I object to this project on the following grounds:
1. We are in a climate crisis, we should be closing mines, not opening more.
2. Muswellbrook is already covered with dust and experiences air quality that does not meet national standards. Doubling production would have serious health impacts on the residents of Muswellbrook.
3. I grew up on this land, as did my father. It's heartbreaking to think that future generations won't be able to experience the beauty and diversity of this area as mining continues to destroy the ecological community.

Please see attachment

I would like to submit this in support of the Mount Pleasant Optimisation Project. The approval of this project will continue to support myself and my family and the many other direct and indirect people and businesses currently being supported by the Mount Pleasant Project. It is my view the project should be allowed to progress as the project will support growth and opportunity in the Muswellbrook and surrounding areas. Particularly as we navigate a way forward with the impact of COVID and the shrinking economy the Mount Pleasant project has provided a steady stream of income to individuals, businesses and support to the government via taxes and royalties.

The Mount Pleasant Optimisation Project will support many local direct employees and local businesses who will benefit from the approval, and the future security of work and income to support their families and businesses. The Optimisation Project will also create additional jobs and support growth in the local and broader economy.

The Mount Pleasant deposit is of a very high quality and energy. Mount Pleasant has shown responsibility and leadership in areas of environment and rehabilitation. Mount Pleasant continues to ensure rehabilitation works is undertaken in a timely manner, to a high standard, and has been undertaken in a way that enhances the landscape.

The ongoing economic benefit, the high standards in environment and rehabilitation, together with the high quality resource at Mount Pleasant make this a great opportunity to support the approval for the Mount Pleasant Optimisation Project and support the many people and businesses who will continue to benefit from the Mount Pleasant project both now and into the future.

Allowing the optimisation project to go ahead will mean continued employment for locals and people outside of the region which in turn keeps businesses running in Muswellbrook.

The longevity of a project like this will also help boost the economy especially after the pandemic that has hit and continue to boost the local councils and charities with much needed funds for future projects in the local community.

Mount Pleasant Optimisation Project
Impact on the town is severe as it is. Excessive dust. Excessive noise. Excessive light. It is too close to the town as it is. Like Bengala. Like my Arthur. The dust is uncontrollable at all times. My house and belongings are continually covered. Can only imagine what I am breathing in. The mine is to close legally to town as it is. How it got approved is a illegal situation by itself. The town is turning against mt pleasant and Bengalla and Mt Arthur. Everyone is starting to wake up to the fact that the mines are way too close and the environment impact is growing. The town has had enough and the movement is just starting to grow now.
And the fact that most workers are not local is another story. I work in all of these mines as a contractor. I speak to the workers. Very very few are local.

The Ryde Gladesville Climate Change Action Group is group of over 650 citizens who are greatly concerned about climate change and want to see a move to 100% renewables by 2020 accompanied by a rapid phasing out of mining for fossil fuels.
The world's appetite for coal is decreasing as renewables become the preferred source of power because they are cheaper, more reliable and sustainable. Banks and insurance companies are walking away from investing in fossil fuel projects because they are likely to become standed assets. Companies and countries are putting in place measures to remove their dependence on fossil fuels.
So, we most strongly object to this proposal. The people of the Hunter want to move away from relying on polluting coal and instead need investment to diversify their economy.

At a time when the demand for coal is decreasing around the world, it is inappropriate for a coal mine operator to be allowed to expand its operations in an area already decimated by coal mining.
At present, the air quality in the area breaches national standards and an expansion will only exacerbate the situation for people already suffering from breathing difficulties.
Increased mining will also add to the spoil piles which are an ugly eyesore for residents but also an environmental concern.
The people of the Hunter Region want to have investment to diversify their economy so they can move away from coal.
I most strongly object to this proposal.

I live at Wybong approximately 10 kms from the western side of this project and drive past the current operation every time we go to Muswellbrook. The current mine is already a significant contributor to noise, negative air quality impacts including PM10,PM2.5 and spontaneous combustion pollutants, blast overpressure and vibration impacts and blast fume generation which has already impacted nearby residents.

The Cumulative Impacts are not acceptable
This project wants to double intensity in annual output from 10.5 Mtpa to 21 Mtpa. This operation at that location is too close to the community, too large and goes for far too long given our need as a nation to reduce emissions and become carbon neutral as soon as practically possible.

Air Quality
Air quality in the Upper Hunter is already the worst in the state. The health of our communities here has already been negatively impacted by overdevelopment in open cut mining. Its time we start improving air quality not incrementally making it worse. The proponent does not even commit to all diesel equipment having the latest and highest standard diesel emission technology fitted

Visual Impacts - increasing the Eastern emplacement area to more than 360 metres AHD will have unacceptable visual amenity impacts

Water Impacts
Groundwater drawdown looks to be very significant and surface water impacts are extensive. The clean water run-off to the Western (Sandy Ck) catchment will be further negatively and significantly impacted by construction of 2 new water storage dams and the doubling in size of the tailings dam.
This tailings dam does not meet the initial design and operational methods that were proposed by the initial applicant Coal and Allied for managing the fines rejects emplacement area. The original design and management method formed a key element of the case for approval by the Commission of Inquiry.
Final void - creation of any large final void should not be approved. This final void will be 3km long and 0.5Km wide and take 500 years to reach equilibrium. The EIS document shows salinity in this final void continues to increase in a steep linear fashion forever.
This project is in direct conflict with a regional transition away from thermal coal to other sustainable industries.
This project would create a very poor legacy for our future generations
This project should not be approved. I object to this project

The project will bring many economic and social benefits to the local and regional community. The business has a great relationship with the community and procures a lot of goods and services locally and regionally. It supports indigenous community through the ACDF fund and many other community sponsorships. Providing an additional 22 year mine life extension will mean that many local employees of the mine and the industry that supports it will have a secure future and provide great economic support to the local community for many years to come.