I object to the Ulan Coal Mine expansion. Any further escalation of coal
mining activity will increase the rate of climate change, which poses
an unacceptable danger to human health and wellbeing now and over the
coming century.

The Climate Change 2014 Synthesis Report Summary for Policymakers
prepared by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change*, of which
Australia was a member, makes clear the international consensus
regarding both the future impact of climate change and the
contribution of greenhouse gases to it. Under the best case scenario,
there will be a 1.5 degree Celsius warming of Earth surface
temperature. This can be attributed to human activity, of which fossil
fuel burning is a major element.

The implications of the planet warming for NSW will be profound for
our local agriculture, aquaculture, human activity and future health.

While I note that the Environmental Impact Statement provided asserts
"Impacts to... greenhouse gas emissions... are predicted to be minor
to negligible given the nature of the proposed works." I must dispute
the logic of this. If the aim of the expansion is not to produce a
significant amount of combustible greenhouse-gas producing material I
question the economic purpose of the project proceeding at all.

Further expansion of coal mining activity in this state promotes a
problem, not a solution. We need energy, trade and jobs that improve
the quality of the environment for the life of this planet, not
destroy it.


*attached

see attached. Objection.

I would like to object to this expansion on the grounds of maintaining
good river health and responsibilities to protect the Durridgere State
Conservation Area from "significant impacts on natural heritage
values". There are now three mines operating and seeking to expand in
the area - the additional two are Moolarben and Wilpinjong.
It is essential for an independent water study to be undertaken to
ensure the integrity of the river system, in particular its
groundwater. I have been visiting the area for more than thirty years
and have noticed an impact on the environment, particularly river
health, in recent years. Flows to the Goulburn River are heavily
dependent on discharged treated mine water. At a minimum, mine
controlled water flows to the Goulburn should mimic natural water
flows.

Ideally expansion should be curtailed as part of longer term plans for
Australia and the NSW to shift to renewable energy sources and provide
more consistent and sustainable protection to the State's water
resources.

I wish to object to the expansion of the Ulan Coal Mine (UCML) -
Modification 4, to extend underground operations. I request that the
Independent Assessment Commission be called on to review the water
issues and all the Approval Conditions.
There is a need for an independent regional water study.
A thorough assessment needs to be undertaken of:
1. Whether base flows to the Goulburn River will be effected
2. The impact on this underground mine expansion on The Drip gorge
3. The adequacy of the Conditions of Consent to ensure water discharge
from Ulan Mine into the Goulburn River is of high quality and mimics
natural flows
4. The impact on groundwater throughout the whole region
5. What the cumulative impact of mining in the region is on the health
and integrity of the Goulburn River
6. The cumulative impact of additional extraction of coal will be on
climate change

Key Points of objection
1. The underground mine expansion will further threaten regional
groundwater sources to the north of The Drip gorge
2. More base flows to the Goulburn River will be intercepted
3. The cumulative regional impact of mining on the health and
integrity of the Goulburn River has not been assessed
4. Good quality water discharge from Ulan Mine into the Goulburn River
must be regulated under a set of environmental flow rules that mimic
natural flows
5. Do not support mining under the Durridgere State Conservation Area
6. The additional extraction of coal will increase the impacts of
climate change.
Thank you for considering this
Yours sincerely
Lesley Sammon

Dear Sir/Madam

On behalf of Rylstone District Environment Society, I wish to lodge an
objection to the latest application by Ulan Coal to expand its
operations.

Our objections are on the following grounds:

1. Since the 1980's, Ulan Coal Mine operations have contributed to the
overall adverse impact of coal mining on the landscape of the Goulburn
River catchment, the health of surrounding small communities and on
the health of the Goulburn River itself.
2. Further expansion of the Ulan Coal Mine will further increase
global emissions.
3. No assessment of the impact of massive extraction of ground water
from the Goulburn River on the overall health of the Hunter River or
on the iconic Drip Gorge has ever been undertaken.

To our group, it appears that NSW State Government Planning
authorities have enormous contempt for the people of the Ulan-Wollar
area and on anyone else that lives in this region as they approve
expansion after expansion of the obscene coal mines of this region.

The effects of climate change will far outweigh the reasons given for
approving yet another coal mine expansion, such as "more jobs" or
"economic growth".

Please do not approve yet another coal mine expansion.

Yours sincerely
Carolyn Barlow
Secretary
Rylstone District Environment Society Inc