Warkworth Coal Mine Continuation

Im voting for the extension application for Warkworth mine. Im a 35yo female who has worked here for 4yrs as a haul truck operator. This job not only is my passion but my life, i have never worked anywhere where i love going to work every shift. Saying no to this extension would be a massive impact to me, my partner (who works via a contracting company at several mine sites) and my father in law who has worked here at warkworth for over 30yrs.. Our lives will be majorly impacted and so will our community of Greta and surrounds. No longer will i be able to support and sponsor local sporting clubs, i will limit my every day things such as buying coffee at the local bakery, raffle tickets ,my support for luxuries at the local beauticians,hairdressers etc will cease. It may sound trivial but these local buisnesses are already experiencing massive downturn and the ramifications of another 1,000 plus people and their families without income will be devasting.
please listen to us, this is an already established mine who supports locals...

I am one of many citizens gathering awareness about the environmental costs associated with coal mining.
Climate Change resulting from human activity will create crises in the future and must be reduced as we advance sustainable energy alternatives.
Land without top soil and the pollution that comes from coal mining seem never to be 'costed' genuinely when estimating profits and so often to distant shareholders.
When will governments wake up to the real values of agricultural land, clean air, uncontaminated waterways and natural vegetation?
The Warkworth and Mt Thorley projects have already been rejected in the Land and Environment Court and in the Supreme Court. The re submission by Rio Tinto of its' plans to persist, insults due process.

This is a submission against both the Warkworth (SSD 6464) and Mt Thorley (SSD 6465) Continuation Projects.

The NSW Land and Environment Court ruled in April 2013 that expanding the Warkworth coal mine would do the NSW public more harm than good. Judge Preston found that the information used by Rio Tinto and NSW Planning in support of the project was wrong, and he overturned the approval.

When Rio Tinto and the NSW Government appealed that decision to the NSW Supreme Court (Court of Appeal), they lost. Two superior NSW courts have now ruled that Rio's plan to expand the Warkworth coal mine fails on merit.

The Bulga people and their many supporters justly assumed that this would be the end of the project. Instead, Rio Tinto have simply resubmitted their mining application. It has been split in two, and the name updated, but these two projects (SSD 6464 and SSD 6465) are effectively the same project that has been rejected by two NSW courts (MP 09_0202).

That the Planning Department has even accepted Rio Tinto's application is a failure of procedural fairness, and makes a farce of the very process you are now asking us, the public, to participate in. We are being asked to make submissions on a project that has already been through this very same assessment process and failed - only to be resubmitted. We are being asked to submit to a process overseen by a Department that is clearly working closely with the proponent to get the project approved, and which got the decision wrong the first time around. There can be no faith in this process.

The Department must respect the decisions of the NSW Land and Environment Court, and the NSW Supreme Court (Court of Appeal), and reject these applications.

i was widowed 34 yrs ago and had a son and daughter to raese on my own.
my daughter works in a mine in singleton nsw.
after many years of struggle my llife at 65 has now become a lot easier as kelley helps to support me because she is in a great job that allows her to do so.
if she was to be out of work due to not enough area to mine because preposals to expand were denied.
aus was made on the back of the mining industry as many in singleton would also be out of work and the town would be a ghost town. also i am sure the local council; would be very out of pocket.that town relies on the coal mines to survive. please pass the preprosals and keep my daughter and all miners in a job for many years to
dont we have enough unimployment in this country already. keep our country thriving don T let it die. other industries would also suffer and more jobs would be gone.think hard and realise what a mistake to not allow expansion. it woulde be on your heads the survival of australia is in your hands

the hunter region needs this extension to keep 1300 people in their jobs and to help the encomy

This is a submission against both the Warkworth (SSD 6464) and Mt Thorley (SSD 6465) Continuation Projects.

The NSW Land and Environment Court ruled in April 2013 that expanding the Warkworth coal mine would do the NSW public more harm than good. Judge Preston found that the information used by Rio Tinto and NSW Planning in support of the project was wrong, and he overturned the approval.

When Rio Tinto and the NSW Government appealed that decision to the NSW Supreme Court (Court of Appeal), they lost. Two superior NSW courts have now ruled that Rio's plan to expand the Warkworth coal mine fails on merit.

The Bulga people and their many supporters justly assumed that this would be the end of the project. Instead, Rio Tinto have simply resubmitted their mining application. It has been split in two, and the name updated, but these two projects (SSD 6464 and SSD 6465) are effectively the same project that has been rejected by two NSW courts (MP 09_0202).

That the Planning Department has even accepted Rio Tinto's application is a failure of procedural fairness, and makes a farce of the very process you are now asking us, the public, to participate in. We are being asked to make submissions on a project that has already been through this very same assessment process and failed - only to be resubmitted. We are being asked to submit to a process overseen by a Department that is clearly working closely with the proponent to get the project approved, and which got the decision wrong the first time around. There can be no faith in this process.

The Department must respect the decisions of the NSW Land and Environment Court, and the NSW Supreme Court (Court of Appeal), and reject these applications.

This is a submission against both the Warkworth (SSD 6464) and Mt Thorley (SSD 6465) Continuation Projects.

The NSW Land and Environment Court ruled in April 2013 that expanding the Warkworth coal mine would do the NSW public more harm than good. Judge Preston found that the information used by Rio Tinto and NSW Planning in support of the project was wrong, and he overturned the approval.

When Rio Tinto and the NSW Government appealed that decision to the NSW Supreme Court (Court of Appeal), they lost. Two superior NSW courts have now ruled that Rio's plan to expand the Warkworth coal mine fails on merit.

The Bulga people and their many supporters justly assumed that this would be the end of the project. Instead, Rio Tinto have simply resubmitted their mining application. It has been split in two, and the name updated, but these two projects (SSD 6464 and SSD 6465) are effectively the same project that has been rejected by two NSW courts (MP 09_0202).

That the Planning Department has even accepted Rio Tinto's application is a failure of procedural fairness, and makes a farce of the very process you are now asking us, the public, to participate in. We are being asked to make submissions on a project that has already been through this very same assessment process and failed - only to be resubmitted. We are being asked to submit to a process overseen by a Department that is clearly working closely with the proponent to get the project approved, and which got the decision wrong the first time around. There can be no faith in this process.

The Department must respect the decisions of the NSW Land and Environment Court, and the NSW Supreme Court (Court of Appeal), and reject these applications.

I would like to object to the extension of Mt Thorley & Warkworth mines. At the moment Abbey Green feels ground vibration & over blast pressure from the blasting at the mine sites. Blasting at both Mt Thorley & Warkworth sites has caused structural damage to the buildings on the property mainly the homestead circa 1863 which holds a lot of local historical value. At both the residential locations on the property the buildings & vehicles are covered in coal dust daily, we wash the outside of the buildings & vehicles regularly & it is an ongoing maintenance issue. We are unable to leave windows open for ventilation as the coal dust enters the inside of the houses. I am concerned with the extension on the mines as the dust problem will only increase with the CPP at both site being in closer proximity to Abbey Green. We are regularly disturbed with the mine operation noise & this will increase with the mine extensions. We constantly see the coal dust, dust from overburden, dust and fume from blasting practices. Dust from machinery and vehicle movements from lack of sufficient dust suppression measures and Mining practices. The Abbey Green Sense of place is being destroyed by the changes to the visual landscape. Views from the property of the broken back ranges and surrounds are damaged by the movement of existing hills and piles of overburden. With this comes the changes to our weather patterns and natural air movement. It is essential that local residents issues are heard. We are a local family who have lived here for over 8 years, agriculture is our way of life. We are concerned for the health of our young children and that of ourselves.

i have lived in Singleton all my life and i fully support the Mt Thorley Warkworth application for the approval of an extension and continuation. the jobs of many rely on it as well as the local community and our economy.

As a resident of Singleton i fully support the application for the approval of the Mt Thorley Warkworth extension and continuation.

This is a submission against both the Warkworth (SSD 6464) and Mt Thorley (SSD 6465) Continuation Projects.

I submit that a decision to allow expansion of this coal mine would be a reckless and possibly criminal action because :

(1) The output of the mine will contribute to anthropogenic global warming.

(2) the NSW Planning Department will have ignored the warnings of world leaders, the IPCC, the United Nations and the vast majority of the world's climate scientists.

Additionally:
The NSW Land and Environment Court ruled in April 2013 that expanding the Warkworth coal mine would do the NSW public more harm than good. Judge Preston found that the information used by Rio Tinto and NSW Planning in support of the project was wrong, and he overturned the approval.

When Rio Tinto and the NSW Government appealed that decision to the NSW Supreme Court (Court of Appeal), they lost. Two superior NSW courts have now ruled that Rio's plan to expand the Warkworth coal mine fails on merit.

The Bulga people and their many supporters justly assumed that this would be the end of the project. Instead, Rio Tinto have simply resubmitted their mining application. It has been split in two, and the name updated, but these two projects (SSD 6464 and SSD 6465) are effectively the same project that has been rejected by two NSW courts (MP 09_0202).

That the Planning Department has even accepted Rio Tinto's application is a failure of procedural fairness, and makes a farce of the very process you are now asking us, the public, to participate in. We are being asked to make submissions on a project that has already been through this very same assessment process and failed - only to be resubmitted. We are being asked to submit to a process overseen by a Department that is clearly working closely with the proponent to get the project approved, and which got the decision wrong the first time around. There can be no faith in this process.

The Department must respect the decisions of the NSW Land and Environment Court, and the NSW Supreme Court (Court of Appeal), and reject these applications.

As a resident of Singleton i fully support the application for the approval of the Mt Thorley Warkworth extension and continuation.

I work for a supplier to Mt Thorley Warkworth and have several Mates/ Family working there. MTW has always been willing to adopt any measures I have put forward in regards to safety/ environment improvement.

I personally feel that this mine provides a substantial benefit to the community.

The extension should be approved 1300 jobs will go , the local and state economy will suffer as most of the workers spend 90% of there wage in the local area ,local business will suffer and some local suppliers of the mine could close as a result.The mine supports the local schools, hospitals, fire and local sporting events, wespac rescue helicopter. They employ local people including myself and i want nothing more then to have my 2 young girls grow up in the area go to school here it would be a shame to see another 1300 jobs lost in hunter mining with the development of areas like Huntlee and Hunter Highlands we need to keep the jobs so the people don't have to relocate and that would be terrible for the local area
Thank you

When we purchased our property 32 years ago we made a life decision for our family to enable them to enjoy growing up in a healthy environment and establish a home that would be also a financial asset to us for our old age. The mine was not a danger to us then but now the dust, excess noise and visual pollution are intolerable. We should be able to feel that when we wish to sell that we will be able to at a price that is equitable to the market value. The courts decision to dismiss the application for the mine to extend its area should be upheld. People's health, both physical and mental will be affected by their greed and total lack of care for the environement. WE ARE AFFECTED..DO NOT ALLOW THE PROPOSED EXTENSION..

My husband owns a business in singleton that relies greatly on the goods supplied to Warkworth mine. He has voiced his horror if Warkworth expansion is not allowed. Our lively hood will be in jeopardy and we may lose the house and even his parents house that is up as collateral on his business.
Thankyou for considering my submission.

This is a submission against both the Warkworth (SSD 6464) and Mt Thorley (SSD 6465) Continuation Projects.

The NSW Land and Environment Court ruled in April 2013 that expanding the Warkworth coal mine would do the NSW public more harm than good. Judge Preston found that the information used by Rio Tinto and NSW Planning in support of the project was wrong, and he overturned the approval.

When Rio Tinto and the NSW Government appealed that decision to the NSW Supreme Court (Court of Appeal), they lost. Two superior NSW courts have now ruled that Rio's plan to expand the Warkworth coal mine fails on merit.

The Bulga people and their many supporters justly assumed that this would be the end of the project. Instead, Rio Tinto have simply resubmitted their mining application. It has been split in two, and the name updated, but these two projects (SSD 6464 and SSD 6465) are effectively the same project that has been rejected by two NSW courts (MP 09_0202).

That the Planning Department has even accepted Rio Tinto's application is a failure of procedural fairness, and makes a farce of the very process you are now asking us, the public, to participate in. We are being asked to make submissions on a project that has already been through this very same assessment process and failed - only to be resubmitted. We are being asked to submit to a process overseen by a Department that is clearly working closely with the proponent to get the project approved, and which got the decision wrong the first time around. There can be no faith in this process.

The Department must respect the decisions of the NSW Land and Environment Court, and the NSW Supreme Court (Court of Appeal), and reject these applications.

I strongly object to this proposal on the grounds that the mine cannot operate within their current consent noise conditions. We are 6km away and already noise levels are unacceptable, as mining activity moves closer to the village (2km away) and over burden dumps get higher the noise levels will increase.

It is impossible to prevent dust in an open cut mine. The amount of dust is already unacceptable, cleaning outdoor furniture is pointless as it is dusty again in a very short period of time. It is nearly impossible to keep inside the house dust free with dust settling within hours of dusting through out.

Currently the noise and dust with the current consent has reduced the quality of life of the occupants of this household. I did not chose to live in a small rural community to live behind closed doors and windows.

The approval of this mining extension is critical to maintaining both my job and the jobs of over 1300 workers at MTW mine, as well as many other employees of Rio Tinto based around the Hunter Valley and in Brisbane, many contractors, suppliers and vendors whom do business with Rio Tinto, as well as investor confidence in the NSW Mining industry.

I moved to Singleton nearly three years ago to begin my career with Rio Tinto. In that time, I have settled down in Singleton, married and am now a proud father of a one-year-old son. I've seen the devastating effects that mine closures have had in this area. It is really sad to see people I know lose their job, and to face the devastation of relying on Centrelink just to feed their family.

The mines which have so far shut down (Integra underground, Glennies Creek) are much smaller mines than MTW. If MTW were to close down, property prices in the Hunter Valley would plummet from their already depressed values. Families will be facing strife.

MTW mine brings billions of dollars into the local economy. Not only does mining pay the state government millions of dollars a year in royalties, the employees of mining operations pay millions in income tax to the federal government.

The mining industry feeds the Australian economy and allows the government to fund schools, hospitals, roads, and other infrastructure.

Rio Tinto conducts its mining operations with a high level of integrity and compliance, and an excellent level of safety. As both an employee and a member of the local community, I feel that it is in the interest of the community for the Warkworth mining extension to be approved.

My husband works in the mining industry in the Hunter Valley so my family heavily relies on this industry. I have two close friends whose husbands work at Mount Thorley, these families have young children and given their wives are working part time to look after their children, I hate to think how much these families would struggle without employment at Mount Thorley.

I also have friend's who own a business in Singleton and we have spoken at length numerous times about how much they rely on the mining industry. Without mines such as Mount Thorley their business would struggle to survive along with so many others in the region.

It scares me to constantly hear how the mining downturn is affecting employment in the Hunter Region and the uncertainty and pressure this places on everyday people. If Mount Thorley is not granted the continuation I hate to think of the ramifications that will be felt throughout the valley and Newcastle area. I'm a big believer in conservation and ensuring that environmental issues are considered with developments and large scale projects, however in this instance this really needs to be weighed up with the massive impact this stance would have on the lives of so many families.