Wilpinjong Coal Mine Extension

The extension of Wilpinjong Mine will make the village of Wollar unlivable.
The cumulative social impact of loss of population through mining projects from Ulan to Bylong has not been considered.
The noise assessment, monitoring and mitigation measures are totally inadequate.
Air quality has not been assessed against the new standards adopted in December 2015.
The extension will remove 354 hectares of remnant native vegetation and have an impact on 24 threatened species and ecological communities - more than the current approval. The biodiversity offsets will not provide sufficient habitat for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater.
The cumulative impacts on biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage, water sources, greenhouse gas emissions, community and rural industry have not been rigorously assessed.
The mine will produce an additional 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gasses a year, exacerbating the impacts of climate change. This is at odds with Australia's commitments under the Paris Accord.
The area has significant Aboriginal cultural heritage values that have not been assessed in a regional context.
The extension removes existing buffer zones for the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve.
The extension will leave three final voids that will permanently scar the landscape and harm waterways for hundreds of years.
The ongoing impacts on groundwater and surface water systems will be greater than predicted.
The predicted job numbers are overstated compared, with the current workforce extracting the same volume of coal.
Peabody Energy is in deep financial distress and may not be fit to meet all its obligations.
The contract to supply AGL's Bayswater Power Station can be met by the current approval.
The proposal to continue extracting low quality coal while causing irreversible environmental and social damage cannot be justified.

Hi

I wish to make a submission regarding the expansion of the coal mine near Wollar.

Having the coal mine so close to the village will create noise and dust, and will increase the pollutants in the air around where people's homes are.

The burning of coal generally is a very dirty source of energy, with implications on our health, and our environment.

I strongly oppose the proposed expansion of the mine.

I am looking at the future. My family have always been farmers. Because of environmental degradation and climate change around the globe, Australia will become a major food-provider in the Pacific Area. It will be our main source of income in maybe 50 years time. Therefore it makes no sense to destroy good farming land and water supplies just to take out a couple of years income from a dirty and obsolete energy source. Nobody is speaking up for the next generation or their children. Maybe it is because they cannot yet vote? The legacy we leave them will be horrible. Please do not allow yet more destruction of Australia's precious productive agricultural areas and remnant bushland. We have enough desert land already.

This is another totally unnecessary coal mine. Most coal mining companies are in financial stress. Should this company fail early in the construction of this extension where will money come from to rehabilitate what they have started? Also what sum is being put aside for rehabilitation at the end of the mining? Or are the Governments, therefore us, the taxpayers, going to foot the bill.
I spent most of my school years in Mudgee and regularly travelled to Wollar. In fact I had family in the Bylong Valley, not far away. The people in these valleys farmed the land mostly sustainably, but now it is being destroyed, never to return.
The impact of the people, who may have to remain, because of their own financial constraints will be subject to noise, poor air quality and total loss of amenity. The town will become unliveable.
The removal of 354 hectares of remnant vegetation will have a major impact on threatened species and ecological communities. The Regent Honeyeater which is critically endangered, uses this area. In fact regular survey are undertaken in the area. Once again a mine will kill all this off for short term gain.

There are so many other reason why this mine should be stopped.

Do not let this mine destroy one more area of NSW. We have lost enough already.

Dear Sir,

I am totally oppoed to any further mining in this beautiful area of Australia.
The people of this area have already been subjedted to a terrible situation, - noise pollution and dust, Enough is enough.

Our grandchildren will be appalled at the terrible exploitation that these mines create. Our groundwater supply is at risk. Mines such as these alter the microclimate of the area, People, plants and animals are displaced. The mining industry is at a low at the moment, so there is no reason to expand the mine.

The expansion of this mine is insanity. I believe in karma. In other words,the people in government who make such wrong decisions that harm this country will ultimately face the consequences of their actions.

Regards,

Judith Cousins

It appears that expansion of Peabody's Wilpinjong operation will bring it within 1.5klms of the village (that is village) of Wollar. it wipes the village out and ladens the valley with more coal dust. The state of Hunter Valley shows that even those in the strongest position seem unable to discipline themselves.

Do not go ahead with the extension of the Wilpinjong Coal Mine We are currently experiencing the hottest March on record and it is now accepted beyond a doubt that this is global warming caused by human air contaminants in our atmosphere. No further extensions to any dirty energy sources should be allowed. We need to preserve our climate/ environment. Instead put the money into renewables and keep dirty coal in the ground.

Do you want to make the village of Wollar an unliveable ghost town?
Are you happy with the massive amount of noise, dust and filth this project will produce?
How badly does the simple requirement of a healthy air quality affect you?
Do you want to see a massive ugly hole where there is a thriving natural environment
Do we need an extra +/- 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gasses produced
Have ALL cultural and aboriginal heritage issues been taken into account
Do you want to see the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve become extinct
Do you want filthy groundwater for future generations?
Do you want to be the supporter of GREED and more GREED
Do you want to support and industry that is slowly receding into the annals of history?
Are you being pressured by politicians and business groups who only see PROFIT as an excuse to destroy the only environment we have?

My answer to all the above is NO.
Can't we do something and have something that we will be proud and happy for our grandchildren to still have - hope you want it too, because I do.

I object to any mining within and around farming areas and sensitive flora and fauna. Also any company or individual being allowed to enter privately owned land without the owners permission.
I also object to any activity that affects the quality of water in surrounding catchments.

Dear Sir/Madam,
The proposed extension of the Wilpinjong Coal mine is poorly justified, and the lack of detail is negligent, to the point of deception in several places.

I have read the report carefully, and it does not adequately address many issue, not the least of which are

1/ The encroachment of the open cut mine into inhabited environment. Serious ongoing HEALTH issues, way beyond the 7 year extension

2/ The lack of any sort of proper detail as to WATER MANAGEMENT
Water Management- there is a great deal to be done before these goals can be met. The current standard needs to be upgraded, as existing standards have been raised:-

PSPEA p16-
" The existing site water balance model would be
updated for the Project as part of the EIS.
The Project water management strategy would be
developed as part of the detailed site water balance
model and would be based on the following:
* separation of undisturbed area runoff from
disturbed area runoff;
* collection and reuse of surface runoff from
disturbed areas;
* capture of pit inflows and reuse as process
water;
* storage of water on-site;
* licensed water extraction to supplement water
supply; and
* treatment of water in the Wilpinjong Coal Mine
water treatment plant and release to Wilpinjong
Creek in accordance with the site EPL."

Also p22 TABLE of 'Key Environmental Issues""-
All directed to what to do after there is a problem! It's too late- Money can't buy back a polluted aquifer...

"* Implementation of the Groundwater Monitoring Program and
Surface and Groundwater Response Plan to mitigate, monitor
and manage potential impacts on groundwater resources.
* Appropriate licensing in accordance with the legislative
requirements of the Water Management Act, 2000 and the
Water Act, 1912. "

The ongoing impacts on groundwater and surface water systems will be greater than predicted.Their report actually states-
p11, 2.3
"Two distinct groundwater systems have been
identified at the Wilpinjong Coal Mine
(HydroSimulations, 2014):
* Alluvial groundwater system - associated
primarily with Wilpinjong Creek.
* Porous rock groundwater system - the
Narrabeen Group sandstones and the Illawarra
Coal Measures, consisting of coal seams,
conglomerate, mudstones and siltstones.
The NSW Office of Water has identified a portion of
the alluvial aquifer associated with Wilpinjong Creek
and downstream of the Wilpinjong Coal Mine as
`highly productive'. "

3/ The serious ISOLATION of parts of the National Park and Reserves, with token 'Restoration'
In their own submission- p10/11
"The Development Application Area adjoins the
Goulburn River National Park in the north and the
Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve in the south
(Figure 5). These lands are reserved under the
National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974.
Three Enhancement and Conservation Areas
(ECAs) under a voluntary conservation agreement
with the NSW Minister administering the National
Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974 are also located in the
Development Application Area for the Project
(Figure 5). "

4/The extension will leave three final voids that will permanently scar the landscape and harm waterways for hundreds of years.



4/ The predicted JOB NUMBERS are overstated compared, with the current workforce extracting the same volume of coal.
A workforce total such as they have given will include individual workers doing short-term,one-off supply of temporary labour- There is no way over 600 'jobs' is anything other that playing with statistics of casual/temporary workers.

Peabody Energy is in deep financial distress and may not be fit to meet all its obligations.

5/ The contract to SUPPLY AGL's Bayswater Power Station can be met by the current approval.

The proposal to continue extracting low quality coal while causing irreversible environmental and social damage cannot be justified.With the price of coal falling and a world wanting less, this is an ecological and investment disaster waiting to happen.

5/ And who foots THE BILL in 7 years when the current extension all 'finished', the town is decimated, and the inhabitants sick from coal dust and other mine -related long-term health issues? And Peabody is 'broke' ?

I am a birdwatcher and the extension to the mine will affect regent honeyeater habitat, removing, 354 hectares of remnant native vegetation and having an impact on 24 threatened species and ecological communities. Biodiversity offsets will not be sufficient. The mine extension will negatively impact on Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve.
The landscape of the Hunter Valley and its waterways are being slowly ruined by increasing coal mining. To meet our greenhouse gas reduction targets we should not be approving any more mines or mine extensions.

I wish to support the representations made by The Nature Conservation Council of NSW as they have presented succinctly and comprehensively the case for not conceding the public interest to that of the fossil fuel industries no matter how much money they contribute to political party funds.

Dear Sir/Madam,
I wish to strongly object to the proposed Wilpinjong Mine extension.
Climate change is already affecting the planet and it is a fact that the burning of fossil fuels is a major cause, so it beggars belief that the mining of more coal is a logical and sensible approach.
The company in question, Peabody Mining, is currently suffering under the drop in coal prices and it's questionable if they can continue in the mining business at all, let alone in an extended capacity. Should the company fail, like so many US coal miners have recently, we will be left with a damaged environment and the consequent costs associated with remediation.
This mine, sited "between the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve and the Goulburn River National Park" will adversely affect the area's water, air, & ecology not to mention the social impact on the town of Wollar.
Considering the rapid increase of sustainable power sources worldwide there is no sound reason for this increase in coal production. Bayswater Power Station who use this coal are in no danger of running out and this extension is not required for any future demand.
I just cannot believe such an extension is being considered and hope that your department has the foresight to reject the proposal. For future generations' health and wellbeing, I urge you to act sensibly.
Sincerely,
Alan Glover

I am appalled that the NSW Government is even considering any more coal mines, anywhere.

I object to the pollution these coal miners inflict on their neighbours and what used to be pristine landscape.
The Hunter Valley has become a moonscape of the remnants of coal mining and despite any prior commitment. to clean up the mess, it never gets done

I wish to make a strong objection to theextension of the Wilpinjong Mine .
The extension would make the nearby village of Wollar unlivable.
The impacts on groundwater & surface water systems will almost certainly be significantly greater than predicted.
The cumulative loss of population through mining projects from Ulan to Bylong has not been adequately considered.
The noise assessment, monitoring & mitigation measres proposed are totally inadequate.
Air quality has not been assessed against the new standards adopted in late 2015.
The proposal to continue extracting low quality coal will cause irreversible environmental & social damage cannot be justified.
The extension would produce an additional 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gases per year, exacerbating the impact on climate change. This is at odds with Australia's commitments under the Paris Accord.
The proposal will remove more than 350 hectares of remnant native vegetation & have an adverse impact on some 24 threatened species & ecological communities.

With all due respect and consideration of the need for coal miners to remain financially supported, expanding a coal mine no longer makes any sense financially, environmentally or socially. Please consider the impact that the downstream burning of the additional ROM coal that this expansion would enable. There are better ways to get third world nations out of energy poverty. I might not be a hunter valley resident, but I do share the same atmosphere.

The continued expansion/approval of coal mining in NSW is destroying the fabric of affected rural communities and as a specific example the extension of Wilpinjong Mine will make the village of Wollar unlivable.
In the past the authorities charged with assessing applications for new/expanded mines have proved themselves delinquent in the discharge of their responsibility by failing to consider the cumulative social impact of loss of population through mining projects from Ulan to Bylong.
As evidenced in the Hunter region the noise assessment, monitoring and mitigation measures are totally inadequate and breaches very rarely penalised.
The most recent health survey of Hunter populations has conclusively shown that airborne particulate matter from coal mining is having a deleterious effect on resident health especially that of children and as air quality relevant to this proposal has not been assessed against the new standards adopted in December 2015.
The extension will remove 354 hectares of remnant native vegetation and have an impact on 24 threatened species and ecological communities - more than the current approval. The biodiversity offsets will not provide sufficient habitat for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater.
The cumulative impacts on biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage, water sources, greenhouse gas emissions, community and rural industry have not been rigorously assessed.
The mine will produce an additional 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gasses a year, exacerbating the impacts of climate change. This is at odds with Australia's commitments under the Paris Accord.
The area has significant Aboriginal cultural heritage values that have not been assessed in a regional context.
The extension removes existing buffer zones for the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve.
The extension will leave three final voids that will permanently scar the landscape and harm waterways for hundreds of years.
The ongoing impacts on groundwater and surface water systems will be greater than predicted.
The predicted job numbers are overstated compared, with the current workforce extracting the same volume of coal.
Peabody Energy is in deep financial distress and may not be fit to meet all its obligations.
The contract to supply AGL's Bayswater Power Station can be met by the current approval.
The proposal to continue extracting low quality coal while causing irreversible environmental and social damage cannot be justified on any grounds. It is time any coal mining related proposals are assessed against ALL relevant evidence and international bench marks and when proper pollution criteria and monitoring regimes are enforced this proposed expansion will be shown to not be viable.

In his acceptance Premier Baird said, in part, "I love this state....because of its people".
Yet with this Wilpinjong extension to a Peabody coal-mine Mr Baird is condoning the destruction of another NSW community because their village will get in the way of the extended coal-mine.
He is also condoning the destruction of countless floral & faunal communities because these uniquely Australian animals & plants will get in the way of the extraction of coal.
If Australian & GLOBAL communities are to have a liveable future COAL & OTHER FOSSIL FUELS MUST STAY IN THE GROUND in NSW & everywhere else.
NSW needs to be smarter than that & build new employment based on renewable energy.
The Wilpinjong extension must not go ahead for the local communities' sakes and the sake of a safe future for all.

The extension of Wilpinjong Mine will make the village of Wollar unlivable.
The cumulative social impact of loss of population through mining projects from Ulan to Bylong has not been considered.
The noise assessment, monitoring and mitigation measures are totally inadequate.
Air quality has not been assessed against the new standards adopted in December 2015.
The extension will remove 354 hectares of remnant native vegetation and have an impact on 24 threatened species and ecological communities - more than the current approval. The biodiversity offsets will not provide sufficient habitat for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater.
The cumulative impacts on biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage, water sources, greenhouse gas emissions, community and rural industry have not been rigorously assessed.
The mine will produce an additional 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gasses a year, exacerbating the impacts of climate change. This is at odds with Australia's commitments under the Paris Accord.
The area has significant Aboriginal cultural heritage values that have not been assessed in a regional context.
The extension removes existing buffer zones for the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve.
The extension will leave three final voids that will permanently scar the landscape and harm waterways for hundreds of years.
The ongoing impacts on groundwater and surface water systems will be greater than predicted.
The predicted job numbers are overstated compared, with the current workforce extracting the same volume of coal.
Peabody Energy is in deep financial distress and may not be fit to meet all its obligations.
The contract to supply AGL's Bayswater Power Station can be met by the current approval.
The proposal to continue extracting low quality coal while causing irreversible environmental and social damage cannot be justified.