I was employed in the Coal Industry for 33 years and fully support the
Australian Coal Industry.
Also right behind the Vickery Coal Project.

I object to this mine proposal. I think the flood modeling is badly
flawed. How many embakments are where they may be sited is only
vaguely alluded to as is the impact of any floods will have on the
railway and on the amount and quality of the water entering the Namoi
River.
Further the destruction of Koala habitat is of great concern. At a
time when the destruction of threes they need to survive is at an all
time high surely special consideration must be given to the Koala
population in the proposed mine extension.

This project will create jobs many of them being local employees.
And after the around 30 year life of the project the surrounding land
area which is not currently qualified as farming land
will be restored to useful agricultural uses.
On the balance of economic and environmental considerations the
project will be of both economic and environmental benefit to the
Australian economy as well as boosting the local community
economically in the long term.

Based on a basic SWOT analysis.
Strengths / Opportunities:
1. Direct jobs - a significant increase in employment opportunities
(importantly including indigenous members of our community).
2. The positive multiplier effect on the local and regional economy.
3. Increased efficiency and environmental gains from having CHPP on
site.
4. Minimal loss of non-mine owned prime agricultural land - limited to
a 20 metre wide rail line.
5. No impediment to the operation of existing farming enterprises.
6. Whitehaven Coal has to date been a good corporate citizen -
supporting local sport and community groups / events.


Weakness / Threats:

1. Loss of amenity for those proximate to mine site and rail spur -
especially increased noise and perhaps dust levels.

These can no doubt be mitigated to some extent.

Note the pre-existence of numerous residences and farms close to the
main rail line between Narraabri and Newcastle Port.

2. Perceived / real threat of accelerated global warming. As yet, no
definitive concensus on this issue.

Dear sir/madam,
My concerns with Vickery Coal Mine are:
-the impact of the mine on the Namoi River water quality downstream of
the mine. The river below has been recognised internally by the then
DLWC of some of the best environmental habitat on the length of the
river and this is not reflected in the EIS and we would hate to see it
degraded
-the impact on groundwater nearby, both standing water levels and
water quality. The `bore survey' quoted in the EIS was done for the
the original proposal about 10 years ago. I don't believe any further
baseline surveys have been done for the current proposal.
-I am concerned that the EIS doesn't recognise how much the Braymont
Road will be used by miners travelling to work. The has been and still
is used by miners travelling to the current mines every morning and I
can't see people travelling the long way around to the new mine
without some serious attention to the problem.
Thank you

I support the Vickery Project and Whitehaven coal. It has given myself
opportunity to grow in the mining industry in my career. It has also
given myself the opportunity to provide for my family. If there were
no mining activities in the area My family and I would not of moved
and built a house in the area

The destruction of native Flora and Fauna habitat is approaching the
point of no return . The executive of the mining companies concerned
are only interested in themselves and the sale of the product to
multinationals. NONE of the profits or the non payment of taxes will
benefit Australia .

Are you guys out of your mind?
Who the hell will benefit from this?
The risk to the water table and water stores that we desperately need
for our over populated future are too important to risk for some under
table deal that the public will not benefit from in the big picture.
Pull your bloody heads in and represent the countries best interests
like your meant to.

New coal mining anywhere in the world is gross negligence.
Further to this mining near the Namoi river will ultimately be fatal
to river health and have a huge impact on agriculture and
biodiversity.
Habitat destruction of rare and or endangered ecological communities
for the sake of short term profit is intergenerational theft and again
negligent considering the track record in Australia and species
extinction.

The extensions proposed will have a potentially negative effect on future
NSW food security and on the environment.

There is inadequate protection for connectivity of wildlife corridors
which will impact negatively on small birds and on Koala. The
cumulative impact of the removal of vegetation across the area has not
been satisfactorily addressed. Nor has the impact on agriculture.

We need a rigorous, independent hydrology study.

Offsets are definitely problematic, so do not balance the negative
environmental impact of the proposed expansion.