Dendrobium Mine Extension Project

My family and I have lived at the same home in Mt Kembla for 31 years. During the operational times of the mine, by far our biggest issue is safety around trucks. Whilst Cordeaux Road has been upgraded in recent years, it is still nowhere near wide enough to accommodate the trucks and loads taken to and from the mine. Further, Cordeaux Road is the only road the trucks can use. Far too many times, we have been driving up or down Cordeaux Road only to find an enormous truck travelling in the opposite direction with either it's load or part of the truck over our side of the road. Mine related trucks all too often travel without an escort vehicle. This means the 1st you are aware that it's too big to fit on it's side of the road is when you are just about to run into it. I have no idea how there has not been a major accident yet. Recently the mine did some sort of fit out requiring a large number of trucks going up and down Cordeaux Road over the same day. All these trucks had equipment overhanging their trailers and over the opposite side of the road. No escort vehicles. I spoke to a police person who had been contacted by a member of the public who was attempting to sort out if the trucks were legal. During the same event one of the truck drivers was laughing at me while I demonstrated concerns about his driving over my side of the road. How do you think I felt about this? On another previous occasion my wife was forced off the road and very nearly had an accident following a similar incident. She was so worked up that she contacted the mine only to be asked "did she get the registration number of the truck?". Seriously how are you going to get the #$%%% registration number in this situation? Then the mine's excuse was that the trucks are being driven by sub-contractors. NO EXCUSE. Why did the mine not know the details of the truck and driver involved? Is it possible they did but protected the identity of the person. My wife was so distraught that she ended up going to her doctor for support. The mine must be able to demonstrate how they can manage this issue FAR BETTER. If anyone is hurt, I will be passing this submission onto the media and if it's my family, I will go far further. If this was happening to your wife or husband, what would you do?? Call me if you need more details, I would happily drive up and down Cordeaux Road with dashcam showing you exactly what I'm talking about.

I think the extension will be beneficial for the greater Illawarra region’s economy and community. It will provide hundreds of existing and new jobs for another 30 years. The coal produced is high quality coal used in steel manufacturing for industrial use. The environmental benefits include the increase in available, good quality steel for infrastructure and solar and wind farms.

I believe this extension is a necessary project for the economy and community of the Illawarra and Greater Region. It will bring and sustain work for hundreds of employees in the area for another 20-30 years, heavily source economical benefit for several industries locally, and nationally, and help support environmental advancement by supplying high quality coking coal used to produce high quality steel for infrastructure and green energy sources. Upon the governments assessment of the potential impacts, I believe the pros will far out weigh the cons of this extension plan, and look forward to seeing our community thrive off of its shared success.

This extension is great for the Illawarra community as it secures local jobs for the current workforce and the younger generations who are in school at the moment. This mine has provided me with income which in turn allowed my children to receive a quality education and allowed us to spend quality family time together with needing to work away from home. South32 are great supporters of the community and sporting teams.

I support the dendrobium mine extension due to the jobs it will continue to create aswell as the economical advantages for the local communities

Dear Sirs and Madams,
I would like add my support to the Dendrobium Mine Extension.
I have read all of the contents in the exhibition document and cannot find any reason why the extension should not procced.
This project is particularly important for the local and national economy.
If you require further information please feel free to contact me , regards John Watson

Must go ahead

Hi
As a local owner of a small security business that is a vendor of South 32 (IMC).

Illawarra Security guards relies 100% on the the ongoing work that ISG does within IMC business centres in the Illawarra.
ISG only employs local security guards and if Dendrobium mine continuation was not to continue it would severely impact the viability of my business operations in the Illawarra and put in doubt the continued ongoing employment of permanent & casual of my current 32 employees.
ISG finds it’s self feeling very unsure of its future and strongly supports the submission of Dendrobium mine continuation a critical need for not only ISG but all small and medium businesses in the Illawarra to survive and thrive into the future.
Yours sincerely
Ray MCCrimmon
Illawarra Security Guards

The South32 Dendrobium Mine Extension Project will enable the continuation of metallurgical coal production, which will support the Australia Steel Industry and its role in the transition to a low carbon economy. The Project will continue to support both those directly employed by South32, and those indirectly employed by the contractors and suppliers that are also engaged by them.
K&R Fabrications is a contractor who with 100 employees will benefit from this project and the continuation of the Dendrobium Mine operations. K&R Fabrications began business in 1968 and is locally owned and operates in the Illawarra Region and has been providing goods and services to South32 since our inception. K&R Fabrications is a local progressively professionally managed supplier, fabricator and installer of structural steelwork, and a major provider of maintenance services.
This continuation of Dendrobium Mine Operations will mean K&R Fabrications and our employees, like South32, will be able to also invest in the future, which includes the continuation of our successful apprentice/training programs and various other future opportunities.
South32 and K&R Fabrications both are extremely active in the community supporting various organisations, which will remain with the continuation of the mining operations at Dendrobium Mine, which will continue to exist with the South32 Dendrobium Mine Extension Project.

Quarry Mining is a supplier of drilling consumables for roof support to underground coal mines throughout Australia’s east coast. This submission shows our support of the South 32 Dendrobium extension project.
Quarry Mining has a long history with underground coal mining in Australia and over 20 years of dealing with the mines in the Illawarra Coal basin area.
Quarry Mining hold in the highest regard our relationship with South32 and the opportunities we have to place high quality, Australian manufactured products in to their operations.
Operations such as these coal mines and their subcontract partners extend many opportunities for Quarry Mining to innovate and improve as a business. As a responsible mining company, they have held their supply chain businesses to account for excellence over many areas such as quality, safety, pricing, employment and environmental responsibilities, delivery, expertise and more. Their commitment to sustainability of their employment extends to supply businesses large and small, utilising austerity measures to ensure the mining industry continues to create employment opportunities that flow from and within it. Further and importantly, the economic flow on effect to the local communities makes them stronger and better places to live, grow and work.
Quarry Mining in R and D projects that stem from these operations ensure products are not only fit for purpose but are of the highest quality and safety standards, allow for the best usability possible and are achieving efficiencies in terms of time and cost savings across the departments. This results in improvements by way of skills development, safety and cost efficiencies for both businesses.
The longevity of coal mining in Australia is critical to our economy. The jobs that result, and even attract others from regions afar, indirectly allow local business not only to exist, but to grow and improve and continue to ensure Australia as a world class economy.
I am particularly passionate about the sustainability of, and pathways to, skills excellence in our communities. Without a robust mining industry, regional Australia will lose their youth and their skills to the large centres or worse, offshore, contributing further to the loss of manufacturing in our country. South32 Operations can provide these opportunities for local people young and old and have a strong current workforce who can provide leadership and mentorship as world class skills are learned there.

This development will ensure the employment of hundreds of people in the Illawarra. This development has reconsidered the previous feedback and has modified its proposal considerably. This proposal is likely to ensure the future of all in the Coal Supply Chain from the rail, road and Washery, through to the Port Kembla Coal Terminal, tug operators, linesman, pilots and support staff. I believe this Mine will provide invaluable high quality coal to both the domestic steelmakers, BlueScope , and other global steelmakers. I support this proposal.

This project is very important for the region. We need it to continue the employment of our people.

I support this project and the benefit it will bring to the local community. I value the creation of new job opportunities and securing the ongoing employment for those who work at the mine.

Not only will This project will maintain many local jobs and create many more but it will also ensure that our local steel manufacturing industry has a reliable and financially viable source of coking coal an arms length away. The economic benefit that this project will provide for the illawarra is substantial and the environmental re-assessment the company have done shows that south 32 are committed to protection of the areas water catchments, flora and fauna.

We here at PPK Mining Equipment, would like to extend our support for the Dendrobium Mine Extension.
As a service provider the Coal Mining Industry, we are committed to providing the continuing support to Dendrobium. We have fully equipped workshop facility incorporating Mechanical, Electrical and Fabrication, at present we have Three Field Service Technicians onsite for support (1 x Electrical, 2 x Mechanical), as well as a parts supply service.
To add to that we also have a presence in our Secondary Support Business, Rambor.
As an Australian Manufacturer we pride ourselves on providing the best underground pneumatic handheld roof bolters in the market and are well positioned to provide even greater value and service.
PPK Mining Equipment has been supplying pneumatic drilling equipment to South32 since 2007.
We are working closely with the mine sites to review any requirements & options.

Other Benefits provided are:
. reduction in WH&S risk due to the OEM suppling the equipment & conducting maintenance & repairs.
. flexibility to be able to reduce the fleet as demands change.
. quick turnaround times on repairs.
. fully function tests & certificates.
. detailed repair quotation, with photos & collection of contaminations for on-site training.
. training for troubleshooting.

PPK Mining Equipment employs over fifty personnel at the Port Kembla branch, which are directly affected by Sth32 ongoing commitment to the Illawarra, which not only benefits the employees at PPK but also their families and local suppliers which support PPK in providing manufacturing in turn provides further employment within the Illawarra.
In the event Dendrobium were unable to mine coal in the local area this would unfortunately have an affect on local suppliers as companies would require reducing employee numbers and add to further unemployment locally and possible business closures.
Dendrobiums past and ongoing commitment to provide financial support to local groups and the surrounding area on infrastructure has proven a great benefit and would be sadly missed in the event Dendrobium would cease operation.

It is my view that the approval of this project plays a pivotal role in supporting the creation of jobs and further growth of the Illawarra region, as well as contributing to maintaining the balance in the steel manufacturing ecosystem.

This is vital infrastructure of the Illawarra community without it thousand will lose their job not just at this colliery but at bluescope and surrounding metal workers

This project is critical for the Socio-Economic benefit for the community. Not only does it secure around 2000 jobs directly at the Illawarra Metallurgical Coal's (IMC) mines but also the supporting supply chain workforce such as road, rail and port workers.

The Illawarra coal industry is reliant on minimum export tonnages from IMC and other mines like Metropolitan, Tahmoor and Russel Vale remain viable. The closure of Dendrobium mine would directly impact the supply chain costs to export coal for the other mines and their viability. The closure of local mines would also impact BlueScope business continuity ability especially during wet weather.

The community consume significant amounts of products made from steel and steel is made from 70% coal. Electric cars, solar panels, wind turbines, tractors, rail lines, infrastructure for renewable energy all need steel. There is no viable replacement for coal in steel manufacturing that will occur during the life of the Dendrobium mine expansion project. By closing mines in developed countries like Australia where responsible mining occurs like at the Dendrobium Mine, consumers have to get their steel and coal from other countries where environmental and labour laws are not at the same high standard as Australia.

The Project is a fundamental part of the coal for steelmaking supply chain - securing jobs and wages that will grow the communities around our mines including major employers such as BlueScope Steel, NSW Ports and local suppliers.

The Project will implement best practice greenhouse gas mitigation measures, estimated to result in a 31% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions as a result of gas drainage. This is achieved through best practice gas drainage and flaring, which aims to capture and destroy emission intensive methane, rather than releasing it into the atmosphere.
The revised mine plan reduces its footprint and thereby reduces potential impacts as identified by the NSW Independent Planning Commission.

I am writing in favor of the extension. The mine already does and will continue to provide flexible rosters and good paying jobs for families in the local community. These jobs and money have a significant flow on affect for an enormous part of the local economy and other business. Wollongong literally can not afford to loose it’s coal mines yet.
Also the amount of revenue the various government levels make out of taxation of the incomes and profits of the mine and its associated businesses will have a significant positive impact on the community at large.
There is an increasing global demand for a clean energy revolution and none of the electric cars, wind farms, solar cells and other energy infrastructure can be built without steel. Our local mines and steel making facilities are in prime position to take advantage of this demand and provide ethically sourced materials for years to come.

The Dendrobium Mine extension is an essential project for the Illawarra and broader communities. There are countless local families and businesses that benefit from the Dendrobium mine which produces essential metallurgical grade coal. My personnal employment at PKCT depends directly on the ongoing production of the Dendrobium Mine. This project does not just relate to the Dendrobium Mine as the Dendrobium coal is blended with coal from Appin Mine to produce a viable blend for steelmaking.
It this project is rejected, it will also significantly affect the Appin Mine which is another large contributor to the Illawarra economy.
The Dendrobium Mine extension should be approved and can be executed with the necessary care for the environmental areas of concern.