Maxwell Underground Coal Mine Project

I support this project

Refer attached Letter - We believe the project is important for the NSW coal industry for ongoing jobs and growth.

Stephen Luck
52 Esbank Street
PO Box 364
Lithgow NSW 2790

NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
GPO Box 39, Sydney NSW 2001
Date _17__/__09__/2019

To Whom It May Concern
Re: Maxwell Underground Coal Mine Project. SSD-9526
My name is Stephen Luck and I am Safety Rep.
I am writing to lodge my support for Malabar Coal’s Maxwell Underground Project.
This is a sensible project that has been designed so our community can enjoy a much-needed economic boost without negatively impacting other local industries and land uses.
I support the project because it will deliver important benefits for the local community and NSW.

• ECONOMIC BENEFITS: The Maxwell Project will create 350 new jobs for the region. These new jobs and the wages that will flow from them, will deliver a much-needed boost to the local economy. Further afield, the project will also generate $1 billion to $1.25 billion for the NSW State Government and local Councils. This money can be used to upgrade regional hospitals, schools or infrastructure. Projects like this help ensure our ongoing prosperity and can support the economy for years to come.
• JOB CREATION: The project will mean 350 more skilled jobs for the local community. These jobs will inject around $55 million in wages into our community – benefiting many other businesses in the area. Malabar has also promised to provide training for local people so the skills to operate an underground mine can be developed within the local area. They have also said they want to prioritise hiring locals to ensure that the benefits of the project stay here in the community.
• LOCAL ECONOMY: The project will boost our local economy and help local business owners. It will support a wide range of local businesses throughout the construction phase and operation of the mine over 26 years. Long term projects, like this one, will mean local businesses can make more investments, grow their operations, hire more people and keep workers – especially young people – in the region.
• COEXISTENCE: The project is a common-sense “win-win” for our community. Previous open cuts proposals were contentious, but Malabar have heard us and developed a sensible project that means our community can benefit from the economic boost a new mine will provide – while also allowing the horse studs and other land uses to continue their operations. I’m pleased that the EIS for the Maxwell Project shows that the underground mine can co-exist safely with other industries. Co-existence has always been an important part of our community. Having a number of strong industries has helped our community to flourish. This project means that can continue for years to come.
• SUPPORT FOR LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS: Malabar has provided funding to local community groups for over six years. For example, Malabar has helped my organisation by [PROVIDE RELEVANT DETAILS HERE.] The Maxwell Project will mean continued support for a range of organisations, including ours, for more than 26 years.
• REHABILITATION: Malabar takes mine rehabilitation seriously. They started rehabilitating the old Drayton open cut straight away and have made great progress so far. It is great to see a business take this job so seriously. I appreciate that they have already opened up some of the land for cattle to graze on. This shows a commitment to coexistence with other local industries. I also note that the Maxwell Project will deliver a better rehabilitation outcome in the long term by filling voids at the former Drayton Mine with reject stone and rock. This will mean a much better outcome for our community.
• SOLAR PROJECT: I appreciate that Malabar are also investing in a solar farm on their rehabilitated land. If approved, this could provide additional power directly to the grid, or help to power local businesses and homes. This shows the company is open to different ideas that can benefit our community.
These benefits will make a substantial long-term difference to the communities in the Upper Hunter and to NSW.
Our community needs a diverse economy and the Maxwell Underground Project can help make sure our economy prospers for decades to come.
Regards

Stephen Luck.

To Whom It May Concern
Re: Maxwell Underground Coal Mine Project. SSD-9526
My name is Logan Francis and I am Mining Engineer and worked in the mining industry for the last 10+ years with experience in the Hunter Valley Coal industry and with this particular project.
I am writing to lodge my support for Malabar Coal’s Maxwell Underground Project.
This is a sensible project that has been designed so our community can enjoy a much-needed economic boost without negatively impacting other local industries and land uses.
I support the project because it will deliver important benefits for the local community and NSW.
• ECONOMIC BENEFITS: The Maxwell Project will create 350 new jobs for the region. These new jobs and the wages that will flow from them, will deliver a much needed boost to the local ecoomy. Further afield, the project will also generate $1 billion to $1.25 billion for the NSW State Government and local Councils. This money can be used to upgrade regional hospitals, schools or infrastructure. Projects like this help ensure our ongoing prosperity and can support the economy for years to come.
• JOB CREATION: The project will mean 350 more skilled jobs for the local community. These jobs will inject around $55 million in wages into our community – benefiting many other businesses in the area. Malabar has also promised to provide training for local people so the skills to operate an underground mine can be developed within the local area. They have also said they want to prioritise hiring locals to ensure that the benefits of the project stay here in the community.
• LOCAL ECONOMY: The project will boost our local economy and help local business owners. It will support a wide range of local businesses throughout the construction phase and operation of the mine over 26 years. Long term projects, like this one, will mean local businesses can make more investments, grow their operations, hire more people and keep workers – especially young people – in the region.
• COEXISTENCE: The project is a common-sense “win-win” for our community. Previous open cuts proposals were contentious, but Malabar have heard us and developed a sensible project that means our community can benefit from the economic boost a new mine will provide – while also allowing the horse studs and other land uses to continue their operations. I’m pleased that the EIS for the Maxwell Project shows that the underground mine can co-exist safely with other industries. Co-existence has always been an important part of our community. Having a number of strong industries has helped our community to flourish. This project means that can continue for years to come.
• SUPPORT FOR LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS: Malabar has provided funding to local community groups for over six years. For example, Malabar has helped my organisation by [PROVIDE RELEVANT DETAILS HERE.] The Maxwell Project will mean conintued support for a range of organisations, including ours, for more than 26 years.
• REHABILITATION: Malabar takes mine rehabilitation seriously. They started rehabilitating the old Drayton open cut straight away and have made great progress so far. It is great to see a business take this job so seriously. I appreciate that they have already opened up some of the land for cattle to graze on. This shows a commitment to coexistence with other local industries. I also note that the Maxwell Project wil deliver a better rehabilitation outcome in the long term by filling voids at the former Drayton Mine with reject stone and rock. This will mean a much better outcome for our community.
• SOLAR PROJECT: I appreciate that Malabar are also investing in a solar farm on their rehabilitated land. If approved, this could provide additional power directly to the grid, or help to power local businesses and homes. This shows the company is open to different ideas that can benefit our community.
These benefits will make a substantial long-term difference to the communities in the Upper Hunter and to NSW.
Our community needs a diverse economy and the Maxwell Underground Project can help make sure our economy prospers for decades to come.
Regards
Logan Francis

Please see attached letter

I support this project for the following reasons:
* It will be underground mine only in an area of the Hunter Valley where coal mining already exists.
* It will be producing steel making coal which is irreplaceable in our modern world.
* It will provide local, long term employment opportunities.
* It will support many local businesses.
* It will generate substantial royalties payments to the State Government.

Please find letter of support attached.

I fully support this proposal. It is well thought through to minimise negative impacts on the community and will have many benefits at a local, regional and state level.

I believe that the Maxwell Underground Project must be allowed to proceed as it has taken a lot of planning and is aligned with the land use in the area, it has taken into consideration the nearby residents and horse studs that previously objected to the proposed Drayton South Open Cut mine that was not allowed to proceed. it would also provide long term employment for several hundred direct employees and many by indirect employment. Where several Open Cut Mines (and Liddell Power Station) in the Muswellbrook area are scheduled to close by 2023 , this proposal would bolster the local economy and direct employment in the area for many years to come. By using the existing infrastructure at the now closed Drayton Mine, very little "new" work will have to be carried out to get this proposal to the "Operational" stage and start putting substantial amounts of money into the local economy

The Maxwell Project would provide a favourable amount of new jobs as well as injecting a strong economic boost to the community.

Coal, particularly high quality hunter coal, is part of the world's future emissions management. The project will likely support steel manufacture in particular which is essential for the global economy and NSW.

I believe the proposed Maxwell Underground coal mine is a wonderful opportunity to create jobs and infrastructure in the region. Coal provides cheap energy for 3rd world nations to build industry, wealth and therefore improve the living standards for their people. I understand that strict environmental conditions are in place and once the project is completed, renewal plans are in place. I think I speak for the general community that the project is welcomed and will provide great opportunities for local residents.

I support the project, i have a young family and having a mortgage to pay and to have a opportunity to apply for a job in the underground would further my future in the area. I am currently employed as a contractor and I’m work out at the old Drayton site for Malabar coal they are above board with everything that they do, above and beyond expectations, I enjoy working there and I wish to continue to work there in the future.

I support this project

I believe that the project should go ahead given the benefits that will flow to the local community as a result of the development, including job opportunities, contracting and other commercial opportunities and royalty/revenue opportunities for local councils and State Government. I think the risks of the development can be managed given it will be an underground mine (therefore visual impacts etc should be minimised) and via appropriate conditions in the planning approval. I therefore support the development of Maxwell Project.

Jonathan Scales
24 Ponsonby Pde
Seaforth NSW 2092

NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
GPO Box 39, Sydney NSW 2001
Date 18 September 2019

To Whom It May Concern
Re: Maxwell Underground Coal Mine Project. SSD-9526
My name is Jonathan Scales and I am an investor in small companies. One of the main investment filters I use is, will this help to build our Nation? I believe that if you invest in companies that benefit the community through jobs, Nation through taxes, then the investment will be a good one.
I am writing to lodge my support for Malabar Coal’s Maxwell Underground Project as a result.
The Malabar project has been thoughtfully designed so the local community can enjoy a much-needed economic boost without negatively impacting other local industries and land uses.
I support the project because it will deliver important benefits for the local community and NSW.
The Maxwell Project will create 350 NEW jobs for the region, injecting $55 million in wages into the local community. Malabar has promised to provide training for local people so the skills to operate an underground mine can be developed within the local area. Further afield, the project will also generate $1 billion to $1.25 billion for the NSW State Government and local Councils. This money can be used to upgrade regional hospitals, schools or infrastructure. Projects like this help ensure our ongoing prosperity and can support the economy for years to come.
The project is a common-sense “win-win” for the community. Previous open cuts proposals were contentious, but Malabar have listened to the concerns and developed a sensible project that means the community can benefit from the economic boost a new mine will provide – while also allowing the horse studs and other land uses to continue their operations. I’m pleased that the EIS for the Maxwell Project shows that the underground mine can co-exist safely with other industries. Having several strong industries has helped the community to flourish. This project means that this can continue for years to come.
Malabar takes mine rehabilitation seriously. They started rehabilitating the old Drayton open cut straight away and have made great progress so far. It is great to see a business take this job so seriously. Cattle are already grazing on some of the rehabilitated land. This shows a commitment to coexistence with other local industries. I also note that the Maxwell Project will deliver a better rehabilitation outcome in the long term by filling voids at the former Drayton Mine with reject stone and rock. This will mean a much better outcome for our community.
The impact of the proposed underground mine will be much less than that of an open cut mine. Less dust, noise and most importantly the impact of subsidence at surface will be hard to notice visually as the landscape is undulating. Cattle in years to come will continue to be able to graze this land. Also, all the land around the mine and infrastructure is owned freehold by Malabar who are leasing this land out to local farmers.
The Upper Hunter and NSW needs a diverse economy and the Maxwell Underground Project can help make sure our economy prospers for decades to come.

Regards

Jonathan Scales

I would like to put forward my support to this very important project. The project will offer much needed employment for the local area. The project will also boost the local economy which is greatly needed.
Malabar Coal have put much thought into this initiative And have put forward a project that is respectful to the community & is respectful & well thought out. Please allow this project to proceed

I support this application for a number of reasons:

It’s creating 350 new jobs for the local area
The economic benefits it brings to the local community – both for other businesses and local suppliers with flow-on effects
The ongoing financial support Malabar Coal will be able to provide to local sporting & community groups

I live in Singleton and have worked in the mining industry for the last 40 years. Mining has a long history in the Hunter Valley where it has co-existed with other industries for decades. I understand why people do not like open cut mining but it’s a fact that mining is needed. Look around at all the items we all use on a daily basis that is made from steel or that requires power to operate.

This application is for an Underground Coal mine only. This means all the negative things open cut mining is renowned for will be cancelled. This operation will not be seen or heard as most activities will be underground. On ground surface and what will be seen from the air is the existing paddocks, trees and wildlife that already exist on the land. Malabar Coal have already actively commenced rehabilitating the former open cut workings they inherited when they purchased the site and I believe they are diligently doing a good job. They genuinely seem committed to making the site better and their footprint on the environment as small as possible. I also believe they have the intention of lodging an application for a solar farm in the future, once again another sign of their commitment to the local area and environment.

I support this application and wish them all the very best in getting the project approved.