Barrington-Gloiucester-Stroud Preservation Alliance
Object
Barrington-Gloiucester-Stroud Preservation Alliance
Object
Gloucester
,
New South Wales
Message
The Barrington-Gloucester-Stroud Preservation Alliance objects to the proposed development for the reasons outlined in the attached submission.
Attachments
MG & WJ Fraser
Object
MG & WJ Fraser
Object
Gloucester
,
New South Wales
Message
MG & WJ FRASER
4116 Bucketts Way South
GLOUCESTER, NSW 2422
Phone 02-65589803
Mob 0428240084
Email: [email protected]
24/10/2013
Director, Mining Projects
Development Assessment Systems and Approvals
Department of Planning and Infrastructure
GPO Box 39
SYDNEY NSW 2001
Dear Sir,
ROCKY HILL COAL PROJECT - DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION SSD-5156.
We are writing to oppose the Gloucester Resources Ltd's (GRL) development application for an open cut coal mine within the Gloucester valley. Our reasons are as follows:
Distance from the Mine.
Our family live on a rural property identified in the Rocky Hill Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as receptor number 56A. We are 4th generation farmers and own, operate and reside at "Glenrowan", a highly productive and profitable 210ha dairy farm, producing approximately 1.4million litres of milk annually (something which has not been recognised in the EIS, section 4.1.5.2 and figure 4.8). The business employs 2 full-time and 2 part-time staff along with using several local contractors and supporting numerous local businesses. We have invested heavily in new infrastructure and improving the fertility of the soil on our property during the last 5 years. Below in the attached version is a picture of our property.
Our entire northern boundary joins all of the land proposed for the rail Load-out facility and approximately half of the distance of the overland conveyor (section 4.1.4 and figure 4.6). Our home is situated only 450 meters from the proposed rail load-out facility and 2490m from the main pit with the closest area of disturbance being 430m. The main North Coast rail line dissects our property and our house is 125 meters from the rail line.
We also believe this proposed mine and rail load-out facility will be too close to Gloucester, residential estates and other rural/residential properties.
Wind
With Nor-easterly wind being identified as one of the major wind directions and also one of the strongest (Figure 4.4 in the EIS), our home will now be situated directly downwind of a proposed open cut coal mine and coal conveyor. Wind blowing over coal dumps, exposed overburden and mine blasts will be transferring dust and poisons gases directly towards us, our young children and our rain water tanks.
With only one year of wind data collected and used in the EIS (November 2010 - October 2011) we believe that this may not give a true representation of actual speeds and directions over the life of the project. For example with the current season that we are enduring (hot and dry) we are getting more and stronger winds from the North and North-west. In our particular situation this will have a greater effect on noise and dust from the rail load-out facility than may have been predicted because for the year used in the EIS, winds from a north-westerly direction were not particularly strong.
Noise and Health
The EIS has stated that they will have noise monitoring devices at the two residential estates on the out skirts of Gloucester. There has been no indication of any noise monitoring devices in close proximity of the rail load-out facility and the overland conveyor. Land owners to the south and the west of proposed development require the noise to be monitored
We have been identified as one of four privately owned receptors (we are identified as 56A in the EIS) which would experience noise levels in excess of 5dB(A) above the project-specific noise criterion for the majority of the life of the proposal. It has been identified in the EIS that for the four privately owned receptors, land acquisition may be a reality, if the project is approved. To date GRL has had very limited contact with us. They met with us last week, only for them to ensure we understood the EIS and the impacts for us. The meeting left us with no confidence that our substantial farm investments and family heritage would hold value when calculating adequate compensation.
We also believe that during the construction phase of the rail load-out facility and the overland conveyor that noise/dust will affect us more than is stated in the EIS. With the construction of these two facilities taking up to 12 months to complete, we believe, we will have noise and dust issues for a lot longer than the "less than 4 to 6 weeks" indicated in the EIS (section 4.2.7.2). Therefore, it should be taken into account when modeling the noise for the proposed project.
We live 125m from the North Coast rail line and 450m from the exit of the proposed rail load-out facility. There are currently very few train movements past our home during the night time hours. If the mine is approved we will get a substantial increase in noise, diesel fumes and coal dust from the increased train movements as they decrease/increase in speed to enter/exit the rail load-out facility. There may be as many as up to 6 extra train movements per day with the majority being proposed for the evening and night time periods. This extra noise has not been used when predicting noise for the area because once the train enters the North Coast railway the noise is considered an Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) issue and no longer GRL's.
From information supplied in the EIS and the supporting background document by Wilkinson Murray Pty Limited on Noise, Vibration and Blasting it is evident that the worst of our noise will occur during the evening and night. It is even stated by the supporting document that if noise occurs during the night it is unacceptable for landowners.
We have a family of 2 young children and we work long hours, therefore require adequate uninterrupted rest in a stress free environment, which we currently have. We know our quality of life will be affected, if GRL's Rocky Hill Project goes ahead. Disrupted sleep, increased noise, decreased air quality and stress will compromise our current good health.
Light Pollution.
Throughout the EIS emphasis is notgiven to the lighting that will be required during construction and operation of the mine. The EIS states that the hours of construction of the rail Load-out facility and overland conveyor will be between 7am and 6pm. If these are constructed during the winter months when the days are shorter and sunset on the shortest day (June 21) is at 4:45pm local time, extra lighting will be needed. This has not been considered in the EIS.
The placement of lighting towers on overburden dumps needs to be controlled. We have had recent experience of light pollution when AGL have been drilling wells in the area. The light was several kilometers away but light interference still managed to disturbed our sleeping patterns. The Rocky Hill Mine will be closer and have a higher elevation if the lighting towers are on top of overburden dumps.
Land Zoning
The proposed Rocky Hill Mine will impact on the Agricultural zoning on which it has been designated. It will destroy the Gloucester Valley and its community. I do not accept that the proposed mine will stay at its proposed size.
We believe that the Rocky Hill Mine will have a devastating effect on the Gloucester district. It will be distressing for us personally and will have a shocking effect on a large number of people in the area. House and land prices in the neighboring areas of the proposed mine will be severely impacted upon if they can find a perspective buyer at all.
We believe if GRL's Rocky Hill Project goes ahead our financial net worth, quality of life and health status will decline due to increased noise, disrupted sleep, coal dust, toxic blasting emissions, depressed property values and stress.
Please REFUSE GRL's development application to protect our farm, our family and our employees.
We have made no political donations.
Yours faithfully
Michael & Wendy Fraser
MG & WJ Fraser
4116 Bucketts Way South
GLOUCESTER, NSW 2422
Phone 02-65589803
Mob 0428240084
Email: [email protected]
24/10/2013
Director, Mining Projects
Development Assessment Systems and Approvals
Department of Planning and Infrastructure
GPO Box 39
SYDNEY NSW 2001
Dear Sir,
ROCKY HILL COAL PROJECT - DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION SSD-5156.
We are writing to oppose the Gloucester Resources Ltd's (GRL) development application for an open cut coal mine within the Gloucester valley. Our reasons are as follows:
Distance from the Mine.
Our family live on a rural property identified in the Rocky Hill Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as receptor number 56A. We are 4th generation farmers and own, operate and reside at "Glenrowan", a highly productive and profitable 210ha dairy farm, producing approximately 1.4million litres of milk annually (something which has not been recognised in the EIS, section 4.1.5.2 and figure 4.8). The business employs 2 full-time and 2 part-time staff along with using several local contractors and supporting numerous local businesses. We have invested heavily in new infrastructure and improving the fertility of the soil on our property during the last 5 years. Below in the attached version is a picture of our property.
Our entire northern boundary joins all of the land proposed for the rail Load-out facility and approximately half of the distance of the overland conveyor (section 4.1.4 and figure 4.6). Our home is situated only 450 meters from the proposed rail load-out facility and 2490m from the main pit with the closest area of disturbance being 430m. The main North Coast rail line dissects our property and our house is 125 meters from the rail line.
We also believe this proposed mine and rail load-out facility will be too close to Gloucester, residential estates and other rural/residential properties.
Wind
With Nor-easterly wind being identified as one of the major wind directions and also one of the strongest (Figure 4.4 in the EIS), our home will now be situated directly downwind of a proposed open cut coal mine and coal conveyor. Wind blowing over coal dumps, exposed overburden and mine blasts will be transferring dust and poisons gases directly towards us, our young children and our rain water tanks.
With only one year of wind data collected and used in the EIS (November 2010 - October 2011) we believe that this may not give a true representation of actual speeds and directions over the life of the project. For example with the current season that we are enduring (hot and dry) we are getting more and stronger winds from the North and North-west. In our particular situation this will have a greater effect on noise and dust from the rail load-out facility than may have been predicted because for the year used in the EIS, winds from a north-westerly direction were not particularly strong.
Noise and Health
The EIS has stated that they will have noise monitoring devices at the two residential estates on the out skirts of Gloucester. There has been no indication of any noise monitoring devices in close proximity of the rail load-out facility and the overland conveyor. Land owners to the south and the west of proposed development require the noise to be monitored
We have been identified as one of four privately owned receptors (we are identified as 56A in the EIS) which would experience noise levels in excess of 5dB(A) above the project-specific noise criterion for the majority of the life of the proposal. It has been identified in the EIS that for the four privately owned receptors, land acquisition may be a reality, if the project is approved. To date GRL has had very limited contact with us. They met with us last week, only for them to ensure we understood the EIS and the impacts for us. The meeting left us with no confidence that our substantial farm investments and family heritage would hold value when calculating adequate compensation.
We also believe that during the construction phase of the rail load-out facility and the overland conveyor that noise/dust will affect us more than is stated in the EIS. With the construction of these two facilities taking up to 12 months to complete, we believe, we will have noise and dust issues for a lot longer than the "less than 4 to 6 weeks" indicated in the EIS (section 4.2.7.2). Therefore, it should be taken into account when modeling the noise for the proposed project.
We live 125m from the North Coast rail line and 450m from the exit of the proposed rail load-out facility. There are currently very few train movements past our home during the night time hours. If the mine is approved we will get a substantial increase in noise, diesel fumes and coal dust from the increased train movements as they decrease/increase in speed to enter/exit the rail load-out facility. There may be as many as up to 6 extra train movements per day with the majority being proposed for the evening and night time periods. This extra noise has not been used when predicting noise for the area because once the train enters the North Coast railway the noise is considered an Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) issue and no longer GRL's.
From information supplied in the EIS and the supporting background document by Wilkinson Murray Pty Limited on Noise, Vibration and Blasting it is evident that the worst of our noise will occur during the evening and night. It is even stated by the supporting document that if noise occurs during the night it is unacceptable for landowners.
We have a family of 2 young children and we work long hours, therefore require adequate uninterrupted rest in a stress free environment, which we currently have. We know our quality of life will be affected, if GRL's Rocky Hill Project goes ahead. Disrupted sleep, increased noise, decreased air quality and stress will compromise our current good health.
Light Pollution.
Throughout the EIS emphasis is notgiven to the lighting that will be required during construction and operation of the mine. The EIS states that the hours of construction of the rail Load-out facility and overland conveyor will be between 7am and 6pm. If these are constructed during the winter months when the days are shorter and sunset on the shortest day (June 21) is at 4:45pm local time, extra lighting will be needed. This has not been considered in the EIS.
The placement of lighting towers on overburden dumps needs to be controlled. We have had recent experience of light pollution when AGL have been drilling wells in the area. The light was several kilometers away but light interference still managed to disturbed our sleeping patterns. The Rocky Hill Mine will be closer and have a higher elevation if the lighting towers are on top of overburden dumps.
Land Zoning
The proposed Rocky Hill Mine will impact on the Agricultural zoning on which it has been designated. It will destroy the Gloucester Valley and its community. I do not accept that the proposed mine will stay at its proposed size.
We believe that the Rocky Hill Mine will have a devastating effect on the Gloucester district. It will be distressing for us personally and will have a shocking effect on a large number of people in the area. House and land prices in the neighboring areas of the proposed mine will be severely impacted upon if they can find a perspective buyer at all.
We believe if GRL's Rocky Hill Project goes ahead our financial net worth, quality of life and health status will decline due to increased noise, disrupted sleep, coal dust, toxic blasting emissions, depressed property values and stress.
Please REFUSE GRL's development application to protect our farm, our family and our employees.
We have made no political donations.
Yours faithfully
Michael & Wendy Fraser
MG & WJ Fraser
Attachments
Emma Laurie
Object
Emma Laurie
Object
Gloucester
,
New South Wales
Message
Dear Sir / madam,
Please take this letter as my objection to the coal mine known as Rocky Hill planned on the edge of my local town, Gloucester.
As a mother of three I am astounded that an open cut mine could even be considered so close to the town where my children go to school. I urge the minister toblock approval for this mine.
Please take this letter as my objection to the coal mine known as Rocky Hill planned on the edge of my local town, Gloucester.
As a mother of three I am astounded that an open cut mine could even be considered so close to the town where my children go to school. I urge the minister toblock approval for this mine.
Attachments
Philip Greenwood
Object
Philip Greenwood
Object
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Object
Rookhurst
,
New South Wales
Message
Even though I believe the NSW Government will support this development for the financial benefit, the NSW Government is not protecting the very people that vote it in and are key stakeholders.
*The easy solution is to not have this mine close to towns such as ours. The difficult solution is to insist GRL to purchase the citizens of NSW homes who are within 2-3 Kilometres of the Open Cut mine as their homes are now unsaleable. These are all people encouraged to build new homes here by NSW Government to relocate from the cities. All their assets are in their homes, and they were unaware at the time there would be a mine so close.
* Health concerns are a major issue, it is well documented in Hunter Valley towns the affects on Asthma on children.
* It is easy to say the mine will employ 300 people but in reality that will not happen. We know that Gloucester Coal have just laid of 60, so they will just move work places. So no new real jobs. We will have mostly drive in drive out workers as miners traditionally don't want their families living close to the mine. No win for Gloucester here.
* Two surveys done by Gloucester Shire Council which everyone had the chance to comment by choice have shown 80% of residents do not want a mine this close. Doesn't that tell you something?
*I personally had to leave my dream home due to this company, we were harassed to the point of a nervous breakdown by the owners of this mine company. [sitting in my driveway, stopping us from driving on our road, threats from their Real Estate Agent] This was from continual stress not knowing if we would be surrounded by a mine and never able to sell.
* This is not a short term worry for residents close to the mine, as GRL have already leased the land for the Coal Loading Facility for a minimum of 3 years, so imagine the stress all these families will be under for that amount of time till the mine goes ahead. It is unbearable and un Australian
Some extra thoughts to share
Some family homes are only 900 metres from the proposed pits and most of the Forbesdale homes are within 1 to 1.5 kilometres from the proposed mine site. Many homes will not only overlook the mine site and pits, they will also have overwhelming views of the coal conveyor and rail loop. Even now, residents are feeling the stress of the proposal: anxiety, depression, anger, frustration. Not only have property prices plunged in anticipation of the project, some residents have been unable to sell their homes despite them being on the market for over 4 years. Others would like to sell, but feel the situation is hopeless.
Unfortunately for those residents who want to move, but can't because of the inability to sell their home, the mining will probably last their lifetime or outlive them. GRL documents show Stage 2 exploration directly north of the proposed Rocky Hill mine. Now that they have purchased all the properties in the Stage 2 area there is nothing to slow them down.
Silent Intimidation
We dreamt of a better life away from the city
Then took the plunge
Found the perfect land and built a house to live out our dream
Checked with authorities for permits over our land
Little did we know others wanted to take it away?
The government approves to get a big cut
Of the dollars that will come from the black gold underneath
Can it really help a small community so close to town
Why does no one care when lives are ruined and dreams are shattered
They buy up land all around the area in dribs and drabs
They drive up and down your roads just to show they can
The real estate agent tells neighbours we will buy them all here
Intimidation, I'm told not, Silent Intimidation I believe
Will workers come from our town, very few I believe?
Emotional blackmail so bad
Will it be this year or next that we are bought out
Unable to move on as nothing is signed, they drag out the sale, as no one
else will buy you
I cannot deal with it any more
Depression, sickness, shame
It is not our choice anymore to move
*The easy solution is to not have this mine close to towns such as ours. The difficult solution is to insist GRL to purchase the citizens of NSW homes who are within 2-3 Kilometres of the Open Cut mine as their homes are now unsaleable. These are all people encouraged to build new homes here by NSW Government to relocate from the cities. All their assets are in their homes, and they were unaware at the time there would be a mine so close.
* Health concerns are a major issue, it is well documented in Hunter Valley towns the affects on Asthma on children.
* It is easy to say the mine will employ 300 people but in reality that will not happen. We know that Gloucester Coal have just laid of 60, so they will just move work places. So no new real jobs. We will have mostly drive in drive out workers as miners traditionally don't want their families living close to the mine. No win for Gloucester here.
* Two surveys done by Gloucester Shire Council which everyone had the chance to comment by choice have shown 80% of residents do not want a mine this close. Doesn't that tell you something?
*I personally had to leave my dream home due to this company, we were harassed to the point of a nervous breakdown by the owners of this mine company. [sitting in my driveway, stopping us from driving on our road, threats from their Real Estate Agent] This was from continual stress not knowing if we would be surrounded by a mine and never able to sell.
* This is not a short term worry for residents close to the mine, as GRL have already leased the land for the Coal Loading Facility for a minimum of 3 years, so imagine the stress all these families will be under for that amount of time till the mine goes ahead. It is unbearable and un Australian
Some extra thoughts to share
Some family homes are only 900 metres from the proposed pits and most of the Forbesdale homes are within 1 to 1.5 kilometres from the proposed mine site. Many homes will not only overlook the mine site and pits, they will also have overwhelming views of the coal conveyor and rail loop. Even now, residents are feeling the stress of the proposal: anxiety, depression, anger, frustration. Not only have property prices plunged in anticipation of the project, some residents have been unable to sell their homes despite them being on the market for over 4 years. Others would like to sell, but feel the situation is hopeless.
Unfortunately for those residents who want to move, but can't because of the inability to sell their home, the mining will probably last their lifetime or outlive them. GRL documents show Stage 2 exploration directly north of the proposed Rocky Hill mine. Now that they have purchased all the properties in the Stage 2 area there is nothing to slow them down.
Silent Intimidation
We dreamt of a better life away from the city
Then took the plunge
Found the perfect land and built a house to live out our dream
Checked with authorities for permits over our land
Little did we know others wanted to take it away?
The government approves to get a big cut
Of the dollars that will come from the black gold underneath
Can it really help a small community so close to town
Why does no one care when lives are ruined and dreams are shattered
They buy up land all around the area in dribs and drabs
They drive up and down your roads just to show they can
The real estate agent tells neighbours we will buy them all here
Intimidation, I'm told not, Silent Intimidation I believe
Will workers come from our town, very few I believe?
Emotional blackmail so bad
Will it be this year or next that we are bought out
Unable to move on as nothing is signed, they drag out the sale, as no one
else will buy you
I cannot deal with it any more
Depression, sickness, shame
It is not our choice anymore to move