where are all these people going to work? It is not just 1300 jobs, the number would be more - its the contractors, the suppliers the surrounding businesses that are all affected. With so many job losses already, not sure of the future of the Hunter.

As a health professional in the mining idustry, I have been privvy to the devastating psychological impact of loss of job and loss of income for individuals, families and the community. The mass impact of mine closure, directly for 1300 employees, and indirectly for many more suppliers, contractors, busineses etc. can be averted by granting the mining extension approval and the continuation of mining at Mt Thorley Warkworth into the future.

I have friends, family and co-workers that are employed at MTW. I believe mining in general is a major player in our communities prosperity and believe that MTW is a key mine in the success of our region.

Strongly support the continuation given the positive impact it will have on the local community in terms of both direct and indirect job security

RTCA MTW is a important entity for the community. Mining is the backbone of the country to ensure its economic future.

The current and previous investments for this project ensures the future success of the community.

1300 jobs, 600 businesses and associated revenue will be too great a loss to NSW and Australia. The positive contributions to the surrounding communities is what puts Warkworth over the top, including many charity and sporting associations.