The company I work for has been operating in the region for nearly 90 years and they produce some of the highest metallurgical coal in the world and are the largest coal producer in the Southern Coalfield making a significant contribution to the Southern Coalfield economic ecosystem. The product is world class and our people are among the most experienced in the industry.

With careful planning, we believe mining can co-exist with the NSW Government’s objectives for the long-term sustainability of the Sydney’s water catchment and the sustainable development of the State’s resources which creates jobs for generations of people. The Project will produce metallurgical coal, a critical ingredient to steelmaking, supporting the Australian Steel Industry and its role in the transition to a low carbon economy. Compared the to the previous application, the Project has a 60% reduction in the longwall mine area preserving the water catchment. The Project will create 100 project construction jobs and 50 new operational roles, and secure the ongoing employment of 650 people at Dendrobium Mine. The Project will continue our $240 million annual spend with local businesses. The Project will contribute $280 million in royalties (in real terms) and about $160 million in State and Corporate tax to the NSW and Commonwealth overnments.

This project will continue to sustain jobs in the community whilst giving opportunities to new jobs. The new proposed plan shows less impact to the environment.
The Illawarra have been Mining in this area for over a 100 years supporting local communities, schools and other small and large businesses in the area.

Hi there,
The project will bring more job & business opportunities to the locals. The Increase job market reduces the mental stress on the local workforce therefore this project will bring happiness, a better lifestyle, facilities, and growth to the life of locals.

I am a Wollongong based environmental consultant with over 15 years experience in the application of earth sciences to mine site environmental management. I hold a Masters of Environmental Science from the University of Wollongong and am a Member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Having reviewed the Dendrobium Mine Extension Project EIS I am satisfied that the proposed mine plan and related environmental management strategies would minimise the impact of the environmental and heritage values within the Metropolitan Special Area.

Further to my technical review I note:

That the supply of high quality metallurgical coal from the Dendrobium Mine Expansion will provide ongoing social and economic benefits to the community. Coal mining has been conducted successfully (providing ongoing social and economic benefit whilst minimising impacts to the environment) for decades at Dendrobium. The economic and social impacts to the Illawarra community would be profound if mining was to cease.

No viable alternative to the use of coal for steel making currently exists .The supply of high quality, low volatile coal with low transport costs, is critical to the ongoing viability of the steel industry at Port Kembla. This industry not only provides thousands of direct and indirect jobs but is critical to Australia's capacity to add value to our raw materials and manufacture products which are fundamental to Australia's ongoing economic growth and national security.

I support this project as it will support so many jobs both directly and indirectly within our region. This contributes a massive amount of money in to our local economy which will keep the Illawarra thriving.

I support this project as it will protect current jobs within the region as well a creating extra jobs.

I support the proposal of the Dendrobium extension. I am a coal miner working in the southern districts who provides a high quality coking coal to bluescope steal. We need coking coal to make steal. South32 is a responsible company caring for its workers and the community. My job allows me to support my family and the local community. I’ve lived in the Illawarra my entire life and have seen first hand the benefit of having productive coal mines has for this area.

I would like to support this Project this will give the Wollongong area job security not only the mine employees but the contractors that are use around the Wollongong area
this Coal mine has been apart of the Wollongong area for Years ,this mine will supply the worlds best Metallurgical coal to the local steel works.
I believe people don't understand that this coal is used primarily for steel making and if this Project does not go ahead the steel works will have to purchase coal from another location either interstate or overseas.

Dendrobium mine site has been operating in the Wollongong district for 10 plus years now .
It is located in a mining district hub that has been present within the community for 100 plus years
The mine employs a multitude of people from within the local area , there is another broad based employment of secondary affiliated personnel with logistics , supply , railway ,cleaning and so on.
This then attributes to numerous local business thriving through these employees spending their money in the local economy .
They do not truck their coal, it is transported by rail so very little impact to the community in general, the mine currently have noise restrictions in place of an evening and night time to protect and ensure harmony of the local residents in close proximity to the mine site.
The main enviromental concerns I can see would be the mining under the water catchment zone ,but there are significant buffer zones to minimise mining in close proximity to these areas in question.
I believe it has been a harmonious interaction with the majority of local residents
If mining takes place with the controls suggested -I would like to see the mine extension go ahead as proposed as it is good for the local economy and Australia .

I work for a company that is a key customer of Australian steel producers Bluescope and Infrabuild. We purchase steel to manufacture products that are used for the construction of mining projects right across Australia. Not only does this enable employment at our company, it also enables employment at Bluescope Steel in Wollongong and at Dendrobium coal mine. A strong and cost competitive steel industry is crucial for Australia and access to locally mined high quality coal is a key component of this.
Australian mining is world class and our process for the design, review and approval of new and extended mines is robust and responsible. Coal mining has been happening in the Illawarra for many decades and during that time the water supply to Sydney and the Illawarra has been safely maintained. I fully support this project.