Angus Place Extension Project.

I have submitted a written objection to the mine extension, attached.

We own and operate the Zig Zag Motel Lithgow, and have done so for 20 years. We fully support the Angus Place Extension Project due to the positive economic benefits for Greater Lithgow and extra employment opportunities created. Failure to approve the Angus Place Extension Project, may cause Angus Place to close entirely. This would be detrimental to the Greater Lithgow economy and all the local people employed. Please approve the Angus Place Extension Project. Thank you.

We own and operate the Zig Zag Motel Lithgow, and have done so for 20 years. We fully support the Angus Place Extension Project due to the positive economic benefits for Greater Lithgow and extra employment opportunities created. Failure to approve the Angus Place Extension Project, may cause Angus Place to close entirely. This would be detrimental to the Greater Lithgow economy and all the local people employed. Please approve the Angus Place Extension Project. Thank you.

I wish to support the Angus Place Extension Project.
This project is certainly important to the Lithgow area in terms of jobs. It is also certainly important to NSW for energy security. I would like to focus on the importance that projects like Angus Place have in the transition of Australia and indeed the world to a net zero emissions future. In the short to medium term, Angus Place will provide coal to the existing Mt Piper power station, which is the most thermally efficient coal fired power station on the eastern seaboard of Australia. Moving forward there are exciting new technologies in the areas of coal pyrolisis to produce hydrogen that will provide the energy of the future with emission profiles 25% that of conventional combustion. These technologies will provide the bridging technology to the ultimate goal of net zero emissions as truly renewable technologies are developed. With proximity of the project to existing electricity infrastructure and ready access on site to the water needed to make these new technologies successful, there is so much potential for this project if it is approved.
Angus Place is well positioned to provide energy in both the short and medium term for just this sort of future planning.
At an environmental level, the project design has altered significantly from previous designs in order to present the least impact on key surface features and environmentally sensitive areas. This comes at a significant loss to the project potential, but represents the desire of Centennial to work with both Government and the community to achieve outcomes that address the issues of most significance to key stakeholders.
I am proud to support a project that can fit well within present expectations and is well placed to help NSW transition into the future of energy generation.

We own and operate the Zig Zag Motel Lithgow, and have done so for 20 years. We fully support the Angus Place Extension Project due to the positive economic benefits for Greater Lithgow and extra employment opportunities created. Failure to approve the Angus Place Extension Project, may cause Angus Place to close entirely. This would be detrimental to the Greater Lithgow economy and all the local people employed. Please approve the Angus Place Extension Project. Thank you.

Submission: Angus Place Mine Extension SSD 5602 - Amendment Exhibition

Thank you for the opportunity to make a submission on this project.

We oppose this project for the following reasons –

Angus Place mine is in “care and maintenance” and refusal of this project will result in no loss of jobs for the region;

Refusal of this project will reduce destruction of fauna habitat, reduce destruction of unique ecosystems and flora, and reduce contamination of waterways and loss of waterfalls;

Refusal of this project will not affect the continuity of Mt Piper Power Station to its planned closure date;

Refusal of this project will be a wake-up call to Lithgow City Council and the local community to think strategically and prepare Lithgow for transition to clean energy;

Refusal of this project will send a message to the coal industry that its days are numbered;

Refusal of this project will be a feather in the cap of the NSW Government in its push towards renewable energy sources and give hope to those who are campaigning for a cleaner future for their children and grandchildren.

We make this submission sadly, in the firm belief that our objections will make no difference to the decision to approve this project. History is against us.

But, times are changing, attitudes are changing and people are being awakened to the view that there is a life beyond coal.

The Lithgow community is a particularly hard one to crack. Coal mining and coal-fired power have been the mainstay of the local economy for generations. It has to change.

Start now, please.

Yours sincerely,

Susan Gregory and Stephen Lesslie

12 Kirkley Street, South Bowenfels NSW 2790 Phone 0487 443 759

28 April 2020

Garden s of stone wilderness area would be put at risk by extension of this coal mining project

I strongly object to the Angus Place Coal Mine Extension, and request that the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DoPIE) recommend refusal of consent. Centennial Coal’s Angus Place proposal would be disastrous for NSW both because it will exacerbate the climate emergency and destroy and degrade NSW’s precious natural heritage, including nationally endangered swamps.

In a time of climate emergency, investing into coal is absolutely the wrong way to go. It is basically wasting money on a 19th-century technology that is already in decline and will vanish eventually. Instead this could be Australia's moment to be a global leader for renewable energy and hydrogen production. With the high amount of solar and wind resources available here, the production of green energy is not only possible and economical but would also generate jobs on long term while cutting down greenhouse gas emissions and help fighting climate change.

INVEST into the FUTURE, NOT into the past!

I fully support the Angus Place Extension Project.
Approval of the project is essential to the Lithgow LGA and surrounding areas.
Centennial is an established and respected coal mining company with a long history in the Lithgow area with well established community relationships. The Company has provided employment and support to the local community as well as supplying coal to the local power stations for more than 20 years.
Approval of the project will result in a positive impact from the direct and indirect employment as well as providing certainty of employment for Centennial's existing employees who live and work in the Lithgow and surrounding areas. The effects of the direct and indirect wages will of course further benefit the local community.
The mine will also ensure the security of a sustainable supply of energy to the Mount Piper Power Station for many years to come.
Centennial are vital to the Lithgow community.
They are a proud member of the community.
They are a large employer that makes a significant contribution toward the local economy.
There is a huge level of support from the community. Lithgow is unique. Where else would mining enjoy such huge support?
Centennial appreciates this community support and we know that the Company will continue to underpin the areas local economy whilst also contributing to keeping the lights on in NSW.

I totally support this very important project to be approved.
Our local area needs this project to continue to employ hundreds of direct people and an even larger number of indirect workers.
Our local community has been stripped over the years of hundreds of jobs and for our survival as a community we need the Angus Place extension to be approved urgently.
Angus Place needs to service Mt Piper Power Station, as the current Springvale Mine is ending its supply and has a limited life, which is an essential provider of electricity for our nation - the need for base load power is crucial for the future.
As an employer of 35 local people in this area, we need the workers to come to our area to keep these people and many other employed. Without the continuing support of these companies in our area, who work, stay and eat in our community, all of our local businesses rely on our industries to keep us all afloat.
Especially now in this extreme economic war, the need for this extension and other businesses to be allowed to operate, new buildings or extension of business is essential.
We ask that the Government look favorably at this project "we are all in this together"

Thank you
Robert Cluff

I wish to support the Angus Place extension project.Angus Place colliery is an existing mine infrastructure that has a relatively small environmental footprint that can help to guarantee future power supplies to the state of NSW. Its proximity to mount Piper is also another environmental asset. The mine will employ people from Lithgow and surrounding areas as well as the on flow of financial benefits to local business's and suppliers. Centennial have demonstrated that they are a reliable and responsible supplier of coal while considering all stake holders. At this particular time coal fired power generation is the most consistent and reliable source of power, and to have a mine ready to fill a void is a benefit to our state.

The least environmentally damaging way to create power for Australia is to run infrastructure until obsolete. Angus Place Extension Project and its power station infrastructure are certainly far from obsolete. This power station is critical for baseload power supply. A disruption will have catastrophic effects both on the local Lithgow and surrounding community, and, much more significantly, on the whole eastern Australian economy.

Impact of the mine on surface vegetation is being monitored carefully. Bushfire recently had great impact as well as existing mining yet the swamp vegetation still grows back after bushfire over mined areas. Much moisture perches in the soil and swamp peat and this retains flora and fauna.

We attach our submission regarding the proposed extension to the Angus Place mine.

I object to this proposal at it threatens the natural flora and fauna of the Gardens of stone area by likely future impacts of future drainage of swamps and watercourses in the area as has previously been recorded by the operations of the Springvale Mine . It will also likely destroy many of the unique and beautiful natural geological and landforms in this area by landslips and cracking by subsidence. Also this proposal locks NSW in relying on coal fired power when the worldwide increase in CO2 per year is approximately 2.5 ppm and the concentration in the atmosphere currently stands at 414 ppm (Manoa Loa ) . These imapacts need to be taken into account.

My submission letter is attached.

This project will create hundreds of jobs for the local area. The company in my opinion has conducted business in an environmentally responsible and considerate manner. Coal mining in the region also has positive cultural implications. It is my opinion that this project is good for the region and should be supported, not only that but people local to the area are reliant on this industry for their livelihoods.

I object to approval of the Angus Coal Mine Extension proposal ("ACE Extension"), and respectfully request that the Department recommend refusal of consent.
The reasons for my objection are:
1. The increased greenhouse gas emissions ("GHG emissions") that would be generated from the proposed extension in the mine life to 2053 as well as the proposed, increased extraction. Following the recent, unprecedented bush-fire season in NSW, increased extraction over a period of more than 30 years is not what the people of NSW need. Any commercial and job benefits of the mine will ultimately be grossly outweighed by the cumulative, negative social, economic and environmental consequences from the ACE Extension coupled with that of other coal mines.
This is absolutely not the time to be approving new coal mines or more coal mine extensions.
2. It will indisputably damage endangered swamps, including swamps forming part of and next to the World Heritage Area.

Furthermore, I also note that:
a) Even the Amendment report accepts that that subsidence-related impacts are likely to occur at Tri-Star Swamp, Twin Gully Swamp, Trail Six Swamp, Birds Rock Swamp, Crocodile Swamp and hanging swamps in their catchments, resulting in death and damage of their vulnerable and endangered wildlife and plants. These threatened ecological communities require more protection not less, particularly following the drought and recent bush-fires.
b) I also understand that the mine downstream CO2 emissions would amount to 11 million tonnes of CO2 each year, and that this would amount to 8.5 per cent of this state's CO2 emissions.

If consent is granted, I strongly recommend that the terms of the consent include, among other conditions:
1. Conditions to prevent and minimize damage to nationally endangered swamps, Birds Rock and cliffs.
2. That utilisation of the least damaging mining methods be a requirement, such as mini-longwall mining methods
3. That Wolgan Falls must be protected from running dry, by shortening proposed longall mining panels along the Wolgan River.

The ACE Extension must be subject to Independent Planning Commission review.

While I agree to my name, post code and the contents of my submission being published, I do not agree to other personal details being published.

Yours sincerely

Karen Vegar
NSW 2049

See my attached submission which objects to the project.

Dear Sir/Madam,
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 for the Angus Place Mine Extension (SSD 5602 - Amendment Exhibition). This is because 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:
- As a landowner at Newnes, 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, and proposing the Angus Place mine consent until 2053 ignores the growing climate catastrophe by locking in coal-fired electric power.
- Please require Centennial Coal to revise this amended proposal to prevent damage to spectacular Birds Rock, Wolgan River, Carne Creek, pagodas, cliffs and the nationally endangered swamps in the 2,000 hectare Study Area. As a landowner at Newnes we have already suffered significant devastation due to the recent bushfires and floods, we need to preserve this already fragile environment.
- Centennial Coal must not be allowed to further replicate the damage it has already caused to nationally threatened upland swamps on the Newnes Plateau.
- To ensure this significant central part of the Gardens of Stone reserve proposal, minilongwall mining methods should be applied instead of the intensive longwall mining proposed.
- The excessive clearing of 50 hectares of public forest for an additional roads, ventilation and pumping facilities must be reduced and all facilities located away from sensitive areas.
- Wolgan Falls must not run dry - the proposed longall 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.
- Pristine Carne Creek, and its waters that flow through the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and past the Wolgan Valley resort must not be contaminated with iron and manganese released or suffer reduced flows due to fracturing of surface rocks. As a landowner at Newnes I am very passionate that this must not happen.
- In the seven years since Centennial’s consultants identified the need for targeted surveys of nationally endangered plants, the company failed to undertake these searches. Lithgow Environment Group has in that time identified many sites within the proposal where these Federally listed plants occur, highlighting the weakness of the company’s environmental assessment.
- 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.
I have not made political donations or gifts totalling $1,000 or more in the last two years.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment.

I write to object to the Angus Place Coal Mine Extension
Centennial Coal’s Angus Place proposal appears to have the potential to fracture and drain endangered swamps, with subsidence-related impacts expected at Tri-Star Swamp, Twin Gully Swamp, Trail Six Swamp, Birds Rock Swamp, Crocodile Swamp and hanging swamps in their catchments.
I understand that these swamps are home to threatened species such as the Blue Mountains Water Skink, Giant Burrowing Frog and the Giant Dragonfly.
In the bushfires last summer, wildlife and bushland was devastated in and near the Blue Mountains as well other parts of NSW and other states. The bushlands were affected by extended drought and then elevated summer temperatures. In this context, these swamps are critical refuges and natural firebreaks and more precious than ever. It is submitted that it is now time to protect and rehabilitate these threatened ecological communities, and not to put them at risk
I also have a concern that the proposed mine extension will lead to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions. Global warming is having increasing impacts on people and nature in NSW and around the world. The overall increase in emissions needs to be balanced by reducing emissions and this includes reconsidering projects such as this one
There is a question as to the actual downstream (scope 3) CO2 emissions that this project, if approved, would led to. There is also a question as to how long such a mine should be allowed to operate, giving Australia’s commitment to the Paris agreement goals of making efforts to limit global heating to 1.5 degrees, and the clearly stated aim of the NSW government to have net zero emissions by 2050.
There is also a concern that Centennial Coals current proposal could cause damage to landscape features such as Birds Rock,along with pagodas, cliffs and nationally endangered swamps in the 2,000 hectare proposed mining area. Also of concern is possible impacts on the Gardens of Stone, Wolgan Falls, Carne Creek, and catchments of rivers and streams that flow through the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
For these reasons, it is requested that the amended mine extension proposal be subject to Independent Planning Commission review processes.

Dear Madam / Sir,

I am writing to voice my objection to Centennial Coal's Angus Place Coal Mine Extension. I ask that the Department of Planning, Industry and the Environment recommend that approval for this project be refused.

This proposal is untenable for a number of reasons. These include:
- It would degrade and destroy NSW's unique natural heritage in the magnificent Gardens of Stone area. This includes a number of high swamps which are listed as endangered ecological communities in NSW. Centennial Coal itself admits that subsidence- related impacts would be expected in these swamps were the project to go ahead.
Now, more than ever, after the recent bushfires which were so devastating for wildlife and bushland, the integrity of the swamps is crucial to provide refuges and natural firebreaks.
- The area is home to a number of endangered species including the Blue Mountains Water Skink, ad the Giant Dragonfly. When so many of our native species have already been made extinct or are endangered, we cannot afford to lose more. This proposed project poses too great a risk.
- This project would exacerbate the climate emergency that we face. It is shocking to me that, when we know that fossil fuels are the major contributor to climate change, an expansion of coal mining in NSW is being proposed.

We need to be phasing out fossil fuels and transitioning to clean energy industries instead of extending coal mining. From a social point of view the government should be transitioning workers from fossil fuel industries and into sustainable jobs for the future as soon as possible.

This proposed project cannot be justified, given the concerns raised in the above, and I urge the Department of Planning, Industry and the Environment to reject it.

Yours sincerely,
Kathryn Hines