This submission is an objection to the Maules Creek Coal Mine Modification 4- Sound Power Levels. Thank you for the opportunity to take part in consideration of this proposal.

In the past I was able to camp on a friends' property in the Maules Creek area and enjoy the quiet beauty of the area. That stopped when Maules Creek coal mine arrived with its day and night long noise pollution, light pollution and air pollution.

I read with dismay that, Maules Creek is now one of three mines in NSW with the highest environmental of risk level.

I understand that Maules Creek coal mine has been unable to comply with a sound condition (Condition 12a of Schedule 3) which stipulates that the Sound Power Levels (SWLs) of fixed and mobile machinery at the mine must be "equal to, or better than, the indicative SWLs adopted for modelling purposes in the Maules Creek Coal Project Environmental Assessment"

The community at Maules Creek has long argued that false and misleading noise modelling was provided by Whitehaven Coal in its original Environmental Assessment in order to gain approval.

I further understand that:
* Whitehaven's most recent annual environmental review in 2016 admitted that the company was not compliant with this "sound power level" condition. That report also details non-compliance with blast level criteria and blast monitoring requirements;
* The mine has also reported non-compliance with the relevant noise criteria for some nearby properties, but disregards non-compliant reading that are 2 decibels above the noise limit specified in its conditions. This effectively means that Maules Creek coal mine considers itself to be operating on a 37dbA limit, not 35dbA, as specified in its approval;
* The sound compliance levels expected of Whitehaven are the same as those required of other mines in the region.

At a time when Whitehaven is expanding mining activity and has committed to reviewing its plant and equipment to reduce noise, it is simply inconceivable that this application should be granted; Whitehaven must be held to the commitments they made to the local community and the wider community of NSW when it obtained approval for these operations.

I object to this proposal submission uploaded

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