Berrima Rail Upgrade Project

Berrima Rail Project
strada
As someone who lives just approx 3 kms from Hume Coal's proposed train loading facilities, I must strongly object to this proposal for the following reasons:


1. Potential negative health effects from coal dust and diesel fumes.

2. This facility will operate 24 hours a day 7 days a week with 8 train movements a day involved. According to Hume Coal's EIS (Vol. 3A Appendix D ES 3.1) there are 75 dwellings surrounding the project area, so the noise from the loading of the coal onto these trains cannot be over estimated.

3. Trains will use 17 level crossings.

4. Possibly the two most important of these 17 level crossings are at Sheepwash Road, between Bowral and Robertson, and the crossing of the Illawarra Highway itself at Robertson.

5. At full production up to 4 trains will be loaded each day to make the journey to Port Kembla and then return which means therefore 8 trains a day using the Sheepwash Road and Robertson crossings!

6. The Illawarra Highway and Sheepwash Road are the two main roads needed to get essential services into, and out of Robertson and it's environs.

7. The impact on essential services, ie ambulances, fire brigades, and the police, having to wait for a kilometre long coal train before being able to use these crossings is extreme and totally unacceptable.

8. The only hospital in the district is at Bowral. The nearest hospitals to Bowral are at Goulburn (79 kms from Bowral) and at Camden (66kms from Bowral). These distances being too great for ambulances to cover in an emergency.

9. Therefore the crossings at Robertson and Sheepwash Road must not be compromised by Hume Coal using this rail line to get their product from Berrima to Port Kembla.


I respectfully request the Government to reject this project.


Nicholas Lidstone
3471 Old Hume Highway
BERRIMA NSW 2577

The noise, coal dust, and substantial delays at critical crossings within the shire from the proposed trains will negatively affect both the health and safety of Southern Highlanders. For instance, the coal laden trains 24/7 would pass 30 metres from the Robertson Primary School. And placing a significant barrier to passage from Sheepwash Road ex Mittagong and Bowral to Fitzroy Falls, Robertson, Wildes Meadow, Avoca and other areas across the line, would add at laest 30 minutes if another route is taken via Moss Vale or through the back lanes of SH - undesirable for individuals but critical for emergency vehicles. Either way, lives could be lost.
.

We are the owners of 298 Medway Rd, Medway and wish to express our deep concern with this project. Not only will it have a severe impact on our property and lifestyle it will also greatly impact residents from Medway Rd right through the Southern Highlands down the Illawarra Escarpment and through to the coal terminal at Port Kembla with additional large scale rail movements and associated noise and dust.

We purchased our property in 1972 and have lived here for over 40 years. It was a lifestyle choice and a wonderful place to being up our children. It is centrally located to the three main towns in this area and offers easy access to both the Hume Highway and the coastal regions of NSW.

We are deeply distressed to be listed as one of the properties listed to be acquired due to the impact of noise from the Berrima Rail Project.

Our areas of concern are as follows:

Water

The Hume Coal Mining proposal is located within the Sydney Water Catchment, which services the Sydney metropolitan basin and any development proposal within the catchment must be scrutinised in detail as it has the potential to impact this critical water resource.

The surrounding catchment area could be impacted from the runoff water that will be used to wash coal and pumped back underground into the mine voids.

Local bores could be severely affected by water drawdown and the real concern is Hume Coal offering to fund "make good" measures to landholders who will be impacted.

We critically question why the State Government would even consider approving a large scale mining development that has the potential to impact the water catchment for both Sydney and the local rural community when globally fresh water is considered a natural resource that needs to be protected for future generations.

Damage to the existing Southern Highlands Economy

Wingecarribee Shire Council, together with local industry groups and the community have a long term plan for the region's economy based on existing successful tourism and agricultural
pursuits. Why allow a heavy industry such as coal mining to severely impact the beautiful natural environment of the Southern Highlands, an area that visitors frequent to get away from the noise and pollution of the big cities and heavy industrial areas.

Noise

Our property is listed to be acquired due to the impact from noise once the mine is operational but we will be even more severely impacted during the construction phase something that could take up to two years. This could also include noise from explosives.

Once operational we will have noise from the conveyor belt delivering coal to the stockpile, the machinery operating the stockpile and noise from the rail head while coal is loaded onto the rail trucks. This could be over a 24 hour period and will increase when a ship is in port. We are very concerned that the noise levels will severely impact our health, wellbeing and the quality of our environment (both to ourselves and our livestock).

Dust

No one can guarantee the severity of dust that will carry over form the stockpile or when coal is being loaded onto the rail network particularly during severe wind storms. As weather patterns are becoming more unpredictable no one can clearly demonstrate the impact of the dust on the health and wellbeing of those families living in close proximity to the stockpile. Families that have chosen and are used to living in a non-toxic environment

Visual Amenity

Even though Hume Coal has started a tree planting program the visual amenity will be impacted by the conveyor belt that will be used to haul coal from the underground seams to the stockpile, the coal stockpile itself and the rail network infrastructure. There will be days when the visual impact will be impacted by dust when fierce storms prevail.

Bushfire

This could be a real concern and does not seem to be addressed well in the EIS. The last major bushfire that impacted the village of Medway and surrounding properties was in 1979 and the army were bought in to protect the Village and the surrounding properties.

Boral did nothing in their time to reduce the fuel in and around the Medway Colliery and there is a major risk should a bush fire happen in this area. What would the potential affects be if a bush fire were to get into the coal stockpiles on the surrounding properties? What controls should be put in place to minimise any potential risk should a fire get into the coal stockpiles.

Consultation

Whilst Hume Coal undertook extensive consultation in preparation for the EIS the meetings were about informing the local community not about answering questions and providing follow up feedback. Indeed the people living in and around Medway Rd were ignored and not included in the consultation phase. When asked why the people of Medway were not included we were told that Hume Coal would deal with us individually once the EIS was close to being released.

Lifestyle

If this development is approved we will be severely impacted by noise and dust once the mine is operational and during the construction phase.

We have had discussions with a number of local real estate agents and we have been advised that our property values are currently negatively impacted even more so due to the fact that our property is listed for acquisition in the EIS. The negative impact on property values means that it will limit our capacity to provide for a sustainable retirement.

We sincerely believe that this project should not go ahead and ask that the Department of Planning and Environment after due consideration of the potential risks to the natural environment including water, the health and wellbeing of the community and the negative impact on the local economy not approve this project.

Yours sincerely



Greg & Lynne Morrison

I am writing to object to the planned Berrima rail extension for the following reasons:

- the strong visual impact of the rail infrastructure at the Hume Hwy and Medway road intersections;
- the noise and dust pollution from the eight additional coal train journeys each day to Port Kembla;
- the increased danger to the local community and tourists at the road level crossings

I object to the Berrima rail project for the following reasons:

- the high visual impact of the rail infrastructure at Hume Hwy and Medway Rd;
- the noise and dust pollution from the eight additional coal train journeys to Port Kembla;
- safety concerns for locals and tourists at the road level crossings for these additional journeys required.

This rail route will only benefit one user. The Eis and da shows that there will be additional traffic delays at level crossings [ES3.3]. The rail route involving 4 movements in each direction involves 17 level crossings with the resultant increased danger to the public.

As a descendant of Andrew Hamilton Hume, the explorer's father, I support the growth and development of Australia, particularly when it honours the Hume name.
On a recent trip around the Southern Highlands I was impressed by the way recent industrial infrastructure had been established in New Berrima while the charm of Berrima was restored with the development in the region after stagnation and neglect.
I am aware that fully enclosed coal wagons are available for transport on the proposed railway extension so this development will contribute appropriately.

I support the Berrima Rail Project as it is needed to develop the Hume Coal Project, and allow for product coal to be hauled by rail from the mine site to port for export.
Further, Hume Coal will be using existing rail infrastructure, which at present is heavily underutilised, thereby increasing the usage rate of public rail assets, and limiting its impact on the local road network and road users.
I therefore urge the Government to approve this project.

After going through a robust Environment Impact Assessment Hume Coal Project is confident enough to say that the Berrima Rail Project will give a lot more positive impacts to the local community than negative ones, therefore I strongly support the project.

The Berrima link Rail sould NOT go ahead. It is too close to the population of Berrima.

Pollution from Coal trucks, covered or otherwise will send clouds of crystalline cyclica into the air, the 2.5 micro settling into the lungs of locals, with the result of lower respiratory conditions which need treatment and Hospitalization.

Noise from the train in a tight curved loop will exceed the decibels level required from the Government.

The number of train journeys, 24 hours a day will have a horrendous impact on the local community, with hold ups at level crossings for ambulances, police and communities.

I object to the proposed Hume Development Application for the coal transport rail project

One of the reasons for my objection is that coal dust would be distributed throughout the unique villages of the Southern Highlands by prevailing winds and passing coal trains (the proposal would result in four long coal trains every day from Medway to Port Kembla through Moss Vale and Robertson - and back).risk to public safety and to rail staff. The rail line runs behind the Robertson Primary School. The children play and spend time on the oval area that runs beside the rail line. Coal dust and noise pose an unacceptable health risk to school children and staff

Another reason is that the rail crossings on Douglas Road and Collins Road in the Moss Vale Enterprise Corridor will also be compromised by the increased traffic. Pedestrian traffic, including school children, are seriously at risk in Moss Vale and Robertson. Robertson in particular has a number pedestrian crossings and road crossing that are inadequate and poorly fenced.

Please DO NOT approve this dangerous proposal.

I am a strong supporter of the Berrima Railway Project for the following reasons:
* It will enable the transport of coal by rail instead of road.
* It improves local rail access.
* It will minimise impact on the local road system.
* It improves the viability of the Hume Coal Project.

I object to this project SSD7171 & recommend that it be rejected

The rail proposal severely under estimates the deleterious impact it will have across the Southern Highlands. The local vehicular traffic interruptions will be significantly greater, particularly at level crossings like Sheepwash Road & Illawarra Highway Robertson which are already traffic danger areas.

there are over 19 level crossings where waiting times for trains to pass will increase by 50% on each occasion & the overall number of trains expected on the line will also increase. the likely disruption to local life has essentially been ignored. People will find it difficult to go about ordinary life such as taking children to & from school & travelling to & from work.

there has been insufficient consideration of integration with the existing rail operations particularly at the Unanderra end of the line

as it is presented this is a poorly thought through project needing significant revision that will incur significant additional to be effective or acceptable

I ask the government to reject this proposal

The extension of the rail project is going to impact of a wide area and should not be permitted at this stage due to safety reasons related to storm and flood waters which affect this train line.

The recent results of a water flow study by the Shire Council identifies several,areas in Moss Vale and towards the South that are often inundated and definitely going to be worse off with changes in weather pattern.

Continued development of residential areas within this section is going to generate more water flow and cause greater water flow problems.

The report identified poor soil and shallow channels as a major factor in this water retention.

Much of this excess water falls into the ARCT tabledrains and this alone must undermine the stability of the line.

Council and the ARCT have failed to successfully address this water flow problem and adding a new dimension such as an increase in traffic on this line can only add to the problem as maintaining the clear passage of flood waters within these drains has not been a priority so far.

The water flow study identifies caulvets and tabledrains that need replacing with much larger structures to get water away quicker.

All of this suggests that this line is not maintained well as it is now.

Increased traffic with much longer trains on this line will also impact on the following:
Motor traffic and build up which is almost at crisis point now.
Air quality. Our home is a dust bowl as it is with the small traffic on this line. We have installed a large medical grade ventilation system to deal with the dust as it is.
Greater noise polution

I wish to support the Hume Coal Project. It provides an opportunity for employment where so many jobs have been lost in mining due to the economic downturn

This is a submission to the Berrima Rail Project EIS. SSD 7171
I object to this proposal and believe it should be rejected for the following reasons:
- The scope of the IES is inadequate as the Hume Coal Project significantly impacts the Berrima branch line and the Unanderra to Port Kembla branch line. Now the Tahmoor mine will operate into the future and the extra traffic from Hume will double the amount of coal train traffic on the Unanderra line.
- Whilst a grade separation is proposed for the Old Hume Highway, Suttor Road in Moss Vale, Sheepwash Road and Illawarra Highway, crossings are completely ignored. These last two crossings experience high levels of traffic in morning, afternoons and weekends. Many of the road users are tourists unfamiliar with the local area and rail level crossings. The Suttor Road crossing is used by both Moss Vale local residents and industrial area traffic. With the increase in heavy rail traffic these crossings pose an unacceptable risk to public safety and to rail staff.
- Pedestrian traffic including school children are seriously at risk in Moss Vale and Robertson. Robertson in particular has a number of pedestrian crossings and road crossings that are inadequate and poorly fenced.
- The rail line runs approximately 30 metres behind the 160 student Robertson Primary School. The children play and spend time on the oval area that runs beside the rail line. Coal dust and noise pose an unacceptable health risk to school children and school staff "There may be no safe threshold for fine particulate matter and the effects are linearly related to concentration." (WHO and Australian National Pollution Inventory).
I urge the government to reject this project as it proposes an unreasonable risk to public health and safety.

Berrima Rail Project DA: SSD7171

I object to this project because of the communities which will be negatively impacted by this, especially schools by the rail line.

I believe this project and any other related to it (like the Hume Coal Project) will have detrimental effects on the whole Southern Highlands region which already has established itself as an area with clean water, air and soils and has developed businesses and industries around these great qualities. It is also a water catchment area, this cannot be threatened by projects such as this! (Derailments, vehicle accidents, coal dust and other pollutants)

I object to all Hume Coal, and coal/ coal seam gas projects in general. I do not believe these projects are healthy in any way for our local communities - socially, politically, economically, environmentally, psychologically, emotionally. These projects take too much out of communities and do not give back enough.

I have been living in Kings Road as an owner since 2009, I knew my property was only 200 mts from the Robertson railway line and understood at the time the amount of rail movements. The thought of these coal trains now proposed upward of 12 times a day would effect my health and well being. Of course when my house was built in 1917 there was no railway at all!

I would like to support the Berrima Rail Project. I support the Hume Coal Project (as per my submission) and I understand that the Berrima Rail Project is required for the Hume Coal Project to go ahead. Again I believe the benefits to the community are great than the potential costs to the community.

I strongly object to the Berrima Rail Project, as part of the Hume Coal Project.

My young family and I moved to the Southern Highlands just over two years ago from Sydney, attracted by the charming landscape, peaceful rural lifestyle and, of course, the 'fresh country air'. I now work in a local business which largely depends on tourists visiting from Sydney, who report they are looking for exactly the same thing, even just for a day trip or weekend, as a refreshing break from the city. Since we have moved here we have seen an increase in population, as well as huge development in tourist destinations including natural, retail, culinary and cultural - making this an even more rich community in terms of economy, diversity and culture.

The Berrima Rail Project and Hume Coal Project will absolutely jeopardise the reputation of the Southern Highlands as a destination for tourists and people moving to the area, looking for a clean, country environment - something absolutely juxtaposed to having a coal mine in the area. The whole of the Southern Highlands will be tarred by the same brush by ordinary people from outside the area, who realistically are not going to take the time and effort to familiarise themselves with the promises of Hume Coal. Tourism is dependant on perception, and potential visitors will decide that the Southern Highlands is not the destination of 'fresh country air' that they are looking for.

I hope that our government will be long sighted and think about the decades and centuries of growth for our home, and will not sacrifice the reputation of the Southern Highlands for a project involving coal, a fuel which will soon be obsolete.