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.

I hereby oppose the Tarrawonga Coal Project 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.
Thankyou

We are opposed to the project.

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.

Dear Planning Department and decision makers on this project.

I object to the mine as proposed. I have been in the field with botanists and zoologists related to CSG in the Pilliga. I have seen reports done by biologists for different development applications both on a local level, state and federal level. From my experience I have witnessed that the independent surveys are more accurate than those executed by those wishing to develop. I have read points made by the Northcoast Environment Council and have no doubt that their findings are worth serious consideration. Therefore I am listing here for your review in support of my objection to this mining project.

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. This Forest is
PUBLIC LAND and is being provided to a largely foreign owned company
for private profit.
3. 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.
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 increased project area in the Goonbri
Creek Catchment due to the mine expansion will exasperate this issue.
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
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.

Regards,

Jimmy Malecki

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.