The mine is already well established and has been there for many years,
it needs to stay operating until its coal is exhausted prior to
shutting prematurely.
It adds jobs to the district which are required to ensure the local
economy stays strong . Mining has always been a strong part of the
local community with them holding high values of the mining community.
I believe it should continue to operate

I strongly oppose the expansion of the Russel Vale coal mine. I oppose it
as it will effect traffic and pollution in the area.

As a local resident I strongly object to any expansion of Wollongong
Coals's Russell Vale operations including processing coal on site.

Firstly, the potential impact on the local environment that expanding
the Russell Cale colliery and/or its operations to include processing
coal onsite is not acceptable. Given this organisation and parent
company's previous disregard for environmental protections and non
compliance, I have very little confidence that they will start acting
responsibly and within the law now. The long term health of our water
catchment, pristine beaches and creeks should not be sacrificed for
the short term gain of a climate crisis contributing organisation.

Secondly, Wollongong Coal and its parent company Jindal Steel and
Power Ltd, are currently the subject of an investigation by the NSW
government's Resources Regulator into whether or not they are a `fit
and proper' entity to hold a mining license. Why would consideration
be given to letting an organisation currently being investigated,
further expand their operations?

Finally, it's up to government to start finally taking the health of
our environment and therefore it's citizens seriously. All the coal,
money and power in the world isn't going to help if we can't breathe
the air, grow the food or drink the water. Start thinking long term
and help move our economy away from big dirty fossil fuel polluters
and to a cleaner, sustainable future. This means saying no to any
Russell Vale colliery expansion or increase in operations.

Wollongong Coal's Revised Preferred Project Report to the Russell Vale
Underground Expansion Project:

I object to the Wollongong Coal's Revised Preferred Project Report
(PPR) to the Russell Vale Underground Expansion Project 09-0013.

Some of the reasons for my objection are listed below.

Climate change and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions:

Coal mining, whether for energy or steelmaking, produces the GHG
Emissions that are causing dangerous climate change. This project is
estimated to result in 11,624,000 tonnes of GHG emissions through the
mining and the burning of the coal.

A risk to Greater Sydney Water Catchment:

The mining will take place in the Special Areas of the Greater Sydney
Water Catchment - areas that forbid public access because of their
sensitivity and strategic importance - and up to the shores of the
Cataract Reservoir.
Not only will the mining infrastructure, such as access roads and vent
shafts, disturb and damage the catchment, the proposal for Bord and
Pillar mining will result in up to 100 mm in subsidence.
The extraction for the Wonga Central Development Mains extends under
the Cataract Reservoir itself. Cataract is severely affected by
drought and is currently at only 29% of capacity. Mining should not be
permitted anywhere near Great Sydney water supply reservoirs, our
precious water reserves must be preserved as a priority, otherwise
more than mining is at stake.

Triple seam mining:

The mining is particularly risky because a third seam of coal is being
mined beneath two previously mined seams. Triple seam mining has
little precedent and impacts are difficult to predict.

The proponent admits that instability in the overlaying old Bulli seam
workings may cause pillar collapse and subsequent subsidence of 1 to 2
metres. It is unacceptable of the NSW government to allow such risky
mining in the water catchment for 5 million people of Greater Sydney
in a time of drought.

The proponent is not fit and proper to hold a mining licence:

Wollongong Coal and its parent company Jindal Steel and Power Ltd, are
currently the subject of an investigation by the NSW government's
Resources Regulator into whether or not they are a `fit and proper'
entity to hold a mining license. The company has a history of failing
to comply with conditions of approval. Even its auditors have
questioned its capacity to continue as a going concern; its current
liabilities exceed its current assets by nearly A$1 billion.
Wollongong Coal is not a `fit and proper' entity to operate a coal
mine in the water catchment of Australia's largest city.
Impacts on local community

The colliery site at Russell Vale is closer to dense residential areas
than any mine in Australia. Residential communities have suffered the
impacts from this mine over many years, including noise and
particulate pollution. In this day and age, Russell Vale is not a
suitable location for a colliery.
Wollongong Coal plans to build a coal processing plant at the Russell
Vale Colliery and process coal on site. The Russell Vale mine is the
closest mine to any built up residential area in Australia and is not
a suitable area for coal processing. Moreover, the proponent has been
unable or unwilling to comply with many conditions of past approvals
and the NSW government has proven to be unable or unwilling to enforce
compliance. Residents have no confidence in "conditions" or
"commitments" to operate the processing plant according to suitable
standards.
The proponent has a history of non-compliance with approval conditions

Previous applications and approvals promised numerous items to protect
the community and environment that have never been met by the
proponent. These include but are not limited to: truck loading
facilities, sound walls, covered conveyors, limited stockpiles, sealed
roadways and realignment of Bellambi Creek. Now in this new revised
project, Wollongong Coal is promising the same or similar things.

Wollongong Coal is currently operating right at this moment under
three non-compliances: the realignment of Bellambi Creek to protect it
from pollution and flooding (due Oct 2012); the removal of 200,000
tonnes of oversize coal that was illegally stockpiled on the adjoining
slag heap (due July 2019); and, the dedication of land to Council in a
1989 approval from Wollongong City Council (due 1990). All of these
obligations still have not been met.
A proponent with such a poor record of compliance should not be
considered for, let alone granted, approval to mine. The NSW
Department of Planning's inability or unwillingness to enforce
compliance (with the conditions that it itself has stipulated)
undermines confidence in the planning system.

I do not believe this proposal adequately addresses the concerns
raised in 2013 by the EP&A, SCA, and OEH and therefore ask that you
reject this application from Wollongong Coal.

Thank you for considering this submission.

Kind Regards.

I support the Project as the Company has responded to the environmental
issues raised and has come up with a revised mining method that will
minimise subsidence and groundwater impacts to the catchment.
I support extending the life of mine for Russell Vale Colliery because
it will secure employment for the proposed workforce of 205 employees
and will provides an additional 22 jobs during the construction phase
of the project.

I object to the expansion because of the risk of to Sydney's water supply
through loss and contamination. I am not satisfied that the proposed
methods of mining mitigate this risk.

Wollongong Coal Limited has a history of non-compliance with
conditions of approval, so I have no confidence in their assurances
that the "non-caving first workings mining system ... will result in
imperceptible subsidence".

The precautionary principle should apply and I ask that this proposal
be rejected.

Expansion Project:
I object to the Wollongong Coal's Revised Preferred Project Report
(PPR) to the Russell Vale Underground Expansion Project 09-0013.
Some of the reasons for my objection are listed below.
Climate change and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
* Coal mining, whether for energy or steelmaking, produces the GHG
Emissions that are causing dangerous climate change. This project is
estimated to result in 11,624,000 tonnes of GHG emissions through the
mining and the burning of the coal. Both direct and indirect emissions
must be considered. All the useable coal from this mine will be
shipped to the East Coast of India for use. Scope 3 emissions produced
during shipping and overseas processing of the coal will add greatly
to the mine's
impacts on climate.
A risk to Greater Sydney Water Catchment
* The mining will take place in the Special Areas of the Greater
Sydney Water Catchment - areas that forbid public access because of
their sensitivity and strategic importance - and up to the shores of
the Cataract Reservoir.
* Not only will the mining infrastructure, such as access roads and
vent shafts, disturb and damage the catchment, the proposal for Bord
and Pillar mining will result in up to 100 mm in subsidence.
* The extraction for the Wonga Central Development Mains extends under
the Cataract Reservoir itself. Cataract is severely affected by
drought and is currently at only 29% of capacity. Mining should not be
permitted anywhere near Great Sydney water supply reservoirs.
Triple seam mining
* The mining is particularly risky because a third seam of coal is
being mined beneath two previously mined seams. Triple seam mining has
little precedent and impacts are difficult to predict. There is no
current modelling that can predict the cumulative effects of such
mining on subsidence and groundwater drainage into the future. The
damage continues and even escalates after the mine has been closed.
* The proponent admits that instability in the overlaying old Bulli
seam workings may cause pillar collapse and subsequent subsidence of 1
to 2 metres. It is unacceptable of the NSW government to allow such
risky mining in the water catchment for 5 million people of Greater
Sydney in a time of drought.
The proponent is not fit and proper to hold a mining licence
* Wollongong Coal and its parent company Jindal Steel and Power Ltd,
are currently the subject of an investigation by the NSW government's
Resources Regulator into whether or not they are a `fit and proper'
entity to hold a mining license. The company has a history of failing
to comply with conditions of approval. Back in India where the coal
will be shipped Jindal's history of environmental vandalism and other
prosecutions is alarming. Even its auditors have questioned its
capacity to continue as a going concern; its current liabilities
exceed its current assets by nearly A$1 billion. Wollongong Coal is
not a `fit and proper' entity to operate a coal mine in the water
catchment of Australia's largest city.
Impacts on local community
* The colliery site at Russell Vale is closer to dense residential
areas than any mine in Australia. Residential communities have
suffered the impacts from this mine over many years, including noise
and particulate pollution. In this day and age, Russell Vale is not a
suitable location for a colliery.
* Wollongong Coal plans to build a coal processing plant at the
Russell Vale Colliery and process coal on site. The Russell Vale mine
is the closest mine to any built up residential area in Australia and
is not a suitable area for coal processing. Moreover, the proponent
has been unable or unwilling to comply with many conditions of past
approvals and the NSW government has proven to be unable or unwilling
to enforce compliance. Residents have no confidence in "conditions" or
"commitments" to operate the processing plant according to suitable
standards.
The proponent has a history of non-compliance with approval conditions
* Previous applications and approvals promised numerous items to
protect the community and environment that have never been met by the
proponent. These include but are not limited to: truck loading
facilities, sound walls, covered conveyors, limited stockpiles, sealed
roadways and realignment of Bellambi Creek. Now in this new revised
project, Wollongong Coal is promising the same or similar things.
* Wollongong Coal is currently operating right at this moment under
three non-compliances: the realignment of Bellambi Creek to protect it
from pollution and flooding (due Oct 2012); the removal of 200,000
tonnes of oversize coal that was illegally stockpiled on the adjoining
slag heap (due July 2019); and, the dedication of land to Council in a
1989 approval from Wollongong City Council (due 1990). All of these
obligations still have not been met.
* A proponent with such a poor record of compliance should not be
considered for, let alone granted, approval to mine. The NSW
Department of Planning's inability or unwillingness to enforce
compliance (with the conditions that it itself has stipulated)
undermines confidence in the planning system.
We ask that you reject this application from Wollongong Coal and
commence a process to close the mine at Russell Vale permanently.
Thank you for considering this submission.
Yours sincerely,
Kath Gadd

I support the application as I consider this proposal as very important
to the Illawarra region for ongoing employment. The project will
create a great number of jobs and will have a flow on effect
throughout the region

Having a coal processing facility so close to a residential area is not
appropriate. Many people have moved into the area on the assumption
that any activity at the Russell Vale site would remain low key, if at
all. The planning submission indicates a major expansion of this
activity which is detrimental to the health of all residents with coal
dust particles. This is especially relevant considering the expansion
of Bulli hospital as an aged care facility, as well as the nature of
the district having a high proportion of retired and elderly people.

I support the Project as I feel that mining is an important industry for
the Illawarra region.