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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Make a ComplaintEnforcements
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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
Wendy Hunt
Object
Wendy Hunt
Message
There are a number of rail crossings, especially across major roads at Sheepwash Rd, Suttor Road and at Illawarra Road Robertson that would be significantly affected. This would result in potential accidents,traffic delays, access by emergency service vehicles and other community services. When the time these access roads would be impacted is considered it results in long delays resulting in impatient drivers and potential ongoing accidents.
The noise factor would be unacceptable in areas such as Moss vale and Robertson who already have to endure freight train noise.
I urge the planning minister to reject this proposal.
Steven Wilson
Support
Steven Wilson
Message
John Weissman
Support
John Weissman
Message
As a `first workings' only operation, it will have negligible impact on the overlying strata and leave the land surface effectively unchanged.
The Berrima Rail Project is a critical part of the Hume Coal Project. Both should be allowed to proceed as they constitute a responsible use of valuable national resources, which will be extracted with minimal environmental impact, and will provide much needed regional employment. This latter benefit is so important to a generation of young Australians facing a remarkably fog-ridden set of career options.
Barney Galbraith
Object
Barney Galbraith
Message
* Dangerous coal dust and diesel emissions from coal trains pose a threat to human health.
* Noise Pollution created by the coal trains will be ongoing and is a hazard to the health and well being of neighbors to the rail project.
* Hume Coal's trains will add an extra 24 minutes of closures at rail level crossings every day. This creates unacceptable delays on emergency service response times.
* Rich heritage areas and farmland will be destroyed.
I urge the Government to reject this project and protect the Southern Highlands, by supporting a vision for a sustainable and coal-free future for this region.
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Message
Hume Coal proposes to have 4 empty coal trains entering the colliery site and 4 full coal trains leaving the colliery within the space of 24 hours and this is to occur 7 days per week. That means that, on any given day - (weekends included) a coal train will be:
1) blocking motor traffic flow at the railway crossing on the Berrima to Moss Vale Road, an additional eight times (4 "in" + 4 "out"). From the personal experience of waiting for the "Boral cement train" to pass, I would sometimes be stuck at the railway lights for five minutes. The inclusion of Hume Coal trains would mean additional road closures of forty minutes per day.
Oh, yes I should mention that these road closures would also occur at the railway crossings:
* on the Old Hume Highway at New Berrima,
* the Kangaloon/ Sheepwash Road - a major thoroughfare of the Southern Highlands and
* the Illawarra Highway at Robertson - another major thoroughfare of the Southern Highlands)
2) clanging and clanking as its 200 - 250 wheels move over the junction
points that it has to traverse to cross the main southern line to go from Berrima to the Illawarra or Illawarra to Berrima. The act of traversing the junction points, and therefore the subsequent noise which will ensue will occur 8 times per day (of which 3 of these times will be at night when I, and most other Moss Vale residents are trying to sleep.)
In conclusion I would like to point out that Hume Coal is the newcomer to the area and yet, by its proposed operation, it is going to impose hardship and suffering to long established residents. Just because they have the money and the might, doesn't mean they have the right and as such I recommend that the proposed Hume Coal Project be rejected.
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Message
I am extremely concerned about being delayed crossing the rail line on my way to the hospital. I care for a friend in the Southern Highlands, and I take her to medical appoints at the hospital and other facilities. Some of these trips are in an emergency, and extra minutes of delay are very dangerous. This would be very high impact, and has the potential to cause death in an emergency.
I regularly use the Southern Highlands rail line to travel to and from Sydney. It is clear that the line is already under stress as evidenced by the high number of delays to passenger services. Adding a very large number of coal trains will certainly make these delays longer. The railway will not be able to cope.
I urge that this proposal is rejected. It will put lives in danger, and negatively impact the lives of many.
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Message
In 2014 I returned to Australia after a decade's absence abroad. I relocated to the Southern Highlands specifically to improve my child's health and in search of a quality of life which had been absent in our lives.
The move was not without considerable upheaval and trauma, but I'm relieved to be able to say that my child's health has reached a relatively normal status quo since settling into Southern Highlands life, and we've become part of the fabric in terms of business, community, schooling, friendships, church and so much more - not something which is easily or automatically achieved.
Unfortunately, this has not been without threat and fear looming over the longevity and security of our new life. Soon after we arrived, I was stunned and shocked to discover that a previous State Government had recklessly sold out various parts of the country to mining interests, and in particular had jeopardised the unique economy, environment and heritage of the Southern Highlands. The ignorance of such a decision beggars belief. The long term consequences don't bear thinking about.
My child's school sits near the railway line which would transport daily tonnes of coal to foreign ports, thereby dispersing micro particles of polluting coal dust into her respiratory system as she learns and plays - the very demon we were fleeing in another country. Not to mention toxic contaminants into the waterways, livestock and soil of the food bowl we and so many others rely on. The regular and characteristic high winds would also magnify the noise. The unique micro climate which creates the landscape of the area would be annihilated by the loss of underground water, thereby wiping out the natural attributes on which it so heavily depends for tourism and agriculture, as well as eliminating the backup water supply for the Sydney metropolitan area. How could such a decision have been taken, which would so clearly undermine and destroy this rare and unique destination, which would so easily jeopardise Australia's largest CBD only 90 minutes away?
The local community opposition has been echoed far and wide, with the most common response being disbelief at a decision which is so evidently wrong, that it couldn't possibly eventuate - surely common sense will prevail, surely it's so obvious. But where short term mercenary greed and gain have a chance, not to mention South Korean interests that have no care for long term local legacies, nothing is secure.
Please right the wrong by rejecting these proposals once and for all - before it's too late for this generation and the ones that follow. And give us certainty that no back door has been left open for future exploitation. The stress and trauma of not knowing our future is debilitating. Enough lives have been destroyed by mining, enough environments have been irretrievably raped by mining in all its shapes and forms. Coal is a dead fuel, which major parts of the developed world have realised and unequivocally acted on by replacing with sustainable and economically viable alternatives - surely NSW can lead the way in this, rather than follow in the wake of past mistakes once the damage has been irreversibly done?
Faithfully and hopefully
Local resident
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Message
Craig Hawkins
Object
Craig Hawkins
Message
I am concerned about this for the following reasons:
- I need to take my wife to medical appointments, and a delay waiting for a coal train to pass may not just be inconvenient, but life threatening
- These extra coal trains will cause an increase in my commute time
- These extra coal trains will inconvenience and risk the safety of my clients to travel to see me
- The extension to the rail line will be very close to my home in Medway. The noise and air pollution will be dangerous to my health. This rail extension will result in a profound loss of lifestyle
I implore the decision maker to reject this proposal.
Fabia Palmer
Object
Fabia Palmer
Message
We should have the opportunity to live in a safe environment, free from known causes of harm that adversely impact quality of life
Passenger Congestion
There are enough congestion related issues on the rail corridors in the area that area already underfunded without adding to the problem, especially given how important the rail connection is between the region and Sydney (not everyone can afford a car) - morning and afternoon peak hour trains frequently experience delays and miss local connections within the city network as it is
Noise
Noise carries - particularly late at night (on a still night you can clearly hear the freight trains passing through) so any plans to run trains outside of peak hours to avoid rail congestion will have a significantly greater impact on noise pollution than day time trains.
Coal dust
Why limit the impact when you can spread it over a wide area or just hope the wind blows in the other direction? Numerous concerns have been raised about both the environmental and health impacts from coal dust in the Hunter Valley north of Sydney, none of which seem to have been resolved sufficiently to date - it is strongly likely that the Southern Highlands will be met with the same known issues with inadequate resolutions, negatively impacting the environment health (particularly for those sensitive to respiratory issues)
Again, please reject the Berrima Rail Project
Kind regards
Fabia Palmer
Name Withheld
Support
Name Withheld
Message
Toni Warburton
Object
Toni Warburton
Message
I note that my submission is not to be summarised and is copyright in entirety
I am opposed to the SSD 7171 Berrima Rail Extension development for the following reasons.
One can ascertain that this rail loop could provide the opportunity for an amenable local industrial symbiosis to be brokered between Boral cement works and Hume coal in that Hume coal could supply the coal to Boral to make the cement that is poured into the ground to hold the contaminated water produced from extracting the coal. A diabolical exchange that could provide employment in what I perceive would be a somewhat Faustian bargain.
The Rail extension should not be approved. The coal should be left in the ground so that the acquifer and groundwater are not jeopardised and other energy sources could be investigated by Boral for firing their cement kilns.
The Berrima rail extension would enable the opportunistic appropriation of a historical rail link to the coast that should permit some freight but also be reinstated for passenger trains to increase commuter opportunities for education and employment and to develop tourism between the Highlands and the coast.
The steep incline of the rail makes it unsuitable for the continuous long coal trains that are proposed. Presumably could be why NSW transport is revisiting the completion of the Maldon Dombarton Link as a freight line.
There would l be additional significant delays for residents at numerous rail crossings awaiting the passage of full and empty coal trains.
Trains both loaded with coal and unloaded would generate significant noise pollution.
Even if covered there is a strong likelihood that trains both loaded with coal and unloaded would generate dust which will pose a risk to health.
I am concerned by additional delays to emergency vehicles at level crossings caused by the proposed coal trains both in terms of their length and freqency.
The Berrima Rail extension proposed by Hume Coal is not commensurate with Wingecarribee Shire land use trends and preferred land use in the area and is incompatible with existing approved or likely preferred uses.
I object to the appropriation of land zoned SP2 infrastructure in terms of loss of future amenity with regard to Council's plans for the future.
Rail works are not permitted in SP2 E2 and E3 zones so I strongly object to the sophistry by which 'permissability' has been argued in by Hume Coal in 4.2.3
This proposed displacement of specific land use would mean that the proposed rail extension would affect possible future choices by external parties with respect to these zones.
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Message
I object to proposed rail extension on the gruonds that it will add to the highly visible mine infrastructure just 2 kilometers from Berrima.
It will also add to the noise generated by the mine operations due to the rail maintenance services which will be located in the same area.
The kilometer long coal train will make 8 journeys everday on the line to Port Kembla creating dust and noise as it travels.
The risk to local and visting motorist from the increased traffic across 2 major level crossings is greatly increased as a result of these coal train journeys.
The daily closures at rail crossings wil increase from 69 minutes to 93 minutes every day.
michael verberkt
Object
michael verberkt
Message
The rail proposal situated so close to the most intact Georgian village on mail land Australia is so absurd its beyond belief.
This will have terrible consequences for the entire Southern Highlands. Increased rail traffic through residential areas. Numerous level rail crossings on very busy road ways is unacceptable.
2) RAIL MAINTENANCE FACILITIES
Situated right on the main entrance to the Southern Highlands and the Berrima Village id crazy
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Message
Hume Coal admits there will be an increase in air polution. This coming from exhaust fumes and coal dust which I find most unacceptable and a potential health risk.
The coal dust is a major concern as it impacts the health of children and the elderly
Elizabeth Murray
Object
Elizabeth Murray
Message
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Message
- Rail Infrastructure will result in a blight on the historic village of Berrima as well as the surrounding landscape
- There is a potential for risks to health from exhaust fumes, noise and coal dust from the rail loop to Port Kembla. Of particular concern is the section of the line that passes 30 metres from Robertson Primary School. Both children's and teacher's health will be put at an unacceptable level of risk
- Additional and significant increase in traffic delays due to the four trips from the coal mine and back again which will involve 17 level crossings
-Of particular concern is the potential delays and hold ups to emergency vehicles such as fire brigades, police, ambulances and other community services.
I urge the government to reject the Berrima rail project which will be detrimental both to the health and well being of residents of the Southern Highlands as well as to the local natural and cultural environment
Barbara McKendry
-
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Message
Moving our family to the country was a decision about giving our children a more comfortable future -- to get away from the pollution of the city and to give ourselves access to a gorgeous countryside to explore and enjoy.
There is nothing long-term about coal and gas mining in an area of such beauty as the Highlands. Every financial gain of coal and gas will be offset by losses in long-term tourism impacts as well as the attractiveness of the area for the many more people keen to call a gorgeous country region their home.
I'd much rather see the area becoming a wind and solar energy farm than see its land defiled for short-term dirty energy demands.
You can't clean up the mess that will be made to the land and the air, and the mess to our reputation as a place visitors want to spend a weekend, pouring their weekend getaway dollars into the local economy.
Fossil fuels have ten years left. Don't give in to short-term dollars. Let's think about the lands our children and grandchildren will live in. Let's win as a creative and agricultural community.
Rod Doyle
Support
Rod Doyle
Message
Please see the attached letter of support.
Thank you.