Mod 1 - Time Extension

I have worked in the coal mining industry for over three decades.
It has provided food on our table and helped pay the mortgage on our house.
I want to have continued employment in the coal mining industry.
I am proud of what mining has done for Australia.
Our national, state and local economy relies heavily on mining.
Mining benefits all Australians. It provides the materials to build our houses, our vehicles and our white goods. Coal is one of Australia's most important and valuable exports.
Coal mining provides coal for steel making, cement manufacture and generates over 80 per cent of the electricity for the three eastern states of Australia.
Coal from the Wongawilli coal seam is excellent for blending in the process of making coke for steel production. It has fewer impurities for steel making than coal from other nations.
Wollongong Coal mines its coal product from the Wongawilli seam.
For these reasons I fully support the Extension of time for the project described as the Continued Operations Project - Nebo Area (Part 3A).
I urge the Department of Planning to give this project its full consent.

object to Wollongong Coal's application for a time extension for its Wongawilli Colliery - Major Project 09_0161, Modification 1. Some of the reasons for my objection are:

- Wollongong Coal has had 5 years to make a go of this mine and they haven't succeeded. The company does not have the resources or the expertise to safely and responsibly carry out the project.
- Longwall mining has left a legacy of damage in Sydney's water catchment, including cracked and dried up river and creek beds, damaged and dessicated swamps, damage to and leakage from major storage dams and contamination of water. The Sydney Catchment Authority Special Areas provide drinking water to 4.6 million people of Greater Sydney. This area should be protected from longwall mining. Sydney is the only city in the world that allows longwall mining in a publically owned drinking water catchment. This project has the potential to negatively impact Avon Dam, Cordeaux Dam, Upper Cordeaux No. 1 Dam, Upper Cordeaux No. 2 Dam and associated watercourses.
- The collapse of Nebo 2 longwall in February 2014 demonstrates that Wollongong Coal is not competent to carry out this mining. The Nebo longwalls are too close to the Cordeaux Reservoirs No 1 and No 2 and associated watercourses to risk further reckless and careless mining mishaps.
- The project fails to consider the cumulative impact of previous and intended future mining in the area.
- The unpredictable nature of multi-seam mining poses unacceptable risks where overlying coal seams have already been mined.
- The Wongawilli Colliery is currently in care-and-maintenance mode therefore, should this application not be approved, there will be negligible or no economic and employment impacts to the region.

I write to object to Wollongong Coal's application to extend its Major Project (MP 09_0161) to mine at the Wongawilli Colliery for a further 5 years.

My objections to this extension relate to:
* I live in Sydney. My family lives in the Illawarra. The water we drink is directly threatened by this mine and its application to extend. This project has the potential to negatively impact Avon Dam, Cordeaux Dam, Upper Cordeaux No. 1 Dam, Upper Cordeaux No. 2 Dam and associated watercourses.
* Wollongong Coal had five years already to move this mine forward and have failed.
* The company does not have the necessary expertise to safely operate - as proven by the collapse of the longwall Nebo 2.
* The company is currently suspended from trading on the Australian Stock Exchange for failing to provide adequate financial reporting. They are broke, have poor governance and generally a corporate culture of volatility, risk, and failure.
* The Nebo longwalls are too close to the Cordeaux Reservoirs No 1 and No 2 and associated watercourses to risk further reckless and careless mining mishaps.
* Wollongong Coal do not have approval to mine the expanse of coal that the drivages will open up, but they want access to it because they want to mine it in the future. Wollongong Coal are very unlikely to ever be in a financial position to mine that coal in the future. The Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA) objected to the Western Drivage saying it will provide access to "a potentially large new mining area in relatively pristine parts of the Schedule 1 Metropolitan Special Area located in the catchments of Avon and Nepean Dams".

My name is Felix Nankivell and I object to the proposed extension of the Wollongong Coal mine at the Wongawilli Colliery at the south of Wollongong. This mine is an inappropriate development that is not needed in the current economic climate and environment. This mine is located in the Sydney Water Catchment Special Areas, close to large storage dams. The mine collapsed in march 2014 and has been closed ever since. They haven't even cleaned up the mine since its collapse leaving the mining equipment still buried. The two parts of the proposed mining, the Nebo longwalls and the Western drivage are a stupid waste of water and land. The Nebo longwalls directly come within 500m of the Cordeaux No.2 reservoir and they directly undermine Wattle Creek and Little Wattle Creek. This expansion will directly harm these bodies of water and 500 metres is to p. The Western drivage is made up of 4 separate underground roadways, They are both 5.5 metres wide, and one is extending west from Wongawilli for about 5 km and going directly beneath Avon Dam which in itself troublesome for Australia's water resources. Sydney is the only city in the world that allows longwall mining in a publically owned drinking water catchment. It is time to end coal. It is creepy the way this government is so pro mining.

I am a resident of Wollondilly Shire and have been following with deep concern the threats to our rivers, creeks, upland swamps and water carchment by the coal mining industry since the development of long wall mining. i have seen building undermines and whole street and riverbeds cracking, creeks disappearing and Thirlmere Lakes shrinking. i am not convinced that there is any viability to the extension of Wongawilli mine due to the botched collapse of the log wall, the danger to nearby water catchment and the lack of commercial success of the product.

Please accept this as a submission in opposition to Wollongong Coal's Wongawilli expansion project.

The project is within the Special Areas of Sydney's drinking water catchment; an area that is simply too important to allow longwall coal mining which has been proven to destroy upland swamps and jeopardise our water catchment.

I am particularly concerned about the Nebo longwalls directly undermining Wattle Creek and Little Wattle Creek, which feed the Cordeaux No. 2 Reservoir. The longwalls come within 500m of the Cordeaux No. 2 Reservoir.

Wollongong Coal has a troubling history of inappropriate mining and mismanagement. They simply cannot be entrusted with part of the water supply of Sydney's growing population.

I ask that this project be rejected.

I would like to object to this project.

This is the very same project that the Sydney Catchment Authority objected to because of the risks to our drinking water - including the Avon Dam, Cordeaux Dam, Upper Cordeaux No. 1 Dam, and Upper Cordeaux No. 2 Dam.

The Nebo longwalls are already way too close to the Cordeaux Reservoirs No 1 and No 2 and associated watercourses.

The company is currently suspended from trading on the Australian Stock Exchange for failing to provide adequate financial reporting! Why are we risking our invaluable drinking water catchments by letting this dodgy company proceed with their irresponsible operations?

If any damage occurs to the water catchment and storage system of Greater Sydney as a result of this mining, how can we be certain that the company will stick around and repair the damage? And if they scarper, who will pay to remediate any damage done?

Coal mining is on the way out. Let's not be in denial about this any longer.

I implore you not to approve this project.

Nell

Object to Wollongong Coal's application for more time to mine at Wongawilli Colliery. Here are some suggested points:


I object to Wollongong Coal's application for a time extension for its Wongawilli Colliery - Major Project 09_0161, Modification 1. Some of the reasons for my objection are:


- Longwall mining has left a legacy of damage in Sydney's water catchment, including cracked and dried up river and creek beds, damaged and dessicated swamps, damage to and leakage from major storage dams and contamination of water. The Sydney Catchment Authority Special Areas provide drinking water to 4.6 million people of Greater Sydney. This area should be protected from longwall mining. Sydney is the only city in the world that allows longwall mining in a publically owned drinking water catchment. This project has the potential to negatively impact Avon Dam, Cordeaux Dam, Upper Cordeaux No. 1 Dam, Upper Cordeaux No. 2 Dam and associated watercourses.

- The collapse of Nebo 2 longwall in February 2014 demonstrates that Wollongong Coal is not competent to carry out this mining. The Nebo longwalls are too close to the Cordeaux Reservoirs No 1 and No 2 and associated watercourses to risk further reckless and careless mining mishaps.

- The project fails to consider the cumulative impact of previous and intended future mining in the area.

- The unpredictable nature of multi-seam mining poses unacceptable risks where overlying coal seams have already been mined.

- The Wongawilli Colliery is currently in care-and-maintenance mode therefore, should this application not be approved, there will be negligible or no economic and employment impacts to the region.

- Wollongong Coal has had 5 years to make a go of this mine and they haven't succeeded. The company does not have the resources or the expertise to safely and responsibly carry out the project.

- Longwall mining has left a legacy of damage in Sydney's water catchment, including cracked and dried up river and creek beds, damaged and dessicated swamps, damage to and leakage from major storage dams and contamination of water. The Sydney Catchment Authority Special Areas provide drinking water to 4.6 million people of Greater Sydney. This area should be protected from longwall mining. Sydney is the only city in the world that allows longwall mining in a publically owned drinking water catchment. This project has the potential to negatively impact Avon Dam, Cordeaux Dam, Upper Cordeaux No. 1 Dam, Upper Cordeaux No. 2 Dam and associated watercourses.

- The collapse of Nebo 2 longwall in February 2014 demonstrates that Wollongong Coal is not competent to carry out this mining. The Nebo longwalls are too close to the Cordeaux Reservoirs No 1 and No 2 and associated watercourses to risk further reckless and careless mining mishaps.

- The project fails to consider the cumulative impact of previous and intended future mining in the area.

- The unpredictable nature of multi-seam mining poses unacceptable risks where overlying coal seams have already been mined.

- The Wongawilli Colliery is currently in care-and-maintenance mode therefore, should this application not be approved, there will be negligible or no economic and employment impacts to the region.

I object to Wollongong Coal's application for a time extension for its Wongawilli Colliery - Major Project 09_0161, Modification 1. Some of the reasons for my objection are:

- Wollongong Coal has had 5 years to make a go of this mine and they haven't succeeded. The company does not have the resources or the expertise to safely and responsibly carry out the project.

- Longwall mining has left a legacy of damage in Sydney's water catchment, including cracked and dried up river and creek beds, damaged and dessicated swamps, damage to and leakage from major storage dams and contamination of water. The Sydney Catchment Authority Special Areas provide drinking water to 4.6 million people of Greater Sydney. This area should be protected from longwall mining. Sydney is the only city in the world that allows longwall mining in a publically owned drinking water catchment. This project has the potential to negatively impact Avon Dam, Cordeaux Dam, Upper Cordeaux No. 1 Dam, Upper Cordeaux No. 2 Dam and associated watercourses.

- The collapse of Nebo 2 longwall in February 2014 demonstrates that Wollongong Coal is not competent to carry out this mining. The Nebo longwalls are too close to the Cordeaux Reservoirs No 1 and No 2 and associated watercourses to risk further reckless and careless mining mishaps.

- The project fails to consider the cumulative impact of previous and intended future mining in the area.

- The unpredictable nature of multi-seam mining poses unacceptable risks where overlying coal seams have already been mined.

- The Wongawilli Colliery is currently in care-and-maintenance mode therefore, should this application not be approved, there will be negligible or no economic and employment impacts to the region.

I object to Wollongong Coal's application for a time extension for its Wongawilli Colliery - Major Project 09_0161, Modification 1. Some of the reasons for my objection are:




- Wollongong Coal has had 5 years to make a go of this mine and they haven't succeeded. The company does not have the resources or the expertise to safely and responsibly carry out the project.

- Longwall mining has left a legacy of damage in Sydney's water catchment, including cracked and dried up river and creek beds, damaged and dessicated swamps, damage to and leakage from major storage dams and contamination of water. The Sydney Catchment Authority Special Areas provide drinking water to 4.6 million people of Greater Sydney. This area should be protected from longwall mining. Sydney is the only city in the world that allows longwall mining in a publically owned drinking water catchment. This project has the potential to negatively impact Avon Dam, Cordeaux Dam, Upper Cordeaux No. 1 Dam, Upper Cordeaux No. 2 Dam and associated watercourses.

- The collapse of Nebo 2 longwall in February 2014 demonstrates that Wollongong Coal is not competent to carry out this mining. The Nebo longwalls are too close to the Cordeaux Reservoirs No 1 and No 2 and associated watercourses to risk further reckless and careless mining mishaps.

- The project fails to consider the cumulative impact of previous and intended future mining in the area.

- The unpredictable nature of multi-seam mining poses unacceptable risks where overlying coal seams have already been mined.

- The Wongawilli Colliery is currently in care-and-maintenance mode therefore, should this application not be approved, there will be negligible or no economic and employment impacts to the region.

Detrimental effects on water catchment and local environment

I believe this project will threaten our drinking water. I think that Sydney and Wollongong's water catchment areas should be protected from this kind of mining.

I object to this expansion. The risk to drinking water supplies is not worth it. It is reported that the company applying is suspended from from trading on the stock exchange. Surely this automatically disqualifies them from applying.

From: Adrian Ingleby - [email protected] 03.07.2015

Wongawilli mine - application for an extension of time

Anthony Roberts the Minister for Resources and Energy, on the ABC 7.30 programme on Friday, 17.10.2014 at 7.47pm said, "Water is critical to us. Water cannot be replaced."

David Suzuki the Canadian environmentalist said, "Any economic activity must create more benefits than harm to the people and the natural systems."

They are wise words from people of note and should be heeded.

If Wollongong Coal were a vibrant financially stable profitable company I would still object to the extension on the same grounds as outlined in this response. However Wollongong coal is not thriving, it is currently suspended from the Australian Stock Exchange and is in alleged deep financial strife.

The collapse of the longwall Nebo 2 is evidence that Wollongong Coal cannot do this mining safely and is putting Sydney's Water catchment area at great risk. No mining company, no matter how big or financially solid should be allowed to mine in our pristine water catchment.

The water catchment areas were preserved over one hundred years ago so that future generations, that's us today, would have access to fresh clean water. What has changed since then to make it acceptable to mine in these pristine, precious areas? Why is it okay in 2015 for the authorities, directed by successive State governments to encourage mining that is guaranteed to decimate the area and put our water at great risk? The answer to that is `economic growth,' and unfortunately this `economic growth' will create more harm than benefits.

Longwall mining has resulted in cracked and dried up river and creek beds and it has damaged and decimated swamps and causes leakage. The project will negatively impact on the Avon Dam, Cordeaux Dam, Upper Cordeaux No. 1 Dam, Upper Cordeaux No. 2 Dam and associated watercourses.

The project fails to consider the cumulative impact of previous and of future coal mining. Has coal seam gas extraction been factored into the cumulative equation?

AGL is extracting coal seam gas at Camden, Spring Farm, Narellan Vale and Mount Annan and their PEL 2 covers an area from Moss Vale in the south to Wyong in the north and from the western edge of metropolitan greater Sydney suburbs in the east to the mountains in the west, a distance of 200 kilometres in length. PEL 2 covers all of our water catchment areas including six dams, Warragamba, Avon, Nepean, Woronora, Cataract and Cordeaux and two reservoir's, Wingecarribee and Fitzroy Falls.

History will show that the politicians of this decade, those on both sides of parliament, completely lost the plot in regard to the protection and preservation of the environment and in particular the protection of our water catchment areas.
Their desire for economic growth at all cost by removing green tape and diluting planning laws while chasing their dream of building new infrastructure and creating alleged jobs via that economic growth (money) will be shown to have been a miserable failure.

At the present time the Department of Planning wants to amend the law to allow miners and developers the ability to deposit money into an "offset fund" controlled by the Office of Environment and Heritage to compensate for any environmental damage that will occur. A cunning `loophole' designed to stop risk getting in the way. So the NSW government is prepared to give miners and developers the `green light' to do whatever environmental damage is necessary for economic growth, so long as they pay.

This NSW government will be shown to have been the architects and directors of mining processes that lead to the decimation and probable destruction of a unique environment that supports and nurtures our priceless, pristine water catchment. How do you fix the problem after the damage has been done? The answer is, `you can't fix it," spending millions of dollars pouring concrete down cracks in the land will not fix something that can't be fixed. In the future when looking back, the millions or billions of dollars, [now spent], that came into NSW treasury 20 years earlier, doesn't sound like a good investment.

Michael West, a Business Columnist with the SMH when discussing coal seam gas said, "The rewards are quantifiable - The risks are not." - "When you take a risk, you have to be prepared for the consequences, as well as the rewards."


Please don't extend this mining licence. It's not worth the risk !

Why? - "Water is critical to us. Water cannot be replaced !"


Adrian Ingleby
03.07.2015

I object to this extension because I, as a neighbour to this mine, was never informed. Also, no confidence to the mining company. Unforseen damages to natural environment and the area.

I object to this extension because I, as a neighbour to this mine, was never informed. Also, the future natural environment in risk.

The project would include the undermining of the Special Area in Sydney's drinking water catchment , which feeds into the Cordeaux No. 2 Reservoir.

It would likewise undermine Wattle Creek and Little Wattle Creek, both of which affect the drinking water system of Sydney, and which also feed the Cordeaux No. 2 Reservoir.

There is a real danger that seepage will occur, and also that the water catchment of Sydney will be contaminated by any attempt to explore under it. The only 100% assurance that can be offered by the mining company is a decision to desist and to definitively withdraw from all efforts to continue with this project.

I strongly object to any extension to the licensed duration of Wollongong Coal made under this application. Coal mining is known to, and continues to, be an environmental risk to the citizens who are providing this approval. This risk is meant to be offset by the benefits to the community from the economic benefits. I believe the coal industry has show time and again that they are underestimate the size of these risks and over estimate the economic benefit. The company has already 5 years to make this mine work and have not achieved this.
For me, the unmitigated effect of climate change will require halting and closing of coal mines around the world and the idea of approving this mine is environmentally and economically fool hardy.

Environmental Effect:
Long wall mining has left a legacy of damage in Sydney's water catchment, including cracked and dried up river and creek beds, damaged and dessicated swamps, damage to and leakage from major storage dams and contamination of water. The Sydney Catchment Authority Special Areas provide drinking water to 4.6 million people of Greater Sydney. This area should be protected from longwall mining. Sydney is the only city in the world that allows longwall mining in a publically owned drinking water catchment. This project has the potential to negatively impact Avon Dam, Cordeaux Dam, Upper Cordeaux No. 1 Dam, Upper Cordeaux No. 2 Dam and associated watercourses.

Economic Benefit:
I personally work in the manufacturing sector in Sydney and know the high AUD exchange rate that we work under creates economic pressure for our industry against cheaper imports. To me, the mining sector stifles the Australian manufacturing and tourism sectors.
There is much research on the resultant effects of the mining sector on other industries and I believe this should be considered in context to mine's belief they are an economic cornerstone of the community. (Example Reference: "Seeing through the dust: coal in the Hunter Valley economy", June 2014, Roderick Campbell, the Australia Institute)
Regards,
Antony Lewis

There is no justification for any mining within drinking water catchments of the greater Sydney -Wollongong area. In this instance this proponent has a fragile economic position, and a poor track record in managing its mining projects, it is thus particularly risky to approve any of their proposed plans.
* Wollongong Coal had five years to demonstrate viability as a col producer and employer and have failed so far. The collapse of the longwall Nebo 2 calls into question even their basic technical expertise, and thus human safety is at stake.
* The Nebo longwalls are too close to the Cordeaux Reservoirs No 1 and No 2 and associated watercourses and thus present too great a risk to water security. t
* The company's financial stability is highly doubtful. It is suspended from trading on the Australian Stock Exchange for failing to provide adequate financial reporting.
* If damage occurs to the water catchment and dam storage systems of Greater Sydney as a result of this mining, we cannot be certain that the company will be able to meet any compensatory commitments.

The Sydney Catchment Special Areas provide drinking water to 4.6 million people of Greater Sydney. This area should be protected from longwall mining.No other developed nation allows such mining in publicly owned drinking water catchments. This project has the potential to negatively impact Avon Dam, Cordeaux Dam, Upper Cordeaux No. 1 Dam, Upper Cordeaux No. 2 Dam and associated watercourses.
* The project fails to consider the cumulative impact of previous and intended future mining.
* The Wongawilli Colliery is currently in care-and-maintenance mode therefore, should this application not be approved, there will be negligible or no economic and employment impacts to the region.