Wilpinjong Coal Mine Extension

For the continuation of a sound economy in Mudgee (and surrounding areas) I feel it is vital to support the mining industries and their potential growth.

Dear Premier Baird,
I strongly oppose the extension of Wilpinjong Mine in the Hunter Valley, as such expansion will make the village of Wollar unlivable.
Your government has not considered the cumulative social impact of population decline, caused by mining projects from Ulan to Bylong.
The noise assessment, monitoring and mitigation measures you government has approved 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 endangered 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 only criterion has been the measure of support your government is prepared to give to the mining industry!
The mine will produce an additional 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gases a year, exacerbating the impacts of climate change. This projected outcome 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 I am concerned they may not be fit to meet all their 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.
I URGE you to reject this plan to expand the Wilpinjong mine in the Hunter Valley.
Yours sincerely,

We support the Wilpinjong Expansion Project. it brings much needed revenue into the town and provides work for a significant number of local residents.

I support the Wilpinjong Expansion Project.

My husband works for the company and states that not only Peabody themselves but the workforce at site are the most generous supporters of local charities he has ever worked with in any business. My husband states it is great that he can work with such as large business whilst staying in a rural community in which Mudgee is.

I support the expansion.

My father works for Peabody at the Wilpinjong Mine. We have attended many charitable events that they have sponsored and supported. I think it is a great think for the Mudgee area to support.

The proposed extension of the Wilpinjong Coal Mine will further degrade connectivity between the two important local conservation areas being Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve and Goulburn River National Park. Connectivity is vital for the continued genetic conservation of woodland bird and mammal species such as the Brown Treecreeper, Varied Sittella and Squirrel Glider. The removal of some of the last tracts of mature woodland that connect these two reserves will have long lasting consequences for wildlife conservation in this part of the state. Effectively, dividing the area will result in a severe reduction in available habitat for such species and will contribute to their ongoing demise.
No consideration has been taken in the assessment of the cumulative effects of the coal and other mines dividing these two important conservation areas.

Habitat offsetting is meant to be a last resort in conservation strategies, yet in this case (and many others) we see no attempt to avoid or mitigate impacts of the coal mine. Instead we see a jump directly to "offsetting" which still results in a net loss of habitat.

The idea that the land might be able to be restored to something resembling its natural state is deeply flawed. The site will never resemble its natural state because there is no effort to put the geology back the way it was and there is no guarantee that Peabody will honour any pledges to set things right once the money source (the coal) has gone.

I support the expansion. As a current employee of the site that has worked across many organisations in my career I would have to state that Peabody Energy Wilpinjong site is the most charitable team of persons I have ever worked with.

Coming from Rural NSW myself I see it as advantageous to the Mid Western local government area to have such a local contributor in their region when you see that Mining in this area is a major employer.

I Support the expansion.

Having been a coal miner all of my career I see nothing but benefits to the Mudgee district regarding the expansion to this site.

Keep up the good work Peabody and good work with the submission.

I support the proposed extension of Wilpinjong. I believe that both the current mine and farming can and do co-exist. What Land that is not mined is used for productive beef farming which has a flow on to Mudgee and surrounds through the saleyards livestock agents and carriers also to local produce stores. The land through both Wilpinjong and lease holders have and are continuing to clean up and improve the productivity of the country

This is a beautiful area that I have visited over the years. The health of residents in the little towns and villages should be protected. The native bushland and water resources should be protected. The proposal to continue extracting low quality coal while causing irreversible environmental and social damage cannot be justified.

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 extension removes existing buffer zones for the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve.

The ongoing impacts on groundwater and surface water systems are likely to be greater than predicted.

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.

I support the Wilpinjong Extension Project (WEP) for these five reasons.

1. Firstly, I declare that I am an employee of Wilpinjong Coal. I and my family moved to, and now live in, the Mudgee area. I believe Mudgee is a unique place where mining, agriculture and tourism successfully co-exist.

2. Like me, most employees of Wilpinjong Coal live in the Mudgee area and are part of the social fabric. We contribute to local businesses and the regional economy. We also volunteer our time to the community in many ways. For example, I and my direct co-workers are all members of the Cooks Gap RFS.

3. I have read most of the WEP EIS and I question whether there are significant threats of harm to the environment or human wellbeing. From my viewpoint, Peabody Energy Australia (PEA) is a responsible company that takes pride in restoring mined land. PEA has demonstrated that it can proficiently mine the land and successfully rehabilitate mined land to a level as good as, if not better than what originally existed (i.e. land disturbed by farming). Can we say the same for new housing and industrial developments, which do not restore the land?

4. In uncertain times such as now, and taking into account my earlier point 3, I believe it is important to provide stable employment for people, as well as provide economic security for their families, and the region where they live.

5. Finally, with regards to the arguments against the WEP, as reported in the media, these seem to be the same arguments I have heard before for earlier approvals. On this basis, I believe the NSW Government can adequately address these concerns through the commitments made in the EIS, and also through the Project Approval conditions.

I thank you for the opportunity to support the WEP.

I object to the extension of this project

I object to this mining extension.

The proposal to continue extracting low quality coal while causing irreversible environmental and social damage cannot be justified.

Australia is party to the global agreement in Paris, to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. This is impossible unless we reduce the rate of greenhouse gas emissions. Maintaining the current rate of extraction and burning of coal is reckless and shows no understanding of the dire circumstances that the world is facing.

In reference to the Wilpinjong Extension Project under application number SSD 6764, I am writing in support for the government to approve the extension of the Wilpinjong coal mine under this application.
I am a firm believer that coal mining benefits not only the Mid Western region of NSW greatly, but also NSW and the Australian economy as a whole.
I am currently working in the coal mining industry and have moved my family to Mudgee who are greatly involved in the community through schools, sport and charitable work. I have found Mudgee a great town, which I believe is enhanced by the mining industry.

I see a great deal of support from mining companies to the local community, particularly in areas that improve facilities in town that support health, aged care and school/sporting groups.This level of support and things provided would not happen without such large corporations involved.
The mining activity in the area contributes significantly to extra business in the Mid West region town of which many would not be viable without the mining in the area.

Employment opportunities in the region are significantly better here when compared to similar size country towns, that results in many people/families leaving such towns in search of employment. The amount and variety of employment available here, enables young people to stay in the area for work. Such employment also attracts more people to town which in all leads to a strong and vibrant community all supported by mining. Any premature ending of mining in the region will put all of the above benefits and positivity at risk.
In Summary, I am a strong supporter of this application for extending mining at Wilpinjong, being approved

My brother, sister and father have lived in the Wollar area for 25 years and my brother and father were recently evicted or bought out by a mining company wanting the land on Araluen Lane and I don't wish my other sibling to undergo the same fate.

I have rapidly growing concerns on the expansion of coal mining & gas exploration in the Hunter Valley and the Liverpool Plains, at the moment, particularly near Wollar, NSW. At a time when coal ranks not only low in price but also low in world esteem as a fuel, it seems senseless to be making life unbearable for the people of this township and surrounds, losing hundreds of acres of native vegetation. There are added concerns, proven by past mining experience. of threats to both groundwater and surface water and the strong likelihood that so-called mitigation will be successful later. I join many other city-dwellers - in support of country cousins - in voicing total opposition to this expansion.

Wollar was always a lifeline, friends and services I have lost since Wilpinjong coal mine began work. I've seen the village rapidly twindle to a hand full of people.
With the approval of a new extension which will bring the mine to within 1.5km of the Wollar village, the community that is left will be totally destroyed and people, like myself, who live within the Wollar area , left stranded.
Enough is enough!
The proposal to keep digging up low quality, low priced coal while destroying the local environment and Wollar community should not be allowed.

We object to the further extension of Wilpinjong Mine on the following grounds:
The mine has already encroached on the communities of Wollar and Ulan, and the proposed extension will destroy the community of Wollar. Mining activity should not be permitted to destroy regional communities.
Impacts on the region's Aboriginal heritage have not been adequately addressed.
The proposed extension will involve clearing native vegetation that is needed to protect biodiversity. In particular, the impacts on threatened species are not acceptable.
Increased production of coal is not necessary - global demand for coal has slumped and the mine's contract with Bayswater Power Station can be fulfilled under existing arrangements.
Increasing production of coal will contribute to global warming. This is at odds with our governments' stated commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The final voids that will remain once the mine has closed will impact the environment for hundreds of years. In particular, the potential damage to groundwater resources is an unacceptable risk that could burden the community for many generations. This far outweighs the stated short-term benefits.

The proposal to continue extracting low quality coal while causing irreversible environmental and social damage cannot be justified.

The cumulative impacts on biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage, water sources, greenhouse gas emissions, community and rural industry have not been rigorously assessed.The ongoing impacts on groundwater and surface water systems will be greater than predicted.

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 cumulative social impact of loss of population through mining projects from Ulan to Bylong has not been considered. The extension of Wilpinjong Mine will make the village of Wollar unlivable.

The area has significant Aboriginal cultural heritage values that have not been assessed in a regional context.
and removes existing buffer zones for the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve.

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.

I am opposed to the extension of Wilpinjong Mine.

I wish you to record my objection to the Wilpinjong Extension Project. It will impact negatively on communities in the area and for no good reason. Coal is yesterday's power source and no further investment and irreversible damage should be made for the purpose of extracting more of it. It doesn't make economic sense to make further investments in a technology which cannot be supported in a carbon-constrained world - and this community should not have to suffer because a small number of polluters refuse to face this fact. This company is not on a sound economic footing as it is and will not have sufficient funds to carry out the works intended while adhering to required environmental standards. If they think they do, then let them pay an environmental bond up-front to cover the cost of any remediation required as well as covering compensation to all local residents for loss of amenity. The 'externalities' must be factored into any cost assessment of the viability of the project.