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State Significant Development

Determination

Berrima Rail Upgrade Project

Wingecarribee Shire

Current Status: Determination

Interact with the stages for their names

  1. SEARs
  2. Prepare EIS
  3. Exhibition
  4. Collate Submissions
  5. Response to Submissions
  6. Assessment
  7. Recommendation
  8. Determination

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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Enforcements

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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

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Showing 41 - 60 of 314 submissions
ken WILSON
Object
Berrima , New South Wales
Message
IAM AGAINST THE BERRIMA RAIL LINE FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS.
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
Renwick , New South Wales
Message
I fully support the Berrima rail project. The rail project is required for the Hume Coal project. It will ensure that the coal is transported efficiently and economically. It will have minimal impact on the local area and will utilise the existing line down to Port Kembla.
JOHN TE WECHEL
Object
BOWRAL , New South Wales
Message
I am extremely concerned about the impact additional rail movements arising from the proposed Hume Coal project will have on local transport. In particular, I am concerned about the impact on emergency services attending to communities within the Southern highlands that are separated by rail crossings.
Bill Attard
Support
Moss Vale , New South Wales
Message
I support the Berrima Rail project in support of the Hume Coal project and means the coal will not need to trucks to cart the coal.
Danny french
Support
tahmoor , New South Wales
Message
location is perfect as minimal noise pollution due to no trucks as train line is in place.
amanda french
Support
tahmoor , New South Wales
Message
I believe the train system for transportation of coal is a huge asset to the local area as the noise pollution issues found in other areas would be significantly reduced.
Gavin Daneel
Support
Moss Vale , New South Wales
Message
As an active mineral resources executive, I have reviewed the company's proposals and find them to be comprehensive and well above normal with the degree to which they propose to mitigate stakeholder concerns regarding environmental, social and cultural impact.
Gavin Daneel
Support
Moss Vale , New South Wales
Message
As an active mineral resources executive, I have reviewed the company's proposals and find them to be comprehensive and well above normal with the degree to which they propose to mitigate stakeholder concerns regarding environmental, social and cultural impact.
glen ellis
Support
Wilton , New South Wales
Message
Keeps trucks off the roads and creates a higher level of safety
Robert ellis
Support
Wilton , New South Wales
Message
Keeps trucks off the roads and creates a higher level of safety
Craig Davies
Support
Brayton , New South Wales
Message
This is a must for the Hume project
LYN WILSON
Object
BERRIMA , New South Wales
Message
WITH THE MOVEMENT OF 8 TRAINS PER DAY OVER EVERY LEVEL CROSSING IN BETWEEN BERRIMA AND WOLLONGONG THE DELAYS FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES ARE A GREAT RISK.
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
Bundanoon , New South Wales
Message
I support the proposed Berrima Rail Project as it is a vital piece of the Hume Coal project. It will allow for transportation of the coal to the port via rail.
Stewart Bunn
Object
Berrima , New South Wales
Message
I am a permanent resident of Berrima and wish to express my objection, in the most strenuous possible terms, to Hume Coal's application SSD 7171 to extend the rail line from the cement works to Hume Coal's proposed operations area west of the Hume Highway at Mereworth.

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
Marulan , New South Wales
Message
I support the Berrima Rail project.
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
Bowral , New South Wales
Message
I object to the Berrima Rail Project EIS.SSD_7171 as the proposed link would interfere with prime agricultural land and the environment as well as slow down traffic at level crossings in the Southern Highlands - our roads are already overburdened as no planning has occurred to cope with the ever increasing growth and traffic in our region.

If the mine does not go ahead there is no need for a rail link
Gordon Boyd
Object
Berrima , New South Wales
Message
My objections are based on the detrimental economic and social impact that the rail project will have on the Southern Highlands, which relies on a clean, quiet and peaceful environment for its tourism and wedding industries due to declining tourist numbers.
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
Berrima , New South Wales
Message
We have just built our dream home in berrima very close to the rail siding maintenance yards and the proposed railway. We had bought this land before Hume coal announced its intention of building the mine.

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
Mandemar , New South Wales
Message
I am a medical practitioner in Wingecarribee Shire. The incidence of asthma, COPD and other respiratory diseases is already high, and I am concerned about the adverse effects of 8 trains each day laden with coal travelling from Berrima across the shire. There is no certainty in the EIS about standards of particulate matter in PPM and given the Shire's propensity for periods of heavy winds I believe air pollution will be considerable even if the wagons are covered. There is a primary school at Berrima, only a few kilometers from the proposed mine.

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
Berrima , New South Wales
Message
I oppose this project.

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.

Pagination

Project Details

Application Number
SSD-7171
Assessment Type
State Significant Development
Development Type
Coal Mining
Local Government Areas
Wingecarribee Shire
Decision
Refused
Determination Date
Decider
IPC-N

Contact Planner

Name
Mandana Mazaheri