Please DO NOT go ahead with the expansion of the Wollongong Coal
Underground Expansion Project.

Our generation is the last to be able to save us from the worst
effects of climate change. We can't afford the estimated 11,624,000
tonnes of GHG emission that this project will create. Time is running
out to save our planet and projects like this are just speeding up our
demise.

Not to mention the risks to the Greater Sydney Water Catchment. Public
access is forbidden in the area due to it's sensisitviy and strategic
importance, yet this company wants to come in with damaging mining
infrastructure potentially damaging the area.

Please put common sense and the wishes of the community above the big
business.

The company in question is currently under investigation by the NSW
government's Resources Regulator into whether or not they are a `fit
and proper entity to hold a mining license. They have a long history
of non-compliance with approval conditions, so anything you do to try
and safe guard the site can just be ignored for profit.

Are these the type of people we can trust to do the right thing? I
think not.

Please reject this proposal in its entirety.

According to a paper published by an Australian think tank, a likely
climate scenario is by 2050; water availability decreases, affecting 2
billion people; agriculture becomes unviable in the subtropics; deadly
heat waves of 100 days persist in South East Asia, the Middle East and
South America; and eco system collapse of the Amazon, coral reefs, and
the Arctic.

(Paper can be found here
https://www.livescience.com/65633-climate-change-dooms-humans-by-2050.html)

This proposed project directly contributes to our climate emergency
and imminent ecosystem collapse.

To contrast with benefits of the project, it would provide 60 short
term jobs. It is worth repeating: projects such as this that emit
carbon will affect the water availability of 2 billion people
worldwide. This project is beyond irresponsible. It is no exaggeration
to say it will have deadly consequences on a global scale.

I support the Project as the revised bord and pillar mining method
minimises subsidence to very low levels with minimal impacts to
groundwater and the catchment area. The continued operation of the
Russell Vale Colliery will continue mine employment and provide
ongoing economic contribution for the Illawarra and community.

I object to 09_0013 for the reasons in the attached submission.

I support the Project as the revised bord and pillar mining method
minimises subsidence to very low levels with minimal impacts to
groundwater and the catchment area. The continued operation of the
Russell Vale Colliery will continue mine employment and provide
ongoing economic contribution for the Illawarra and community.

I support the Project as the revised bord and pillar mining method
minimises subsidence to very low levels with minimal impacts to
groundwater and the catchment area. The continued operation of the
Russell Vale Colliery will continue mine employment and provide
ongoing economic contribution for the Illawarra and community.

My name is Jamie Harris. I am a current employee at Russell Vale
Colliery. I write this submission in favour of the proposal to
recommence mining.

I hold a key statutory function at the mine which is ventilation
officer. I have 14 years underground mining experience and have worked
at 5 mines, mostly in the Illawarra but also in Blackwater and
Middlemount in Queensland.

I have lived almost my entire life in Tarrawanna which is a nearby
suburb to the mine and I am a single father with 3 school aged kids. I
rely on this job to provide for these children. I come from a mining
family and I'm proud of that. Dad has 50 years industry experience.

There are many families that have connections to this mine. Russell
Vale Colliery has a rich industrial history and many thousands of
people have worked in this mine for over 130 years. There have been
many families in the Illawarra who have benefited from having a job at
this mine over many decades. Hundreds of families in the future may
also benefit if the proposal is approved.

The mine still has a lot of potential. Its a large lease with areas
unmined and there is high quality coal there needed for steel making.
The coal is not thermal coal used for power generation. The mine
should be allowed to extract these resources. It could be a
significant economic driver for the northern Illawarra.

It's owned now by a foreign company and has had numerous and well
documented problems, but my feeling is that the current proposed mine
plan is reasonable and should be acceptable (of course subject to
safety conditions as required by the mining regulations).

Longwall mining has been abandoned due to unacceptable potential
subsidence impacts. The first workings method of mining is to be
adopted and the mine plan has been significantly revised and reduced
in scale. I think the proposal is quite reasonable and should be
acceptable.

To Whom It May Concern,

I support this project by Wollongong Coal Ltd. approval to extend its
mining operations in my local region.
I believe this project will greatly benefit our region in providing
much needed employment along with feeding our local Port Kembla Steel
works coal. The mine has been a vital part of our regions economy and
has had many positive benefits to small and local bushiness. I hope
our region can benefit once again with more job opportunity in various
roles and position the mine will provide. I also believe the measures
put in place by departments will be tightly monitored to ensure that
we have a safe working coal industry that gives back to the people and
the environment that we all share.

I am all for this mine continuing to employ local people