I am opposed to this development. Mining and agriculture cannot co exist.
I have concerns about the impact of this proposed development on
groundwater resources. I am concerned about health impacts on the
community. I am concerned about impacts on culturally significant
sites and refer to the Burra Charter.
Boggabri is a town in slow decline, despite the assurances that were
made by the coal industry when the Maules Creek mine was being
proposed that prosperity would come.

Despite strong support in the community for a dust monitor in the town
of Boggabri, which is supported by Boggabri Coal (Idemitsu Resources),
Whitehaven has opposed this plan. Although a Dept of Planning
representative recently blamed this on the NSW EPA, there is written
evidence that Whitehaven refused to support the Boggabri dust monitor
unless it were paid for by the NSW Government.

Loss of population has an impact on housing occupation levels.

The CIVEO worker camp benefits to Boggabri are overstated - CIVEO
never patronized the Boggabri butcher, for example, and bought their
meat from elsewhere.

Businesses in Boggabri have not seen the benefit from decade of coal
mines, if anything the reverse has happened. Only one pub out of three
remains in operation.

There is no child care centre and furthermore Whitehaven Coal
approached Narrabri Council and advised them not to invest in child
care in Boggabri, which is a disincentive to young families who may
wish to relocate there. Community bitterness surrounding the child
care centre has caused extreme distress to the Boggabri Business and
Community Progress Association, which strives to secure the survival
of the town.
We need to invest in renewable energy.

SSD7480 Vickery Mine Extention Proposal
RAILWAY SPUR IMPACT ON AVONA PROPERTY

We object to the railway spur to be constructed over road 2klm
from our house,and even less from our property.interferring withour
lifestyle and community.
Our concerns are noise,dust,water,and devaluation.

NOISE
When in operation these trains will be hauling 82 wagons of coal,and
whilst negotiating the overpass at 6.5m in height,it will be at its
maximum noise level which is our major noise concern.
There will be eight loaded trains a day and eight returning
empty(total of16) The empty trains are also of noise concern because
of the bunching up and rattling on the decline.

DUST
As these wagons have just been loaded the will be carrying a large
amount of dust.
When the wind is blowing in a northerly direction it will blow onto
our property and residence (this is the prevailing wind direction in
the summer) This is a health concern as my wife has breathing
difficulties in dusty conditions. This also applies to the mine dust.

WATER
As Whitehaven are planning to sink several bores for their operation
we are concerned for our aquifer levels as we depend on bore water for
our house and stock water.

DEVALUATION
We believe that because of this mine extension and railway spur the
devaluation of the property because of visual,noise and dust impacts
will be extremely significant.
The Avona property was purchased by us fourteen years ago as a
retirement property to reside at by the Namoi river with peace and
tranquillity.
We would like to see the railway spur relocated to the Boggabri/Maules
creek line.
Heather and Robert Mansfield
"Avona"
11904 Kamilaroi Hwy
Emerald Hill 2380

When I bought my house in 2003 there were no coal trains that went north
of the Gunnedah CHPP.
Idemitsu Boggabri commenced in 2006, now exporting 7,000,000 MTA
equating to 875 trains P/A.
Narrabri Underground commenced in 2010/11 now exporting 8,000,000 MTA
equating to 1,000 trains P/A.
Maules Creek commenced in 2015 and have a target of 12,000,000 MTA or
more equating to 1,500 trains P/A.
Now Whitehaven are seeking to ad a further 1,250 trains P/A or
more.This will be 4625 trains P/A.
All of these trains pass less than 64 meters from my home
boundary.When trains are put on the holding line at Emerald Hill it is
not unusual for them to be there for hours idling the compressed air
relief valve discharges frequently and can be heard clearly from my
home disrupting my sleep as I'm a light sleeper. Further to this the
fumes of diesel smoke drift across into my home making it impossible
to leave doors and windows open.The coal dust off the wagons settles
on my roof which I rely on for water,as there is no town water.My
solar panelsdon't perform to expectations as they are constantly being
covered in coal dust. I have lost several ornaments dear to me through
unexplained movement, which was never evident before. I rented the
Railway Cottage for 2 years before I bought my current premises and
never had a problem of the above mentioned issues. The Railway Cottage
adjoins railway property, so you would think that if there where
vibrations I would have been aware of them. It appears to me that this
has come about with heavier and faster more frequent train movements,
since the opening of several coal mines in the area.

I bought this home in 2003 for the piece and quite country life style
that I craved to see my life out, over the last few years that has
been turned around and ruined by the noise of the coal trains. It
would have detrimental effects and devalue my property if I choose to
sell.

I am local to the area living on a property between Coonabarabran and
Boggabri. I strongly object to this extension of Vickery Mine.
1. Recent report from IPCC stressed the urgency for action on climate
change if we are to keep warming to below <1.5C and we must act within
the next 12 years. Science tells us the best action we can take is to
REDUCE mining/use of fossil fuels. Those who ignore this science will
be CULPABLE for their actions that endanger today's children and their
futures. Legal actions are being taken now against
governments/individuals who wilfully ignore this knowledge. This alone
should be enough to stop this mine extension.
2. We are currently experiencing the worst drought across NSW in many
many decades. Sufficient water remains the vital ingredient to allow
agriculture and communities to exist in this region. Water resources
both surface and underground are currently threatened by large number
of established coal mines in the area. An extension of the mine will
simply add to the dangerous impacts on water resources and is
intolerable for the community. Again decisions that will impact water
in this way will be deemed CULPABLE in the future.
3. The proposed rail crossing over the Namoi River and the floodplain
gives serious concerns as there is a lack of information in the EIS
about the impacts into the future.
4. Forests, biodiversity and threatened species are in danger and
under extreme pressure across our NW region this proposal will simply
exacerbate these threats and especially impact the local koala
population which is highly stressed by the current drought and climate
changes. Offsets are not even proposed and Whitehaven have not even
fulfilled current obligations of offsets for Maules Creek. The company
has an appalling record on this and other factors so that the local
community has no faith in them. Whitehaven have no social licence for
this extension. Enough is enough!
5. The extension will threaten the heritage property "Kurumbede" that
inspired Dorothea Mackellar poems such as "My Country". The people of
NSW and Australia are tired of our heritage both ancient and recent
being sold out to corporate greed and political donations. Stop the
rot now.
6. The proposal will further damage the human, social and agricultural
capital of the town of Boggabri and the surrounding strategic
agricultural farmland .

Please stop this proposal for an extension of the Vickery mine by
Whitehaven. It has nothing to recommend it and will do lasting damage
to the climate, the health of the people, the local agriculture, the
water resources and the community of Boggabri. I strongly object to
this proposal and again remind decision makers that in the future you
will be held accountable and culpable for the damage such approvals
will cause.

As an employee and employer in the mining industry within the region we
support the project to ensure our workforce being members of the
community with sustainable long term opportunities. Without such
projects this would not be possible. Our employees work, live and
spend in local communities and this further promotes a social culture
and economic stability for regional communities to prosper and attract
valued members of the community

Please approve the extension of the Vickery mine.
The region needs the income and employment provided by the mine. And
the large majority of locals love it.
Our economy can only grow if we are producing raw materials and goods
for sale/export.

Our organization strongly supports the Vickery development project. As
global investors in the natural resources space, we only invest in the
highest quality projects and management teams. It is critical to the
improvement of lives of millions of people to have cheap electricity
and steel. The demand for a better life will ensure that the raw
materials to facilitate cheap electricity and steel are desired by the
market place. The key then is to supply the highest quality of such
resources using the highest standards of environmental treatment.
Whitehaven Coal's management team and Vickery project meets these
requirements and therefore should be developed.

The Vickery project will provide additional opportunities for Local
residents, employees and businesses associated with the mining
industry.

I support The Australian Coal industry and with it the Application for
Whitehaven's Vickery Project.

Great for the future

I would like to support the application by Whitehaven Coal Limited
("WHC") for the Vickery Extension Project.

In my personal opinion, I believe WHC is a reliable and well
experienced developer and operator of coal mines who always put great
effort to safety and environmental issues. They are committed to bring
benefits to local communities through employment and many other
things.

I also have a view that WHC has sufficient capability to develop and
operate Vickery Extension Project considering their good relationship
with local community.

I understand that coal produced from Vickery Extension Project would
be semi-soft coking coal, PCI coal and high quality thermal coal.

Demand for high quality thermal coal is still increasing, in
particular in Asian countries. On the other hand, high quality thermal
coal developments in Australia are very limited.

In this regard, I believe Vickery Extension Project is precious not
only to Australia but also for other countries.

Given the above perspectives, I support this project.