Mod 1 - Time Extension

I wish this to be a personal submission. I agree with all the points on the reverse side of this paper. How any project that way threaten our water supply and water quality could even be contemplated is impossible to comprehend.

How this mining industry could ever been considered in the view of dangers to water supply for future generations when we have already in recent years experienced restrictions is beyond belief. in so we are virtually giving up to overseas interest. wake up

This is not a healthy or hopeful scenario for the future of sydney and our drinking water. Wollongong coal does not seem to be a credible or responsible company nor should be allowed future access to our natural beautiful habitats of drinking water.

Dear Mr Freeman,

I oppose Wollongong Coal's Wongawilli Colliery Time Extension Modification (09_0161 MOD 1) and recommend the project not be granted a 5 year extension. I have serious concerns about the competency and resources of Wollongong Coal (WCL) and their ability to safely manage the project.

The proponent was granted the approval for the project on 2nd November 2011 until 31st December 2015. In February 2014 the approved Nebo 2 longwall collapsed trapping some of the proponent's longwall mining equipment. After the collapse the proponent placed the Wongawilli mine into care and maintenance. The failure of the proponent to continue this project more than a year after the original longwall collapse raises questions about their resources and competency to not only to carry out the project but complete any remediation should it be required in the future.

The project is within the Sydney's Drinking Water Catchment Metropolitan Special Area and close to several major storage dams including the Avon Dam. The Special Areas are recognised as sensitive environments integral to ensuring Sydney has functioning drinking water catchments. The Sydney drinking water catchment supplies drinking water to over 4.6 million people of Greater Sydney. The Special Areas are recognised as key protected areas, required to maintain Sydney's drinking water supply. Longwall mining within the catchment has left a long legacy of damage, including cracked and dried up river beds and creek beds, and subsidence damage to vulnerable endangered swamps which filter and store water within the catchment. This project will further contribute to the damage, risking Sydney's drinking water supply in the future.

The approved Nebo longwalls directly undermine Wattle Creek and Little Wattle Creek, which feed the Cordeaux No. 2 Reservoir, and come within 500m Cordeaux Reservoir. Considering the proximity of the proposed longwalls the collapse of Nebo 2 longwall raises serious concerns about WCL ability to safely mine within Sydney's drinking water catchment and not endanger Sydney's drinking water supply. The unpredictable nature of the multi-seam mining being undertaken by WCL further adds to the risk.

WCL is currently suspended from trading on the Australian Stock Exchange for failure to submit required documents. With the potential for substantial damage to the drinking water catchment the current financial stability of the company must be considered.

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.

Thank you for your consideration.
Basha Stasak

To the Department of Planning and Environment,

I wish to state my objection to the Wongawilli Mine - Time Extension Modification development application.

My objection is on the grounds that any extension of time should require a new assessment of the project over the new timeframe, the potential impacts on Sydney and Wollongong water catchments and the company's poor financial situation to adequately fund and operate this mine.

Proper Environmental Impact Assessment Required:

If this project is to gain an extension of 5 years, i.e. the existing project ending at 31 December 2015 and the new project time to start on the 1st January 2016 and end in 31st December 2020. Therefore a project to be operating over the new timeframe should be required to be assessed under current legislation and not the original Part 3A legislation of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 (EPA Act 1979), which has since been repelled.
This would not be a retroactive application of current legislation as the project would be assessed for its operations for 2016 to 2020, post Part 3A of EPA Act 1979 repel.

Groundwater impact from subsidence:

The longwall mining operations threaten to damage key water catchments that supply water to 4.5 million people living in both Sydney and Wollongong.
All mining operations that are proposed in this project will occur within the Sydney Catchment Authority's Metropolitan Special Area.
This is a specially designated area for protecting Sydney water catchments, and that if someone were to be found in this area they would be fined up $44,000 for potentially damaging and contaminating of the water catchment. How can mining occur in this area when not one person can enter without been fined.

The Western Drivage section undermines the southern section of Lake Avon itself, despite reassurances from the proponent that such mining will leave sufficient pillars to avoid subsidence, no chances should be taken with undermining Lake Avon.

Nebo Longwalls 1-6 will be mining either directly under or around Wattle Creek which leads to Lake Cordeaux. Longwall mining under and around Wattle Creek and the mined area around Lake Cordeaux will cause water loss through subsidence and other geological impacts from longwall mining.

It can be said that Wollongong Coal has underestimated the impacts of subsidence and other geological impacts of longwall mining in this project from the collapse of Nebo 2 longwall in February 2014, which has buried Wollongong Coal's longwall mining equipment.
This clearly demonstrates that Wollongong Coal have not carried out a proper assessment of the impacts of longwall mining nor shown proper competence to carry out this mining operation.

Financial Situation:

Wollongong Coal is in no financial state to be able to conduct any further operations.
On the 1st of June 2015, the Australian Securities Exchange suspended Wollongong Coal Ltd. from Official Quotation due to the `following failure to lodge its Preliminary Final Report for the period ended 31 March 2015 in accordance with Listing Rules" .
If a company is unable to report its financial situation we must assume the worst.

I hereby ask that the Department of Planning and Environment take these point into account when making their decision.

Sincerely,
Nicholas Dugonics.

Individual mining projects in the sensitive area that is the special area of Sydney Drinking Water Catchments must not be looked at in isolation of their cumulative impact. It is time for the damaging legacy of longwall mining in Sydney Drinking Water Catchments to end and prioritise the long term water supply for Sydney's 4.5million population ahead of the short-term economic benefits of mining companies. Sydney is the only city in the world (see Chief Scientist report) that allows longwall mining in publicly owned drinking water catchments. There is a reason for this. Water is the most precious resource.
There are many uncertainties and a lack of data on the extent that mining in catchments affects these areas over the long term. There are not many major cities of the world that have a pristine water supply on their doorstop, complete with natural swamps that can retain and purify the water, acting like a giant sponge during droughts and release water slowly as base flow to the river systems they feed. Protecting this must be the priority.
I object to Wollongong Coal's application for a time extension for its Wongawilli Colliery (Major Project 09_0161, Modification 1) for the reasons below.
Wollongong Coal does not have the resources or the expertise to safely and responsibly carry out the project and not succeeded with its current 5 year approval to undertake work successfully - In February 2014, not long after Wollongong Coal started to mine its first Nebo longwall panel, mining was abruptly halted when the mine collapsed and buried the longwall mining equipment after Wollongong Coal tried to take a shortcut. The longwall mining equipment remains buried and the mine has been inactive ever since. This collapse of Nebo 2 longwall in February 2014 demonstrates that Wollongong Coal is not competent to carry out this mining. In addition 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 Wongawilli Colliery is currently in care-and-maintenance mode. Every application by Wollongong Coal is against the background of precarious financial instability. Wollongong Coal is a company without financial resources. It has been forced to sack about 200 workers in the past year. Its share price sits at just .02c. It is a company with nothing to lose. Sydney is a city with billions of dollars of water infrastructure that is put at risk through coal mining in its catchments. Earlier this year Wollongong Coal announced a $92m loss for 12 weeks to March. Its executive leadership is in turmoil. Is this the sort of company we want in our water catchments?
Macro metallurgical market conditions are diabolical - It is doubtful that Wollongong Coal can mine at a profit. The price of Metallurgical coal is now down to a ten-year low with ANZ Bank saying that "a "meaningful price recovery in 2015 is highly unlikely with Chinese steel demand likely to fall for the first time in 35 years," . China has put an import tax on coking coal adding to the costs of production.
Multiseam mining - The unpredictable nature of multi-seam mining - that is mining overlying coal seams that have already been mined - poses unacceptable risks in water catchment areas due to impact of subsidence.
Nebo longwalls - The Nebo longwalls directly undermine Wattle Creek and Little Wattle Creek, which feed the Cordeaux No. 2 Reservoir. These longwalls come within 500 metres of the Reservoir itself.
Western Drivage - Since it was granted approval in 2011 Wollongong Coal has developed less than 500m of the Western drivage extending west from Wongawilli for about 5 km and running directly beneath Avon Dam. Sydney Catchment Authority (SCA) objected to the Western Drivage, describing the western area that the underground roadways will provide access to as "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" (Sydney Catchment Authority Submission on the project, December 2010, p. 4). SCA also expressed concern that the drivages may cause water in the Avon Dam to leak into previously mined areas in the vicinity (ibid, p. 4). Rejecting Wollongong Coal's application for a time extension will see this area protected into the future.
Longwall mining has left a legacy of damage in Sydney's water catchment, including cracked and dried up river and creek beds, damaged and desiccated swamps, damage to and leakage from major storage dams and contamination of water. Wollongong Coal's Wongawilli project fails to consider the cumulative impact of previous and intended future mining in the area.
The Dam Safety Committee (DSC) has raised considerable concerns about mining within the special areas of Sydney Drinking Water Catchments where it has official oversights with DSC citing risks to reservoir storage and the channels that transport water. Other concerns include:
* Significant volumes of water currently being lost into the mines within and adjacent to the Metropolitan and Woronora Special Areas. To date 25% of these areas have been undermined; the catchment authority expects 91% by 2030.
* Fully flooded mines discharging contaminated water, adding to that of subsidence induced iron springs.
* An unknown amount of surface water diverted into subsidence cracks subsequently joining groundwater flows that take water away from reservoir storage.
* An unknown amount of rainfall runoff diverted into subsidence cracks lost through evaporation/evapotranspiration.
* An unknown amount of rainfall runoff lost as a result of increased surface porosity.
* Decline and loss of the protected Upland Swamps which act as filters and runoff moderators as well as water storage mechanism in time of drought
* Groundwater contributions to reservoir storage significantly reduced through redirection towards the mine and/or into groundwater flows that take water away from reservoir storage.
* Mining within the DSC notification areas risks uncontrolled mine inundation.
* Far-field movements risk reservoir dam integrity and catastrophic failure.

For all these reasons I object to Wollongong Coal's application for an extension to its Wongawilli Colliery operations.

The evidence is clear as mud or as filthy as the water that now comes from cracks in the river bed Longwall mining has left a legacy of damage in Sydney's water catchment, including cracked and dried up river and creek beds, damaged and desiccated 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.
Coal mining is completely destructive to natural environments and man made communities physically socially and economically.

Governments teach children in schools of the importance of environment but they are very willing to destroy it. The confusion for the children contributes to depression, drug use and suicide rates no wonder many children do not like adults but in particular many hate governments.

Community elders use to make sacrifices to the rivers, oceans and forests now many elders are willing to sacrifice those very things once held in high regard. Even the Pope would be appalled at the idea of this destruction.

Long wall coal mining has been shown to damage river beds and impact sydney water supply. Water is too important to risk.
The company does not have the financial resources to operate and most importantly rehabilitate the mine. at current projected coal prices the mine will simply destroy the water catchment for no benefit.

To extend this project would be shortsighted because it is dangerous both ecologically and economically.31

Mining in our Water Catchment Area is simply wrong.

It is dangerous and events have already proven this to be so.

Water is the lifeblood of us all and it is unthinkable that any mining should be allowed at all. There should be a phase out of current developments, not any extensions.

Keep our Water Catchments clear and clean for us all.

Wollongong Coal cannot be trusted to mine our water catchments
Wollongong Coal had five years to make a go of this mine and they haven't pulled it off. The collapse of the longwall Nebo 2 is proof that the company does not have the necessary expertise to safely operate.

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 company's financial stability is questionable: it is currently suspended from trading on the Australian Stock Exchange for failing to provide adequate financial reporting.

If substantial damage occurs to the water catchment and storage system of Greater Sydney as a result of this mining, we cannot be certain that the company will stick around.

What mining has done to our water catchments already
Longwall mining has left a legacy of damage in Sydney's water catchment, including cracked and dried up river and creek beds, damaged and desiccated 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 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.

Why should a spillage into the Blue Mountain water supplies worry me? It's a strict break in your licence and a direct threat to human life. Extend this licence that should never have been given would be a huge step backwards into politically incorrectness.
I submit my distress and i give a hope for better times for Australians and their children.
Is this company even Australian??
Patrick Williams Australian citizen all my life.

As a resident of Sydney I ask that this proposal be rejected on the grounds of the high risk it poses to future supplies of water for Sydney. NSW should give priority to the safety of Sydney's water catchment areas over mining in that area. The economic costs of damaging that water supply would far outweigh and short term economic benefit of the activity.

This is especially important given that there is reason to have no confidence in Wollongong Coal's capability to operate safely, especially in water catchment areas.

This is shown by Wollongong Coal having already had mines collapse of the longwall Nebo 2, and the Nebo longwalls are too close to the Cordeaux Reservoirs No 1 and No 2 and associated watercourses to risk further mining mishaps by a mining company that already has a poor record.

The company's suspension from trading on the Australian Stock Exchange for failing to provide adequate financial reporting is further reason to have no confidence in its capacities.

This poor record means we can not be confident that any further damage it causesiswill or can be corrected by the mining company.

Rejection of the proposal is further supported by the legacy of damage we already have from Longwall mining in Sydney's water catchment, including cracked and dried up river and creek beds, damaged and desiccated 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 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.

I oppose Wollongong coal application to extend its major project MP09-0161 approval to mine at wongawilli colliery for following reasons.
-The danger of irreversible damage to water catchment areas and the environment is not worth the risk.
- Wollongong coal is an indian company who are wholly intent on selling coal to the indian power industry which the indian government has stated will be able to supply new mines from being developed in india within 2 years. why allow an overseas government to damage the australian environmnet and just walk away

I believe that this proposal is inappropriate for its effects on the local region, population and water supply and also because we have been told by the majority of the world's scientists to move away from coal because of its destructive effects on the atmosphere. We need no more coal, especially in the Sydney Catchment area.
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.

I am opposed to Wollongong Coal's Wongawilli Extension Modification on the following grounds :
The Nebo longwalls are directly under the Wattle Creek and Little Wattle Creek which drain into the Cordeaux Reservoir.
There have been collapses in this mine previously and no guarantee can be given that this will not be repeated.
The Western Drivage runs directly beneath Avon Dam and the Sydney Catchment Authority has expressed concern these drivages may cause leakages from the Avon Dam.
As this company is at present suspended from trade on the Sydney Stock Exchange they are certainly not a reliable company to be trusted with a precious resource as Sydney's water.
Longwall mining has created damage in other parts of Sydney's catchment including creeks and swamps. This damage cannot be repaired and we cannot allow further damage.

I am opposed to proposed extension modification of wollongong coals wongawilli mine project and opposed to coal mining elsewhere. I support investigation into and use of resource renewables.
I emphatically oppose any industry which will cause damage, foul or limit water supply for human consumption and the natural environment. The nsw government and federal government need to get serious about protecting our land, our water, our future.

I cannot believe our government is even considering allowing this potential threat to our drinking water.We are the only city in the world that allows long wall coal mining alongside a water catchment.You cant drink dirty water our very way of life depends on it.Say no to this lunacy
yours sincerely Simone Young

I oppose the mine expansion because of the damage it will potentially do, continue to do do, to our water catchment.
We are the most arid continent on the earth and our water resources are the most precious than the quick dollar that is to made by mostly foreign coal companies and industry that is mostly short term employment by our workers. To make matters worese the coal, one burnt, will exacerbate the problems of climate change and make our continent more susceptible to the ravages of the drought.

Any further extension of mining of any description in or near water catchment must be disallowed. Severe damage to sensitive areas has already occurred and must not be allowed to spread. New South Wales is the only place in the world where mining is allowed in water catchment areas. What a disgrace! This extension modification must not be allowed to proceed.