Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project

I am in support of the Chain Valley Colliery Consilidation Project. Chain Valley Colliery and Delta Coal have and continue to be a strong supporter of the local economy by providing well paid job to direct employees and contractors. They also provide a valuable place for young trainees and apprentices to gain skills and develop careers.
More importantly, in the current economy climate, it is beneficial to all NSW energy consumers that Chain Valley Colliery are provided every availability to optimise their operation. This will ensure energy security and affordable power to the state for years to come during the renewable transition.

The mine creates a number of employment opportunities for locals , which helps support local business, the project will again extend the life of mine which in my view is a positive.

Coal has been a large part of the economy for many years in the district
Chain Valley has contributed to the district with numerous employees directly and indirectly
Creating hundreds of jobs
They supply the power station with coal , as long as power is generated there chain valley needs to be there in support
They are a small operation in the scheme of things and as far as I am aware they have not had any environmental issues
I support there continuation to stay open and viable

the project will be of benefit to the community and more broadly, to NSW

To Whom it may Concern,

Chain Valley Colliery has supported our local company, Strata Linings and its employees since the company was founded in 2002. We would like to express our strong support for the project and highlight the benefits to the community by the way of the indirect employment opportunities created by Chain Valley Colliery being in operation.

The benefit of this not only applies to Strata Linings, but also our supply chains. Our company produces proprietary Australian Made textile products for Chain Valley and sources raw materials from the last remaining woven textile mill in the country, which is also located in the local area.

In addition, Chain Valley Colliery have and continue to support and collaborate with us in the development of novel technology and methodologies. These developments have produced step changes in safety and efficiency that have been transferred to the industry as a whole.

Sincerely,
The Strata Linings Team

I strongly support this project as I'm sure most of the submissions you receive will. I imagine that without the coal from this project and the energy provided from said coal, even making a submission would be quite difficult, unless people are accessing the internet using only solar energy perhaps. In saying that, much of the hardware/equipment used for solar can have its manufacturing linked to coal somewhere along the line.......

The project has economic benefits, including
Hundreds of millions of dollars in annual direct & indirect regional output/business turnover, and
Some 400 odd full time equivalent jobs for women and men to provide for themselves and their families.

The project also extends the security of coal resources for Vales Point Power Station up to 2029, which maintains energy
security for domestic electricity consumers, which surely everybody in the local area can get around.

Mining benefits the local community and especially this mine, this mine contributes value to both local community and the local businesses, so any plan to lengthen and make the mine more sustainable should be endorsed.

I support the Chain Valley Colliery Consolidation Project for the following reasons:
- The project maintains secure employment opportunities for up to 390 (full time equivalent) employees including myself.
- The project extends the security of coal resources for VPPS up to 2029, which maintains energy security for domestic electricity consumers.
- The project has significant economic benefits to the local area, including
o $263M in annual direct and indirect regional output or business turnover,
o $140M in annual direct and indirect regional value-added,
o $50M in annual direct and indirect household income, and
o 627 direct and indirect jobs.
- Coal power is an important part of the states energy security.

Chain Valley colliery has formed an Integral part of the community over the years for several reasons and should be supported as a key component of the community for power generation and Jobs in the local area. key considerations -
- Creating permanent jobs for its work force and contracting companies
- Supporting the local community through the ongoing stream of work created for small and large businesses in the local area
- Being involved and supporting local community activities
- supporting the education and Career advancement of its employees through advancement of education and learning opportunities.
- being an active part of environmental sustainability, taking an active approach by implementing long term strategies to reduce environmental impacts to the environment.
- key component to the power generation of Vales point power station

Expanding coal mines spells disaster for our environment and communities
The judgement by Justice Preston of the Land and Environment Court in the case Gloucester Resources Ltd vs Minister for Planning 2019 make this link clear and provides compelling argument (despite it being a different mine) why this project should not go ahead
Wherever the coal is burnt it will release CO2 – in this case an additional 25 million tonnes of CO2e will be released if this project is approved
I also question whether the local affects on Lake Macquarie and it’s surrounds have been correctly accounted for.

The approval of this project would benefit the community by ensuring employment and benefit many families and surrounding businesses.

To whom it may concern

I am writing this letter to support the expansion of Chain Valley Bay coal mine. I am currently working in the Newcastle energy sector and I think this expansion will support the Newcastle job economy providing adequate paying employment for people in the area who need it the most.
As the cost of living and running our homes continues to rise, having access to reliable power sources will support NSW’s electricity baseload.

Thankyou for taking the time to read my expressions of support

I support this project as it offers continuing employment for a large number of people.

The project extends the security of coal resources to VPPS up to 2029. VPPS put power into the power grid locally and for interstate, gives secure employment to around 390 employee's, with additional employment of direct or indirect jobs for 600 or more for the area. With all the people involved directly or indirectly paying taxes and supporting other business in the area.

I would like to register my support for this project.

Coal mining and electricity generation has played and continues to play an important role in the economy of the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Central Coast regions. As of 2022, Chain Valley Colliery has been in continuous operation for 60 years and has supplied quality thermal coal to both local and international customers. Of late, Chain Valley Colliery has been an important and reliable supplier to the adjacent Vales Point Power Station, which provides around 10% of New South Wales' baseload generation. The consolidation and extension as proposed makes logical sense as it aligns the life of the mine with the life of the power station and ensures a continued and reliable supply of coal for New South Wales' baseload electricity needs.

Chain Valley Colliery provides substantial direct economic benefits. These include the continued direct employment of a significant number of locals, and further indirect employment of others and the considerable operational spending on local suppliers.

Additionally, the proposed ongoing mining method ensures negligible surface impact and no further disturbance on the surface or in areas around Lake Macquarie are proposed.

Climate change is an existential threat to life on planet earth, including human life.
The most immediate way this will affect people in NSW is during heat waves which can kill large numbers of people. An 8 day heat wave in February 2011 in the area around Sydney the average maximum temperature was 35.2 and on the hottest day 38.5. A 13% increase in mortality was observed, and importantly this was 16% in those less than 75 and 12% in those over 75. Heat wave mortality is not restricted to the elderly. Many heatwave deaths are from heart disease and stroke, so are not necessarily recorded on death certificates as heat related. Compared to the same week in previous years there were 96 (95%ci 40- 157) excess deaths. Since 2011 heatwaves have become more severe, with Penrith recording a temperature of 48.9 in January 2020 a full 10 degrees hotter than the 2011 heatwave.
Heatwaves are the most deadly climate related disasters but do not cause the property damage of floods or fires. Vulnerable people include outdoor workers, the homeless, and those with pre existing medical conditions. Social isolation increases the risk. In temperatures over 40 degrees people die. Heatstroke has 15% mortality even with modern hospital care.
The coal mined in the Chain Valley mine is intended to be burned, and will contribute to worsening climate impacts. There is no longer any basis to argue that new or extended coal mining operations are of community benefit. They are all harmful and no new approvals should be granted.

The Consolidation proposal to mine in the eastern precinct will allow Vales Point Power Station (VPPS) to operate to 2029. Currently it is only operating profitably at the expense of high community health and environment costs.

VPPS has been emitting high levels of polluting gases from its exhaust, air and water pollution from its coal ash dam and the cooling water discharges have changed the water temperature regime in Lake Macquarie causing fish kills. Mining subsidence under the Lake has the potential to allow methane, from the coal seams, below to reach the surface potentially leading to further fish kills. Recently Central Coast Council has given permission for residential developments in the area surrounding the ash dam. In high winds the toxic ash often escapes into these areas despite the control measures used by the company.

Delta has informed the EPA that it cannot comply with Group5 levels of Nitrous Oxide emission and operate profitably. By failing to meet this international standard the company will continue to affect the respiratory health of the surrounding community. It has been granted a further two year extension on its inability to produce unsafe levels of Nox and is likely to need further exemptions to continue operation.

I moved to the area in 2008 and soon developed asthma. When I leave the area for extended periods, for example on holidays, this goes away. I cannot definitely link the cause to emissions but I believe they are the likely cause.

The community and environmental costs of its operation are not reflected in its contribution to the NSW Economy and recently Delta management has suggested that potential new owners may extend the plant’s operation beyond 2029. The local community should not continue to bear these costs while shareholders/owners profit.

Permission to mine the proposed Eastern lease and enable VPPS to operate beyond 2024 should be predicated on its meeting international standards of air pollution and on the government undertaking proper remediation of the ash dam.

I object to this project because of the project's continuing impact on the degradation of Lake Macquarie. Attached is my submission.

Provides employment opportunities for the region.

I am concerned about the subsidence of 780mm being allowed. The impact on utilities and infrastructure should not be risked.
Our coal should be reserved for emergencies, second workings should not be a priority.
I recommend we look into millimeter wave drilling for creating the potential for geothermal energy, search Quaise.