Angus Place Extension Project.

The proposal of extension of the Angus Place Coal Mine is very important to individuals and businesses in our community and on a more personal note the ongoing employment of myself and other family members.
Approval of the project would also guarantee ongoing power generation by Mt Piper Power Station which would also guarantee continued and possibly generate more local employment at this site.
Businesses and individuals in Lithgow and the surrounding districts rely heavily on coal mining and power generation as they boost spending in the area and supply employment opportunites. I feel losing these sort of critical essential service providers would be devastating to the local area.
Current active mines in the district owned by the same company strive to comply with required Environmental assessment requirements to ensure the preservation of the local natural environment.

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.

I object to Centennial Coal’s Angus Place Coal Mine Extension as currently proposed, and request that the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment recommend refusal of consent because Centennial Coal has not modified the Angus Place mine extension proposal to adequately protect nationally-significant endangered swamps. The Angus Place proposal will destroy and degrade NSW’s precious natural heritage, including these nationally-endangered swamps. In addition, the proposal will exacerbate the climate emergency by continuing the state’s reliance on greenhouse gas producing coal-fired power.

I wish to raise the following specific matters for consideration:

I oppose the mine extension as it will fracture the underlying rock strata and drain nationally-significant endangered swamps at Tri-Star Swamp, Twin Gully Swamp, Trail Six Swamp, Birds Rock Swamp, Crocodile Swamp and hanging swamps in their catchments. These swamps are home to vulnerable and endangered species such as the Blue Mountains Water Skink, Giant Burrowing Frog and the Giant Dragonfly. In the recent bushfire season, wildlife and bushland was devastated. These swamps are critical refuges and natural firebreaks and are now more precious than ever. Centennial Coal has already destroyed swamps on the Newnes Plateau. NSW should be looking to rehabilitate and recover these threatened ecological communities, not destroy even more of them.

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

In addition, the proposed longwall mining panels along the Wolgan River side of the proposed mining area must be shortened to prevent water loss from the river, due to far field impacts associated with the extensive Wolgan Lineament Field. The Wolgan Falls must not be allowed to run dry, thereby destroying a unique and beautiful natural environment and habitat for precious native plants and animals. Similarly, the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment must require that the 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 rock strata.

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

I oppose the mine extension as it will worsen the climate emergency. Global warming is having devastating impacts on people and nature, both locally in NSW and around the world. The climate emergency has been caused by many small emissions which add up to a huge global problem. The only way to solve this problem is to begin closing down the emission sources one-by-one and rejecting approval of new ones, such as this mine extension.

To make matters worse, Centennial Coal has applied to continue its consent until 2053, preventing future necessary adaption of the energy sector to address the growing climate emergency. I ask that, if any consent is to be granted, then it must be reviewed every five years with a real possibility of cancellation from 2025, to enable the NSW Government to end coal-fired electric power as soon as possible and so help stop the growing climate catastrophe.

Approval to 2053 is certainly in breach of the NSW Government’s net zero emissions by 2050 target. In addition, approval beyond 2030 is in breach of Australia’s commitment to the Paris Agreement goals of making efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.

For the above reasons, Centennial Coal’s amended mine extension proposal must be subject to Independent Planning Commission review processes.

I believe the Angus Place extension will result in harm to the environment due to mine subsidence and alteration of water flow. This could be largely ameliorated by Bord and pillar mining techniques, or by infill, for instance with fly ash. This may not be considered profitable, but economic benefit needs to be allocated to nature.
The lifetime of the mine seems excessive given the nearby power station is slated for closure over a decade earlier. If the mine was to go ahead, stopping at long wall 10, and pulling the extent of this in is likely to cause less damage to impressive sandstone escarpments, such as the Cathedral cave, and other features.

To whom it may concern,

I am a water and climate scientist as well as an environmental/water engineer from Germany currently working at UNSW as a research associate. Over the past two years, I have studied Australian estuaries and how they will be impacted by climate change. I would like to express my deepest concerns about the planned extension of the Angus Place coal mine. As a member of the Australian community and perhaps a parent to one or more children, I urge you to please consider my view carefully.

Australia is playing a dangerous 'self destructive' game with the global climate and it's exploitation and export of fossil fuels and its stubborn reliance on these resources and related industries. Australia is the driest inhabited continent and due to it's large dry interior and it's unique location between the Indian and Pacific ocean and associated decadal climate modes (e.g. Indian Ocean Dipole and ENSO) it is extremely sensitive to a global warming. For instance, in the RCP8.5 scenario, a recent study by Prof. Ashish Sharma found that by 2100, there will be on average around 30% less water flowing down Australian rivers and into our dams and water supply systems. With a rapidly growing population and a naturally dry climate that is very sensitive to global warming (which is well documented via observed rainfall data, river, estuary and ocean temperature data, land surface temperatures etc.) Australia should be at the absolute global forefront when it comes to mitigating climate change. Simply put, we are amongst the continents must succeptible to the impacts of climate change. The unprecedented drought in south eastern Australia from 2017 - early 2020 that left several inland NSW towns essentially without water, river like the iconic Manning rivers to stop flowin altogether for the first time and eventually culminated in the 2019/20 bushfires, the most severe and widespread bushfires to take place in Australia in recent history. These events are no coincidence, they are perfectly in line with what climate scientists have predicted now since more than two decades. The recent drought and bushfires occured on the backdrop of about 2-3 degree above average temperatures over south eastern Australia in recent years. If we do not implement severe climate change mitigation actions right away, such temperature anomalies will soon become the new normal for Australia - I leave it up to you to imagine how this will look like. Please just take a moment and think about how your kids will feel when they go through yet another summer that is tainted by an extreme bushfire season like the one we all just experienced. They will think that we, as a generation have failed them and they will feel betrayed.
The Australian way of life is at stake and sadly, sooner rather than later. The January Chrismas holidays have been a stressful and horrific time for many Australian's rather than a well deserved rest somewhere in the beautiful Australia coastal or inland environments. Australia cannot afford for global temperatures to rise above 1.5degree pre industrial levels, let alone 2 degrees. At 1.5degrees, which quite likely we won't be able to stay below anymore, 90%, including the vast majority of the Great Barrier Reef of all tropical reefs in the World will be lost and there are no ways to reverse this. The number of jobs and tourists that will be lost in that process is unthinkable.

Australia and NSW needs to urgently wake up. We can no longer place the short term economic and financial interests of fortunate few above the longer-term wellbeing of the Australian community and the natural wonders that are at the very core of this community. From the rich marine ecosystems to literally 1000s of estuaries and lagoons, coastal and inland rivers or vast forests, everything is at stake now and it's time to act for the common good. The technologies and means to rapidly divert away from fossil fuels including coal are not available, the Australian people are demanding this energy transition and it's time to give it to them. Increasing social unrest will happen if Australia and NSW continue to take short sighted actions that will harm the Australian community and its unique way of life down the line. Taking all the available scientific evidence into consideration, there is no place for coal left in the near future. Immediate transition is needed and Australia needs to become spearhead the global movement for energy transition. Act now, heavily invest in renewable energies, blue economies, education and sustainable agriculture and create an Australia with a safeguarded future in which people actually want to live/exist.

The engineers of Australia have declared a climate and biodiversity emergency - they demand actions and they object this project.

22 major banks including Deutsche Bank, HSBC and nab have already stopped direct financing to new coal mine projects. They have already understood the perversity of such an undertaking.

UNSW, one of Austrlia's best universities and think tank, has committed to divest away from fossil fuel assets by 2025. They are leading the change and they object this project as an institution.

The Emergency Leaders of Australia who are the ones that fight the fight on the frontlines against extreme events that are becoming more severe due to climate change are demaning actions. They object this expansion and frankly, given the dangerous situation they and their colleagues find themselves in fighting at the frontlines, they would probably be disgusted that this expansion is even being considered.

The next generation of Australians are demaning actions through their fridays for future protests.

Act now, do the right thing by the Australian people.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration. I trust that you will decide to object the expansion of the Angus Place coal mine since it is not in the interest of the people of NSW. In the long term, this would be a direct attack towards the common good of the Australian people - the scientific evidence for this is crystal clear. Australia and your kids will suffer unimaginable consequences if we exceed 1.5/2 degrees - please trust the experts with this assessment just like you would probably trust your doctor if you receive a diagnosis.

Kind regards,

Valentin Heimhuber

I am making a submission to object to this project:

If approved, this single coal mine would contribute 8.5% of NSW’s greenhouse gas emissions by supplying coal to the nearby Mt Piper coal-fired power station. It’s a power station that needs to retire by 2030 according to climate scientists. However, if this coal mine is allowed, Mt Piper could keep its doors open for decades.

Mining and burning coal is the number one cause of global heating in NSW and globally. If we have any chance at containing the rise of global temperatures, there is no scope for extending coal mines - not now, not ever.

By building clean energy we can create jobs in sustainable industries, generate economic growth and tackle the climate and economic crises.


Please don't extend this coal mine and invest in clean enegies!

Kind Regards

Helene deliat

Objection to State Significant Project – Angus Place Coal Mine Extension - SSD 5602
Climate change presents us all with the greatest man-made problem we have ever faced. The burning of fossil fuels is known to be a major contributor to climate change. To support Angus Place Coal’s proposal to extend their mining activities in the Sydney basin would be both extremely short sighted and irresponsible.
Apart from the pollution the mining and subsequent burning of the coal will produce it is well established that such mining will lead to ground level subsidence and the consequent damage to the natural environment. Endangering existing water systems and flora and fauna that rely upon them.
I hope that the Department will take seriously Minister Stokes’s announcement in mid April this year that the State Government is going to take a tough new approach to mining approvals in the Sydney Catchment. And comment made by Federal Minister Angus Taylor that given the very substantial drop in the price of gas now is an ideal time to be moving to ‘fast-start’ plants to manage the transition from coal power generation to renewable energy sources. This is not a time to be supporting coal mining or coal fired electricity generation.
I object strongly to any action what will inevitably both damage the natural environment and contribute to climate change. I urge the Department to reject Angus Place Coal’s mine extension.
Yours sincerely
Peter Murray
28 April 2020

The project threatens vulnerable local ecosystems.
We need to phase out coal mining and focus on clean energy to slow climate change and the destruction of our beautiful wilderness.

Dear Sir/Madam,

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

I write as a concerned individual to express my objection to the Angus Place proposal.

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.

Further remarks:
>>The proposed project should not go ahead because National Parks and other state reserves are increasingly servicing a rapidly growing population, and we need to ensure that wilderness remains available to appreciate, enjoy and connect with as our population grows. This is a time when we should be aiming to at the very least preserve, if not increase, our wilderness areas. The area of the Newnes plateau that will be damaged by the proposed mine is home to spectacular landscapes whose value in terms of habitat, recreation and wilderness is important and should be preserved for future generations. As a Sydney dweller, I am increasingly saddened to find that there are fewer and fewer places where it is possible to access spectacular landscapes and wilderness in relative solitude as a day trip from the city. The Newnes plateau, with its myriad canyons and topographical features, is one of the few remaining places which offers this, and should be protected from the environmental damage, detailed above, that coal mining would cause.

>>The proposed project should not go ahead because, like all nations, Australia has a social responsibility to avoid fossil fuels for the sake of our own wellbeing and that of future generations. The devastating effects of anthropogenic climate change were demonstrated only too clearly by the bushfires this last summer. We should not be approving fossil fuel extraction because we know that it will exacerbate the heat of summer and intensity of our fire seasons, which experts have told us will only continue to worsen if CO2 emissions are not reduced. This is a time when Australia needs to be cooperating with other nations to address the problem of global heating by reducing fossil fuel related CO2 emissions, which are causing global heating and thereby contributing to the global rise in environmentally catastrophic events. The new coal mine proposal should be rejected.

>>The proposed project should not go ahead because it poses an irresponsible use of water. Coal mining is a water-intensive activity, and will divert the already-scarce water in the area away from the environment, where it is needed to support the life of flora and fauna.

>>The proposed project should not go ahead because we have a heightened responsibility to conserve wild areas in order to promote the rebuilding of native flora and fauna communities following the devastating bushfires of the summer, and to foster robust populations of native species in order to mitigate against further species loss in the devastating fire seasons that are predicted to continue going forward.

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

Please recommend rejection of this proposal.

Thank you for your consideration.

Further protection is required for swamp ecosystems
Specific consideration for particular sensitive sandstone structures
Clarification needed on the alignment of the 2053 mine-life and Mt Piper closure timing

I object to the project as insufficient hydrological studies have been carried out to rule out any possibility of solubilised coal particles and solubilised chemicals from the mining operation entering adjacent surface and underground water tables.

This project will produce solubilised coal particles and solubilised chemicals from coal that are carcinogenic. In particular Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH's) will be produced. These can produce childhood cancer in 5 to 6 years, and adult cancers (eg bladder cancer) in 10 to 12 years.

see attachment for my qualifications and more details.

I support the extension project for Angus Place Colliery, to secure jobs in the region and secure the rich resource to supply coal for cheap sustainable energy for the state.

Please find attached a copy of a pdf file of my Submission in response to the proposed SSD-5602 APMEP for your consideration.

I support the application to conduct mining activities.

I fully support the Angus place mine extension as both energy Australia and the community need the certainty off coal supply to mount piper power station. the community desperately also needs the security off the 450 job,s that will be created within the local area .having to go through the fires , drought, floods and know the corona virus our community needs a very favourable yes for this extension project to go ahead . Regards Lithgow city councillor joe smith .

I believe the project is beneficial for the survival of the Lithgow area as Centennial are a major employer for the local district of Lithgow. NSW power generation (Mt Piper Power Station) is dependant on local fuel reserves for continued operations sustaining more local employment for the community.

Centennial are a very generous company supporting the local communities with ongoing sponsorship & donations to numerous organisations, sporting groups, local schools etc.

Without companies like Centennial supporting local communities and being a major employee regional areas like Lithgow would have unfavourable social & economical impacts to the community.

I have family & friends that reside & work in the Lithgow area within the mines & Mt Piper Power station. This would be very disappointing if they were to lose their employment & lifestyle if the Angus Place Extension Project was not approved.

Cheers
Greg Mundey

Please find attached the submission for APMEP amended EIS