Warkworth Coal Mine Continuation

I wish to voice my strong support for continuing Mount Thorley Warkworth (MTW) operations in the Hunter Valley. MTW has operated responsibly and in a sustainable manner in the Hunter Region for more than 30 years. The mine is a major employer in Singleton community, with more than 1300 jobs on the line if operations are to cease. I fear to imagine the profound impact that closure would have upon the livelihood of employees, their families and the wider community that benefit from mining in Hunter Region. Hunter Region should be proud of its rich, multi-generational history of coal mining. Why are we placing at risk the future prosperity that responsible coal mining can provide?

Rio Tinto Coal Australia spends alnost $200 million directly with Hunter Valley local business, this will reduce dramatically and have far reaching impact to local employment across a region that is already under duress.
Mount Thorley Warkworth employs over 1000 locals who for over 30 years have supported local sporting clubs, local business, schools, hospitals and other community groups - not only Singleton will suffer as a direct of result of this decision, Hunter Valley Region and NSW will be impacted.

At 40 I've made a complete career change and taken on a 2 year traineeship as an Operator, and am working at the Mount Thorley Warkworth site. I'm a single mum of 4 and am trying my best to provide for my family. Without the go ahead for the site extension, myself and 1300 other people will be without job, not to mention the flow on affect to supporting businesses and the greater community. Please allow the extension and support our jobs, families and communities.

As a Mount Thorley Warkworth employee and Singleton resident I know that the continuation MTW is critical to the future of our community and the Hunter Valley as a whole. MTW employs 1300 people, and approval of this planning application is required to secure employment of these people. Without the Warkworth Continuation the mine will not be able to keep up current production rates and jobs will be lost - assuming the mine would even be viable at lowered production rates.

It is noticeable that Singleton is hurting from the current mining downturn as many people have already had to leave town . Businesses are quieter, more houses are for sale, and the house prices are dropping. What will happen if another 1300 people lose their jobs? I know that I personally would have to leave the region to look for work, as there are very little mining related employment opportunities in the Hunter at the moment. How many others will have to leave too if the Warkworth Continuation isn't approved? What is going to happen to our communities?

Mount Thorley Warkworth is a 30 year old mine, wanting to continue mining on it's own land, and continue providing economic benefits to the local and Hunter regions .I support the Warkworth Continuation as we need to keep the jobs of the 1300 employees.

I fully support the Warkworth Continuation project and I know many people within Maitland also support the ongoing development of the coal mining industry as it has one of the best reputations for environmental responsibility in the world.

To whom it may concern;
The uncertainty over Mount Thorley Warkworth's future puts at risk not only my future but the future of 1300 of my colleagues. The mine is simply seeking approvals to continue operating until 2035 on land it owns within the foot print of its existing mining leases. I am a current employee at Mount Thorley Warkworth and have been for the past 4 years. I currently live in Singleton with my young family and have found both the town and the wider Hunter region, a great place to live. The location, education and medical facilities, and employment opportunities are great. Personally, I enjoy working at Mount Thorley Warkworth and endeavour to continue to do so for some time. In my opinion, the community should embrace mining and the natural resource we've been gifted. Afford us the opportunity to extract it safely and to the benefit of our community and NSW.
John Najor
Singleton, NSW

I have grown up in Singleton all my life, my family works in the industry and moved to the Hunter Valley 30 years ago for mining. The Hunter is and always has been a mining community.
In the past 12 months we have seen the affects of a down-turn due to economical reasons and also approvals based, not only at MTW. Stop the backlash against mining, an industry that has always supported the community and working towards continual improvement.

I am a local resident who has been a part of the Singleton Community all my life and personally seen the benefits of mining in a mining town. I support mining jobs in Singleton, a town with a proud history of mining and a strong future if the Mount Thorley Warkworth continuation proceeds.

SCARED! If MTW doesn't get the extension then the outcome will be TOTAL devistation to all employees and the Hunter Valley. This will effect everyone even down to the butcher and baker. The Singleton community will not stand up to this outcome and all businesses will be effected. More job losses, businesses closing down . The Singleton Council needs to get off it's backsde and support us 100%. We donate alot of money each financial year to the council and don't get their support when we are screaming out for it. Please save our jobs as we all have huge mortgages and families to support. There are no jobs out there for 1300 of our employees to go and grab once we all get laid off!!!!

I have moved back to the Hunter Valley for continued work within the industry but after the last 2 years of down turn for economical and planning reasons am always concerned for my future and the Hunter Valley.

I support mining jobs in Singleton, a town with a proud history of mining which i have witnessed in my 30 years as a local resident who moved here for mining. A strong future for all involved in the industry across NSW will only be possible if the Mount Thorley Warkworth continuation proceeds.

I am in full favour of MTW extension being approved, it will effect myself, my family, friends and the community if this mine was to close.

I believe that MTW is an important contributer to our local community and that if this mine was to close or impose impossible restrictions that would prove unreasonable to continue to operate that this would have a negative impact on the region and Singleton.
MTW should continue to comply with legislation and has an obligation to continue to improve its measures that reduce its impact on surrounding communities especially in regards to noise and dust but to not approve this extension is not the answer.
In our current environment, mining jobs are going to continue to be lost with many people living in Singleton, as i do. Mining companies are already under the opinion that mining in NSW is no longer viable and will move there operations to other areas of Australia. To say that the closure of MTW will have little impact then they do not live here or do not understand or have a bias anti-mining opinion.

My own job, as well as the jobs of my brother in law and some of my friends will be directly impacted if the Warkworth continuation is not approved. I care about the people i work with and do not want to see them out of a job either, especially with other mines in the Hunter Valley closing recently. This means it is harder than ever to get a job in the industry i am trained in and love, in the Hunter Valley (where i grew up and have lived for 30 of my 33 years).

My family is in the middle of building a house in the local area and if i lose my job and find it hard to get something else, my family's livelihood will be compromised.

In the last 12-18 months the impact on the local area of Singleton, plus the wider community has seen the negative results of the mining down turn. I would hate to think what will happen to many local business and residents in the community if the Warkworth Continuation is not approved.

As an employee i can see what lengths other employees, as well as Rio Tinto goes to to minimise impacts on the near neighbours. Dust and noise control efforts are taken very seriously and i have experienced the mine reducing production or closing production all together if noise and/or dust is getting too high.

I urge you to take these factors into consideration and hope that MTW can continue to employee 1300 workers and contribute to the local community.

I originally moved from England with my family 8 years ago to Singleton as my dad took a job. It was a life changing moment for me personally but Singleton soon became home. Up until the last 3 years the mining industry within Singleton was a stable enviornment to work and my husband currently is employed with in the industry. Recently there has been too many job losses within the industry and my family has been affected by a closure of a mine in the Hunter which has required a move, consider the future of current employees and the likely affects of not approving the Mount Thorley Warkworth project will have.

our livelihood depends on my husband working for MTW. We are a single income family and if the mine should close down it will obviously affect our entire family. The mine supports many of our friends who work directly for the mine and others who are contracted to the mine. Most of the residents where we live , work directly for the mine. If the extension is not approved this entire neighbourhood will be affected. With the job losses that have already taken place, many of the house owners, have put their houses in the market and its drastically affecting the median house prices in our area. I fully support the extension of the mine as I believe that it will continue to bring revenue into the area and maintain the families of the employees. The mine brings in much needed revenue into the Hunter Valley and surrounding areas, which will otherwise not thrive without the mine being in operation.

I work for mtw, if I loose my job my family will have to leave the area, my children go to school, we live in singleton and shop locally.....we want to stay here and continue to work at mtw..

I support mining jobs in Singleton, a town with a proud history of mining and a strong future if the Mount Thorley Warkworth continuation proceeds.
There have already been too many job losses in mining over the past 12 months and these projects should be approved to secure employment for more than 1,300 people that rely on these mines for their income to support their families.
I support the economic benefits that mining brings to the Hunter and the state.

I support mining jobs in Singleton, a town with a proud history of mining and a strong future if the Mount Thorley Warkworth continuation proceeds.
There have already been too many job losses in mining over the past 12 months and these projects should be approved to secure employment for more than 1,300 people that rely on these mines for their income to support their families.
I support the economic benefits that mining brings to the Hunter and the state

Professionally, the recruitment of full time employees to MTW is my responsibility. Our ability to attract suitable talent to ensure the ongoing success of MTW's mining and support operations is being impared by the lack of long term mining approvals which gaurantee the employment security of potential employees. As the end date for continuation of current production rates draws closer, my ability to provide assurance to prospective employees is negated.
We need the approval of our continuation to provide certainty, not only for current employees but for future employees looking for a high performing and secure professional environment in which they can contribute to success and grow their own career.

Personally, as a resident of the Singleton LGA I have seen the region decline economically over the last 2 years. Securing the long term future of a major enconomic contributor locally and regionally, as well as a primary employer, is the key to medium term stability. The stability created by long term approvals will allow for prudent long term planning by councils and state governments to assist in the transition from coal mining as a major employer to other industries as the reliance on coal mining in the Hunter recedes.