State Significant Development
Berrima Rail Upgrade Project
Wingecarribee Shire
Current Status: Determination
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Supporting rail infrastructure for the Hume Coal Mine, involving development of a new rail spur and loop connected to the Berrima Branch Line. From Berrima, coal would be transported to Port Kembla for export or to domestic users.
Attachments & Resources
Request for SEARs (2)
SEARs (1)
Development Application (2)
EIS (32)
Submissions (14)
IPC Hearings (6)
Response to Submissions (23)
Additional Information (28)
Assessment (1)
Recommendation (6)
Determination (4)
Approved Documents
There are no post approval documents available
Note: Only documents approved by the Department after November 2019 will be published above. Any documents approved before this time can be viewed on the Applicant's website.
Complaints
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Inspections
There are no inspections for this project.
Note: Only enforcements and inspections undertaken by the Department from March 2020 will be shown above.
Submissions
ken WILSON
Object
ken WILSON
Message
THE LINE IS ONLY REQUIRED IF THE MINE IS APPROVED AND I AM VERY CONCERNED ON 8 TRAIN MOVERMENTS PER DAY 365 DAYS PER YEAR FOR 19 YEARS, THE NOISE FROM THESE TRAINS FOR ALL TOWNS AND VILLAGES ALONG THE WAY WILL BE TERIBLE THAT ALONG WITH THE POSSIBLE COAL DUST.
I CONSIDER THAT THE RISK AT LOW LEVEL CROSSING ESPECIALLY WHERE THERE IS NO BOOM GATES IS PROTENTUALLY VERY DANGEROUS,
THE DELAYS AT LEVEL CROSSING FOR EMERGANCY VECHILE'S COULD AFFECT THE LIFE'S OF RESIDENTS AND VISITORS.
THE PROTENTUAL NOISE FROM THE PROPOSED MAINTANCE BUILDING ACROSS THE ROAD FROM HOUSE WITH SHUTTING OPERATION AND THE CLOSE PROXIMITY TO BOTH BERRIMA AND NEW BERRIMA IS OF GREAT CONCERN.
Claudia Farrar
Support
Claudia Farrar
Message
JOHN TE WECHEL
Object
JOHN TE WECHEL
Message
Bill Attard
Support
Bill Attard
Message
Danny french
Support
Danny french
Message
amanda french
Support
amanda french
Message
Gavin Daneel
Support
Gavin Daneel
Message
Gavin Daneel
Support
Gavin Daneel
Message
glen ellis
Support
glen ellis
Message
Robert ellis
Support
Robert ellis
Message
Craig Davies
Support
Craig Davies
Message
LYN WILSON
Object
LYN WILSON
Message
NOISE OF THE TRAINS AND DUST FROM THE WAGONS WILL HAVE SERIOUS IMPACT ON ALL RESIDENTS AND TOURISTS ALONG THE RAIL CORRIDOR
THE PROPOSED MAINTENANCE DEPOT WITHIN VERY CLOSE PROXIMITY TO OUR VILLAGE WITH LIGHT, NOISE AND DUST WILL MAKE VERY NEGATIVE IMPACT.
Robin Genero
Support
Robin Genero
Message
Stewart Bunn
Object
Stewart Bunn
Message
There is no doubt that the addition of 8 coal train movements to the rail line between Berrima and Wollongong will cause delays, disruption to the delivery of health services, and potentially life threatening delays to emergency services - both ambulance and fire services. The rail crossings at the Old Hume Highway (Berrima) and various rural level crossings between Moss Vale and Robertson. Most notably, the crossings at Sheepwash Road and the Illawarra Highway (Robertston) stand to cause significant delays to transportation and emergency services. POSCO's plan does nothing to alleviate the impost on our community's choke points.
Beyond that, despite Hume Coal's promise to cover its coal wagons, evidence from the Hunter Valley and Newcastle makes it clear that the majority of coal dust particulates originate from not from uncovered coal wagons but the coal dust that covers the entire wagon and undersides (via the hoppers underneath) during the loading and unloading process. This enables dust to be liberally distributed along the rail lines, which is then stored up and liberated by each passing train. This will therefore create coal dust exposure throughout the Highlands that does not currently exist. With operational plans extending for 20 or maybe more years, the accumulation of coal dust along the entire route between Berrima and Wollongong imposes an unreasonable health threat to children, senior citizens and everybody in between.
I calculate that the NSW government's income from this mine will total less than $120 million over the next 20 years. That's less than $2,000 per train, which will evidently be the price the NSW government places on each life lost due to bushfire events where fire services failed to reach a house in time, or ambulances failed to reach people in time because Korea's interests prevailed over that of Australian lives and jobs.
Drew Milne
Support
Drew Milne
Message
The project will minimise any increase in truck traffic on the highway, improving safety, and being better for the environment.
Will allow for the removal/disuse of the level crossing into Boral in New Berrima, a small plus for traffic flow and safety.
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Message
If the mine does not go ahead there is no need for a rail link
Gordon Boyd
Object
Gordon Boyd
Message
It will also negatively impact industries such as Retail, Education, Construction and Agriculture, all of which provide local employment at rates higher than the NSW average. This is clearly stated in the BA Economics impact assessment of the project.
On a personal level , my wife and I run an accommodation service in Berrima which will be impacted by the projects noise levels, light spillage and declining air quality. These aspects receive minimal attention in the EIS.
Also potential coal dust blow off during the rail journey and diesel emissions will have a detrimental impact to air quality throughout the Southern Highlands. This impact alone will affect tourism and wedding business and reduce our business opportunities.
The delays at rail crossings throughout the region will disrupt both local and tourist traffic, with a total of 8 rail journeys per day over 17 level crossings will amount to 93 minutes of closures per day.
This represents an unacceptable impact on emergency vehicles, local and tourist traffic. Also the crossings represent a potential increase in road and rail accidents resulting in injury or death to road users.
Also the mental health, anxiety and depression associated with changes to the social fabric and loss of employment suffered by local residents as a result will be devastating.
I urge the government to reject this project.
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Message
We have two businesses operating from our home
The first being my massage business which I fear will be impacted by the noise of the train line and the rail siding maintenance yards.
The second is two holiday accommodations. This business I fear will be impacted by the noise generated by the above, especially at night. The peace and tranquility of the highlands is one of the major draw cards of tourists to the southern highlands.
I also object to the increased closures at level crossings across the southern highlands which will negatively impact on businesses and the quality of life of local residents.
Railway level crossings can pose a threat to users of the road and with the increase of rail traffic this threat will be increased. It is unacceptable to put lives of pedestrians and motorists at risk.
while Hume coal claims that the carriages will be covered, past experience in the hunter valley proves that mining companies don't always do what they promise, especially when considerable expense is involved. The coal dust lost during the transport of the coal will put the health of many residents at risk including children at Robertson public school.
I urge the government to reject this project
Penny piccione
John Barnett
Object
John Barnett
Message
The disruption at level crossings will be an added burden for the growing population.
This area is a tourist mecca with boutique accommodation, wedding venues, organic farming and wineries. These are all at risk from this venture with its inherent risk of breaching the aquifer and lowering the water table. The rail line is part of this proposed mine development and poses a threat to our health and way of life in the Southern Highlands. I object strongly to it.
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Message
I oppose it because it will have a net negative impact on Government revenues by generating little State income and creating costs for Government and reducing other potential areas of economic growth and Government revenue.
It will have an averse impact on existing infrastructure - crossing the main north south line at Moss Vale. The traffic integrity of the north south line is of more value than the mine which will use this project. Sydney Melbourne and Sydney Canberra freight and passenger traffic should not be compromised. The potential for regionalisation and commuter transit in and out of the over-priced Sydney Basin will be inhibited.
The rail project will have a noise and dust impact on development and health in the growing towns of Moss Vale and Robertson. It will inhibit growth of Council rates, State capital gains tax and stamp duties while increasing community health needs.
The project will facilitate a massive mine site which will lie across the area's best potential fast train corridor west of Berrima. It will be the small action which determines the fate of all future rail use in the Southern Highlands, to Canberra and on the south-eastern seaboard of Australia.
This project should not be allowed.