As a long time resident of the Wybong area I am writing to object to the continuation of the Mangoola Coal Project.
This project has already caused damage through its blasting activities, which are too close to existing residences and which need to be curtailed. It has also decimated what was a strong and happy local community and I believe has done irreparable damage to the groundwater systems throughout this area (which no one fully understands).
Our region does not need the number of mines it currently has - which are largely for the export market and not owned by Australian companies or shareholders. What we do need are quality small holdings (which are in ever-shrinking supply), a place to call home, enough clean air and water to support food production and a healthy environment for our children.
Please refuse this application which is not in the best long term interests of local residents including my family and I.

In the light of the decision on the Rocky Hill Coal Mine by Chief Justice Preston of the Land and Environment court earlier this year, this mine extension should not go ahead. His Honour ruled that Rocky Hill would impact on the aesthetics of the lovely rural area of Gloucester; would disadvantage the Community; would not have the Economic gains expected; and above all, it would add to the present Climate Change crisis.
I urge you all to consider that we live in one world, we breathe the same air, we all suffer if that air is polluted, and that Climate Change is real therefore we must start to counteract the causes. No more coal mines, and no more coal mine extensions should be the rule.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
Sincerely yours,

I am writing to object to the continuation of the Mangoola Coal Mine. I appreciate that this Mine employs some local people (and a good percentage of DIDO workers) however I don't think this area can sustain the number of mines it already has.
Over the past 20 years or more I've seen our air quality deteriorate to a worrying level. I worry about the health of my children and grandchildren and don't feel in good conscience that I can ask them to keep living here. If they don't, it means yet more local talent being lost to other regions because we can't provide a healthy environment - which is to say that the NSW Government refuses to provide a healthy environment.
Enough is enough. Please allow this mine to close as it was intended to so we can start repairing the health of our environment and our community.

As I am under the age of 18 I am writing to object to this project on the grounds of climate change impacts and intergenerational equity.

I fully support this project

I am writing to object to the continuation of the Mangoola Coal Mine.

I don't believe the Upper Hunter region can sustain the current level of mining in the area without serious impacts to the health and wellbeing of its residents and our other existing industries and I feel this specific project creates some significant risks for the Upper Hunter community.

In particular, the NSW Government has yet to set an evidence based cap on air pollution for this air shed, or on water pollution for this catchment. I therefore think the precautionary principle should be applied and no additional impacts (in terms of the extent or duration of air and water pollution) should be approved without this cap in place.

Furthermore, I believe the continuation of this mine needs to be fairly evaluated against the opportunity costs. The Upper Hunter Community has expressed through its recent submissions to this Department, that it prefers a future based on more sustainable industries including agriculture and tourism. Any additional impact on our environment, our air quality or the quantity and quality of water impacts that alternative future.

This continuation of this mine will push more residents out of the region as they seek to move away from its impacts. This robs the area of talent for other industries, community connectedness and its sense of history.

The rehabilitation plan for this mine is inadequate. It should be the policy of the NSW Government that no additional open voids can be left in the Upper Hunter landscape.

Finally, the continuation of this mine should be rejected on the basis of its climate change impacts and intergenerational equity. Rough calculations indicate that the Scope 3 emissions from this project are roughly equivalent to Australia's entire Paris Target. At a time when Pacific leaders are calling for Australia to develop a transition plan and when other countries around the world are moving away from coal it is entirely inappropriate to effectively sign off on further dangerous emissions.

As a current employee at Mangoola I will be supporting the extension. We have friends at the mine that live in the area & our children attending school here.
The majority of our workforce are local to the area with over half from Muswellbrook. We will be continuing to mine coal at the current rate at 13.5mtpa & extending the life of the mine approximately 5 years (still approximately the same original lifetime approval of the mine).
We support the local communities with funding for projects & different groups.
Our rehabilitation of the site uses industry leading practices & will continue to do so.
As we run 24/7 we use different dumps at night to the day to minimise noise & lighting so as to not affect our neighbours in the area as well as slowing down or stopping when required in hot/windy conditions.

I have seen the way the Mangoola project has been managed & the rehabilitation thereafter, which I found very impressive. A benchmark operation.
I believe that the continued use of coal is required for power stations & steel production & the quality of coal from Mangoola is premium. Consequently it is a cleaner burning coal, which has benefits for the environment. Mining this coal I feel is important because should mining of this quality of coal cease, it will be replaced by an inferior grade of coal, consequently creating a dirtier environment.
The extension of Mangoola will maintain 480 current jobs in the region & also provide over 100 additional jobs in construction. The mine also contributes to the local & national economy. The use of coal worldwide is mandatory for the provision of energy & for manufacturing. Unfortunately there is no reliable, cost effective & acceptable base load technology at the moment to replace it.

I believe we currently continue to need coal as an energy source to provide base load power & we should use high quality coal such as that mined at Mangoola to minimise pollution. I believe Mangoola operates to the highest industry standard & that their operation is more efficient & less damaging than others in the region. They provide a crucial source of local employment & the employees whom I have met, speak highly of working conditions & Glencorp's responsible attitudes toward their staff & the operation in general. The local economy is benefited by the operation along with the Australian economy.
I recently attended an open day at Mangoola & was very impressed by their continual rehabilitation of the site as their operations progress along the seam. Their Environmentalist was proud to show me a species of tree which was endangered prior to their operation, & has been successfully reintroduced as part of their site rehabilitation process. The appearance of their rehabilitated mining areas was very natural, more so than the rehabilitated areas I saw that belong to other Mines.