2 Tarrawonga submissn

I further object to the proposed Tarrawonga Open-cut Coal Mine expansion near Boggabri for the following additional reasons:

New evidence of likely impacts on surface waters: The flooding of Boggabri CoalÃ,Â's existing operation pit and holding dams during the Nov 2011 and Feb 2012 floods has necessitated issue of an emergency license for release of 700ML of possibly contaminated water to the Namoi River valley. This shows unequivocally that the building of containment dams and engineering structures to Ã,Â"100 year flood standardsÃ,Â", as set out in the EP&A Act cannot guarantee risk-free operation and lack of impact in extreme weather events which are becoming more frequent due to the accelerating effects of global warming.

It mandates urgent re-evaluation of all such works in the adjacent Tarrawonga project, as well as the Maules Creek project before any approval or rejection can be considered.

This applies particularly to the proposed Tarrawonga Open-cut Coal Mine expansion.

The proposed "permanent" re-alignment of Goonbri Creek and associated voids and embankments of the expanded mining project area are likely to cause serious flooding and impacts in the Goonbri Creek catchment. The disturbance of surface water flows from the existing mine due to the overburden embankments has directed large volumes of mine water from within the project area onto the flood plain during the Nov 2011 and Feb 2012 floods. This has also happened in the associated Boggabri Coal mine project area, forcing a licensed discharge of 700ML of water from the coal pit to the Namoi River Ã,Â- a clear case of cumulative impacts

The increased project area in the Goonbri Creek Catchment due to the mine expansion will exacerbate this issue. This is unacceptable because Goonbri Creek is a major component of the groundwater recharge for the area of Barbers Lagoon and the township of Boggabri. The mine expansion should halt 300m prior to Goonbri Creek and leave the creek in its current, natural and permanent location.
Unacceptable cumulative impacts of open-cut mining
The clearing of 397 Ha of Native Vegetation including some vegetation in the Leard State Forest increases the cumulative impact to the Leard Forest from the Boggabri Coal and Maules Creek Coal mines. This Forest is PUBLIC LAND and is being provided to a largely foreign owned company for private profit.
Rehabilitation of the project area will be by spreading a thin layer of topsoil over the overburden embankment. This is not sufficient to ensure the water holding capacity that can sustain White Box and other native trees currently found in the area.
The plan to leave a final void where there was native vegetation is not best practice. The void does not return the land to its pre-mining land capability and creates an evaporative pump that permanently negatively impacts on the ground water.
The water contained in the final void will increase in toxicity and be a threat to native animals in the area and as shown in the recent flood event could be a major threat to the floodplain.
For all these reasons I ask that the proposed extension of the Tarrawonga coal mine be rejected.

Submission by Beth Williams, 25 the Avenue, Armidale NSW 2350, phone 02 6772 4454

I do not support the expansion of this mine. mainly because of the known detrimental effects to the natural environment these sort of "development " is bound to result in but also the detrimental effects that these smash and grab operations. will have on the future generations of local residents.

I do not support the exploitation of public natural resorces and public environmental assets for the benefit of few (mainly over seas) company's.

This is Australia, this is 2012..... wake up, profit is not everything.

I object to these developments for the following reasons; The proposed "permanent" re-alignment of Goonbri Creek which is a 4th order stream in good to excellent condition, will turn a natural asset into a drain. The mine should halt 300m prior to Goonbri Creek and leave the creek in its current, natural and permanent location. Goonbri Creek is a major component of the groundwater recharge for the area of Barbers Lagoon and the township of Boggabri.
The clearing of 397 Ha of Native Vegetation including some vegetation in the Leard State Forest. The consequence of this clearing is to increase the cumulative impact to the Leard Forest from the Boggabri Coal and Maules Creek Coal mines. This Forest is PUBLIC LAND and is being provided to a largely foreign owned company for private profit.
The project area will be rehabilitated by spreading a thin layer of topsoil over the overburden embankment. This is not sufficient to ensure the water holding capability can sustain White Box and other native trees which are currently found in the area.
The disturbance of surface water flows from the existing mine due to the overburden embankments has directed large volumes of mine water from within the project area onto the flood plain during the Nov 2011 and Feb 2012 floods. The increased project area in the Goonbri Creek Catchment due to the mine expansion will exasperate this issue.
The plan to leave a final void where there was native vegetation is not best practice. The void does not return the land to its pre-mining land capability and creates an evaporative pump that permanently negatively impacts on the ground water.
The water contained in the final void will increase in toxicity and be a threat to native animals in the area and as shown in the recent flood event could be a major threat to the floodplain.

The proposed expansion of the Tarrawonga Mine near Boggabri should not be allowed to go ahead.

This action would continue to replace Leard State Forest with a hole in the ground and a plateau of overburden. There is already little enough of this original woodland left on the Liverpool Plains. In spite of assurances by environmental managers for the mines, the animals displaced by the clearing will not just move into adjacent bushland. This bushland already contains its carrying capacity of native animals. And other nearby lands are all cleared.

This is a lovely patch of bushland which cannot be recreated by mine rehabilitation. Nor will plans to establish a plantation forest on the site be successful. All trees, native white box or plantation, require more than a thin layer of topsoil laid on top of overburden and a scattering of dead trees to establish successfully.

You can't just realign the Goonbri Creek and expect the ecosystems to re-establish at the new site. The realignment is effectively a drain which will disturb recharge areas for natural wetlands (Barber's Lagoon) and Boggabri town water supply.

The impact of disturbances to natural water flow and aquifers are unpredictable. Large volumes of mine water have already been redirected onto the flood plain during recent flood events. Aquifers will be drained by the hole in the ground. Other areas will become contaminated swamps.

The long-term cumulative impacts of this and other adjacent mines on this publicly owned land should be considered together. The transfer of this public asset for private profit by a largely foreign-owned company eats into our inheritance for future generations.

I speak from knowledge of the area. I am on the Namoi Community Conservation Area Advisory Committee which is responsible for advising on Leard State Forest. While I am not expressing the opinion of the committee, I would like to point out that we were neither informed nor consulted on this matter.

There are many environmental reasons to oppose the expansion of the Tarrawonga coal project, not least because the clearing of parts of a Leard State Forest, a public asset, is for private profit, largely profit that will leave Australia.

The realignment of Goonbri Creek, will not only effect the health of the creek but also the groundwater recharge for the neighouring lagoon and the township of Boggabri.

Rehabilitation plans are inadequate and will not return the area to anything like its current health. Of particular concern is future water quality, and the added danger of the spread of toxicity in years of heavy rain like this one. One need only look at the flow of water from the existing mine and the disturbance of the embankments for evidence of future degradation.

Patsy Asch for SLA

Please reject coal mining expansion in Boggabri area. Reject greedy unsustainable industries. Protect the natural environment and food security for future generations.

clearing More of our native vegetation is a major concern as the planned regeneration of the area after it is cleared will not return the land to its pre-mining land capability.

Leard State Forest is public land that should be protected for the public not given to a largely foreign owned company for private profit.

The mine should halt 300m prior to Goonbri Creek and leave the creek in its current, natural and permanent location. Goonbri Creek is very important for the groundwater recharge for the area of Barbers Lagoon and the township of Boggabri. Re-alignment of Goonbri Creek will turn a stream currently in good to excellent condition into a drain.

The project area should be properly rehabilitated to its former vegetation rather than just by spreading a thin layer of topsoil over the overburden embankment. This is definitely not sufficient to ensure that a white box woodland will regenerate. Any rehabilitation should be thorough returning the complete range of local provenance species to the site.

The issue of flooding which has occurred with the existing mine will only become worse if this expansion goes ahead.

The plan to leave a final void where there was native vegetation is not good enough. Ground water will be permanently impacted and should be properly rehabilitated. If the void is left water contained there will increase the chances of flood plain poisoning over time. Leaving the void should not be an option.

I object to the proposed expansion of the Tarrawonga Coal mine for the following reasons:
1. The proposed "permanent" re-alignment of Goonbri Creek which is a 4th order stream in good to excellent condition, will turn a natural asset into a drain. The mine should halt 300m prior to Goonbri Creek and leave the creek in its current, natural and permanent location. Goonbri Creek is a major component of the groundwater recharge for the area of Barbers Lagoon and the township of Boggabri.
2. The clearing of 397 Ha of Native Vegetation including some vegetation in the Leard State Forest. The consequence of this clearing is to increase the cumulative impact to the Leard Forest from the Boggabri Coal and Maules Creek Coal mines. It is inappropriate use of public land to hand over this Forest to a largely foreign owned company for private profit.
3. The proposal to rehabilitate the area by spreading a thin layer of topsoil over the overburden embankment is not sufficient to ensure that the water holding capability will sustain White Box and other native trees which are currently found in the area.
4. The disturbance of surface water flows from the existing mine due to the overburden embankments has directed large volumes of mine water from within the project area onto the flood plain during the Nov 2011 and Feb 2012 floods. The proposed increased project area in the Goonbri Creek Catchment due to the mine expansion will exacerbate this problem.
5. The plan to leave a final void where there was native vegetation is not best practice. The void does not return the land to its pre-mining land capability and creates an evaporative pump that permanently negatively impacts on the ground water.
6. The water contained in the final void will increase in toxicity and adversely impact on native animals that might drink from it. The recent flood event highlights the risk of contamination of the floodplain.

The proposed coal mine expansion is totally inappropriate.The clearing of 397 Ha of Native Vegetation including some vegetation in the Leard State Forest should not occur. The consequence of this clearing is to increase the cumulative impact to the Leard Forest from the Boggabri Coal and Maules Creek Coal mines. This Forest is PUBLIC LAND and is being provided to a largely foreign owned company for private profit.
The plan to leave a final void where there was native vegetation is not best practice. The void does not return the land to its pre-mining land capability and creates an evaporative pump that permanently negatively impacts on the ground water.
The water contained in the final void will increase in toxicity and be a threat to native animals in the area and as shown in the recent flood event could be a major threat to the floodplain. This expansion should not proceed.