My Name is Jayden and I would like to provide comment and objection to the project.
I am of the opinion that the EIS has not adequately considered the environmental impacts of Scope 3 emissions with the HVO project.
please read my attached letter for an in depth assessment why Scope 3 should be considered and how it has influenced my decision to object to the HVO North Project. Please note, alike the EIS, this letter covers the scope of both HVO North and South projects.

In a nutshell I am of the opinion that the exclusion of scope 3 emissions, which accounts for 99.7% of all emissions directly related to the project, is a failure to adequately grasp the impacts adding 1.2 billion tonnes of CO2-e will have on the cumulative impact of greenhouse gas accumulating within the atmosphere.

Overlooking this impact has resulted in the failure to align the project with the goals of the IPCC 6th assessment report, Hunter Regional Plan 2026 and public interest of NSW as we will have to live with the associated climate change impacts, most notably in increased extreme weather events and water security.

This coupled with shady corporate dealings and reliance on failed carbon capture technology by the joint venture partners shows Yancoal and Glencore are not to be trusted when it comes to upholding their carbon emissions reduction goals.

This is based on the false narrative, written by disgraced politician John Barilaro, that NSW and the Hunter Valley needs more coal mining in order to thrive economically, of which drives the strategic context of this project.
All evidence and sources are provided in the attached letter

Below is my list of recommendations for consideration in the EIS and project approval process.

Assess scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions (along side Scopes 1 and 2) under the legislative framework of the IPCC 2021 Summary for Policymakers, and the NSW EPA Climate Change policy, and any other relevant policy.

Assess the cumulative impacts of Scope 3 emissions will have on climate change and the increased risk of extreme weather events and all other climate change risks should a warming scenario exceed 1.5 and 2 degrees C.

Include an economic cost impact of dealing with a warming scenario of 1.5, 2 and >2 degrees C within the Social Impact Assessment section.

Compare the three above assessments to a do nothing scenario and form a EIA recommendation or mitigation measure of both environmental and economic factors.

I hope this has provided context into the seriousness implications of the approval of this project.

I believe in the HVO continuation project because it allowed my father to provide for our family throughout my childhood and now the mining has given my husband a permanent job to help provide for myself and our son.

I would like the HVO Continuation project to go ahead because it will provide jobs to countless Australians. Working for HVO allows me to provide for my family and allows thousands of other employees and contractors to provide for their families as well. There are so many lives both local and abroad that rely on mining to continue to thrive well into the future.

My comments are summarised in the attachment "HunterValleyOpenCutProtest".
Thank you for the opportunity to express my concern.

The expansion of activities at HVO would inevitably result in degraded air quality, with
significant and prolonged air pollution in the form of PM10 and PM 2.5 emissions. PM 2.5 emissions are particularly concerning. Last year, Associate Professor Gabriel Da Silva - expert on the chemistry of air pollution at The University of Melbourne -
made a submission on the expansion of the Mount Pleasant mine (also in the Hunter
Valley), finding that for health reasons, “the mine shouldn’t be allowed to expand.”
Reaching this conclusion, Dr Da Silva found “emerging science” is telling us “that
PM2.5 is actually more harmful than we once understood” and that “the latest studies
are showing we can’t actually work out where a safe limit for exposure to PM2.5 is.”
Voids
HVO proposes to leave two huge voids that will slowly fill up with salty water. HVO South and HVO North pit lakes are expected to take about 1,000 years to ‘reach an equilibrium level’ (that is to say ‘salty lake’ that will remain an environmental hazard in perpetuity). (EIS Main Report pg 239)

Aboriginal cultural heritage
Significant Aboriginal cultural heritage values would be impacted by this Project,
therefore the Plains Clans of the Wonnarua People object to any expansion of open
cut coal mining at HVO.

Biodiversity
The Project would clear 397 ha of native vegetation, 97.4 ha of which is home to Threatened Ecological Communities (TECs).

This not a new mine. been mining here for 70 years.
Continuing up to 1500 local jobs and support for local businesses that they buy goods and services from.
Continuing taxes and mining royalties to support schools, hospitals and roads as well as pay for teachers, nurses and Police.
Continuing local charity and community support through Workplace Giving, sponsorship and community grants program.
Good to have a company that contributes to the area.