Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project

I support the project for the reasons stated in the attached submission.

The project provides ongoing benefits to the local economy in the greater Lake Macquarie region, as well as providing ongoing jobs to numerous direct employees as well as contractors, consultants and local suppliers.

The project does not produce reject material due to the quality of coal mined and has minimal environmental impact to surrounding lands when compared to other mining operations such as the mining for metals and metalloids or alternatively mining lower quality coal where processing creates significant energy demands and the creation of reject material.

The Vales Point Power Station will operate until 2029 as currently planned, as such, it makes sense to use local resources to provide a stable supply of coal for the power station, with direct benefits due to coal quality (less SO2 and NOX emissions as well as ash by-product when combusted compared to lower quality coal) as well as reducing energy/fuel demands for rail and road haulage due to it's close proximity to the Vales Point Power Station, and ultimately reducing emissions relating to coal transport.

Potential impacts of the Delta Coal’s Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation proposal
I understand that this proposal is to mine more coal from beneath Lake Macquarie by consolidating two coal mines into one and extending their life until 2029.
I don’t live at Lake Macquaire, I live in Canberra. However I think that the negative impact of the additional coal mining is such that even in Canberra it will affect me negatively. It will affect all of NSW and in fact the entire world negatively.

This impact will be principally due to it adding to the climate change that the world is currently undergoing. I ask that this be looked at in the light of Australia’s commitment to reduce, not increase carbon emissions.

I understand that there will be even more toxic impacts on the local environment. When the coal from the mines is burned at Vales Point Power Station, it will lead to local air pollution. There will be dirty, possibly toxic mine water discharged into Lake Macquarie. It is even possible that there will be local subsidence caused by the additional underground mining.

I would like to object to the project on a number of issues.

I have lived on the southern end of Lake Macquarie over 50 years, my family have been here permanently since the 1930's and have frequented this area since the late 1800's , my family and myself have watched the environmental vandalism of coal mining and power generation to Southern Lake Macquarie.
I am deeply concerned about the proposal to expand the mines underneath Lake Macquarie and Morisset Peninsula and what this means for our community health.
All of the likely impacts must be considered by the department including offsite impacts that are linked to this project.
Reading the EIS, it would not seem to appear that Delta Coal has properly assessed the impacts of the Project, impacts of burning the coal extracted from the mines for Vales Point Power Station. This produces toxic air pollutants that impact air quality and community health.
Why is there currently only one self monitoring air monitor for Vales Point Power Station located at Wyee which is west of the power station which would require an easterly wind to pick up any particulates , why has a new air/noise?? monitor been installed at Warwick Ave Mannering Park which will require a south east wind direction, both these wind directions are very convenient for the power station to not pick up particulates especially the cancer causing 2.5 micron particulates, we do not get that many easterly or south east winds during the year.
There is nothing in the EIS about the impacts of toxic coal dust that we see blowing over Ruttleys road or 4 lanes of the Pacific Hwy, this is something even the EPA has failed to address over the last decade of complaints.
There is nothing in the EIS about the coal stock piles at Vales Point , with all this coal going direct to the power station via conveyor , where is the assessment of this coal dust blowing from site.

I am also concerned about the potential impacts of the project on water quality and biodiversity. The EIS does not adequately assess the impacts of groundwater or surface water. I am especially concerned about the likely impacts on Swindles Creek due to discharges of mine water into the creek. It does not appear that there has been a thorough assessment of the potential for contamination of this creek and the impacts this may have on its ecology, Swindles Creek runs into Lake Macquarie, The health of our Lake must be properly protected , there does not seem to be any sampling of sediment from the creek or from the mouth of the creek into Lake Macquarie ,It does not assess any levels of heavy metals in surface water or in sediment ,this is something that needs addressing and must be a requirement of your approval process because we all know your going to approve this assessment because you always give them what they want.
It would seem it doesn't address any flooding that may occur to the settling ponds or nearby Swindles creek or potential impacts on the ecology of Swindles Creek , has there been any testing on the wildlife that frequents the settling pounds ?? this must be another requirement for testing of Lake Macquarie's waterbird life.
Simply the EIS does not provide adequate information of impacts on Lake Macquarie.

Im also concerned about the truck movements if Vales Point power station closes and they plan to export once again just like the bad old days of sharing public roads with coal trucks , the EIS must assess the likely transport impacts and the DOP must consider whether the project should be issued with conditions that limit or preclude truck movements that occur on roads in residential areas , have a look back at past complaints from this mine using coal trucks on Ruttleys Road and to the Port of Newcastle, the news articles of massively overloaded coal trucks sharing the road with residents and school buses. have a look at the complaints register of damaged cars over the years from coal coming off trucks and the near misses to other road users.
The condition of road transport to Port Waratah needs to be removed and company continue plans for alternative transport to Port of Newcastle which they had previously sort via conveyor to railway loop at Wyee.
Even the Port of Newcastle failed local residents by not informing the appropriate authorities about over loaded coal trucks entering their weigh stations.
The traffic assessment seems out of date so Im not sure how the department can properly consider what conditions should be applied to the project in relation to the transport of coal due to the limited information provided.
270 laden coal trucks per day by public roads;
32 laden coal trucks per hour; and
16 laden coal trucks per hour by public roads during peak hour periods.
I presume you also have to add the trucks movements going into the mine so you would need to double the figure of 270.
Does not seem to be any impact statement of the pollution / combustions emissions of 270 trucks to nearby road users/environment or safety ,efficiency of the local or even regional road networks.

Don't seem to see anything about what are the impacts if subsidence is greater than predicted which has occurred under Lake Macquarie previously and nothing about ongoing monitoring of subsidence after the closure of the mine.

The miserable VPA that the department approved last time , this needs to be increased substantially , this is compensation the community deserves for all the crap they have to put up with.

I support the project as it is a positive move for the area. Creating local jobs.

This shouldn't be allowed to happen because of the impacts to the environment and the local communities.

This project should be rejected under the Precautionary Principle as it has failed to supply a thorough and accurate environmental assessment for all off site impacts so there is no scientific certainty.
The assessment has been inadequate when looking at the likely impacts of the following:-
* Air Quality
The EIS has not addressed the impact offsite of the effect on air quality with more NOx, SO2, PM10 and PM2.5 particulate emissions and mercury on the community's health with negative impacts on cardiovascular and respiratory systems leading to an increased health burden for heart disease and respiratory illnesses along with increased chronic asthma and attacks.
* Water Resources
The EIS has also failed to properly assess the impact of the pumped groundwater and dirty coal contaminated water. This water is pumped to sediment dams then pumped into Swindlers Creek which flows directly into Lake Macquarie. The potential impact of this mine wastewater has not been assessed despite the EIS noting exceedences for salinity parameters, nitrogen compounds, fecal coliform and some dissolved minerals, Al, Ba, Fe, Mn and Zn. It has not assessed the elevated levels of heavy metals in the surface water nor the impact on a flood prone area which will lead to sediment being stirred up and flowing out into the creek.
This in turn does not take into account the impact on the ecology of the aquatic, Benthic and riparian communities in and around Swindlers Creek and Lake Macquarie.
The quality of the groundwater assessment is inadequate with conclusions not based on a rigorous assessment but relying on historical data.
* Subsidence
Again EIS heavily reliant on historical data with no new subsidence assessment despite graphical representation showing subsidence is generally increasing over time for the foreshore.
Sea floor surveys over Zone B areas are discontinued after 3 years after mining despite the highest levels of subsidence in this area in 2020 when mining operations ceased in 2017.
* Transport
A lot of this newly mined coal will be for export, up to 660 000 t/yr and domestic use beyond Vales Point Power Station 180 000 t/yr. This will equate to 270 fully laden coal trucks heading to the port of Newcastle daily which is 32 trucks/hour and 16 trucks/hour in peak times. This will add not only the emissions from burning the coal overseas but the diesel emissions of all of the truck movements to our already overburdened air quality and greenhouse gas emissions.
* Climate change
The EIS fails to assess the impact of the greenhouse gas emissions which will add 25 million tonnes more over the seven year extension and expansion of the mining operation to Australia's emissions at a time when we drastically need to reduce the greenhouse gas load in our atmosphere.
Our objection to this expansion is due to all of the above which shows the project is not ecologically sustainable and places a further burden on intergenerational equity, failing in the areas of air quality, climate change, water resources, biodiversity and subsidence. This project should be refused and the only coal extracted from the colliery should be used directly in the Vales Point Power Station until its closure in 2029 and no further afield.

As a long time resident of Mannering Park, I think our town has suffered extreme pollution from coal mine, power station and coal trucks for too long. Its time to stop mining under our lake and give us some sense of a pristine waterway that we should be surrounded by. Instead we have coal trucks on our main roads and a mine that belches thick coal dust regularly. Time to make this stop. Keep the coal underground and not allow some foreign company the rights to what is under our homes. The delta company has sold out to some overseas company that is known for it's disregard of the national environment laws. We don't need any more filthy coal going overseas and not really giving us much profit just filthy air.
Please stop this company from raping our lands and giving us all more reason to worry about the risks of subsidence under our homes. There are plenty of open cut mines in outback Queensland to satisfy the needs of these greedy people. Leave the mones for some area where they are not impacting on local communities like ours.

Name of Application: Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project
Application Number: SSD-17017460
Department of Planning and Environment’s Disclaimer and Declaration: I have read and accept the DPE disclaimer and declaration form in the online link provided.
Declaration of political donations or gifts: I have not made reportable political donations or gifts in the past two years as per the description and details outlined in the guidelines.
Statement of “support” or “object”: objection to the proposal
Reasons for objection:
• The proposal undermines geographic areas that are concurrently marked for development by Central Coast Council. Council and other parties are rapidly developing land around the South-East Lake Macquarie areas affected by undermining. These developments are set to remove significant greenspace and environmental lands. How have other concurrent projects affecting the same geographical area been addressed in this proposal? What risk controls have been implemented to balance the multiple and growing developments in this area when development applications and the mining proposals are exhibited in isolation from each other? It’s like “Wild West” in the South-East Lake Macquarie area now. From a public perspective, there appears no checks and balances while concurrent projects threaten our environment and biodiversity with increased pollution, no clear or sufficient planned infrastructure for public use/good or mechanisms for environmental sustainability and protection.

• Limited information has been provided to the public and residents about the ongoing disputed matter regarding exemptions for the Power Stations under the previous ownership. Is the government going to keep providing legally questionable exemptions for air pollution again? What protections and considerations are being put in place now to address residents’ health and air quality for current concerns – let alone the future concerns an extension on mining would bring.

• Risks to the community grossly outweighs any potential benefits. The current Coal Levy provision as compensation to communities affected by Delta’s mining operations under our homes and community assets is NOT commensurate to the damage done by Delta/ previous owners. As a trade-off for mine subsidence risk, the community has been ripped off! These financial payments for community projects require a competitive grants process to access; they are limited to $30k per annum and are fleeting; while the damage done is ongoing and most likely irreversible. Compare this compensation effort to how the mining of natural resources has been managed elsewhere in the world, with government authorities implementing tax or costs to private company that are then used to fund significant and long-lasting programs for the community benefit such as education, health, aged care, etc. Given the known EPA risks and air pollution that have been reported on for years now - why hasn’t a significant amount of compensation been set up to support the health risks for affected local families and the local hospital / health services?

• Health risks to the local community from the previous and current mining and coal processing operations are still not adequately managed or removed - before adding further risks through the proposed extension (coal dust, ash dams, etc).

• Environmental risks to the local area from previous and current operations are still not effectively managed or reduced - so an extension of the mining and power plant operations would only add further to current environmental risks, such as the fire-retardant substances leaking into the lake systems, NOx air pollution, rates of coal particles/dust in the air, and from the ash dams

I completely object to this project going ahead. Myself and my family live in the local area and this project concerns me in regard to my families health and the impacts it has on our local and greater community.

I'm concerned about the continued impact on our local community, these concerns are air pollution with my example of having to pressure wash my verandah every 3 months due to black soot and water pollution that has caused two fish kills in our bay where no reason has been given for the tragedy. In The second event was the fish kill was attempted to be covered up where employees were filmed shovelling dead fish into a Ute. This shows they cannot be trusted and don't deserve the communities support

Continued operation and expansion will continue to
Impact the health and safety of the surrounding community. I have lived in the area for just over 1 year, my asthma was under control to just a few times a year with change of seasons, since moving I am weezy nearly every day and have had to take a preventative. Further the community is growing in surrounding suburbs with new estates aimed at young families, population will grow and the health impacts will affect more people than the current population. It has to stop.

New South Wales was recently highlighted as the leading state in Australia relating to the development of renewable energy projects linked to renewables and hydrogen. Given this fantastic news how can the extension of the life of this coal asset be given approval? The job impacts seem at a level (<200) that the state could manage the impact with retraining schemes? The bigger issue though must be the limited life of any coal asset given the state and federal governments stated net zero targets. If this coal mining operation is extended, how many years of royalty payments does the state realistically forecast they can recoup. Wouldn't a better long term investment by the state of NSW be one in extending the state's position as a leader in Australia of renewable and clean energy rather than trying to make a quick buck from a legacy asset in an industry which has no future?

The Mannering Park & Chain Valley Bay Colliery’s need to be shut down. Vale’s Point Power Station needs to cease, the impact on our environment is consistently happening; sting rays, fish of all kinds, crabs, birds, ducks have all been dying. Their babies are even being born with severe problems and not able to survive long. Which I have evidence of! Not to mention all of the people within the area of Upper Central Coast being diagnosed with cancer & terminal conditions from being exposed to metals & harmful chemicals produced by the power station. This has to be stopped by the government, the power station cannot continue to produce harmful waste, pollution for all humans, wildlife and the environment to endure. This CANNOT GO AHEAD!

I believe the power station to be antiquated and outdated thus becoming hazardous to the local community's health.

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I object to this project. The amount of noise, dust, white powder on my car and garden is unbelievable from the coal mine over the lake. It is about time the residents had some peace and quiet and of mind from the constant noise, pollutions and public eye sore of this aging and costly form of energy extraction. My house is always filthy with minute coal dust particles and coal fly ash is a regular - it is on every single surface around my property - we have made complaints to the EPA; we cough and wheeze to the point we can’t open windows at any time of day, ever unless the wind is coming from the east. Enough is enough. Stop lying to residents with time frames - we have endured so much already and to add extra years of coal extraction is absolutely unforgivable for the long suffering local Lake Macquarie residents. Move into the future and get with the times. Coal is a thing of the past and comes at a great cost to the environment and the health of the people in the area.

I am against this mining project as we are already suffering from medical and environmental issues due to past and present mining and the use of mined materials to power the Vale’s Point station. I have already made submissions regarding Vale’s Point to the NSW Enviromental minister and local state govt.

I object to this project because it will extend the life of the mine beyond what is necessary, resulting in increased greenhouse emissions, and making safe climate trajectories even less likely to be achieved.
I also object because in my view the subsidence impacts and risks of mining under Lake Macquarie are too high. Coal mining companies in NSW have a proven track record of underestimating subsidence impacts, even when such models are meant to be conservative. It's no longer possible for a reasonable person or consent authority to trust these estimates. In assessing the estimated subsidence, it would be instructive for the department to review all recorded instances of subsidence impacts which exceeded estimates given in EIS documents.

I support the project as it will keep local jobs in the area that will intern keep money in the community and it will also extend the coal security for the power station which will supply the community with power for years to come.