Glendell Continued Operations Project

Dear Sir or Madam
I write to you as an ordinary member of the public who feels like there is very little I can do as a citizen to help our desperate climate situation, besides voicing my objection to the expansion of a fossil fuel project in effectively our back yard while we are still dealing with the catastrophic effects of global warming. Expansion of a coal mine in the Hunter region, and such an enormous expansion with the inevitable environmental toll that will result, is the absolute last thing we need, and it is especially upsetting that this application is even being considered at a time when we are all desperately dealing with the fallout from our reliance on fossil fuels.
Others have the science and the numbers to quote, and I am sure you have heard it all from many people. I simply want to add my voice to the objections because it is one of the very few things I can do to try to make a difference. I really hope you are open to listening to the people on this and will decide to reject this expansion project.
Thank you very much for your time
Connie

I am writing in support of the Glendell Continued Operations Project. I feel the ongoing employment opportunities and the economic benefits this project provides for Australia and its people well out way any environmental impact that this project has proposed.

I have worked in the mining industry for over 20 years and for the last 5 years as a contractor and permanent employee of Glencore. The opportunity for me to give my family a great future would not be possible without employment opportunities in the mining industry. The glendell north project will secure my future until I retire and hopefully see my kids pursue a future as an electrician, fitter or mining engineer. The positive effect it has had on the community and the hunter valley cannot be underestimated. I hope the mine gets approval for the sake of all the families that are employed by the mine.

The Glendell continued operations Project will indeed a valuable asset for the Community the State and the Country.

This application should be refused. It would be irresponsible to approve a major expansion of this coalmine, and of its lifetime, when the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence points to the need to urgently reduce the burning of fossil fuels to avoid the catastrophic effects of increased greenhouse gas emissions. Arguments that emissions from Australian coal exports are an issue for the importing country should be dismissed - we must take responsibility ourselves for the contribution our resources make to the existential threat of human induced climate change. There needs to be an urgent government led transition plan for providing alternative economic opportunities for the communities in the Hunter Valley and elsewhere that are currently reliant on coal and gas extraction.

This project is rediculous in this current climate, they should be looking at renewables for energy solutions instead of destroying the environment.

I am concerned about the long term ecological impact of this project. At a time when we should be halting further fossil fuel extraction and in fact actively attempting to recapture it this project actively contributes to Australia's carbon dioxide emissions. Your project is part of a wider fossil fuel extraction story, you are not the biggest in australia or even the worst in terms of direct local impact but at the end of the day not being the worst doesn't grant you ethical clemency, you are simply not extraordinary.

This continued operations project must not go ahead. It would be detrimental to our environment. We need to be thinking about creating sustainable jobs for the long term.

The planet is warming considerably. Climate Change effects are on us already and this project is attempting to increase mining and extend it's life. It is not in the interests of this country or the planet to continue coal mining.
We need to stop this madness and encourage our transition to a renewable energy source. Allowing projects such as this will NOT encourage any necessary transition.
For our children's sake and future please do not allow this project approval

I object this project and I believe the future is in renewable energy- not in further mining. Jobs, money and resources are all in renewables.

I come for a farming community and have been working in the mining industry for the past 20 years. I understand that mining supports our country and our farmers and brings income into Australia. I would like to support Glendell in continuing their operations to continue supporting our families and the community at large. Glendell does a fantastic job rehabilitating the area and supporting community groups and charities. I am proud to be working for Glendell.

Serious and unjustifiable environmental damage

This Project will provide ongoing employment opportunities for existing Glendell employees as well as new employment opportunities for a greater number of people. It will also bring economic growth and stability to the area.

Glendell Coal Mine has submitted this extension to future proof its operations and the employment of over 250 people directly. The site adheres to all EPA guidelines and is an industry leader in reducing the effects of noise, dust and ground vibration on the surrounding community.
Despite there being a consistent call to reduce our coal export market, the reality is that N.S.W relies heavily financially on the royalties it receives from coal exports which support our hospitals, roads and infrastructure and schools to name a few and when N.S.W can provide the world with the highest quality coal available to reduce our carbon footprint, we should be supporting our developing neighbours to continue to utilize our coal opposed to brown or high ash coal sought from India and China.
Glendell has had a wide reach on the immediate community since it began operating in 2007, regular donations to the local schools and sporting teams, hospitals and charities of employees choice provide opportunities that simply would not exist in these communities without the continued operation.

The project and the assessment does not adequately address the principles of environmentally sustainable development. The assessment does not take responsibility for scope 3 emissions that this project will directly impact. The direction impacts will have environmental damage, which will burden future generations with costs. The project should not be approved until the project demonstrates how they are taking financial responsibility for the environmental damage incurred, rather than just stating that the responsibility of scope 3 project emissions are the responsibility of others.

Supportive of continued operations

It creates many jobs for the community and money in the local towns. The mine has been running there for over 10 years now and I can’t see why it shouldn’t keen going in there For more years to come.

I wish to object to the expansion of The Glendell open cut coal mine. I understand that they are hoping to more-than-double their production of coal and, Unbelievably, they are hoping to continue this for another 2 decades!
Whilst I acknowledge that coal is necessary at the moment to power our lives until we transition, quickly, to renewable sources, I am perplexed and angry that a mining company would seek to greatly increase their (and Australia’s and the World’s) carbon emission footprint. I would hope that the owners are not immune to the latest catastrophes befalling Australia. We are way past denying that climate change is responsible for our hotter, drier, more unpredictable planet, and that the burning of fossil fuels is the most significant contributor to this fact. The last year (at least) of damaging drought, record temperatures, wildfires and the subsequent loss of flora, fauna and vital ecosystems, have shown Australians and the rest of the world, how vulnerable we humans, (especially those of us so reliant on infrastructure and systems running efficiently), are to such changes. These consequences, that we expected to creep up on us, are actually upon us, and highlight the urgency for a change of mindset.
And this is just at 1 degree warming! Imagine how impossible life will become with the higher increases in temperature we are on track to causing. This is the only hospitable, beautiful, amazing planet in the solar system, and we are most certainly going to become extinct on it if we don’t transition URGENTLY to zero carbon emissions from our energy production.
PLEASE don’t approve this expansion!!! We need to LEAVE THE COAL IN THE GROUND. 🙏

My view on this project is that it is a continuation of an existing operation. Which is keeping many people further employed & supporting Continued growth in the broader community. This is not a new project, that some people may say will further diminish the environment. The adverse effects of this project not going forward are much more negative to the community then any environmental issues. In which the company proposing the project have to comply with some of the strictest regulations in the industry’s history. They are held accountable for any breaches to highest of regulatory punishments. Therefore for the sake of the several hundred employees & there families & also the onflow of business & local spend . This would be a huge detriment to the community if this project does not go forward.

Thank You!
Michael Walls

As an employee of Glendell i am obviously biased but i also see first hand every day, the work that is put in to reduce the environmental impact on the area and our surrounding neighbours

I have only worked here around 2 years and am new to the industry. Before i started i actually thought that after digging a huge hole in the ground, the mine would simply leave it and move on to the next area. This is not the case; in fact, not only is the hole filled in and the top soil remediated, trees and plants re-planted, water ways diverted or ideally left in place, animals left to graze and co exist while the mine is in operation, but all the surrounding lands are purchased and grazing cattle will live on the previously mined area and is managed by local farmers.

During operations, dust is managed by operators and supervisors, noise is managed as not to bother any near or distant neighbours and any chemical spills are reported to the EPA. In short, the mine takes its impact on the environment very serious and puts this before production or making money.

As for 'the bigger picture" - climate change; until governments start to take this issue seriously and more greener and renewable energy sources and infrastructure is invested in, coal is still the preferred energy source for many countries across the world including Australia. Glencore has recently made an announcement that its global coal annual extraction targets will not be increased which for some, is a step in the right direction, but to keep up with current global demand, mines need to be extended.

If this mine extension is approved, it will mean hundreds of local familys across the hunter valley are provided for, for the rest of their working lives.
If there is a way to safely and efficiently mine coal in an environmentally responsible way, it is done here at Glendell.
We are a world leader in this respect and to shut us down would only hurt local workers and their families and give the work to overseas mines who place very little emphasis on the safety of their employees or their local environment.