HVO South Open Cut Coal Continuation Project

Dear Sir/Madam,
I writing to you today to voice my strong opposition to the Application SSD-11826681 the HVO North Open Cut Coal Continuation Project.
The science is clear. The world is in a state of climate emergency, and we need to shift into emergency gear. Humanity’s burning of fossil fuels has emitted enough greenhouse gases to significantly alter the compo-sition of the atmosphere and average world temperature has risen be-tween 1.1 and 1.2°C.
Why are these types of projects even considered when for every degree in rising temperatures, the cost of adaptation will rise exponentially. GHG emission must peak now yet the gap between ambition and action is growing.
We have the solutions we need and many will reduce emissions, con-tribute to climate adaptation, create jobs, restore the natural environ-ment and encourage good investments.
Yours sincerely,
Robert McLaughlin

As a wife of a truck operator at HVO I would like to support this submission so that we can keep providing a better future for our family , as well as the business is supporting many more other small business in the Hunter valley and elsewhere in NSW .
we are a mining community

This project can only be beneficial for the people of the Hunter Valley. I have been involved in mining my whole career and it was this career that brought me to the Hunter Valley. Like so many people, there would be no reason to be here without the jobs and the security that mining provides. The ongoing benefits for people outside of direct employment from the mines is enormous. Those of us that have chosen to have families here mean that there are more school options available and more employment for people outside of the mining industry. At 40 years old, I have never lived in a better place.

My family and friends depend on HVO to survive so I would like the mine to keep operating.

I believe it is of great importance to continue with mining at HVO South Open Cut Coal as it is an integral part of employment in this region. The mine adheres to EPA regulations and for a sustainable future for the production of clean coal. The importance of a strong community in the upper hunter region is also of great importance. Plus the revenue that is contributed to the state government

I support this project for the future of the Hunter Valley and the local communities that rely on Hunter Valley Operations as a source of employment and income. I am fortunate to work in mining, and am grateful for the opportunities mining has presented to me personally and for the local community. HVO contributes to local community and without it, support industries will suffer. Jobs will be lost, and people will relocate away from the area for stable employment. What is Singleton without HVO? I would rather not find out. This mine is not a new mine, the scale of mining does not intensify. Why deny something from continuing into the future when the change is minimal? Lets secure the future of the Hunter Valley.

I object to the proposed extension of HVO North and HVO South. If approved, this will be the most polluting project in NSW since the Paris Agreement, with an estimated release of 1.2 billion tonnes of carbon emissions. An extension for HVO North from 2025 out to 2050, and HVO South from 2030 out to 2045, is not in line with the NSW Governments policy to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 70% by 2035. If this extension is allowed, how could this targets possibly be reached? Already, coal mining emissions are expected to increase this decade, according to the government. Approval of these extensions will be an environmental disaster in the not too distant future.

HVO North and South want to gain approval to double their annual Scope 1 Greenhouse Gas emissions. This is completely unacceptable. Issues such as air pollution will only get worse with this projects extension. PM2.5 and PM10 emissions that will result from this expansion will significantly increase - given Muswellbrook currently has some of the poorest air quality in NSW, this project will only serve to make air quality significantly poorer. Aboriginal Cultural heritage sites will be impacted upon, and the Wonnarua people object to this expansion.

This extension proposes to clear 397 hectares of native vegetation, 94.4 hectares of which contain Threatened Ecological Communities, two of which face ‘serious and irreversible impacts’ such as Red Gum Woodland, and the recently discovered legless lizard ( Hunter Valley Delma) which is expected to be listed as an endangered species any day. The Australian Government’s “State of the Environment 2021” Report (July 2022) says that Australia’s environment is poor and is deteriorating due to “increasing pressures from climate change, habitat loss, invasive species, pollution and resource extraction”. This proposal literally will increase 4 of the 5 listed issues facing the Australian environment.

Glencore is clearly not a company that can be trusted. It is facing investigation by ASIC for misleading claims regarding its cutting of carbon emissions as well as greenwashing, it has been found guilty of systemic bribery and then fined in the UK, as well as having paid over a billion dollars in a settlement in the US over bribery and manipulation.

In a climate emergency, it is complete madness to allow projects like this to go ahead. There are so many reasons not to grant permission for these projects to go ahead, I sincerely hope the right decision is made.

I object to the proposed extension of HVO North and HVO South. If approved, this will be the most polluting project in NSW since the Paris Agreement, with an estimated release of 1.2 billion tonnes of carbon emissions. An extension for HVO North from 2025 out to 2050, and HVO South from 2030 out to 2045, is not in line with the NSW Governments policy to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 70% by 2035. If this extension is allowed, how could this targets possibly be reached? Already, coal mining emissions are expected to increase this decade, according to the government. Approval of these extensions will be an environmental disaster in the not too distant future.

HVO North and South want to gain approval to double their annual Scope 1 Greenhouse Gas emissions. This is completely unacceptable. Issues such as air pollution will only get worse with this projects extension. PM2.5 and PM10 emissions that will result from this expansion will significantly increase - given Muswellbrook currently has some of the poorest air quality in NSW, this project will only serve to make air quality significantly poorer. Aboriginal Cultural heritage sites will be impacted upon, and the Wonnarua people object to this expansion.

This extension proposes to clear 397 hectares of native vegetation, 94.4 hectares of which contain Threatened Ecological Communities, two of which face ‘serious and irreversible impacts’ such as Red Gum Woodland, and the recently discovered legless lizard ( Hunter Valley Delma) which is expected to be listed as an endangered species any day. The Australian Government’s “State of the Environment 2021” Report (July 2022) says that Australia’s environment is poor and is deteriorating due to “increasing pressures from climate change, habitat loss, invasive species, pollution and resource extraction”. This proposal literally will increase 4 of the 5 listed issues facing the Australian environment.

Glencore is clearly not a company that can be trusted. It is facing investigation by ASIC for misleading claims regarding its cutting of carbon emissions as well as greenwashing, it has been found guilty of systemic bribery and then fined in the UK, as well as having paid over a billion dollars in a settlement in the US over bribery and manipulation.

In a climate emergency, it is complete madness to allow projects like this to go ahead. There are so many reasons not to grant permission for these projects to go ahead, I sincerely hope the right decision is made.

I support the project

I support the the project

I support the project. Please see my attachment.

I have worked at HVO for 14 years and my family and I rely on the income that I earn from working there.

It is my belief that the benefits for approving HVO south out weigh the negatives
The community and business relies on HVO for income be it directly or indirectly
With other mines in the area for casting closure in the near future I feel it is the best interest to keep HVO operating

I support the project for the benefit of everyone's future

HVO south provides valuable community support by providing employment in our local community in an industry that is already being devestated by mine closures in the hunter valley.
The continuation of the life of the mine which already has the infrastructure in place supports many families and local businesses in the area. The protection of jobs within the mining industry is vital while we attempt to transition out of fossil fuels. The demand for coal world wide continues and is a vital export for Australia and NSW.
I support the continuation project for HVO South and HVO west

Hunter Valley Operations provides direct jobs for over 1000 people in the local community, and over 4000 flow on jobs. I have lived in Singleton for over 30 years and know how reliant the community is on mining, in particular Hunter Valley Operations due to the large number of jobs generated and community support. Not approving this extension would have a devistating impact to the local community and families.

I am in support of this extension.
I believe the operation can and will be able to operate within the requirements imposed on them.
HVO supports many companies and charities in the Singleton and surrounding areas and the refusal would have a negative effect on the community.
I have worked in the mining industry for around 20 years and have watched and the mining industry has developed safer and quieter equipment and monitoring methods to allow operations to have less negative effect on communities.
I also believe we are only just starting to develop these new methods.
Please give the approval to the HVO south extension
My family and I are active member of the community and would be saddened to see the town of Singleton and it's surrounding areas decline due to the lack of work created by the refusal.
Thank you
Kind regards,
Stephen Williamson

The project will provide future jobs for the region.
(i do pay my taxes so i dont know if that counts as a political donation)

As per my submission for HVO north, I wholeheartedly support the ongoing continuation of this project .

As previously mentioned the financial and economic benefits for not only the Hunter, but the State, federal and local governments is immeasurable.

I have many family and friends employed either directly or indirectly as a result of this industry and this operation, and would like to see this continue well into the future for not only our children but Grandchildren.

To close this operation would be an economic disaster.

I have been working at hvo as a contractor for the last 4 years, I believe the site contributes a lot to the community and supplies thousands of job for locals