Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project

I object to the Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project (SSD-17017460).
The current environmental assessment for Delta Coal is insufficient. It lacks information on
air quality and it's health effects on the local population; it doesn't properly address how the
mine will affect Lake Macquarie from discharges from the mine into the Lake; it doesn't
address issues with mine subsidence in the area, and most importantly the impacts of fossil
fuels on climate change. It's time we stop investing in fossil fuels and start closing down
mines while transitioning to renewable energy.
Not only will this proposal affect the local community around Lake Macquarie where some of
my family and friends live but the environmental assessment is completely lacking in enough
information to make this project feasible. Thank you
Yours sincerely

I object to the Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project (SSD-17017460).
I am a long term resident of Lake Macquarie and don't want any more air pollution than is
already too high.
Extending coal mines in the current climate of change to our weather patterns seems
immoral and the government needs to heed the global warnings.
More mining under Lake Macquarie should not be approved because of the cumulative
impacts to the environment. The Lake Macquarie environment is already impacted by too
much development.
Please leave the Lake Macquarie environment alone for the sake of our health and the
ongoing health and welfare of the next generation.
Yours sincerely
Dianne Powell

I object to the Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project (SSD-17017460).
I am a keen bushwalker and have a longstanding interest in stewardship of Australia precious biodiversity and living ecosystems. I grew up in Wollondilly Shire where underground mine subsidence, water pollution, and coal truck pollution caused daily damage to people and special places in our community over many decades. Mine subsidence caused cracking of the impermeable layer which formerly formed the lower boundary of the water table of the Thirlmere Lakes National Park,. I have fond memories of my childhood visits to enjoy swimming, boating and wildlife observation in these lakes during the hottest days of summer. These lakes now drain slowly into the underground voids after rain, and are frequently dry. The loss of the recreation amenity and damage to the web of life in the National Park has been painful for the community. Many houses and properties in the area were damaged by mine subsidence at great cost to many families. For many years, the formerly picturesque Stonequarry Creek at Maldon was blighted by methane bubbling up from underground mines which killed all water and riparian life. I grew up on a house by a road where coal trucks frequently rumbled by, and have been troubled by respiritory illness for most of my life. I well understand the damage that underground coal mining can do to the community and the environment.
My objections and concerns with the Delta Coal development application relate to the inadequacy of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and the predictable impacts to the community, and the environment, both locally and globally.
• The EIS assessment of the impacts the mining and related activities on air quality is not identifiable.
o Underground coal mines produce substantial diesel fumes from mining machines below the surface (pumped and vented to the surface) and coal trucks above, and the proposal to merge the existing mine development approvals into a single approval with extended lifespan and production will materially increase the volume and duration of fuel pollution and associated, well-understood respiratory health impacts for the community.
• The EIS assessment does not adequately address Water Quality impacts of the proposal on Lake Macquarie and Swindles Creek. Water pumped from the mine and leaking into the water table will contain particulate pollution, cause water turbidity and pollution throughout the water column, leave enduring toxic sediment and threaten the health and survival of marine and riparian life, There will be damage and danger to marine and riverine plants (especially seagrasses) and the trophic webs of benthic and soil organisms , insects, reptiles, amphibians, birds, fish, and recreational fishers which depend on them.
o These impacts should be quantified and mitigation measures identified in the EIS.
As I have state previously I am well aware of the damage to buildings, roads and natural ecosystems caused by mine subsidence.
I'm also aware that many mining companies (including Delta Coal) continue to operate at full production with ongoing breaches of environmental conditions associated with existing development approvals.
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In may cases there are no planned remediations or penalty enforcements for these breaches.
I do not trust for-profit multinationals or weak regulators to intervene effectively if subsidence impacts are serious.
In particular, the possibility of the cracking of the impermeable layer with resultant water pollution, water body drainage, and methane emissions is of deep concern.
Lake Macquarie and Swindles Creek are valued community assets for recreation, visual amenity, and ecosystem services.
The impact of significant drainage of either of these bodies of water could cause significant damage to property values and the sustainability and viability of lakeside communities.
The EIS predicts modest levels of subsidence in the lake and at the shoreline, but identifies no mitigation or treatment plan if these estimates are exceeded or if the impacts of the subsidence incur greater community and environment damage than anticipated.
The EIS and proposal should address these shortcomings.
• The eventual burning of additional thermal coal in the Delta Electricity power plant at Vales Point will release air suspended particulates, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides which are damaging to community health.
• The proposal, if successful will produce an additional 9.5 million tonnes of coal and 25 million tonnes of scope 1-3 greenhouse gas emissions.
It will also produce unquantified fugitive methane emissions from the mine itself. Fugitive methane is a powerful and long-lived greenhouse gas.
Vales Point and international customers of Delta Coal have many alternative suppliers of thermal coal operating under existing development approvals.
If the additional coal output under this proposal is approved, then the coal extracted from existing mines and this new coal will both be burned.
Based on the IPCC scientific consensus, additional new coal productions is inconsistent with the declared commitments of the Paris agreement to restrict dangerous anthropogenic climate change to 1.5-2.0 C. The impacts of warning greater than 2.0 C will be catastrophic for societies and ecosystems across the planet.
These climate change impact should be more adequately quantified and mitigation measures identified and costed in the EIS.
Yours sincerely

Submission on the Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project (SSD-17017460)
I object to the Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project (SSD-17017460).
My husband and I moved into the area 12 months ago and selected Lake Macquarie
because of its pristine waters, biodeverstiy, great fishing and the serene quietness of the
local area. As far as we were concerned the power station Vales Point was to be phased
out. We are very concerned of the potential impacts on air quality, personal health, land
sinking from mining under the lake and properties as well as the extra emissions created by
burning the coal. There will also be an extra amount of traffic as huge trucks take coal to
Newcastle. The reports undertaken so far do not identify all the impacts that it will have on
beautiful Lake Macquarie. It seems that there is just one company out to make huge money
for a couple of years as they export coal. There does not seem to be any concern about the
affects it will have on the Lake and community now and in the future. The Environmental
Impact State is completely inadequate and there needs to be further examination into all the
primary and secondary impacts of this project.
It is a well known fact that the burning of coal releases green houses gases into the
atmosphere. The impact of Nitrogen Oxides, sulfur dioxide, mercury and other fine
particulate matter released into the air around Lake Macquarie needs to be examined.
These are known to cause an array of health problems for adults and children. The extra
emissions from the laden coal trucks and their transport routes also needs to be taken into
consideration. It looks like there will be a negative health impact for the community if this
project proceeds.
The EIS does not address the impact of large scale pumping of groundwater from the mine
into Swindles Creek which will affect Lake Macquarie and all the issues around
contaminated water and the local biodiversity.
We are concerned about the impact subsidence to the Lake and our waterfront property from
underground mining. This issue could impact us long after Vales Point is decommissioned,
and the EIS report does not address this adequately in the report.
This project goes against everything that Australia is trying to do in terms of reducing
greenhouse emissions. The extra gases that are emitted will potentially contribute to climate
change and the EIS does not address the likely impacts.
Yours sincerely,

Please see attached document Submission

I object to the expansion of the Chain Valley Coal mine so that the mine can continue to operate to 2029.to provide coal for the Vale’s Point Power Station.
The reasons for my objection are:
The Environmental Impact Statement does not address important issues regarding the quality of the water coming from the mine and the water that has come in contact with the coal on the surface. This water is discharged from holding dams into Lake Macquarie via Swindles Creek. The EIS states that samples have been taken from Swindles Creek that show excessive pollution from salt, dissolved metals, fecal coliform, and nitrogen compounds. There is no statement regarding the presence of heavy metals in the surface water. The groundwater from the mine is not properly analysed. The EIS does not report on testing as to what effects these pollutants have on the biodiversity around the mine , in the creek or in Lake Macquarie. I note that when visiting waterways near Vales Creek power station, locals have warned against eating fish caught there.
The groundwater and the polluted surface water is stored in holding dams. What happens when there is flooding? No provision for this eventuality is mentioned. As we have seen this year such events are becoming more of an issue. An example of this has occurred near to where I live. The Port Hacking River has been polluted from the holding dams at the Metropolitan Mine at Helensburgh overflowing during heavy rain events.
I am deeply concerned that the purpose of expanding the Chain Valley Coal mine is to extend the life of the Vales Point power station. What assessment is included in the EIS of the effects of the pollution to the air from the operation of the power station on the health of people living around the power station and people living further afield when the polluted air is carried on the wind. Has the Vales Point power station been upgraded by installing the latest technology to reduce such pollution? These surely relate to likely impacts of allowing the extension of the Coal Chain Valley mine.
Australia and the world are aiming to reduce emissions from coal to deal with the issue of Climate Change. This is vital to the planet, both now and in the future. The EIS admits there will be over 25 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from this project. This tells us that any evaluation of this project must seriously consider the rapidly evolving renewables technology and the many companies that are applying such alternative projects. These alternate projects also provide employment as well as greater hope for a better world.
In conclusion as a citizen of NSW, I implore that the government demand a proper assessment of this project.

Hi team.

Please find attached my objection to the Chain valley colliery consolidation project.

Please see the attached

The KLMC submission is attached

Please see attached written submission for the reasons why we oppose this development.

To Whom it May Concern
I am writing on behalf of the Shire Climate Action Network as we are concerned about the serious impacts with the Proposal to expand the mine underneath Lake Macquarie. Although our organisation and members reside in the Sutherland Shire, Sydney we too know the implications and stress with having a coal mine under your door step and the impacts it can have with health and environmental devastation.

It is vital that the Department consider and address all the ‘likely impacts’ of this proposal and that includes all offsite impacts that are linked to the Proposal. For instance, it appears that from a review of the EIS, that Delta Coal has not properly assessed the likely impacts of burning the coal extracted from the Chain Valley and Mannering Colliery at Vales Point Power Station. There will be impacts on air quality and community health due to the production of toxic air pollutants.

Another important issue that does not appear to have been adequately addressed by Delta Coal is subsidence or land sinking which can be caused by underground mining. Questions also must be asked about this critical concern.

We are also concerned about water and environmental protection due to the discharge of dirty mine water into Swindles Creek and Lake Macquarie. There needs to be more details on the impacts to the ecology of the area. These issues of concern are also impacting our region where a coal mine is now discharging coal sludge pollution into a local creek which is also effecting the waterways further down into the Hacking River and into the Royal National Park. To have Australia’s oldest National Park treated in this manner is not acceptable.

It is believed these pollution events have been occurring for some time impacting on the waterways where people recreate - swim, boat and fish. Due to this serious pollution the release of the platypus back into the area has had to be stopped. In the last month several dead frogs in waterways downstream from the mine have been sighted and presenting as being physically impaired with decreased body condition compared to frogs in nearby control sites (nearby streams that have not been impacted by the mine pollution). In addition, studies of benthic organisms at impacted sites have found reduced numbers of macroinvertebrates. This devastating situation must not be repeated in the Lake Macquarie area. The environment and community at Lake Macquarie must all be treated with respect and protected. There is no future nor place for expansion of coal mining if we have any hope for sustainability on this planet. This Proposal must not go ahead.

Finally, and most importantly, is the serious concerns around climate change. We understand that another 9.5 million tonnes of coal will be mined which will release more greenhouse gases. As we know climate science is telling us the significant impacts and serious risks to our way of life on this planet far out way any perceived benefits by Delta Coal or by State Government for that matter.

To stress our concerns the “IPCC’s Working Group 2’s report ‘Impacts, Adaption and Vulnerability,’ very clearly states the choices we make in the next decade will determine humanity’s future. A significant wake-up call from the report, which the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres described as an ‘atlas of human suffering and a damning indictment of failed climate leadership’ stresses the most direct and urgent message for decision makers:

The cumulative scientific evidence is unequivocal: Climate change is a threat to human well-being and planetary health. Any further delay in concerted anticipatory global action on adaptation and mitigation will miss a brief and rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a liveable and sustainable future for all.” (cited from Joelle Gergis Humanity’s Moment – A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope).

For the reasons outlined above I hope that you will take into consideration our issues of concern, that this Proposal must not proceed.
Yours sincerely
Gay Curtis
Shire Climate Action Coordinator

Attention, the Department
I wish to ask that the Project be rejected as the EIS is inadequate in many respects.

Firstly, the project will have a deleterious effect on public health. Local communities are already exposed to toxic air pollution. This will increase if the project goes ahead. The EIS inadequately assesses the likely impact.

Secondly, the project will have a deleterious effect on ground and surface water. The discharge of polluted mine water into a creek and then into Lake Macquarie will affect the ecology of the area. The EIS inadequately assesses the likely impact.

Thirdly, the project may cause more subsidence. The EIS inadequately assesses the likely impact especially as subsidence is hard to predict. Nor does it adequately consider mitigation.

Fourthly, the project will cause more pollution and congestion from coal trucks moving in areas where residents are already complaining about these problems. The EIS provides limited input on this issue.

Fifthly, the project will lead to a huge increase in carbon emissions leading to yet more climate damage. I ask the Department to consider this very carefully as Australians in many areas are reeling from climate disasters, including being made homeless and deaths.

The Hunter Community Environment Centre is opposed to the Project due to the EIS being inadequate to properly evaluate the likely impacts.

The EIS for the project is inadequate to determine the likley impacts of the project on benthic communities of Lake Macquarie. Cumulative impacts such as fresh groundwater discharge causing osmotic shock, increased turbidity reducing light availability, subsurface cracking affecting rhyzomes, and subsidence of up to 20mm under extant seagrass, and 780mm under large areas of sothern Lake Macquarie (~15% of the Lake) has not been adequately assessed. Nor has the impacts of Vales Point discharge, for which the Project is interdependant.

To whom it may concern;
I am a public health researcher, who is deeply concerned about the environmental, economic, and health impacts of climate change resulting from human activities. I am writing to you to object to the Chain Valley Colliery consolidation project. If approved, this will enable the company to mine an extra 9.5 million tonnes of coal from beneath Lake Macquarie up until 2029. We are at a crucial point in history, where we are aware of the human and environmental consequences of continuing to extract and burn vast amounts of fossil fuel, and should act accordingly when considering projects such as this. I am deeply concerned that projects with significant Scope 3 emissions continue to be considered and approved. The environmental impact statement prepared by the company as part of the application fails to account for future impacts in their entirety. I believe this should be done via an independent process, since companies with vested interests who will produce significant Scope 3 emissions cannot be trusted to properly account for these in their own analyses. I would ask that firstly, in considering this application, you obtain an independent environmental impact assessment that describes the downstream consequences of the Scope 3 emissions; and secondly, that these are formally included in your decision making process. I do not believe that these actions are currently required during approval of major projects, and I think it is time to incorporate them into the approval process. Governments will be key in mitigating the effects of climate change, and this is one mechanism by which you can act to prevent future emissions.

Please see attached submission.

This proposal brings to mind the approval (approx. 2019 or in earlier 2 years) to allow longwall mining in the catchment of the Woronora Dam. There was scientific evidence of extreme contamination of streams that fed into the Dam and the possibilities of groundwater loss and subsidence. The Planning Department refused to acknowledge the strong concerns of the Water Department.
Lake Macquarie is a saline lake but still is highly environmentally sensitive. It was badly affected by surrounding urbanisation and run-offs of stormwater and nutrients and toxins into streams that feed into the lake. After many years of remediation, the lake body generally now has low nutrient concentrations, good water clarity and satisfactory dissolved oxygen levels. To achieve this it was necessary to construct and protect wetlands, install stormwater treatment devices and undertake bush regeneration. Over fishing in the lake was reduced. The health of people who lived near the lake has improved noticeably.
Why then destroy this by approving the mine extensions under the lake - surely you know from past experience that water contamination is likely as well as subsidence of earth. The feeder streams are likely to show heavy iron oxidising bacteria growth and iron oxyhydroxide floc contamination, with big impacts for the health of children and people generally who live around the lake and for the marine life within it.
This seems to me to be an ethical issue - should government allow this, so that there can be more coal sold overseas or sent to our generators. Yes there are big profits to be made, including in royalties for the State Government. But this is at the expense of the degradation of people's health and the loss of ecosystems and biodiversity. Can a government be so negligent?

Hi there,

I ask the Department to consider that the Project should not be allowed due to
1. the greenhouse gas emissions of the development
2. the EIS inadequately assesses and addresses the possible environmental and human impacts of the Project.

I am a 64 year old woman who has lived in Lake Macquarie for 28 years. I am very concerned about the Project’s possible effect on environmental and human health. I am also very concerned about the Project's contribution to climate change. I am very concerned that Delta have not properly or fully assessed the likely or possible impacts of their project

There’s already enough coal being produced in the region. Locals shouldn’t have to put up with more coal trucks on the roads. The dust affects many people badly and the roads are already congested. The EIS has inadequately assessed this impact.

Exporting more coal is just generational vandalism as our children will have to live with the consequences of these actions. It also has to be asked what do local people get out of this coal export? The answer is ill health and congestion and precious little else. Royalties are very low, super profits or carbon taxes in NSW don’t exist and there are lots of tax deductions for mining companies so that little tax is paid.

The power stations have been shown to contribute significantly to asthma in local children. We should be reducing this impact, not allowing an increase in pollution. Especially as new suburbs are being allowed in the area around Vales Point power station. The EIS has not properly considered the impacts of burning coal extracted from Chain Valley and Mannering Colliery on community health. This toxic pollution has been shown to travel large distances. Locals already suffer from air pollution from Vales Point power station. Despite being allowed to pollute far more than other Australian power stations, Vales Point has failed to meet the EPA’s minimal requirements. More coal mining may increase the air pollution and many locals have no confidence that the new owners will do anything to improve this poor performance.

The EIS doesn’t consider the impacts on ground or surface water especially at Swindles Creek. Mine water will be discharged into this creek and from there into Lake Macquarie. The EIS doesn’t adequately assess the potential pollution of the creek and the lake and the effects on the ecology of both. Locals have seen massive fish kills recently around Vales Point power station so of course there's much concern.

I don’t think mining under the lake should be expanded. Any change in the lake bed can further damage sea grass and cause a raft of other problems. Delta has not explained what they will do to mitigate or remedy subsidence especially if the subsidence is worse than their predictions. The EIS is inadequate regarding the difficulty of predicting subsidence or detailing any mitigation.

. However the EIS estimates that the Project will result in over 25 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions contribute to climate change, environmental damage that we hand to our children and grandchildren. As a mother I most strenuously object to this.

I am a public health doctor and understand very well the disastrous health consequences of both climate change and air pollution.

There are several reasons why this coal mine proposal should be rejected but I will focus on two:

1 climate change is the most serious issue facing the world at present. The evidence is clear that to limit global warming to as close to 2C as possible (preferably below 1.5C) the world does not need any new fossil fuel developments, particularly not any new coal developments or extensions. This extension is completely unnecessary and if it goes ahead it will simply increase CO2 emissions. Let's be under no illusions: climate change is currently causing a lot of illness and is killing people and the longer it continues and the more warming that occurs, the more sickness and injuries and unnecessary, premature deaths will occur. The scientific evidence and many intergovernmental bodies and NGOs (including the IEA) are adamant that the world does not need any more fossil fuel developments. The ones we have will produce more than enough fossil fuels which when burnt will push warming over 2C, likely triggering tipping points in Earth Systems and creating yet more warming.

2 millions of people around the world, including in Australia, are made sick and currently die as a result of air pollution, much of it generated by the production and burning of coal. Communities in the vicinity of the mine will continue to suffer the health consequences of air pollution and wherever coal produced here is burnt people will also suffer from air pollution.

There is no good reason for this application to be approved and there are many compelling ones for it to be rejected.

Thank you for considering my views.