I object to the proposed Mangoola Coal Continued Operations Project

1. The cumulative health costs of mining in the Upper Hunter are insurmountable. The public benefit of the project does not outweigh the public costs.

2. The Upper Hunter is now over saturated with open cut coal mining impacts. No additional impacts can be tolerated. No more final voids should be approved.

The era of the political economy is almost over, and its demise cannot come a moment too soon. No responsible government ought to ever approve such a project because a responsible government should know that by doing so it fast tracking the demise of the planet. The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC) released a couple of weeks ago in mid-August starkly points out that global land destruction, in which coal mining plays a large part, is reaching a point where land cannot sustain humanity. We are close to reaching tipping points and once that happens irreversible climate change will happen.

Fossil fuels are finished, and governments which go along approving projects such as the Mangoola Coal Continued Operations Project risk being accused of being in collusion with Big Corpa in a bid to exact every last cent out of an industry known to kill people, animals, plants and the planet.

I am a mother and a grandmother: if you approve the Mangoola Coal Continued Operations Project, you will be condemning my family, and my friends' families and families of the Upper Hunter and Hunter to the perils of a worsening climate emergency exacerbated in no small part by Australian politicians who wilfully have chosen to ignore the science of climate change and evidence.

I object to the Mangoola Coal Continued Operations Project.
Kind regards,
Sue Abbott

Please find comments attached.

Coal power is still Australia's best power supply so we need to support this project now and into the future. I'm looking forward to the continued growth at Mangoola and the community support they provide around Muswellbrook

I fully support the Mangoola Coal Continued Operations Project. In the past I have been lucky enough to participate in many community activities and events, which have been positive experiences for myself and the greater community. Events and activities made possible by Mangoola Coal and other local mining operations help to bring communities together which ultimately leads to great experience and a positive spirit amongst the community.

I am fortunate enough to be employed by Mangoola Coal currently, as an apprentice. Throughout my time as an apprentice I have been able to experience mining first hand. The apprenticeship has provided me with a support network, within both work and home environments, equipping me with a range of skills and experiences that allow me to grow and learn as new challenges and opportunities become available. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to learn my trade as a member of such a supportive team like Mangoola Coal, and cannot speak highly enough of the apprenticeship program and all people I have worked with. I believe it is within the communities best interest to back the Continued Operations Project, as it allows continued learning and professional growth for all employees, in particular any future apprentices. Mangoola Coal also provides substantial funding to the greater Hunter region, through sponsoring local events and charity organisations, which I have been fortunate enough to experience and become apart of throughout my life. Overall Mangoola Coal have by enlarge, proved that they are not just a mining company, but rather a member of the community, willing to provide more than just money to the community to see it flourish as a whole.

There simply shouldn't need to be a decision made, as Mangoola continues give back to the community, through local funding, jobs and also boosting skills throughout the Hunter with their apprentice program as I have experienced. The Continued Operations Project will prove to provide nothing but benefits to the community over the coming years, and with my experience I strongly believe it would be a huge mistake to even consider rejecting the project.

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to oppose the extension of the Mangoola mine.

BACKGROUND:
My partner and I purchased an old house on 7 acres in Wybong as Bec was born and raised in Wybong and her parents and grandparents still live on Ridgelands Rd. We wanted to move to the area to help Bec’s aging grandparents run their large farm and help them around the house as they are in their late 70’s. We planned on renovating our little house and selling the property when Bec’s grandparents pass away so we could move to New Zealand as my parents are also aging and I want to be close to them in their time of need.

Please see below for my reason for objection:

PROPERTY VALUE and LIKELIHOOD of SALE:
As above, we wanted to renovate, then sell for a profit as a newly renovated house on 7 acres 20 minutes from town is always sought after. We have put our lives on hold for over 2 years so far. We cannot renovate as we will never recoup the money we spend now that the mine has publically put forward plans to expand in our direction.
3 weeks after Bec and I purchased our 1st home we received a call from Jason advising that Mangoola wanted to expand toward us. After multiple meetings with Jason and Nathan and multiple community information meetings we have realised that we have had all our options taken from us!

RURAL SETTING:
Bec and I dreamt about driving home from a stressful and busy day at work in town to the rural setting of Wybong. As soon as we turn on to Ridgelands Rd we can unwind with the rural views of paddocks and livestock grazing, however if the Mangoola expansion goes ahead this setting will soon become a high wall, a huge bridge crossing Wybong Rd, even more mine vehicles and roadside rubbish than we already deal with, being stopped on our road for blasting, and the obvious noise.

NOISE:
I have suffered from depression for decades, but it has never affected me to the extent that it does now. I lay in bed listening to the clack of D-11’s and the whir of other mine vehicles (in my idyllic rural setting) every night for hours at a time! The mining industry has moved the bar with what is deemed acceptable decibel levels which I find disgusting. This saves them millions on property acquisition to add to the billions of profit they make whilst we sit her with NO options!! Even though the noise is invasive, the worst thing that comes from that for me is the thought in the middle of the night that I will be stuck here in a place I now HATE with NO OPTIONS!

COMMUNITY:
What was once viewed as a happy, inclusive community has become a community with division, confusion, low morale and beaten down people. The population of Wybong is ever aging and dwindling as no young people want to move here as farming in the area is fast dying. What was once a happy and welcoming place to live is now a very negative experience that I DO NOT want to live in, but have NO OPTIONS as Mangoola have taken them from me.

RELATIONSHIP:
Although Bec and I are getting married very soon, the Mangoola expansion has definitely dulled the shine of our relationship. This has put stress on us due to Bec growing up in the area and me moving here for the first time. Bec’s thoughts are heart based whilst mine are head based. The question rises… what happens if we break up?? We cannot sell our property, we won’t be able to afford to pay half a mortgage each and rent elsewhere. What do we do??

OUR FUTURE:
As above, Bec and I have plans to move to New Zealand when her grandparents pass. Bec’s work will relocate us and she has a job there that will further her career. This position has already been offered, and will be on offer whenever we are ready to relocate as her company is fast expanding across Australasia.
My family is in NZ and I would move back tomorrow if it was up to me. Without being able to sell our house, we will not be able to do this. When we get back from our honeymoon we will be putting our property on the market, but we know in our hearts that it will not sell, and this is devastating!
I feel I am stuck in purgatory. I cannot go anywhere. I am doomed to live in a house I hate, in a community that is hateful, and listen to a mine that has taken all my options.

Thank you for your time,

Brendon Buckman.

I support this project as Glencore and the team at Mangoola support locals and local businesses. There mining rehabilitation of the land is truly world class and should be the standard of mining rehabilitation.
They are environmentally efficient at keeping noise and dust pollutants to a minimum.

Mangoola minig itself is a close knit community and all share family values aswell as the companies.

The company I work for relies on Mangoola for support in labour and parts.
Mangoola supports the community and other suppliers and would be a big loss to the area if it doesn't go ahead.

As an employee of Mangoola Coal, I support the Continued Operations of the mine, not only for my own employment, but also for the future employment oportunities this expansion will bring for the community. The area is struggling with people leaving town due to the lack of local employment and this will provide local jobs and further income for the area. There needs to be a reason for young people to stay in the area and grow the towns. with more income being spent locally , better facilities can be designed and opened to help families stay in the area.

To whom it may concern, i support this project for the following reasons,
I moved from the central coast 10 years ago as a single parent with my 2 sons, i moved here with the intentions of working in the mining industry. The industry has allowed me to support my self and my 2 sons on my own with a secure income and job . I'm currently working for a contracting company that supply's me work at Mangoola mine. My time there has been enjoyable and am hoping to continue my work at Mangoola to support myself and my 2 sons. At my time at Mangoola I've been surrounded by professional work colleagues who have high ethical standards in safety and the general working environment. At my time working at Mangoola i have been educated on there strong focus on the environment and the rehabilitation work completed by the environmental /rehabilitation team at Mangoola and being a local myself living in Denman i see this as a very positive attribute in the footprint left behind by a local mine which makes me feel comfortable about my job and also my local living space. Im a proud miner and looking forward to my future in the industry particularly Mangoola mine.

Kind regards, Brenn Smith