I support this project being approved as it will give the Upper Hunter job security into the future.
The flow on effect to the continuation of the project goes further than just jobs. There is a financial benefit with support of nation wide charities as well as the HVO grants that are provided for local charities & sporting associations that would not happen if the project was not to continue.
Possibly the biggest positive in regards to this project being approved is that this is not an expansion, it is an extension of time. The continuation plan is to extend the life of mine utilising the current footprint that HVO already has approved to mine.
Part of the extension to the Life of Mine is to realign Lemington Road & build a flood proof bridge over the Hunter River. Why is this a good thing?
At any time there is a major incident on either the New England Hwy, or the Golden Hwy, Lemington Road becomes a diversion of highway traffic to keep the flow of traffic moving. If there is a major incident on either of these roads, and the low level Hunter River Crossing, Moses Crossing, is flooded which it had been for some 6 months in 2022, this would all but create grid lock in the Upper Hunter.
This new bridge would be an alternate route during these unfortunate times to keep traffic flowing. Just another positive for the projects approval.

This project will allow me support my young family. It will allow me to provide for my son and support his learning.

HVO supports me and my family. It gives me a long term job opportunity that I may not have elsewhere. It is good for the Singleton and even Maitland communities in terms of support and local jobs. We need this project to maintain local trade jobs.

I work at Hvo and support the project

I support hvo as they support locals and use clean mining techniques

I believe the continuation of the HVO North Open Cut Project is essential to the life and livelihood of the Singleton and surrounding communities, as well as that of wider NSW.

The impact of coal mining in the Hunter Valley is more far reaching than people realise. It’s about the miners themselves being able to put food on the table for their families, a roof over their heads, clothes on their backs, and even the ability to educate their children. Mining families live, work, go to school, shop, play, and support many local businesses and charities. Businesses that, should this expansion be denied, would have catastrophic knock-on effects region and state wide that the majority of Australians don’t understand.

This is what will happen if the mine is shut down.
• 1500 to 2100 jobs are lost immediately.
• Up to 2100 families can no longer put food on the table.
• Up to 2100 families can no longer afford to pay their rent or mortgage.
• Schools will have significantly reduced enrolments, meaning fewer teachers needed, equals more job losses.
• Mining related businesses close down or reduce employee numbers dramatically, so, more job losses.
• Retail goes into decline as up to 2100 families leave the area; less customers means less staff required leading to job losses.
• Small businesses owned, operated, or staffed by mining families face closure, more job losses.
• Businesses NOT related to mining but rely on the custom from the workers (eg mechanics, panel beaters, car sales, real estate) will be at risk of collapse = job losses.
• 2100 fewer families mean there’ll be less need for essential services, so they’ll eventually reduce employee numbers or close. Things like Doctors surgeries, visiting specialists, nurses, orthodontists, banks, employment agencies, childcare centres, services for older people,
• State coffers will be seriously depleted as it’ll no longer be reaping the rewards of the high taxes paid by the workers, or the royalties that are paid by the mines. Royalties that benefit the entire state.

These workers will relocate with their families, to wherever their skills can be put to use, most likely to Queensland or Western Australia. The potential loss to the Hunter Valley and NSW of so many skilled workers is unthinkable.

There really is so much more to mining than just digging stuff up. Mining is also about people and their communities.

This project is not a new mine but an extension of the existing Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) mine. The continuation of mining at HVO will continue to provide job opportunities, support local business and generation of mining royalties to benefit the entire state of NSW. This project seeks to maximise the resource recovery within the existing footprint and does not intend to increase the rates of extraction. The high standard of environmental compliance and community support programs ensures that mining will continue with the least impact on the community as possible. Throughout the consultation phase, HVO has ensured that the voice of the community is heard, an example being the Lemington Road/Hunter River Crossing upgrade. Our business relies on HVO and without this project being approved, we may need to seek alternative projects within the NSW state or elsewhere in Australia.

As a current employee at HVO, this operation enables me to give my family a good life, provide for my children and as a Retained fire fighter am able to help get funds to support the community and our fire station for upgrades, equipment and vital infrastructure to be able to respond to our community. With the continued support of HVO I can live a good life with many comforts and benefits to health care and general living.

HVO plays a huge part in the future of my working career. I am completely an upskill program from fitter to plant mechanic and have a very bright future ahead of me at HVO.

I have a young family. A little boy and girl and I am the main provider for our house hold. HVO allows me to earn good money on quite a challenging environment with rising interest rises etc.

The roster allows me to spend more time with my family. It allows me to drop off and pick up the kids from school. Not a lot of working fathers get to do this. My family is my world.

I believe HVO really cared about it’s impact and it’s community. I really hope it stays a working pit.

Thanks

I have the view that continues to support our local
Community and Infastructure not
To mention the contributions to the state governments.