IT IS TOTALLY INAPPROPRIATE TO EXTEND THIS MINE IN THE CURRENT ECONOMIC SITUATION, KNOWING THE EXTREME DAMAGE WHICH COAL MINING AND BURNING CAUSES TO THE ENVIRONMENT. SPECIFICALLY, THERE APPEARS TO BE NO 'BELIEVABLE', STRATEGY [OH, SORRY, WE CANNOT REINSTATE THE MINE, WE HAVE SUDDENLY GONE BANKRUPT, MANAGED TO PAY OUT ALL THE DIRECTOR'S ENTITLEMENTS THOUGH] FOR RESTORING THE MINE AREA TO THE PRISTINE CONDITION WHICH APPLIED PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF MINING. I HAVE LIVED ALL MY LIFE IN THE HUNTER VALLEY AND AM APPALLED WHENEVER I GO THERE NOW, NOT LEAST BY THE "DIRTY' LOOK OF EVERYTHING IN THE LANDSCAPE, COMPARED TO THE WAY IT WAS WHEN I WAS A YOUTH THERE.

1. Coal fired power stations are being phased out around the world as the world moves to a cleaner, renewable energy source.
2. Why then would you consider approving the expansion of this coal mine.
3.The extension of the Wilpinjong Mine will impact on the small village of Wollar and make it unlivable.
4.Noise assessment, population loss, air quality, would have a devastating social impact on the community.
5.The removal of 354 hectares of remnant native vegetation will impact on 24 threatened species and ecological communities which is more than the current approval.
6.The cumulative impacts on biodiversity, water resources and the projected greenhouse gas emissions, impacts on the community and rural industry have not been rigorously assessed.
7. This mine will produce an additional 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gasses a year. This is against the Paris accord!
8. This extension removes the existing buffer zones from the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve.
9.The damage that will be done by this proposed mine extension will damage the landscape and waterways for hundreds of years.
10.Impacts on ground water and surface water is in itself reason not to proceed with this extension.
11.Peabody Energy is in deep financial distress and therefore may not be fit to meet all of its ongoing obligations, especially for environmental concerns and the remediation of the site at end of mines life.
12.AGL's Bayswater Power Station is guaranteed supply from existing current approval.
13.In accordance with Australia's obligation to lower Green House gas emissions this mine is totally not justified.
14. Instead this proposal should be rejected, the Government should be focusing on a cleaner greener renewable future for the State.

I am horrified that this application is even being considered let alone the implications should it be approved.

The people of Wollar have two options neither of which are justifiable in anyone's eyes. They can stay and live with the heavily polluted consequences or they can move. Considering their homes will be close to worthless, option two is not really an option is it? Option one is not really an option either.

Wind down the coal mining industry now. This is short term thinking with major ramifications over the longer term. The Hunter Valley was once a place where I would visit many years ago. The place is now dirty and stinks and I will never again consider it a tourist destination.

If you want to leave a legacy for your children and their children and so on, say NO to the expansion.

I oppose the extension of Wilpinjong Mine. Below are some of the reasons for my objection:

The dust and noise from the mine extension will make the village of Wollar unliveable.

I am informed that air quality has not been assessed against the new standards adopted in December 2015.

The extension will remove 354 hectares of native vegetation and have an impact on 24 threatened species.

The extension will leave three final voids that will permanently scar the landscape and harm waterways for hundreds of years.

The mine will produce an additional 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gasses a year, exacerbating the impacts of climate change.

The Hunter region needs to starts transitioning away from coal mining to create employment for current and future generations. The time to do this is now. Coal has had its day. Any new approvals demonstrate a lack of responsible process.

As an active member of the Australian Plants Society NSW who recognises and is committed to protecting our unique natural environment, I am writing to object to the extension of Wilpinjong Mine.

The extension will remove 354 hectares of remnant native vegetation and have an impact on 24 threatened species and ecological communities - more than the current approval. The biodiversity offsets will not provide sufficient habitat for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater. The extension removes existing buffer zones for the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve.

Apart from vegetation impacts, other negative impacts include the cumulative social impact of loss of population through mining projects, noise impacts, air quality impacts, greenhouse gas emissions, Aboriginal cultural heritage impacts and groundwater impacts.

The proposal to continue extracting low quality coal while causing irreversible environmental and social damage cannot be justified.

Please do not let more coal mines go ahead

Dear Sirs

I am very concerned about the Wilpinjong Extension Project because of its immense impact on the village Wollar, which will be only 1.5 kilometres from the expansion zone. The dust and noise for local residents will be unbearable and will impact their health. The air quality has not been assessed against the new standards adopted in December 2015. The ongoing impacts on groundwater and surface water systems will be greater than predicted.

The cumulative social impact of loss of population through mining projects from Ulan to Bylong has not been considered. Further to this is the harm that will be caused to our climate from more polluting coal not to mention the rest of the world. The mine will produce an additional 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gasses a year, exacerbating the impacts of climate change. This is at odds with Australia's commitments under the Paris Accord.

Even though coal company Peabody is in dire financial straits, it is pushing ahead with plans to expand its Wilpinjong mine ever closer to the community. This is a concern from a couple of view points. One is that the mine may be laid waste through lack of funds and the second is that there will not be funds available to clean up the mine site and restore the area to something resembling an acceptable state. It will also leave three final voids that will permanently scar the landscape and harm waterways for hundreds of years.

The extension will remove 354 hectares of remnant native vegetation and have an impact on 24 threatened species and ecological communities - more than the current approval. The biodiversity offsets will not provide sufficient habitat for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater. The cumulative impacts on biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage, water sources, greenhouse gas emissions, community and rural industry have not been rigorously assessed.

The area has significant Aboriginal cultural heritage values that have not been assessed in a regional context.
The extension removes existing buffer zones for the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve.

The contract to supply AGL's Bayswater Power Station can be met by the current approval. This power station should be on the list for transfer to renewable energy as soon as practicable so that extracting low quality coal, which is causing irreversible environmental and social damage, can be mitigated.

Yours faithfully

Felicity Crombach

I am shocked that you would even consider this application .
One can see gigantic excavations everywhere that coal has been mined and where there will be ongoing lack of rehabilitation. This company is in deep financial trouble and has NO chance of rehabilitating the mine site when it has taken away all its coal.
Please refuse the license to extract.
David Hart

I object to the expansion of the coal mines that affect Wollar near Mudgee.
I was at Mudgee recently showing overseas visitors this beautiful region that should be developed and preserved not roped up for short term profit and gain.
Furthermore I am very concerned about rising global temperatures contributing to climate change and believe we must not develop new coal mines or expand existing mines.

The extension of Wilpinjong Mine will make the village of Wollar unlivable.
The cumulative social impact of loss of population through mining projects from Ulan to Bylong has not been considered.
The noise assessment, monitoring and mitigation measures are totally inadequate.
Air quality has not been assessed against the new standards adopted in December 2015.
The extension will remove 354 hectares of remnant native vegetation and have an impact on 24 threatened species and ecological communities - more than the current approval. The biodiversity offsets will not provide sufficient habitat for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater.
The cumulative impacts on biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage, water sources, greenhouse gas emissions, community and rural industry have not been rigorously assessed.
The mine will produce an additional 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gasses a year, exacerbating the impacts of climate change. This is at odds with Australia's commitments under the Paris Accord.
The area has significant Aboriginal cultural heritage values that have not been assessed in a regional context.
The extension removes existing buffer zones for the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve.
The extension will leave three final voids that will permanently scar the landscape and harm waterways for hundreds of years.
The ongoing impacts on groundwater and surface water systems will be greater than predicted.
The predicted job numbers are overstated compared, with the current workforce extracting the same volume of coal.
Peabody Energy is in deep financial distress and may not be fit to meet all its obligations.
The contract to supply AGL's Bayswater Power Station can be met by the current approval.
The proposal to continue extracting low quality coal while causing irreversible environmental and social damage cannot be justified.