On behalf of Marathon Tyres Gunnedah we support the Vickery Extension
Project, we have support Whitehaven Coal for the last 6 years giving
us the opportunity to employ and train all local people and the
project will potentially give us the alibility to double our workforce
with local people.
The project will also bring more people, infrastructure and wealth
into the town and open further opportunities for local employment.

THE EXTENSION OF MINING IN THE GUNNEDAH BASIN HAS PROVIDED EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES AND STRENGTHENED THE ECONOMIC VIABLITY OF THE AREA
WHILST I BELIEVE NOT LEAVING A DETRIMENTAL IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

WHILST SOME BUSINESSES MAY NOT SEE DIRECT FINANCIAL BENEFIT FROM THE
MINES THE ANCILLIARY EXPENDITURE MADE BY FAMILIES OF THOSE WORKING IN
THE MINES ENSURES A MORE VIABLE AND DIVERSE BUSINESS COMMUNITY WHICH
IS THEN SELF PROPERGATING.

WHILST BEING SUPPORTIVE OF THE PRPOSAL IT MUST MEET REASONAL
ENVIRONMENTAL CRITERIA THAT MAY BE IMPOSED UPON IT IN THE
DETERMINATION PROCESS.

WHITEHAVEN, I BELIEVE, HAVE ENDEAVOURED TO COMPLY WITH CONDITIONS
APPLIED TO OTHER MINES AND THEREFORE WITHIN THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS THE
PROPOSAL SHOLUD PROCEED

I support the approval of the Vickery Project because:

KEY BENEFITS
* The Vickery Extension Project
(Vickery) will generate 500 new
jobs during the construction
phase and 450 new jobs once
the mine is operational, plus
an additional 170 local jobs
in mining support services.
* Capital cost of $700 million.
* Vickery will deliver $271 million in
incremental disposable income
benefit to local communities.
* A new rail spur will mean we
can remove coal haulage trucks
from the Kamilaroi Highway and
Blue Vale Road on the outskirts
of Gunnedah and improve road
safety and amenity.
* Results in net benefits of
$1.2 billion to NSW including
tax revenue and royalties to
the NSW Government.
* Create a final landform that
is better integrated with the
surrounding landscape.

KEY EIS FINDINGS
* The EIS shows that noise,
air quality and visual impacts of
the mine are similar or better
than what was modelled for the
Approved Mine.
* Vickery will have no material
impact on groundwater when
assessed against the
NSW DPI-Water Aquifer
Interference Policy.
* Negligible impacts to downstream
water users on the Namoi River
are predicted.

LAND
* The Project Area consists of
cattle grazing land, occasional
dry cropping land and
rehabilitated mining land.
* The Vickery site has previously
been extensively mined.
* The Vickery footprint covers an
area only slightly larger than
the Approved Mine but offers
significant additional economic
and community benefits.
* No part of the Vickery State
Forest will be directly disturbed
or cleared as part of the Project.

WATER
* `Blue Vale' pit removed from
Vickery proposal - no mining
next to the Namoi River.
* No material water impacts for
surface water or groundwater.
Vickery water requirements
should be able to be met with
supply from existing, licensed,
surface water and groundwater
allocations.
* Rail line is consistent with the
provisions of the draft Floodplain
Management Plan for the Upper
Namoi Valley Floodplain.

COMMUNITY
* More than 400 separate
interactions with local community
members and stakeholders
undertaken in the pre-EIS
lodgment phase.
* Targeted digital communications
campaign to inform local
community of key Project aspects.
* Whitehaven will comprehensively
address public submissions about
the Project.

I have been involved in Coal Mining in Gunnadah/Narrabri Region for many
years until recently. The prosperity that comes into these communities
is tremendous. The building of new facilities the financial support to
community projects could not be done without these companies being
able to mine those regional rescources. I also believe that the
environment is also benefitted from the mining of these rescources.
The rehabilitation of land and the introduction of new species of
native trees and the protection of the fauna. Where as previously the
land was harsh grass land and knarly forest. These mining companies
also investing in carbon offsetting to try and oxygen balance from the
omissions that are generated from mining.
Yes mining is dirty and dusty and an opencut coal mine in operation is
no real tourist attraction. However through the mining phase the jobs
it provides, the support of the local economy and community to me far
out ways anything else. When mining has been completed you have
rehabilitated land that is more than likely in a better condition
thtan what was prior to mining.

McElroy & Peterson have been involved with WHC since the late 1990's with
both labour hire and machinery hire. In that time, I have witnessed
the ongoing benefits that coal mining has brought to the region
working to promote the Gunnedah district in terms of jobs and
collective prosperity for businesses in the area.The Vickery Extension
Project can only consolidate what is in place and provide a future for
the community as a whole.

We are a design-construct engineering projects company servicing the coal
industry since the 80's. We have been a driving force behind
empowering junior miners to be successful on several occasions since,
with our economical approaches to get them what they need. In the
Gunnedah region this included Vickery Mine (part of Whitehaven) when
in 1990 we provided the 100,000t reclaim stockpile and rail load-out
facility, and Boggabri mine in 2006 with an automated crushing
load-out system that made the mine economical. Others in the Hunter
Valley included all of Cumnock Mine's materials handling, much of
Bayswater Colliery's CHPP, and the conception, building and ongoing
development of Ravensworth Coal Terminal.

We know first hand over decades of close personal observation how
strongly positive the impact of mining operations are on the people
that work there, and also on the greater community of suppliers and
down-stream industries. As representatives of the people, government
should be looking to support and foster more of the development that
increases and enhances these positive outcomes for the people that are
MOST AFFECTED by the work proceeding, than the perhaps disconnected
opinions of others who have no real personal stake in the outcomes.

Established mines are well versed at being good corporate citizens and
mature participants in our modern society. Where one seeks to expand /
maintain their operations in a community, as here, they should be
given all the encouragement and assistance to do so. The checks and
balances are well in place, to wit this public review period as well
as EIS etc norms, to ensure compliance with said community standards.
The positive benefits to communities to benefit are significant and
this aspect should be given a very substantial weighting in final
decision-making.

We ourselves have no stake in the outcome as, whilst we have had
intermittent conversations with Whitehaven personnel about possible
upgrades over the years, we have not actually undertaken further work
for them and nor do we expect to as a consequence of this expansion
project (or this submission!). This is purely an empathic expression
of support for what we observe to be core decent people that are often
not very vocal in saying what they would like, but would be very
grateful should the project be allowed to proceed. I look forward to
hearing of a favorable outcome and thank you for your consideration of
this submission.

Yours sincerely,
Vince Sunter BE (Mech) MAIPM
Director of Engineering & Projects

It is good for regional NSW economy.

I support the Vickery project.

I believe this will provide employment and improved infrastructure for
the community.
Employment and training skills are available to assist those in the
community that would normally not receive assistance.
Community focus and support.

It will create more jobs, more community growth, infrastructure and a
stronger future for the Gunnedah and surrounding areas.