Wilpinjong Coal Mine Extension

Not only is it high time for us as a society to move away from fossil fuel in general - it also is high time to respect the basic rights of all our citizens.
Not just in big cities - but in small rural communities as well.
And nobody could possibly expect any other human being to life as close to an open cut mine as is suggested in this submission!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The proposed extension of the Wilpinjong coal mine represents an unacceptable risk to the people of Wollar, the people of the region and the state of NSW, Australia and the planet and should not be approved.

With this extension the mine will produce an additional 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gasses a year. In December 2015 the nations of the world, including Australia, agreed at the Paris climate conference to take measures to ensure that global emissions peak as soon as possible.

The majority of the Australian people agree with the urgent need to limit carbon emissions. They recognise the burning of coal is a major contributor to those emissions and, because of that, the mining of coal no longer has a social licence in this country.

An Essential poll, held before the Paris climate change talks in November 2015, with a 3 per cent margin of error, found 68 per cent of respondents agreed Australia "needs to restrict coal mining because of the impact that it is having on our natural environment and biodiversity" and 67 per cent agreed it needed to be restricted because of the impact on farming land and water.

A further 63 per cent agreed coal mining needed to be phased out because of global warming concerns and the impact that was having on the Great Barrier Reef, while 65 per cent of respondents agreed the coal industry's negatives outweighed any positives.

Nearly 80 per cent of respondents agreed with the statement mining operations disturbed "large areas of land and contaminate groundwater, rivers and lakes" and companies should be forced, by law, to pay upfront bonds for any environmental damage caused and to rehabilitate former mine sites.

Partly because of wider social awareness of the environmental damage caused by coal, partly because of alternative and cheaper, non-polluting power generation alternatives and partly because of an international economic downturn, the demand and price paid for coal has fallen to levels that mean that most existing operations are unprofitable. The world is currently oversupplied with coal, mining companies are going bankrupt and mines are closing all around the world. The proponent, Peabody, is by all reports in deep financial distress and there must be a considerable risk that it may not find itself in a position to meet all its undertakings and obligations. Few independent industry analysts predict an upturn in fortunes for the coal industry in the foreseeable future.

It is in this context that the people of Wollar and the wider region are being asked to accept an extension to a mine that will take it within 1.5 kilometres of their village, making it completely unliveable. This mine then, with a dubious business proposition and a dimmer future will place an intolerable burden on the physical, mental and economic health of the Wollar and the surrounding communities, already suffering the cumulative effects of coal mines from Ulan to Bylong. The noise assessment, monitoring and mitigation measures required of the proponent are totally inadequate to protect those living and working in the vicinity of the mine. Air quality from existing and proposed operations has not been assessed against the new standards adopted by NSW in December 2015.

The net job numbers predicted by the proponent as a result of the extension are overly optimistic, even before taking into account the current economic conditions in the industry, with daily announcements of mines slashing workforce numbers, being `placed in maintenance mode', sold on for a peppercorn price or closing altogether.

On the other hand it is certain that the expansion of coal mining will result in an ongoing loss of population in the region. Even before the departure of the last miners, those with sustainable livelihoods in agriculture, livestock, tourism, arts and crafts in the region are being crowded out by mining and its aftermath and the impact will be lasting. The land laid waste will not attract any high tech or knowledge industries of the future that might otherwise be expected to flourish in a pleasant rural setting with the arrival of the NBN. What new business would consider establishing itself in a scarred landscape of final voids and degraded waterways, emptied of cultural heritage and biodiversity?

It is clear the cumulative and long lasting damage to biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage, water sources, greenhouse gas emissions, community and rural industry have not been adequately assessed and valued in comparison to a dubious economic proposition for mine expansion with or without so-called `offsets'.

The pressure from all quarters to keep new coal in the ground can only be expected to build and the NSW government should put the financial, environmental and reputational risks to the people of NSW, Australia and the rest of the world ahead of the narrow interests of an overseas mining company whose only responsibility is to make a profit for its shareholders. The Wilpinjong mine extension proposal should be rejected.

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

2. The noise assessment, monitoring and mitigation measures are highly inadequate.

3. Air quality has not been assessed against the new standards adopted in November 2015

4. The cumulative impact on biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage, water sources, greenhouse gas emissions, community and rural industry has not been rigorously assessed.

5. The ongoing coal extraction will produce an additional 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gas per year, which will exacerbate the impacts of climate change, and is at odds with Australia's commitments under the Paris Accord.

6. The area has significant landscape Aboriginal cultural heritage values that have not been assessed in a regional context.

7. The extension will remove 354 ha of remnant native vegetation impacting 24 threatened species and communities - more than the current approval. The biodiversity offsets will not provide sufficient habitat for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater.

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

9. The extension will leave 3 final voids in the landscape that will impact the local environment and waterways for hundreds of years into the future. This is a completely unacceptable legacy.

10. The ongoing impacts on groundwater and surface water systems will be greater than predicted.

11. The predicted job numbers are overstated compared with the current workforce extracting the same volume of coal.

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

13. The contract to supply AGL's Bayswater Power Station can be met by the current approval.

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

I absolutely disagree with this extension. In fact, I disagree with mining in this area full stop. This land is where my family was born and bred and the memories are being painfully destroyed by environmental cruelty at its worst. The local community here is strong and their voices need to be heard. Social justice needs to be considered here and quickly!

NSW has allowed too many mines to open and expand, just when we know that there is decreasing demand and not a long term future. Maybe delay approval for 12 months to clarify the above.

I submit that this extension should not be approved.
The destruction of 354 hectares of native vegetation which will mean the destruction of habitat for wildlife is totally unacceptable. Australia has seen too much devastation and too many plants and species on the brink of extinction or sorrowfully lost forever.
Living near a mine with its noise, pollution and environmental damage is not something most people choose to do and clearly the beautiful Mudgee region deserves so much better. Better to protect than to destroy our landscape.
Thank you for your time
Kim Miller

SSD 6764 - WILPINJONG EXTENSION

The Running Stream Water Users Association was formed to protect the water resource (hundreds of springs sourced on Mt Vincent) from the threat of coal mining. We have therefore watched with great interest and concern the progression of other new coal mines in our area.

One aspect that greatly concerns us and which we think is absolutely wrong is the process by which a mine, through continual modification of its original application, gradually changes its scope, purpose and size. The original justification for the Wilpinjong mine was to supply low quality coal to Bayswater Power Station. Six subsequent modifications have resulted in the mine becoming also an exporter of coal,and this increased capacity has happened without proper evaluation of the cumulative impacts on the environment and community. This is wrong!

This extension should not be evaluated in isolation. There are two other mines in the area (Ulan and Moolarben), with another new one (Bylong) proposed. The cumulative impacts of all these mines should be considered as a whole. This extension of Wilpinjong Mine will destroy the already severely impacted community of Wollar. The destruction of yet another community in the area has broader implications for the region which are not being considered.

It is a serious flaw in the overall planning process that coal mines are always assessed in isolation and these kind of cumulative social impacts from loss of population are never evaluated, not to mention the other cumulative environmental impacts.

One of these cumulative environmental impacts is the extension will leave 3 final voids in the landscape that will impact the local environment and waterways for hundreds of years into the future. Groundwater science is till in its infancy and so far predictions relating to groundwater in other mines in this region have proven to be incorrect. Therefore we have no confidence whatsoever in the predictions given for Wilpinjong. The ongoing impacts on groundwater and surface water systems will be greater than predicted. This is a completely unacceptable legacy.
The contract to supply AGL's Bayswater Power Station can be met by the current approval and given Peabody Energy is in deep financial distress and may not be fit to meet all obligations there is no good reason to grant this extension.
Jobs are always given as a major reason for extension, but the numbers are always exaggerated. This application is no different in that the job numbers given are greater than the actual current workforce extracting the same volume of coal.
Biodiversity in the region will be further negatively impacted. The extension will remove 354 ha of remnant native vegetation impacting 24 threatened species and communities - so even greater impact than under the current approval. Of particular concern is the endangered Regent Honeyeater as the proposed biodiversity offsets will not provide sufficient habitat for this bird.
This extension should not go ahead.

Personal Submission Against Peabody Mine extension

I do not believe that we need to develop and extend the coal mine further. I have looked at the Nature Conservation's points against this extension as set out below and agree with them and would add my name to the objection list. I believe that we should be putting our efforts into renewables!

kind regards
Rodger Jamieson

Points of objection:
* 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.

***** Put efforts into RENEWABLE ENERGY!!!

Dear Sir/Madam,
I oppose any new coal mines in the Hunter region. Fossil fuels need phasing out and replacing with renewables. To disrupt this small community endangering all that lives there with foul air and dust is sheer stupidity when we know this is a short-term solution to a looming energy crisis. Accept the mining boom is folding for Australia and because we are the land of sunshine we are idiots not to tap into solar energy in a big way. The advances in technology have produced fantastic solar farms in many parts of the world. Please consider the direction that other countries are taking renewables. Research it thoroughly and then maybe you can see to continue in this way is not the way to be dealing with global warming and climate change.
Kind regards
Satya McVeity

This proposed mine is a danger to the natural environment, water resources and fauna & flora.
Being located between a National Park and a nature reserve indicates the sensitivity of the area.
What are the real benefits to NSW & it's people for this mine to go ahead. In reality it will have a negative effect on tens of thousands of people and benefit very few.
The few people this mine benefits is far outweighed by the destruction to the environment it will cause.
Any potential danger to water resources or water supply should not be approved.

I support the Wilpinjong Extension Project for a number of reasons.
* Wilpinjong Coal is a well-run business putting the safety of their employees and environmental concerns before production.
* There is a lot of good bush land on the lease for native wildlife to live and thrive, protected and cared for by the sites environmental department and their procedures.
* Wilpinjong put a large emphasis on maintaining a good reputation and minimising their impact on the community.
* Coal is still an essential commodity which all Australians are reliant on for affordable energy and supporting industry.
* Wilpinjong directly and indirectly employee hundreds of people in the area which supports hundreds of families with a good income, this money goes back into the towns and villages keeping many other businesses viable.
* These families contribute more than their fair share to GDP and are not reliant on government for their existence.
* If this land was returned to its traditional use it would support a few families with an income highly subsided by the Tax Payer contributing very little to none to the GDP.
* From the results of the completed rehabilitation, the area will be returned to its traditional use very successfully at the end of the mines lease.
In conclusion there are no downsides to this extension project it is a win win for the Mid-Western Region and all its constituents, the State and Federal Government

Submission of 0bjection to Wilpinjong Mine Extension
I object to the recommended extension of Wilpinjong Mine on the following grounds:
It is unconscionable and unacceptable that the recommended approval of the extension of Wilpinjong Mine will make the village of Wollar unliveable, and that the cumulative social impacts of this and other mining projects from Ulan to Bylong have not been adequately considered.
These include unacceptable impacts due to the effects of noise, dust and decreasingly unacceptable air quality - which has not been assessed against the new standards adopted in December 2015. These impacts are highly likely to cause loss of population from the village of Wollar and surrounds, as has happened with other nearby mining projects close to local population centres.
The statutory assessment and proposed monitoring and mitigation measures are totally inadequate. They betray a gross bureaucratic irresponsibility and disdain for the best interest of NSW. Moreover there must be considerable doubt that Peabody Energy will be able to meet all its statutory obligations, since it is reported to be in debt and in financial distress due to the low price and oversupply of coal on the world market.
The extension of the Wilpinjong mine is likely to have cumulative impacts on biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage, water sources, greenhouse gas emissions, community and rural industry, none of which have been rigorously or adequately assessed.
For example, the removal of another 354 hectares of remnant native vegetation for this extension will have dire impacts on 24 threatened species and ecological communities, in addition to the impacts of the current approved operations. This cannot be mitigated by proposed biodiversity offsets, and will result in ongoing nett loss of habitat for the recently declared critically endangered Regent Honeyeater, likely hastening its path to extinction in this known significant breeding and foraging area.
This should be unacceptable under the NSW Planning & Assessment Act and the Commonwealth EPBC Act. It cannot be ameliorated by imposing conditions on future operations, especially when compliance is problematic because the proponent is experiencing financial difficulties from current low prices and declining market for coal.
Other good reasons to refuse this Wilpinjong Extension Project include:
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 proposal to continue extracting low quality coal while causing irreversible environmental and social damage cannot be justified
The ongoing impacts on groundwater and surface water systems are likely to be greater than predicted, and irreversible. The proposed extension will leave three final voids that will permanently scar the landscape and harm waterways for hundreds of years.
The extension trespasses on existing buffer zones for the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve and poses additional risks to biodiversity, being likely to increase the risk of local extinction of the Critically Endangered Regent Honeyeater, a Matter of National Environmental Significance.
The area has significant Aboriginal cultural heritage values that have not been assessed in a regional context.
The predicted job numbers for the development are greatly overstated in comparison with the current workforce extracting the same volume of coal. The contract to supply AGL's Bayswater Power Station can be met by the current approval, without the extension of operations.
I call on the Ministers for the Environment and Planning in NSW and for the Environment in the Commonwealth of Australia to refuse Peabody Energy's application for extension of the Wilpinjong Mine Project.
Submission compiled by Beth Williams OAM, BSc (Hons in Botany) University of Sydney.
Life Member of National Parks Association of NSW Armidale Branch
Member of BirdLife Australia Northern NSW and the Regent Honeyeater Recovery Team 9 March 2016

I strongly object to the Wilpinjong Coal Mine Expansion.
I was born in Wollar and I am devastated to see what has become of my home town. I have family buried in the cemetery and would like to think that their souls are safe from any mining company interference.
The further destruction of environment, our heritage and community must stop and this mine should stick to it's current time frame of 2026.
Yours Sincerely,
Lorraine Fetch.

I'd like to add my support to the Wilpinjong extension project and hope that the PAC will recognise the value of the project to the Mid Western regional economy and to the training and development of careers for local men and women.

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. Coal is not an energy source for the future, as there are more effective forms of energy currently available and rapidly developing, such as wind and solar.

I disagree with plans for expansion of Wilpinjong Coal Mine for the following reasons:
The future of energy supply is clearly swinging to renewable energy sources; coal is becoming uneconomic and it isn't sensible to be expanding coal mines now.
Coal is a dirty fuel that produces greenhouse gases. Responses at the Paris Climate Talks show the need for and commitment by many nations to switch to renewables.
The village of Wollar has already been heavily impacted by Wilpinjong's operations. There are still residents at Wollar and they shouldn't have a coal mine impinging on their village.

Carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere are already causing climate change. More coal equals more CO2 and more problems for future generations. Coal is yesterday's technology. We need to move to renewable energy. The financial benefits to the few are not justified when the many will have to bear the social, health and economic costs in the future. It is time for Australia to properly honour our commitments.

We've heard it all before and let me reitterate: the world in which we are leaving to our children will be unliveable if we continue to mine resources which do not balance out the cost of production and extraction with that of the resulting damage caused to the landscape, and human and ecological communities.

This development is considered likely in my view to have a significant impact on the threatened species and ecological communities addressed in the Impact Statement. For it would be astonishing that the proposed 354 hectares of remnant native vegetation to be removed would fail to support a diverse array of habitats and species.

If this was a case of high quality coal, limited environmental impact on human and other species and provided a boon to the local economy I would support the application. This application does not have my support, lets leave the approvals for the viable applications please.

I object to yet another Wilpinjong expansion.

Cumulative impacts
The railway line through Wollar is solely for coal transportation. Train movements and more frequent rail maintenance sometimes 24/7 for weeks at a time have been never been taken into consideration. This disturbance is not only the noise of loaders dumping gravel and beeping all night but also being delayed getting to and from work.
The Bylong to Wollar rd to be sealed in years to come is used by many contractors and some employees in total disregard of any other road user.
Contractors driving through Wollar village 50km zone and past the school are still travelling at speeds well above the limit.

Peabody is a company in financial distress mining a commodity where demand for supply is in decline. They have previously overestimated the quality, quantity and employment from Wilpinjong coal.
If the object is to sell with expansion granted the Wollar community would have to start all over again with another company that will not take any responsibility for the devastation already caused and possibly none thereafter.
All remaining community members of Wollar should be given the opportunity of FAIR compensation if this expansion is to go ahead

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.