Glendell Continued Operations Project

Any project that creates future employment and keeps current employment in my community is a good thing

__________EcoNetwork – Port Stephens Inc.__________
All correspondence to: Kathy Brown Secretary PO Box 97 Nelson Bay [email protected] Mob. 0422 261 057________________


EcoNetwork-Port Stephens is a grassroots community-based environmental and sustainability network comprising 25 community and environment groups and eco-businesses with a focus on sustainable planning. We are non-party political and do not donate to political parties.
EcoNetwork PS wish to object to the expansion proposal for the Glencore coal mine.
This season’s catastrophic bushfires must be a turning point for Australia and the world. Our Government needs to put the safety of Australia’s people and environment ahead of profits for foreign owned mining companies.
EcoNetwork PS rejects this proposal on the following grounds:
1. Scientists from the IPCC have given the world until 2030 to substantially reduce CO2 emissions to restrict global warming to 1.5oC: “Global net human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) would need to fall by about 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030, reaching ‘net zero’ around 2050.” Clearly a proposal that plans to increase coal production by 222% until 2044 is contrary to achieving this goal. Scope 3 emissions must be considered and clearly they are incompatible with the world as a whole achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement, regardless of where the coal is burnt. Pleading that emissions from export coal are the problem of the country that’s now burning it under the Paris Agreement is buck passing of the worst kind. It is nonsensical to keep exporting thermal coal which increases CO2 emissions, which in turn leads to hotter temperatures, drier conditions and worse bushfires in Australia.

2. The project EIS clearly hasn’t seriously considered “the feasible alternatives to the development (and its key components), including the consequences of not carrying out the development”, as required by the SEARs. The consequences of NOT carrying out this development may not be good for Glencore, but may be good for the planet and also good for consumers of coal fired power, who can swap to cheaper renewable power - the CSIRO has told us that renewable energy is cheaper than coal! Glencore clearly has such a high expectation of consent being granted that they haven’t seriously assessed the full consequences of not proceeding with the development.

3. The project is clearly based on optimising Glencore’s Mt Owen operations and any global considerations run a very poor second: “Glencore is committed to transitioning to a low-carbon economy, and has recently announced publicly that it will limit coal production to current approved levels. The Project fits within Glencore’s production cap commitment as it is focused on sustaining current coal production.” Glencore knows that the window is closing on fossil fuel extraction but is cynically determined to maximise its take while ever our Government will allow it.
The Office of the Chief Economist, June 2019, reflects on this closing window of opportunity for coal: Partially offsetting this, thermal coal — Australia’s 4th largest export commodity — is facing a tougher climate, with prices deteriorating in recent months. As a large producer and importer of thermal coal, China’s import policies, including extended customs clearance times, have added uncertainty into the market. Seasonal factors appear to have had a larger than normal impact this year: the northern hemisphere — where most thermal coal is burnt — has emerged from a warmer than usual winter, which reduced heating-related energy use. Peak summer demand, when air conditioner usage rises, is a month away.
The market for thermal coal is decreasing, so where's the economic need for a coal mine expansion?

4. Glencore tell us that “The project design has been informed by many of the studies to ensure impacts are mitigated as far as reasonably and feasibly possible.” The NSW Government/Planning Department needs to be deciding what is “reasonably and feasibly possible”, after input from its citizens, not Glencore! The health impacts of those living in Singleton and Muswellbrook are well documented. The increasing automation within the coal industry will ensure that jobs of the future will not be in coal but in renewable production.

5. The Social Impact Assessment - SIA - “is about identifying, assessing and effectively managing the social impacts that may be associated with the Project, and identifying opportunities to enhance the benefits of the Project.” The part that is missing is the social impact of global warming: burning coal leading to higher temperatures, drier country, more intense bushfires and in some places, rising sea levels. As we have seen recently, the Consequence Level of bushfires in Australia and inundation in the Pacific is “Catastrophic” and the Likelihood Category is “Almost certain”, leading to an “Extreme” risk. Until coal mine assessments start factoring in the impacts of global warming on the population, mining companies are not being held to account for the catastrophes they are contributing towards.

6. Concerning air quality, we are told that “Responses to this monitoring will include modifying operations when required, such as relocating exposed equipment to less exposed locations, slowing or stopping specific equipment during high winds or increasing dust suppression activities through increased road watering.” Air quality monitoring around Singleton has shown that these provisions are not adhered to with current operations and that doctors in the area are very concerned about the health of those who live there because of poor air quality. In 2019 there were over 800 air quality alerts in the area. (2) The prolonged drought in Australia has seen 55 towns run out of water, to date. Mining demands a high consumption of a very precious resource, water. We simply cannot afford to waste our water through coal washing and dust suppression at mine sites.

7. Relocating the Ravensworth Homestead is problematic for a number of reasons. There simply aren’t that many buildings dating from the early 19th century and it is classed as having “State Significant Heritage Value”. This property was also a significant site in the “frontier wars”, with local Indigenous people massacred by settlers.

8. Just as the mine’s documentation asserts “the Project in isolation is unlikely to limit Australia achieving its national mitigation targets” for CO2 emissions, it could equally be asserted that refusing this mine extension in isolation is unlikely to materially impact the Australian economy. That is the thinking behind having a “Transition Plan” to move away from coal mining to renewable energy domestically and as export replacement. If this plan was in place, each mine closure would cause barely a ripple to the economy. If Governments were listening to the scientists and economists, they would have renewable energy projects under development and be attracting other employers to the area to absorb Glendell coal workers when the existing consent lapses. The transition program needs to start now with coal prices dropping and international and Australian corporations and fund managers divesting themselves of coal.(3)

Yours faithfully,

Kathy Brown
EcoNetwork PS
[email protected]
Ph 0422 261 057
1. https://publications.industry.gov.au/publications/resourcesandenergyquarterlyjune2019/index.html
2. https://www.huntervalleynews.net.au/story/6501493/campaign-to-tackle-air-pollution/
3. https://www.firstlinks.com.au/article/why-divest-from-fossil-fuels

Glendell is part of the Mount Owen mine complex, which already had a major expansion approved in the last two years. This further expansion would extract an additional an additional 135 million tonnes (Mt) of run-of-mine (ROM) coal and more than double the rate of extraction at the Glendell pit from 4.5mtpa to 10mtpa. It is a catastrophic abuse of our nationally owned land and resources for short terum vested political and private economic interests. Nothing more and we are strongly objecting to the expansion.

Under its current consent, mining in Glendell pit would wrap up in 2024, but the Glendell Continuation Project would extend mining operations at the site to 2044 – well beyond the date after which coal burning for electricity is supposed to have ceased if we are to meet our climate change goals.

This project further extends mining in a heavily-mined area, exacerbating air pollution and water loss.

The mine’s groundwater assessment shows that dramatic drawdown of the coal seam under the Bowman’s Creek alluvium propagates upward into the alluvium and causes drawdown and loss of surface water.

This adds to stress already being experienced in the area from other mines, and the groundwater assessment also shows cumulative draw down of over 2 metres in the alluvium during the proposed mining operations. Will mine management and approving authorities make themselves personally and finically accountable for any losses suffered here to the communities now and in perpetuity for the loss or damage to the ground water environment due to this approval?

The mine assessment admits that most air quality monitoring sites in the vicinity of Glendell Mine have experienced at least one day above the national standards for PM10 particulate pollution in the past seven years and some exceeded annual average thresholds in the last two years. Camberwell and Singleton also exceeded the PM2.5 criterion last year.

But the EIS uses a low pollution year, 2014, as its base year, setting background air pollution levels at less than half of the pollution concentrations experienced in the vicinity more recently. Nevertheless, the assessment shows intensification of PM2.5 and PM10 air pollution in Camberwell and surrounding areas.

The Glendell Continuation Project will result in 230.8 million tonnes of greenhouse gases over the life of the project. This is in addition to the greenhouse pollution from the rest of the Mount Owen complex.
The assessment admits that the project is consistent with the IPCC’s “high emissions A2 emission trajectory scenario.” This is a shocking admission and all the more shocking that it did not prompt the company to withdraw the proposal. The A2 scenario is projected to result in warming by approximately 3.4C by 2100. As the greenhouse assessment outlines, this scenario is associated with increased maximum temperatures, hot days and severe fire danger days.

If these are the facts of existing operations, how can approving authorities seriously expect the public to consider any further expansion to be based on anything but corrupted logic lobbied by mining and private economic interests over public health and long term interests.

This project is not consistent with NSW’s climate change policy, the principle of inter-generational equity nor the public interest, as it clearly assumes failure to meet the Paris Agreement temperature goals and worsening climate change impacts for New South Wales.

I am in full support of the Glendell Continued Operations Project. Mining is the back bone of this economy and it will create more jobs for the region.

I am a local open cut examiner currently working in the Hunter Valley and I strongly support the application for the Glendell Continued Operations. As a local resident of the Hunter living at Huntlee, Mining is crucial to ensuring the continued quality of life provided for all Australians. This project will provide much needed jobs, stability and security to the valleys industry and is widely supported by the local community. Please don't allow a small minority of objectionists with an agenda derail a project that provides so many benefits to the local community.

I support the GCO project for the ongoing stability it will provide to our community with permanent jobs and other opportunities that come from the mining industries within the Hunter Valley.

Im all for the expansion, mining in the hunter valley has been going on for decades. the majority of the hunter valley people work in the industry, the mining companys put back into the community by supporting local projects, fundraisers, Charitys, sports etc.
Coal mining is one Australias largest exports and benefits the economy greatly.

As a resident of the Hunter Valley in NSW, I believe this project should be approved. The existing mine has been operating since 2008 without any significant impacts socially or environmentally. Glencore as a company strives for best practise in these areas. This approval will allow for the continuation of hundreds of jobs as well as economical benefits to the state of NSW. The project is moving away from the nearby community of Camberwell further reducing any potential impacts. The commitment to the relocation options of the Ravensworth Homestead in consultation with the community highlights the companies commitment to work in harmony with the community and also enhance the heritage aspect of the homestead by making it more accessible. The proposed natural landform rehabilitation technique also ensures the projects rehabilitation is pursuing best practise. Due to the minimal social and environmental impacts coupled with the economical benefits to the state, this project should be approved.

I'm very much in support of the significant net benefit 'Glendell Continued Operations Project' will have for the local, national and global communities.

From a person who works in the MtOwen Complex I would like for Glendell to continue to give the local area stability in there work environment and support local business.

Jeroen

The GCOP project will provide a lower emissions alternative to Indonesian coals that would otherwise fill the supply deficit. It will also continue to support the local Hunter community, NSW & the rest of Australia.

There is no longer any right time or right place for new or increased fossil fuel projects.To keep our Paris agreement of reducing emissions by at least 30% by 2030 and to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees the planet cannot afford to continue adding to greenhouse gas emmissions.

On this basis alone I object to this project.please see attachment below .

I object to the project on the grounds (1) that the air quality in the Upper Hunter is already poor, with multiple exceedances of the PM10 standard every year. This badly affects the health of people, including families with young children, living in Camberwell and in Singleton Heights as well as other parts of the Upper Hunter. The EIS claims the particle air pollution will be no worse, but refusing consent is an opportunity to make it better.
(2) That the coal dug up at Glendell will be burned. If it was being used for road base I would not object, but as it is planned to be burned it adds to the global heating that is severely impacting the environment in NSW even when the coal is burned overseas.

I believe that it is essential that we continue to provide fossil fuels to the world until such a time that a safer and more economically viable product is made available.
I do not disagree that burning ANYTHING which pollutes that atmosphere can be harmful to the environment but do we really truly know at what levels and what damage is being caused by burning coal that is really the basis for the life that we are currently living in? If we removed coal now, the world would collapse and the results would be catastrophic. As of "living in the now" we need this essential resource!
This expansion enables future coal supply and has a direct impact to the local community in a positive manner. With any coal projects, the government do have strict approval consents and compliance audits to ensure that impacts to the environment are kept to a minimum and sustained. Glencore is a world class organisation that I believe would meet and/or exceed the consent requirements being set. If they do not, then the project should not go ahead. If it does, then a green light from me!

I believe this project will support economic growth in both NSW (including employment) and Japan (energy security).
Also I believe Co2 emission can be managed by quality of coal extracted from the project and Japanese technologies.

I object to extending the mining of coal at this site.
Air pollution causes significant harm and continued mining endangers the health of people living in the local area.
There is ample scientific evidence on the impact of fossil fuels and climate change. Extending mining contribute towards missing the climate change targets.
A just transition for workers in the industry is required and consideration of extending mining takes away from resources to allow people to transition out of coal mining into sustainable careers.

This project produces huge amount of high quality coal through to 2044 and greatly contributes to the NSW and Australian economy. It also creates many jobs/employments for a long period and would bring a big economic benefits to the Hunter region. Therefore, I strongly support this project and hope this project would be approved soon.

The continuation of Glendell Open Cut mine is important to my family which includes three children, two who are school and the youngest is 7 months of age. My earnings from Glendell Open Cut help me to provide a good standard of living and education which I hope to be able to maintain following graduation from The University of Newcastle in 2009.

While there is an ongoing focus on environmental impacts there does need to be the right balance struck between economic, social and environmental impacts, which I believe the submission from Glencore clearly articulates.

Glendell Open Cut contributes tens of millions each year through royalty payments to the State Government; provides a significant regional contribution through jobs and expenditures on good & supplies; and make direct community contributions to many local bodies including local children sports clubs. Recently, Glendell Open Cut personnel to donate to the “Buy a Bale” cause for farmers finding it difficult to feed their stock.

The social needs of developing Asia are enormous, the improvement of which comes from cost competitive and reliable base load electricity. Secondly, infrastructure development, requiring steel and cement is contingent upon the supply of raw materials, thermal and semi soft coal being a primary input. As a Mechanical Engineer, I am fortunate to have a technical understanding of manufacturing, construction and maintenance of infrastructure throughout its life cycle.

Modern cities would not function without steel, cement, aluminum, glass and of course synchronous power. Coal, gas, nuclear and hydroelectric power plants are capable of supplying synchronous power which modern devices require (air-conditioners, fridges, lighting circuits etc.).

Glencore who manages Glendell sets very high standards for safety and environmental management, for example, real time monitoring of noise and dust which trigger immediate alarms should limits be approaching. The arguments around health impacts can be quite emotive and it is important that the facts be established particularly through NSW Health and other expert bodies. It is my understanding that air quality in the Hunter Valley is in fact better that Western Sydney. Mineworkers at Glendell Open Cut are monitored for exposure through Coal Services, exceedances are exceptionally rare and well managed, in which I play a part.

Greenhouse emissions is a global issue with Nations participating through Paris commitments. These should not be targeted at individual mines, whereby our high quality coal can be blended at international export terminals for which Glencore has no control. I believe the Glendell Continued Operations Environmental Impact Statement is very robust and like other recent mining developments is an iteration on best practice.

Glendell continued operations would utilise existing infrastructure in place to process and load product coal onto rail infrastructure. This in my opinion is an efficient use of installed infrastructure and maintains employment of over 50 CHPP employees and 150+ specialist contracts that support all facets of coal processing.

Thank you for reviewing my submission, I hope you look practically and favorably at it.

The continued operation of Glendell will make further significant contributions to the local community though provision of continued work for employees, support to local businesses as well as funding to local community groups. Glendell has been a sustainable operation to date and I foresee this continuing with an ongoing operation.

This isn't in the best interests of the community's health, or for the environment.