I object to this application for the following reasons:
1. I don't believe that longwall mining should continue in our drinking water catchment Special Areas. I've seen first-hand the damage from mining that has already occurred to upland swamps and waterways and cannot understand why this can be allowed. The long term security of our water supply should have priority over short term monetary gain from mining.
2. This company, especially, should not be given approval to mine in such a sensitive area. They are not financially viable, as their track record at Russell Vale has shown. The company has neither the resources nor the expertise to safely and responsibly carry out the project.

Wollongong Coal's modification application to extend the approved duration of mining operations at the NRE Wongawilli Nebo Area Project by 5 years raises many concerns and questions.
This project could negatively impact Avon Dam, Cordeaux Dam, Upper Cordeaux No. 1 Dam, Upper Cordeaux No. 2 Dam and associated watercourses. The longwalls are too close to the Cordeaux Reservoirs No 1 and No 2 and associated watercourses to risk further reckless and careless mining mishaps. Longwall mining has already damaged major storage dams, causing leaking and contamination of water.
Our own water quality experts, Sydney Catchment Authority objected to the proposed mining, in particular the drivage.
Does the company have the necessary expertise to safely operate, given the collapse of the longwall Nebo 2 in February last year?
How can we trust such a company, when it failed to provide adequate financial reporting?
What happens if substantial damage occurs to the water catchment and storage system of Sydney because of this mining?
What guarantee will the public have that this company will at least repair it at their cost?
The cumulative impacts of previous and intended future mining need to be determined before the granting of any approval.
If this modification application is approved, I ask that the COMPANY BE REQUIRED TO PAY A VERY HIGH BOND just in case things do go wrong and the damage needs to be rectified.
Given the Sydney Catchment Authority Special Areas provide drinking water to 4.6 million people in Sydney, why should we risk this essential resource to human survival?

I wish to object to the proposed extension of the work at Wongawilli as it would endanger the supply of water to the catchment area of the city of Sydney.
The extensive long wall mining in the Sydney catchment has already resulted in several instances of creek bed settlement and reduction in the quantity of potable water into the dams which retain Sydneys water supply.
At a time when our population continues to increase the probable shortage of water seems sheer folly.

The risks to our future water supply far outweighs any benefit to be gained.
During drought the catchment runs very low without losing more water to mines.
Those approving mining in our catchments are being treasonous to the Australian people and May history judge them harshly!
Commonsense is all that is needed. The cost of a desalination plant should be gained as a safety deposit to ensure future water resources!
This is a risky unviable proposition! Please refuse it for my grandchildrens sake!

I object to Wollongong Coal's application for a time extension for its Wongawilli Colliery - Major Project 09_0161, Modification 1 because of the reasons outlined below.

Sydney's drinking water must be protected and safeguarded from contamination because 4.6 million people within Greater Sydney rely on it.The risks of contamination from longwall mining exist and any level of risk is just too high to accept.

Sydney should not allow longwall mining in publicly owned drinking water catchments. Sydney should join the rest of the world and ban longwall mining in drinking water catchments, whether publicly or privately owned.

Multi-seam mining poses high levels of uncertainty and risks to the water catchment area in the case that the overlying coal seams have already been mined.

I do not accept that Woolongong Coal is able to safely carry out this project. The Nebo 2 longwall collapsed in February 2014 and this poses increased risk of Wollongong Coal's capacity to conduct the project safely. Further, the Nebo longwalls are close to the Cordeaux Reservoirs No 1 and No 2, which poses significant risks to the water catchment area.

Little to no economic impact will result if this application is not approved. The Wongawilli Colliery is currently in care-and-maintenance mode.

Longwall mining damages water catchment areas by causing cracked and dried up river and creek beds, damaged and dessicated swamps, damage to and leakage from major storage dams and contamination of water.

There is no justification for any mining within drinking water catchments of the greater Sydney -Wollongong area. In this instance this proponent has a fragile economic position, and a poor track record in managing its mining projects, it is thus particularly risky to approve any of their proposed plans.
* Wollongong Coal had five years to demonstrate viability as a col producer and employer and have failed so far. The collapse of the longwall Nebo 2 calls into question even their basic technical expertise, and thus human safety is at stake.
* The Nebo longwalls are too close to the Cordeaux Reservoirs No 1 and No 2 and associated watercourses and thus present too great a risk to water security. t
* The company's financial stability is highly doubtful. It is suspended from trading on the Australian Stock Exchange for failing to provide adequate financial reporting.
* If damage occurs to the water catchment and dam storage systems of Greater Sydney as a result of this mining, we cannot be certain that the company will be able to meet any compensatory commitments.

The Sydney Catchment Special Areas provide drinking water to 4.6 million people of Greater Sydney. This area should be protected from longwall mining.No other developed nation allows such mining in publicly owned drinking water catchments. This project has the potential to negatively impact Avon Dam, Cordeaux Dam, Upper Cordeaux No. 1 Dam, Upper Cordeaux No. 2 Dam and associated watercourses.
* The project fails to consider the cumulative impact of previous and intended future mining.
* The Wongawilli Colliery is currently in care-and-maintenance mode therefore, should this application not be approved, there will be negligible or no economic and employment impacts to the region.

I strongly object to any extension to the licensed duration of Wollongong Coal made under this application. Coal mining is known to, and continues to, be an environmental risk to the citizens who are providing this approval. This risk is meant to be offset by the benefits to the community from the economic benefits. I believe the coal industry has show time and again that they are underestimate the size of these risks and over estimate the economic benefit. The company has already 5 years to make this mine work and have not achieved this.
For me, the unmitigated effect of climate change will require halting and closing of coal mines around the world and the idea of approving this mine is environmentally and economically fool hardy.

Environmental Effect:
Long wall mining has left a legacy of damage in Sydney's water catchment, including cracked and dried up river and creek beds, damaged and dessicated swamps, damage to and leakage from major storage dams and contamination of water. The Sydney Catchment Authority Special Areas provide drinking water to 4.6 million people of Greater Sydney. This area should be protected from longwall mining. Sydney is the only city in the world that allows longwall mining in a publically owned drinking water catchment. This project has the potential to negatively impact Avon Dam, Cordeaux Dam, Upper Cordeaux No. 1 Dam, Upper Cordeaux No. 2 Dam and associated watercourses.

Economic Benefit:
I personally work in the manufacturing sector in Sydney and know the high AUD exchange rate that we work under creates economic pressure for our industry against cheaper imports. To me, the mining sector stifles the Australian manufacturing and tourism sectors.
There is much research on the resultant effects of the mining sector on other industries and I believe this should be considered in context to mine's belief they are an economic cornerstone of the community. (Example Reference: "Seeing through the dust: coal in the Hunter Valley economy", June 2014, Roderick Campbell, the Australia Institute)
Regards,
Antony Lewis

The project would include the undermining of the Special Area in Sydney's drinking water catchment , which feeds into the Cordeaux No. 2 Reservoir.

It would likewise undermine Wattle Creek and Little Wattle Creek, both of which affect the drinking water system of Sydney, and which also feed the Cordeaux No. 2 Reservoir.

There is a real danger that seepage will occur, and also that the water catchment of Sydney will be contaminated by any attempt to explore under it. The only 100% assurance that can be offered by the mining company is a decision to desist and to definitively withdraw from all efforts to continue with this project.

I object to this extension because I, as a neighbour to this mine, was never informed. Also, the future natural environment in risk.

I object to this extension because I, as a neighbour to this mine, was never informed. Also, no confidence to the mining company. Unforseen damages to natural environment and the area.