Angus Place Extension Project.

The Angus Place project is essential for the local ecomonies of Greater Lithgow and surrounds. Centennial has sound safety records and the methodology in practice of coal extraction by some of the companies mine sites close to the Angus Place project demonstate a greater understanding of sensitive geological structures. Safe and efficient mining with the environment at the forefront of any mine plan. Security of hundereds of jobs, a knock on effect to thousands of people and buisnesses. State royalties for building and maintaining the high standards of living we as Australians have the pleasure of. Cheaper reliable power with a view to further reduce emissions with clean coal initiatives showing favourable results. There are so many reasons to support and approve this project it would a disater if not.

We need more industry jobs to keep the surrounding towns alive and people in the area

I strongly support the Angus Place Extension Project.

At the present time coal fired power generation is the main source of power within the state of NSW, as renewable power is currently not seen as a major source of supply. As coal fired power generation is the main source of power a continuous supply, of coal is required to support power generation for the state. The granting of approval for the Angus Place Extension Project will provide continuity in the supply of coal for power generation in NSW. Angus Place Colliery is a valuable asset that is already established (due to previous operations) with onsite infrastructure ready to service the state of NSW. The granting of the extension will assist in ensuring the ongoing employment of mine production workers, with this benefiting the town of Lithgow and surrounding communities including Bathurst, Mudgee and the Blue Mountains. The onflow economical benefits to the community, will also have a positive impact on existing businesses and employment and further employment opportunities. Centennial Coal has demonstrated they are responsible in the manner in which they conduct their mining operations. Further to this Angus Place is an established underground mine that does not have a large footprint on the environment and is infrastructure ready.

I was pleased to learn that the Angus Place Extension project was now requesting submissions. The approval of the Angus Place Extension is imperative to the future of the Lithgow community. Lithgow and its greater community can not afford too have this extension not approved. Approval of this extension would bring many positives including job opportunities and hope for the continuation of the mining industry in this area which would have a positive flow on effect for local businesses who supply to the local coal mines.

We have seen the environmental damage coal mines have done to this area for generations. Recent event of the bushfires in this area and now the regeneration of the environment as we have moved into isolation we need to stop destroying our land and environment for the promise of jobs which don’t eventuate and are very short term we need to listen to the science and move towards renewable energy stop destroying our planet !!

Please see my attached submission.

This project is not in the best interests of the people of NSW, is shortsighted and will only benefit those who wish to make profit from this grasping behaviour.

Please do not extend coal mining in this area. It has great natural beauty which will only increase in value if we can preserve it.
Coal mining has past its peak, we need to move on to other forms of employment and energy creation.
Domestic and International tourism is one alternative for employment but this needs the special aspects of this are to be protected and preserved.

I totally object to the Angus Place Extension Project. My main reason for objecting to the project is the the damage this extension will cause to the environment. The damage already caused by coal mining in the area is well documented, the ongoing production of pollution and the increase in climate change due to coal mining is scientifically proven beyond doubt. The last thing NSW, Australia or the world needs is another coal mine. Once the surrounding landscape is compromised it can never be repaired. Rockfalls, landslides, creek pollution and bedrock cracking are all irreversible - once the damage has occurred we can never restore the landscape. We have one world, one plant and one change to protect our communities, our natural heritage and scenic values. The argument that we need coal for energy in the future is juxtaposed to realality, as there will be no future if we continue on the current trajectory of burning fossil fuels. Burning coal is not going to serve the planet well, mining at Angus Place will continue to damage the environment of the area forever. This is a bad decision, an antiquated model and has a callous disregard for the greater good of humanity, the environment and all who have a right to clean and renewable energy. We need to retrain the mining industry workers, look after them and start protecting the world for all. COVID-19 is just a tasting plate to what the world will be like once climate change reaches full tilt! Stop the Angus Place Extension - the only Major Project we should be focused on is the project of making the world a cleaner and safer place to live for all.

Mining Projects
NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
Locked Bag 5022
Parramatta NSW 2124

Dear Sir/Madam,

Objection to the State Significant Project – Angus Place Mine Extension (SSD 5602 - Amendment Exhibition)

I request that the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (the DoPIE) recommend refusal of consent, as Centennial Coal has not modified the Angus Place mine extension proposal to adequately protect nationally endangered swamps and has sought to grandfather its consent until 2053, preventing future necessary adaption of the energy sector to address the growing climate emergency. As a result:

- I oppose the mine extension as it will fracture the sandstone strata supporting the nationally endangered swamps.

- I request that if any consent is issued, then it must be reviewed every 5 years with a possibility of cancellation from 2025, to enable future NSW Governments to end coal-fired electric power as soon as possible and so help stop the growing climate catastrophe.

- Please require Centennial Coal to revise this amended proposal to prevent damage to spectacular Birds Rock, pagodas, cliffs and the nationally endangered swamps in the 2,000 hectare proposed mining area.

- DoPIE must not allow Centennial Coal to replicate under this proposal the damage it has already caused to nationally threatened upland swamps on the Newnes Plateau.

- Mini-longwall mining methods should be applied instead of the intensive longwall mining proposed to protect this significant part of the Gardens of Stone reserve proposal.

- The excessive clearing of 50 hectares of public forest for an additional roads, ventilation and pumping facilities must be greatly reduced and all facilities located away from sensitive areas.

- The Wolgan Falls must not run dry and so the proposed longall mining panels along the Wolgan River side of the proposed mining area must be shortened by hundreds of metres to prevent river water losses due to far field impacts associated with the extensive Wolgan Lineament Field.

- DoPIE must require that Pristine Carne Creek, and its waters that flow through the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and past the Wolgan Valley resort not be contaminated with iron and manganese or suffer reduced flows due to fracturing of surface rocks.

- In the seven years since Centennial’s consultants identified the need for targeted surveys of four nationally endangered plants, the company failed to undertake these searches. Lithgow Environment Group has in that time identified many sites where these Federally listed plants occur within the proposal, highlighting the weakness of the company’s environmental assessment.

- For all the above reasons, the amended mine extension proposal must be subject to Independent Planning Commission review processes.

I object to any future coal mining, especially at the Gardens of Stone national park, one of the limited places available for Sydney Siders to experience nature at its best.

We are writing to express our strenuous objection to the Angus Place mine extension project (SSD 12_5602).
We understand that the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment must make a decision that weighs the short-term economic benefit to local communities - particularly Lithgow and Wallerawang - against the long-term environmental impacts of the proposed development.
We do not doubt that the mine extension will bring jobs to the region, but those jobs will be insecure. It is hard to imagine that coal will be a viable industry and will provide a significant source of either energy or employment in 2053. The industry is barely viable now. That is apparent from the myriad of mine closures North of Lithgow, all of which have left a legacy of economic decline and environmental devastation.
Moreover, we believe the long-term environmental consequences of the mine extension are too great to justify transient economic benefits. In particular we note that the mine will generate half a million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year for the life of the project or 15.7m tonnes of CO2 over the life of the project. In addition, surface cracking caused by subsidence will result in altered drainage flows, damaging the extraordinary environment to the North and South of Sunnyside Ridge.
We are frequent visitors to the Newnes State Forest and we know, better than most, of the extraordinary pagodas, hanging swamps and canyons that lie immediately above the proposed mine extension. These include the beautiful Wolgan Loops and Wolgan Falls, the labyrinthine headwaters of Carne Creek and the stunning pagoda country near the Wolgan Pinnacle, to name just a few. These places should be part of a shared national heritage, and would certainly have been incorporated in the Gardens of Stone National Park if the boundaries were based on environmental significance rather than economic interests.
It does not take much of an understanding of history to see what will happen if the mine extension is approved. The mine extension will proceed for a few years until coal can no longer compete with cleaner sources of energy without unacceptable government subsidy. The mine will then close, putting many people out of work. But the environmental damage will have been done.
We ask the Department to act in the long-term interests of the people of NSW, rather than in the short-term interests of the mine owners and local community, by preventing the Angus Place mine extension. The NSW government should incorporate the entire catchment of Carne Creek to preserve its extraordinary values for the future.
Sincerely,

Professor Rob Herbert
Professor Lisa Harvey

Support

April 26th 2020

Re. State Significant Project – Angus Place Mine Extension (SSD 5602 - Amendment Exhibition)
To whom it may concern
I categorically oppose this extension to the activities of the Angus Place mine submitted by Centennial Coal. Approval of this extension will result in irreparable damage to our severely stressed natural environment, the Newnes plateau area, the heritage listed swamps and the pristine environment of Carne Creek.

• The Newnes Plateau area of heritage listed endangered swamps will be destroyed as mining will fracture the underlying sandstone resulting in drainage of the swamps and destruction of the ecosystems they support. There is clear evidence that past mining activities of Centennial Coal in this area have caused significant and irreparable destruction to upland swamps.

• Pristine Carne Creek will be subjected to irreparable damage as is evidenced by the effect of mining on the Wolgan River. In fact, the Wolgan River has been totally undermined due to the activities of the Angus Place Mine and no longer flows. In the same way, approving the continuation of mining into the Carne Creek area will fracture surface rocks and significantly reduce the flow into the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and for the Emirates resort which relies on the Creek for all of its water needs. Furthermore, mining will expose the pristine Creek, habitat for endangered platypus, to mineral contamination from mining activities.

• Excessive land clearing (on public land) associated with the extension of the mine should not take place as nationally endangered plants on the Newnes plateau will be destroyed.

In summary, allowing such a development to take place will not only affect the natural environment in the ways listed above but also this flies in the face of the worldwide consensus and indeed, the majority view of the Australian people, that the impending catastrophe of climate change is fuelled by burning coal. Even from a business point of view, investment in coal mining is declining and if this development is allowed to go ahead, and markets for coal fall in the near future, then the NSW taxpayer may become liable for paying compensation to this company if approval is given for this excessive extension to the period for mining.

I have not made any political donations or gifts in the last two years.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment.


This area has just been ravaged by bushfires and now you're intending to create a bushfire-provoking coal mine?

Whoever hatched this plan clearly has a distorted sense of reality.

Angus Place east extension will secure NSW energy supply and support Mount Piper power station in future. The project also brings significant economic and social benefit to the local community.
Centennial have continuously demonstrated a commitment to minimising harm to the environment.
Based on this I fully support approval of the project.

This project must not go ahead as planned. The long walls will cause significant damage to swamps, rivers and unique biodiversity of the Newnes Plateau.
Centennial coal, at the Springfield mine has, in the last 5 years caused catastrophic damage to many of the upland swamps in this area. Their EIS stated their would be minimal or negligible damage to the upland swamps. They were required to establish monitoring to measure the impact to the swamps. This has proven beyond all doubt, that the long-wall mining inflicted damage that is permanent and irreparable. These swamps are nationally listed, and cannot be replaced. The biodiversity offset that was required is totally unacceptable as there are no like for like that can be protected instead. Over half of the swamps on the Newnes plateau have already been destroyed. In the case of the Springvale mine a fee was the charged in lieu. This just becomes a cost to doing business and in no way protects the natural national treasures lost. It is not only the water that feeds swamps during drought, it is the whole biodiversity and endangered species living in swamps that are lost. This must not happen to the last few remaining swamps!
Now that the planning dept. knows the damage that will be caused it cannot let this mine go ahead as planned.
The water that is lost from creeks and swamps, is water that feeds the streams of the world heritage Blue mountains National Park. Allowing the creeks to lose flow, esp during drought, and could possibly significantly change the whole ecology of the area. Much of the 'lost' water will be pumped to Mt Piper power station, much will seep lower through the cracks created by the collapsing long walls, and will emerge further down-stream. This water has a very high probability of being polluted with very high proportion of minerals. This is also entirely unacceptable for rivers and streams in the world heritage area.
Loss of water and drying and death of swamps plays makes the area much more susceptible to bush-fire, and to recovery after a bush-fire. Recovery following the recent bush-fire must be adequately assessed. The recovery over time from damaged and dried swamps, compared with recovery of intact swamps, must have time to be fully assessed
Damage to pagodas caves and aboriginal heritage sites in the Newnes plateau must be prevented at all costs. The pagodas are of global significance and with the cracking from the long-walls there is high possibility of significant damage. Far field impacts must also be included. It is possible there is now more evidence of the reach of cracking and collapse and this must also be taken into consideration.
It is indeed alarming that so much destruction has happened since the approval of Springvale mine, for so little reward. This is thermal coal. we export huge amounts of thermal coal. It is not in the public interest to damage this world heritage area for ever for a few years of thermal coal. The coal for the mt piper power station could easily be sourced from a less environmentally significant area.
It is also entirely unacceptable that Centennial are seeking to extend the licence to 2053. The world musl reduce and phase out its use of coal, if it is to avoid catastrophic climate change. NSW planning must factor this in to decisions and long term planning. it would be extremely irresponsible to allow a lock in of mining through to 2053. We must be adjusting approvals as new evidence, both locally and around the world, is established.
In short, to allow damage this world significant area, and an area extremely significant to the people of NSW, for generations to come, for a few years of coal extraction is completely unacceptable, when there are many other options available.

This project will provide a valuable contribution to the local community.
The Mount Piper Power station will continue to require coal for many years, a local coal supply is better for the environment and for security of supply of electricity.
There are many comments over the environmental effect of fossil fuels, however we still have a long way to go with renewable supply. Mount Piper Power Station is a very modern facility and will be required for continuity of supply while technology and investment in renewables continues.

State Significant Project – Angus Place Mine Extension (SSD 5602 - Amendment Exhibition)
Dear Sir/Madam,
We have bushwalked both in the area above this proposed mine, and also in the adjoining area of Lambs Creek and Kangaroo Creek, where we have seen extensive damage from longwall-mining.
Page numbers quoted below are from the ‘Amendment Report of Angus Place Mine Extension Project’ by Centennial Coal.
I request that the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (the DoPIE) recommend refusal of consent, as Centennial Coal has not modified the Angus Place mine extension proposal sufficiently, on the following grounds:
- The NSW Government has “(a) long-term path to help the state meet its target of net zero emissions by 2050” (from energy.nsw.gov.au). In the Paris Agreement, Australia committed to a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28 per cent on 2005 levels by 2030.
This seems opposite to the proposal as it stands: it would give consent to mine coal for 33 years until 2053, and is expected to cause 474,516 tonnes of GHG. It also ignores the growing climate catastrophe by locking in coal-fired electric power, and makes much more difficult the changes that government and the community may want to make throughout that period.
Transition away from coal is being currently discussed (e.g. the current parliamentary enquiry chaired by Alex Greenwich, which includes a 10-year coal communities transition plan). Therefore, if any consent is issued, then it must be reviewed every 5 years, with a possibility of cancellation from 2025.
- To ensure the best outcome for the environment, mini-longwall mining methods should be applied instead of the intensive longwall mining proposed. As the proposal states:- (Page 41), maximum expected vertical subsidence is expected to be 2.25m, with ‘predicted far-field horizontal movement at a distance of 1km being 80mm (95% confidence level)’; and on Page 42, ‘Surface cracking is expected to be similar to that observed above the previously extracted longwalls at Angus Place and Springvale collieries.’
- The mine extension will fracture the sandstone strata supporting the nationally endangered swamps, their stygofauna (see Page 87), and other biota, e.g. nationally listed animals the Blue Mountains Water Skink and the giant dragonfly. These are expected to be lost due to the swamp damage. Centennial Coal must not be allowed to replicate the damage it has already caused to nationally threatened upland swamps on the Newnes Plateau.
- Wolgan Falls must not run dry - the proposed longwall mining panels must be shortened by hundreds of metres along the Wolgan River side of the Study Area to prevent river water losses due to far field impacts associated with the extensive Wolgan Lineament Field. This applies especially to the south of the finishing end of LW1002 (Page 84).
- Carne Creek is pristine, and its waters that flow through the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and past the Wolgan Valley Resort, must not be contaminated or suffer reduced flows due to fracturing of surface rocks.
- As far as possible, clearing of 50 hectares of public forest for an additional roads, ventilation and pumping facilities should be reduced. All facilities should be located away from sensitive areas.
- The proposed offset provisions for damage can not compensate for the loss of national and international heritage.
- In many situations, the effectiveness of proposed remediation of dilated cracks in rocks (Page 79) would be questionable, given 1) that where rock pieces/soil are brought in for this, it will still not replicate a waterproof, sealed, durable surface that would enable rainwater runoff to move across, keeping it available for the surface ecology; 2) doing remediation is likely to entail damage.
- Due to the extent of mining impacts and duration of approval being sought, the amended Angus Place mine extension proposal must be subject to an Independent Planning Commission hearing, review and determination process.
Neither of us have made political donations or gifts totalling $1,000 or more in the last two years.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.
Yours sincerely,
Bernadette and Bruce Mullaney