I object to the proposed Bylong Coal Project for the following reasons:

- impacts on groundwater will be significant,
-local farmers will lose their water supply because of over allocation already occurring on the rivers system,
- there has been a total disregard for Aboriginal Heritage issues and a significant number of identified sites have been recorded and will be impacted upon,
- the endangered wildlife should be considered such as the spotted tailed quoll, new Holland mouse, regent honey eater and the brush tailed rock wallaby,
- European Heritage has also been ignored with several homesteads and farm building already identified.
- the Hunter Valley has already many unused mining leases that are yet to produce coal and the major rehabilitation obligations I fear will never be completed on those currently operating!

1. The predicted long-term impacts on prime agricultural land and water systems in the Bylong Valley are unacceptable and will not be mitigated through proposed offsets and rehabilitation. The renowned Tarwyn Park natural sequence farming processes will be destroyed.

2. A significant area of prime agricultural land will be destroyed: the mine footprint will disturb 2,875 hectares (ha) of land including 440 ha of Bioregional Significant Agricultural Land (BSAL), 260 ha being destroyed in open cut, plus 700 ha of mapped Critical Equine Industry Cluster land. The proposal to replace BSAL at another location is untested and high risk.

3. Impacts on groundwater and surface water will be significant. The highly connected alluvial aquifer system within the stressed Bylong River catchment will have predicted peak losses of up to 295 million litres per year (ML/yr). Loss of base flows to the Bylong River is predicted to be 918 ML/yr. The mine proposes to use up to 1,942 ML/yr which is over 75% of the annual rainfall recharge. The river system is over allocated and local farmers will lose important water supply.

4. The mine disturbance area has very high biodiversity values that will not be mitigated through the proposed offset arrangements. Nationally endangered species recorded in the area include the Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby, New Holland Mouse, Regent Honeyeater and Spotted-tailed Quoll. Three entirely new plant species were recorded. A significant area of critically endangered Grassy Box Gum Woodland will be destroyed along with habitat for 17 threatened birds and 7 threatened plants.

5. The area has Aboriginal cultural heritage significance: 239 sites were recorded in the study area with 25 regarded as being of high local or regional significance (including an ochre quarry, grinding grooves and rock shelters); 144 sites have been identified at risk from mine impacts with 102 within the open cut area.

6. Important European heritage, including the Catholic Church Cemetery, Upper Bylong Public School and a number of historic homesteads and farm buildings will be destroyed in the open-cut. The social impacts on the Bylong community have already been devastating.

Being given such a short period of time in which to respond to the publication of the EIS for this proposed mining application is a disgrace. I object to the proposal for the following reasons: The destruction of...
* The heritage listed scenic Bylong Valley
* Prime agricultural land
* Excellent horse breeding country
* The habitat of local endangered species of flora and fauna
* The water table
Further objections include the general pollution of the Bylong Valley and its environs.

The world beseaches you to stop! No more new coal mines ...what good is money from coal if we cannot breath the air or grow our food. invest your money in renewable technologies instead and help the planet heal.

Please don't be short-sighted and tempted by short term money gains over long term food sources for Australians and others

1. The predicted long-term impacts on prime agricultural land and water systems in the Bylong Valley are unacceptable and will not be mitigated through proposed offsets and rehabilitation. The renowned Tarwyn Park natural sequence farming processes will be destroyed.

2. A significant area of prime agricultural land will be destroyed: the mine footprint will disturb 2,875 hectares (ha) of land including 440 ha of Bioregional Significant Agricultural Land (BSAL), 260 ha being destroyed in open cut, plus 700 ha of mapped Critical Equine Industry Cluster land. The proposal to replace BSAL at another location is untested and high risk.

3. Impacts on groundwater and surface water will be significant. The highly connected alluvial aquifer system within the stressed Bylong River catchment will have predicted peak losses of up to 295 million litres per year (ML/yr). Loss of base flows to the Bylong River is predicted to be 918 ML/yr. The mine proposes to use up to 1,942 ML/yr which is over 75% of the annual rainfall recharge. The river system is over allocated and local farmers will lose important water supply.

4. The mine disturbance area has very high biodiversity values that will not be mitigated through the proposed offset arrangements. Nationally endangered species recorded in the area include the Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby, New Holland Mouse, Regent Honeyeater and Spotted-tailed Quoll. Three entirely new plant species were recorded. A significant area of critically endangered Grassy Box Gum Woodland will be destroyed along with habitat for 17 threatened birds and 7 threatened plants.

5. The area has Aboriginal cultural heritage significance: 239 sites were recorded in the study area with 25 regarded as being of high local or regional significance (including an ochre quarry, grinding grooves and rock shelters); 144 sites have been identified at risk from mine impacts with 102 within the open cut area.

6. Important European heritage, including the Catholic Church Cemetery, Upper Bylong Public School and a number of historic homesteads and farm buildings will be destroyed in the open-cut. The social impacts on the Bylong community have already been devastating.

The Bylong Valley part of the upper Hunter Valley region is under threat from massive coal mining which is very threatening indeed. The Bylong Valley has agricultural land and the areas earmarked to be mined are larger than even the Liverpool Plains have to contend with. Coal mining is an archaic practice, we live in the 21st century now and there are upgraded solar and wind energy plants available that the rest of the world even China is embracing. Put up wind farms and solar with storage and Bylong Valley will be the much better for it because sustainability should be the focus over greed.

I am deeply disappointed at the way the current government is selling out Australia and our farmers. It seems their only vision for the future of our beautiful country is to destroy valuable farming land and the environment in order to make foreign owned mining companies wealthy. After the land is destroyed their vision is to turn Australia into a nuclear dump!

The Byalong Valley is among the most productive areas of Australia and must be completely protected. Despite the supposed stringent environmental conditions, this mine is a threat to not only valuable farming land but to our water supply. Australia is the driest continent on Earth, and yet we allow mining to waste billions of litres of water every year; water that would be much better used!

I am also totally against the government paying billions of dollars to the big miners as subsidies or providing finance to assist them to destroy our country.

It is perfectly clear that the majority of Australians want a moratorium on mining. As the move to renewables increases and the price of coal falls, it does not make economic sense to open new mines or expand old ones.

Mining employs a small percentage of the population due to the mechanisation of the industry. These people would be more gainfully employed in innovative, new industries that would provide a much better future for generations to come.

Yours faithfully

Rebecca Stevens

Allowing this mine to proceed will completely change the whole character of this beautiful part of our state.

Mining coal is outdated and a danger to our environment. It pollutes the land and water for a large distance around the actual operation. Anywhere a mine is situated will become an environmental disaster.
When considering a contract with a company there should be certain rules put in place. Firstly and most importantly the mines should not be placed anywhere near our food production areas or water reservoirs of any kind. Secondly there should be no chance of any Australian person being impacted by health issues that arise from the mining operation. Thirdly they should pay. Pay ahead an amount that would be assessed for any environment damage that is done. They should pay a GOOD amount for the ore being taken. The companies that are doing the mining should also pay for the carbon tax that is estimated that the coal or ore that is being mined will eventually be producing.
All mining of Australian resources should be assessed as above not just coal but all ores.

No new mines!
Value sacred land, biodiversity and farm land over polluting coal. Its time to invest in renewables, protect species, and prioritize slowing down climate change.

Land is sacred. Land is life.