I am all for the new mine building the community and keeping local
employment.

I am writing in objection to the expansion of Vickery Coal mine & it's
railway.

The railway will run along the border of the property my husband
manages at Calrossie & that our house borders.

We have a few concerns including but not limited to the following.

1. We are concerned about the coal dust. I personally have a dust &
pollen allergy all proven through testing. This will add to my lack of
quality of living if it's to go ahead. I have more than enough to deal
with the natural elements of farm life.

2. Due to the nature of my husbands work we get rare days away which
we choose to spend on the river camping & fishing at James Barlow's
property, Mirrabinda', Boggabri. We are concerned that the mine will
be built and expand right to the river bank and interfear with the
peace we try to establish on these trips. Not only the dust, lights &
noise but also the quality of the river water and fish life which is
abundant in Murray River Cod, catfish, Yellow perch & silver perch all
of which we have caught many and released over the past 6 years.

3. Another major concern is the affect the coal dust has on Calrossie
farm crops ie cotton devaluation and wheat etc. My husband sets
himself a high standard in crop productivity and it is proven that the
discolouration and introduction of the coal dust to these crops will
have a dramatic effect on value of crops bordering the railway line.

4. Another major concern and reason we highly object to the train line
is the increased height and velocity of floodwater down Deadman's
Gully floodway. Our home, our family & our pets are directly on this
floodway with no levy bank for protection. The danger & inconvenience
that this creates for my family is unacceptable.

5. Another concern is the extra train noise. We currently have train
noise and dust from the existing train line. We highly object to the
extra noise the additional train line will create.

The land is precious and we need to main a certain amount of prime
farming land as a legacy for our children and their children to come.
It's not always about the mighty dollar.

This White-haven Project will be a great opportunity to grow today's
economics and job security within this fragile community

This will be good for jobs growth opportunities and ensuring that we
support the industries and partner countries this coal is being
exported to, however ensuring they're burning it in the most efficient
way.
This will also ensure NSW government has ongoing revenue stream from a
nature resource being mined.
Everyone in NSW and the greater national benefits from these types of
projects and investment

I support the Vickery Project as it will provide better job opportunities
in the Gunnedah Region, not only in the coal industry through direct
jobs in the mine, but through the local suppliers and business houses
who will benefit from the follow on business created by the mine
direct and the wages injected into the community.
With appropriate Environmental controls in place mining can and will
continue to coexist safely in the regional areas of NSW. The economic
benefits to the State are significant, particularly at a time where
the region and the State has been decimated by drought.

Submission to Vickery South extension EIS
from Ross & Shirley Urquhart, `Monbrook', Emerald Hill 2380

Residents of Emerald Hill have only just been consulted by Whitehaven,
at a meeting called by Emerald Hill Progress Association about a
proposed rail spur that will join the existing Werris Creek-Mungindi
Line at Emerald Hill - despite submissions closing on 25th October
2018.
In 4000 pages of the EIS, there is no information given about the
construction of the proposed rail spur.
As it crosses the Namoi floodplain, the positioning of culverts,
elevation and the depth of pylons need to be given if this proposal is
to be given any credibility.
Our property "Monbrook" is two kilometres from the existing line and
experiences high noise levels during certain climatic conditions. The
average 8 trains proposed initially in the EIS and possibly up to 16
train movements in a 24-hour cycle is in addition to those already
travelling on the line. This would result in an unacceptable level of
noise.
The map of the railway spur in the EIS is illogical. I fail to
understand how an 80-wagon coal train will negotiate 90-degree bends
on the flood plain. I would ask for further details so that landowners
are under no illusions about the precise proposed route.
How does Whitehaven expect to address this issue and when will a
revised plan be exhibited and presented for discussion?
The impact of Collygra Creek floodwater has been ignored. Our property
experiences considerable flooding from this creek. Huge amounts of
water flow through our property to the north and north east, some
draining under the existing rail link.
Any constriction to the east of the existing rail line by construction
of a proposed rail loop will obstruct the flow of this water,
increasing flood water depths not only to us, but to our downstream
neighbours. The existing rail line already impleads the flow of flood
water and we drive along 6 kms of flooded road when this creek is at
its peak, at times being unable to leave our property or fulfil our
work commitments.
Other disturbances to our community have not been addressed.
Mitigation measures to minimise dust, noise and light pollution from
construction and commercial operations of the mine including blasting,
vibration and sulphur clouds have not been satisfactorily answered.
Of concern are the 10 proposed bores to be sunk to the north of the
mine expansion. Not enough detail is given in this submission except
to say they will be used in dry times, however, more than likely,
constantly. The minimal impact stated by Whithaven is of extreme
concern
The EIS for the Maules Creek mine did not give a true indication of
the effects on community members who live close to the mine. Noise
levels and contamination far exceed the company's original estimate.
As the company breaches agreements, we are concerned also for those in
our community who live close to the mine.
The CO2 proposed emissions contained in the 4000-page document make no
mention of methane that has 25 times more effect on greenhouse gas
emissions than CO2 (?).
It has been stated that this expansion is to take place in an area
that has been mined on and off for coal for the past 30 years,
however, no comparison can be made due to the enormous projected
extraction of coal causing total degradation to the landscape. Despite
not mining the Blue Vale Pit due to its close proximity to the Namoi
River our community has grave concerns for the future health and
Eco-system of such an important water source to our region.
Our close-knit, vibrant, highly productive community is now divided
into those who have sold or granted options to Whitehaven and those
left with unwanted impacts.
The character of our prime agricultural district has already and will
be further changed if this project and its rail loop go ahead.
I have difficulty in expanding on this submission due to the short
period of 42 days to read and respond.

October 16, 2018

My family purchased 53 acres of land in the area of influence of the
project adjoining Gulligal Lagoon and known as "Dorethea" in January
2018. We did so in full knowledge of both the approved and proposed
project. The use of the land is agricultural, and is intended to be
managed as such as part of a cropping and grazing business. The land
has no building entitlement, so there is no resident on site. We
recognize that our situation is different to that of some of our
neighbours.

It is our view that the operation will not unduly impact on our use or
enjoyment of the land. Furthermore, our family directly benefits from
mining in the region, and the the activities of Whitehaven Coal
through work at the local mines. As a family living in Gunnedah for
over 7 years and long term resident of the surrounding region, we
believe the Vickey Extension Project will add to the prosperity of the
town and surrounds. As such we are supportive of the project.

An area of concern we have regards the offset area beside the
Kamilaroi Highway (Offset Area 5). We understand the requirements and
obligations placed on Whitehaven, however considering the quality of
rehabilitation achieved on Whitehaven mines, and the Agricultural
nature of the surrounds, it is our view, this area should be exempted
from active tree planting, and retained as a grazing landscape or
possibly integrated into the adjacent TSR and managed in a similar
manner by LLS.

we needthis to go through to help Gunnedah grow further

I believe the Vickery expansion project should be approved this will
allow:
1) Continued employment opportunities in the Gunnedah region including
increased prosperity.
2) Increased export revenue for Australia, allowing an improved
standard of living for the whole of Australia
3) Increased royalties for the NSW Government allowing funds for the
continued growth and prosperity for NSW
4) Utilisation of the states assets
5) An increase in the diversity of businesses in the region,
minimising the reliance on agriculture along with the reduction in
income and business confidence during periods of drought
6) A reduction in Green House Gases due to the quality of the coal
available at the Vickery site, allowing it to generate electricity in
HELE plants reducing Green House Gases by >30% due to improved
efficiencies.
7) Whitehaven Coal is an Australian business with a track record of
responsible management and should be supported in it growth
projections adding value and returns to shareholders

The whole thing of approving an undesigned railway line over a floodplain
is ridiculous, how can they do any modelling without an approved
design.
Has any consideration being taken into account regarding all the trees
planted along the river between iron gate bridge up to the overpass 5k
north, in 10 plus years time these will also slow the river down
through that bottleneck, and cause increase in flood levels, there
seems to be no foresight go into this planning. I just hope the same
lack of foresight doesn't go into this planned railway line.