Mod 12 - Southern Longwalls

I fully support the extension of the Wambo Mine extension. This mine will provide jobs to hundreds of locals directly and many businesses indirectly. In such uncertain times, this approval would provide some much needed reassurance

Mining in the Hunter Valley provides the local economy with much needed funds.

LACK OF HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTS

1. Health impacts from noise & dust generated by current operations is not assessed

2. The impact on perched aquifers supporting the endangered Warkworth Sands Woodlands has not been assessed

3. The cumulative impacts of Wambo Mine and surrounding mines has not been assessed


HARMFUL IMPACTS AND POOR MANAGEMENT OF IMPACTS

1. Management of Wambo mine impacts over a long period of time has been very poor
2. The mine has had a significant subsidence impact on Wambo Creek. The required repair work has not been carried out under conditions of approval and management plans. This issue has been ongoing since longwall mining commenced in 1991
3. The dam wall collapse at the mine in January 2016 causing pollution of water ways demonstrates ongoing harmful project management. South Water Storage Dam built in 2009 has also failed on one occasion by overtopping with mine waste water.


DOUBTFUL FINANCIAL CAPACITY

Peabody Energy has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and may not have the financial capacity to comply with obligations under the mining right


COMPROMISE OF REHABILITATION COMMITMENTS

The proposed 3 year extension for Wambo open cut will defer current rehabilitation commitments


CLIMATE CHANGE
Extended production of thermal coal is irresponsible and will hinder climate change mitigation and management

MAY 2016

TO: NSW Planning and Environment,

RE: Wambo Mine, Modification 12, Southern Longwall Modifications

I OBJECT TO this application on the basis of Peabody's financial instability, its bad debts, documented damage from the mine since it took ownership and that Australia must support global efforts to halt climate change's devastating impact on biodiversity and water and stop the export of coal.

I OBJECT to this application to expand based on the precarious nature of Peabody's finances, $6bn debt and that it has declared itself bankrupt. On 2 May Westpac listed Peabody specifically as one of the bad debtors that pulled down its annual result. (A)

THE PROPONENT PEABODY COAL IS NOT "FIT and PROPER" UNDER THE MINING ACT (1992)

Peabody Energy (the largest pure coal play company in the world), owner of Wambo, is a company financially on its knees. Its share price has lost over 90% of its value in a year AND in March the company filed for bankruptcy. Its share price today at $1.59 (2 May) down 6% on yesterdays. A month ago the price was at $3 down from $179 in Nov 2014 and $50 in mid-2015. It has $6bn debt and can't pay its bills.(3) It certainly will not pay for any rehabilitation of damage caused at this mine to any level that is needed. And nothing it can pay will turn down the dial of planetary warming except if it stops mining coal.

Peabody is not "fit and proper" under the mining act (1998). I REJECT this application to expand based on the precarious nature of Peabody's finances. Its debt is more than $6billion. Why is NSW govt even considering this application?

WILL PEABODY HAVE MONEY TO MEET REHABILITATION COMMITMENTS? Can it increase its bond with the NSW govt based on damage already done?

Food and water security must be prioritised as key concerns for Australia over next 50 years as weather changes reduce water and alter land. Wambo creek is now cracked due to the subsidence from the mine with Peabody failing to make good (maybe because it can't but this should preclude further expansion without a significant increase on the rehabilitation bond) despite agreements with affected landholders.

It is certain that the proposed modification to the underground mine and extension of the open cut will exacerbate this damage. This is a known. Risk management not acceptable based on inability of Peabody to pay for repairs or, from previous documentation, ever intend to.

To avoid catastrophic biodiversity loss the expansion of all new coal must stop. It all must be left in the ground. As Bill McKibben says: "We've simply got to keep coal and oil and gas in the ground; there's not any other way to make the math of climate change even begin to work." (1)

From the Carbon Market Institute in February 2016 "The debate is over - the massive economic impetus to a zero net emissions global economy is unstoppable and business gets it. Consensus has been reached among the world's major political and economic actors that we are on an inevitable path to decarbonising our economies. The Paris Agreement states that emissions should peak "as soon as possible" with rapid reductions thereafter and includes a five-year cycle for reviewing emissions cuts with action to be continually ratcheted up. We are on a path to net zero emissions" (2)

Castellas CEO of the Carbon Market Institute, mentions that "business gets it", and "Consensus has been reached among the world's major political and economic actors". This consensus means that there must be no new coal, not a coal expansion at Wambo, not at Wilpinjong, not by Shenhua, not in water catchments or in the Galilee Basin. How do the coal industry get to have more power, influence than all the "world's major political and economic actors."?

IF the NSW govt supports a company as debt ridden and unstable as this to expand coal in a world where every credible scientist says no we are risking huge expense to taxpayers. Why not invest that forward expense in new industry and jobs for the future IF the only reason for supporting it is a few jobs. The question of coal's impact on climate change must be first and foremost in the framework for approval. There are no economic benefits on a dead planet and certainly not for the lives that will be lost from climate change.

Isabel McIntosh, Sydney

(A) http://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/westpac-firsthalf-profit-rises-3pc-to-39b-slightly-softer-than-expected-20160501-gojkyo.html

(1) https://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/2016/03/04/why-degree-temperature-jump-more-important-than-trump-hands/lCyz5MHZkH8aD0HIDJrcYJ/story.html

(2) http://ecogeneration.com.au/news/a_new_era_for_the_global_economy1/101446

(4) http://247wallst.com/energy-business/2016/03/06/is-peabody-energy-preparing-for-bankruptcy/#ixzz42B5AdRH1

Wambo Mine - Modification 12 - I object to the proposed modification for the following reasons:

-the cumulative impacts of Wambo Mine and surrounding mines has not been assessed,
-the management of the Wambo mine impacts over a long period has been inadequate,
-the dam wall collapse at the mine caused pollution of water ways and the South Dam has also failed on one occasion by overtopping,
- there is no assessment of the health impacts of noise and dust generated by current operations,
-the proposed extension will defer current rehabilitation commitments and is becoming an issue for all taxpayers in NSW,
-extended production of thermal coal is irresponsible and will hinder climate change mitigation and management, for the future generations.

I wish to object to this Modification on environmental and social grounds.

Environmental issues have been poorly handled by the management of this mine in the past, we see not reason to expect any better treatment by the present owners.

Indeed we have grave reservations that Peabody Energy can fulfull it's present responsibilities in all aspects, taking into account the present financial state it's parent company finds itself in.

Environmentally, there have been several adverse outcomes for this mine, and the cumulative impacts of these have never been outlined or recognised by the proponents.

Subsidence, over topping of dams, impacts on rivers and streams are but a few issues that stand out.

On the social side, impacts of dust and noise have not been assessed and the community needs certainty that impacts will not be increased. Already over 3,000 people die from the impacts of dust in the Hunter, and coal mining is high producer of this overall.

Greenhouse issues are vital when assessing the effects of coal mining, and no where in the documents is a true and accurate detail of how much extra greenhouse gases will be produced.

Overall, this development should not proceed on environmental and social issues alone.

I strongly object to the proposed Wambo Mine modification 12 because:

1. Management of Wambo mine impacts over a long period of time has demonstrated to be very poor as indicated by the incidents below.

2. The cumulative impacts of Wambo Mine and surrounding mines has not been assessed.

3. Peabody Energy has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and it is extremely doubtful have the financial capacity to comply with obligations under the mining right. Particularly the important ones regarding rehabilitation.

4. The mine has had a significant subsidence impact on Wambo Creek. The required repair work has not been carried out under conditions of approval and management plans. This issue has been ongoing since longwall mining commenced in 1991. No further damage should be allowed before the repair has been undertaken. All Conditions set by the government should be given 'do by' dates by the responsible government department.

5. The dam wall collapse at the mine in January 2016 causing pollution of water ways demonstrates ongoing harmful project management. The South Water Storage Dam built in 2009 has also failed on one occasion by overtopping with mine waste water.

6. Health impacts from noise, dust generated by current operations is not assessed.

7. The proposed 3 year extension for Wambo open cut will defer current rehabilitation commitments. This is totally unacceptable.

8. The impact on perched aquifers supporting the endangered Warkworth Sands Woodlands has not been assessed.

9. Extended production of thermal coal is irresponsible and will hinder climate change mitigation and management.

This government department should oversea mining responsibly and not allow the destruction of our water supplies and productive agricultural lands into the future. It is clear what the motives of this floundering business are and the department needs to reflect the needs of the community and safeguard our environmental and sustainable economic resources for now and the future.

This mine has a long history of poor management and subsequent adverse impacts. It ought to be expanded any further.

Issues are:

Health impacts from noise & dust generated by current operations are not assessed, nor are the cumulative impacts of mines in the area. Dust and noise already exceed the predicted levels in the EA for the current Wambo mine.

Insufficient community consultation has occurred and the social impacts not taken into account.

The impact on perched aquifers supporting the endangered Warkworth Sands Woodlands has not been assessed.

The mine has had a significant subsidence impact on Wambo Creek. In fact it disappeared in many sections. The required repair work has not been carried out under conditions of approval and management plans. This issue has been ongoing since longwall mining commenced in 1991.
Let them fix this before causing any more damage.

The dam wall collapse at the mine in January 2016 causing pollution of waterways demonstrates ongoing harmful project management. The South Water Storage Dam built in 2009 has also failed on one occasion by overtopping with mine wastewater.

This expansion will defer current rehabilitation commitments.
Peabody Energy has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and may not have the financial capacity to comply with obligations under the mining right, including rehabilitation.

The economic assessment is not transparent and does not comply with the December 2015 Guidelines for the economic assessment of mining and coal seam gas proposals. The assessment is based on an $AUD coal price forecast of $108/tonne. This is far above Australian Treasury forecasts of AUD$78 per tonne.

And of course, we should not be approving any more thermal coal mines or expansions, given that extended production of thermal coal will hinder climate change mitigation and management.

I urge to reject this application.

Wambo Mine - Modification 12 - Southern Longwall Modifications
I object to the proposed Wambo Mine modification 12 because:
1. Management of Wambo mine impacts over a long period of time has been very poor
The cumulative impacts of Wambo Mine and surrounding mines has not been assessed
2. Peabody Energy has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and may not have the financial capacity to comply with obligations under the mining right
3. The mine has had a significant subsidence impact on Wambo Creek. The required repair work has not been carried out under conditions of approval and management plans. This issue has been ongoing since longwall mining commenced in 1991
4. The dam wall collapse at the mine in January 2016 causing pollution of water ways demonstrates ongoing harmful project management. South Water Storage Dam built in 2009 has also failed on one occasion by overtopping with mine waste water.
5. Health impacts from noise & dust generated by current operations is not assessed
6. The proposed 3 year extension for Wambo open cut will defer current rehabilitation commitments
7. The impact on perched aquifers supporting the endangered Warkworth Sands Woodlands has not been assessed
8. Extended production of thermal coal is irresponsible and will hinder climate change mitigation and management. India is using trains to freight water to its citizens, 5L/person/day and temperatures above 40°C. A quarter of India's 1 billion plus citizens are living in drought. The Greenland ice is melting at rates not expected until Summer. Frequency and intensity of bushfires and flooding is alarming and just the beginning.

I oppose any expansion of the Wambo coal mine. There are many reasons to object to this proposal, including the cumulative impact on the unique and critically endangered Walkworth sand dune ecosystem. However, the contribution this mine is making and will continue to make to further warming of the planet, already disastrous for many communities throughout the world, especially the poorest, is reprehensible. Not only will the burning of the coal produce CO2 where it is burned, but the fugitive methane emissions are very large and alone should ensure the proposal is rejected.

I object to the application of Wambo Coal Pty Ltd to modify the South Wambo Underground Mine.
The issues that concern me include: subsidence, water, noise, dust, safety, lack of compliance with previous consents.
Attachment 1 has photos showing impacts of mining on property mined previously by WCPL, including Wambo Creek.
"Wambo Coal Mine is situated near the village of Warkworth" (ES-1 of Environmental Assessment). The village of Warkworth no longer exists. The school, service station and shop, and most of the residents have long since gone because of mining in the area. Bulga is rapidly going the same way with very few privately owned properties along Wambo Road. This is the cumulative effect of mining in the area.
"The majority of the Modification area is located on WCPL owned land" p39 EA. There is no mention in the document of the ownership of the other land. Area 3 was not in the original South Wambo Underground Mine application. A small part of this area is privately owned. There is a requirement for consultation of the community and landowners before an application are lodged. This has not happened. It shows disrespect to the owner and contempt for the Secretary's requirements. Nowhere in the EA is there any reference to the potential damage to this land (which has some steep slopes) and the fencing on it.
Infrastructure and Improvements
There is a high risk of damage to improvements. Fencing on privately owned land could be damaged with the potential of cattle wandering onto neighbouring land.
The phone cable could be damaged. This has happened with previous mining.
Power lines are also likely to be impacted by mining. We need assurance that there would be prompt rectification if there were any interruptions to electricity supply.
Wambo Road and two Rights of Way will be impacted by this proposal. (All of these are unsealed.) Maximum subsidence of 6.25 metres is predicted for these roads. The subsidence prediction maps do not have roads marked so it is impossible to see where this is likely to occur. There is a risk to safety for people traveling on the roads if there is a sudden drop in the surface. If this proposal is accepted it is important that all roads are able to be used at all times. They are the only access to local residents.
Land Resources
Under the Singleton Council LEP (Attachment 4, p3) the land in this area is zoned RU1, and mining should not happen in such areas. In the past parts of area 3 have been used to grow lucerne and make hay, the whole area being used for cattle grazing, before purchase by WCPL in 1986. Similarly with area 2, some of which was purchased by WCPL in 1991.
4.5 ha of agricultural land will be directly impacted. The Remnant Woodland Extension Program will take another 15 ha of grazing land. This will degrade the agricultural land and will have implications for neighbouring properties, degrading and devaluing their land too. These remnant woodlands encourage feral animals such as pigs and kangaroos, wallabies and wombats. Maybe the mine should be required to fence these areas off from the privately owned properties.
The practice of allowing mines to have off-sets within their mining areas defies logic and common sense.
Subsidence damages the land and reduces its productivity. We have so much evidence of this.
Cracks need to be repaired rather than healing over time. Cracks are dangerous. People and animals have sustained injuries due to subsidence. Machinery has also been damaged. Impacts of subsidence extend beyond the mined areas and will affect neighbouring property. Our property has large cracks and holes in areas that were mined over 20 years ago, and more are still appearing. We have been waiting for repairs to be done for well over 5 years. We have about 20 areas fenced off for safety, awaiting repairs, and many areas which are not fenced. (See photographs 3-6 in Attachment 1)
The maps of subsidence predictions indicate that there will be variations of up to 6 metres within a couple of hundred metres, particularly around the perimeters of mined areas. I doubt this land can ever be made useful again. Some of it was highly productive land in the past.
Ground Water
Previous mining has impacted on alluvial aquifers. This is evident from the substantially reduced water available in our wells. Further mining will exacerbate this, as will the continued dewatering of the underground workings.
Surface Water
As with the ground water, Wambo Creek and Stony Creek have been severely impacted by previous mining. WCPL has not yet made repairs required under DA 108/91 (Singleton Council). Wambo Creek was a permanent creek before mining in the 1990's, but NOW it is ephemeral.
Previously as damage occurred no action was taken. How can we be assured the "Trigger, Action, Response Plans" will be adhered to in the future? Once cracking has occurred it is almost impossible to repair properly. Even in times of flow, Wambo Creek stops running above longwall 9 of the Homestead Mine, even though sections of the creek were repaired by grouting in 1998. Plates 43-55 Appendix C, p A27-34 are particularly disturbing as pre-mining there was permanent flow in the creek. The predicted damage does little to assure us that the repairs to a section of the creek upstream will have the desired result of restoring permanent flow. The lower section of Stony Creek is still suffering damage from previous mining, repairs are required. Predicted maximum subsidence of 3.1 metres on Wambo Creek and 5.6 metres on Stony Creek will surely mean further damage and loss of water. (Evidence of damage to Wambo Creek can be seen in photographs 1 and 2 in Attachment 1.)
There is a lack of historical and present monitoring on Wambo Creek and Stony Creek, as is evident in Table B1 Stream Flow Summary, Appendix C, p B3.
Incidentally, locations on some photos in Appendix A of Appendix C are incorrect. Wambo Road does not cross Wambo Creek at any place.
Noise
Noise is a constant problem. In our area with the surrounding mountains there is an echo effect. When complaints are made there is always an excuse, usually weather conditions or coming from another source. With so many opencut mines in the area, it is impossible to tell sometimes, and no consideration is given to cumulative effects. Over time the noise of the surrounding mines has been added to the background noise, and we are just expected to put up with the accepted increase in noise levels.
Air Quality
The cumulative effect of all the mines in the area has resulted in more dust. This is evident by the more frequent need to change water filters, and clean the outside of the house.
Gas emissions from the ventilation shafts have the potential to create more pollution.
WCPL has a poor compliance record with Singleton Council and the Department of Planning. Repairs have not been done, monitoring was not done. An order in 2003 from the authority now called the Office of Water to remove rocks from Wambo Creek was ignored, causing enormous damage in the high flow of June 2007.
The Department of Planning should not approve this modification. Coal has had its day, it is time to change to renewable forms of energy and allow the land to be used for sustainable industries.

I object to the proposed Wambo Mine modification 12 because:
1. Management of Wambo mine impacts over a long period of time has been very poor
2. The cumulative impacts of Wambo Mine and surrounding mines has not been assessed
3. Peabody Energy has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and may not have the financial capacity to comply with obligations under the mining right
4. The mine has had a significant subsidence impact on Wambo Creek. The required repair work has not been carried out under conditions of approval and management plans. This issue has been ongoing since longwall mining commenced in 1991
5. The dam wall collapse at the mine in January 2016 causing pollution of water ways demonstrates ongoing harmful project management. South Water Storage Dam built in 2009 has also failed on one occasion by overtopping with mine waste water.
6. Health impacts from noise & dust generated by current operations is not assessed
7. The proposed 3 year extension for Wambo open cut will defer current rehabilitation commitments
8. The impact on perched aquifers supporting the endangered Warkworth Sands Woodlands has not been assessed
9. Extended production of thermal coal is irresponsible and will hinder climate change mitigation and management
Yours sincerely,
Fee Mozeley

Correct Planning and Consultation for Mayfield group ( CPCFM )
Wambo Mine - Modification 12 - Southern Longwall Modifications

To: http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/page/development-categories/mining--petroleum---extractive-industries/mining/?action=view_job&job_id=5586

WE Object to this Application

CPCFM was established in 2010, and we have about 500 members and supporters.

We object to the proposed Wambo Mine modification 12 because:
1. Management of Wambo mine impacts over a long period of time has been very poor

2. The cumulative impacts of Wambo Mine and surrounding mines has not been assessed

3. Peabody Energy has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and may not have the financial capacity to comply with obligations under the mining right

4. The mine has had a significant subsidence impact on Wambo Creek. The required repair work has not been carried out under conditions of approval and management plans. This issue has been ongoing since longwall mining commenced in 1991

5. The dam wall collapse at the mine in January 2016 causing pollution of water ways demonstrates ongoing harmful project management. South Water Storage Dam built in 2009 has also failed on one occasion by overtopping with mine waste water.

6. Health impacts from noise & dust generated by current operations is not assessed

7. The proposed 3 year extension for Wambo open cut will defer current rehabilitation commitments

8. The impact on perched aquifers supporting the endangered Warkworth Sands Woodlands has not been assessed

9. Extended production of thermal coal is irresponsible and will hinder climate change mitigation and management

Background:
Wambo Mine, between Bulga and Jerry's Plains in the Upper Hunter, is an underground and open cut operation. It has been operating since 1969 and changed hands many times. Peabody Energy has owned the mine since 2006. The impacts over that period of time have been significant.
The mine currently extracts up to 14.7 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) to produce 11.3 mtpa of thermal coal, mostly for export.
Subsidence from the underground mine has cracked Wambo Creek and caused important permanent pools to be destroyed. These pools provided drought protection for wildlife and farming activities.
This problem has not been satisfactorily addressed despite numerous court cases and agreements with affected landholders. North Wambo Creek was also diverted for a couple of kms around the open cut mine.
The proposed modification to the underground mine and extension of the open cut will cause additional environmental and social damage that has not been adequately assessed.
Information has been misleading within the application:
Table ES1 Subsidence commitments and management does not recognise outstanding & unresolved commitments under current approvals. There is still work required on neighbouring property as well as Wambo owned land from previous mining impacts.
The modified mine layout of South Wambo Underground mine is shown on figure ES2 - this shows workings under neighbouring land as well as Wambo Creek and impacting on Wambo Road as well as power and communications assets.
There is no clear assessment of threats to public safety.
The groundwater and surface water predictions are questionable (Table ES-3). Both the aquifers and the streams have been seriously impacted by previous mining and have not been adequately dealt with. Further mining will cause more damage.
Noise and dust predictions do not take into account the current emissions from the open cut and the washery. Dust and noise are now excessive to the predictions in the EA for the current mine.
The justification for the modification demonstrates that past approvals were based on poor and inaccurate information.
Only token community consultation occurred in 2012 with brief contact with specific neighbours and a mention at the April 2016 meeting of Wambo CCC.
The plan was developed in 2012, application submitted in September 2012, and then withdrawn. The reappearance of the modification in 2016 raises many questions.
John L Hayes 12th May 2016
Convenor
Correct Planning and Consultation for Mayfield group (CPCFM )
email: [email protected] Phn. 4967 3013 Mob 0400 171 602
117 INGALL ST, MAYFIELD EAST NSW 2304

Peabody Energy is in poor financial shape and is probably unable to pay for its mine rehabilitation obligations.
The exiting mine has damaged Wambo Ck through subsidence and repair work has not been carried out.
The mining and burning of coal is causing serious damage to the climate and the Hunter should diversify away from coal for our economic well being. Jobs in mining are not sustainable.
The mine's dam wall collapse shows a history of poor management with little regard for environmental protection.

I hereby object to the planned extension of the Wambo Singleton.
To abide by the recently signed Paris Accord on climate, Australia should not be extending or opening any more coal mines or CSG projects.
The science is very clear that we are already approaching atmospheric CO2 concentrations of 400ppm. This is already causing climate disruption and dangerous warming.
Jobs should now be opening in the renewables industry. The Hunter Valley could be a hub for solar, battery and other new and sustainable forms of energy generation.

I object to the proposed Wambo Mine modification 12 because:
1. Management of Wambo mine impacts over a long period of time has been very poor
2. The cumulative impacts of Wambo Mine and surrounding mines has not been assessed
3. Peabody Energy has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and may not have the financial capacity to comply with obligations under the mining right
4. The mine has had a significant subsidence impact on Wambo Creek. The required repair work has not been carried out under conditions of approval and management plans. This issue has been ongoing since longwall mining commenced in 1991
5. The dam wall collapse at the mine in January 2016 causing pollution of water ways demonstrates ongoing harmful project management. South Water Storage Dam built in 2009 has also failed on one occasion by overtopping with mine waste water.
6. Health impacts from noise & dust generated by current operations is not assessed
7. The proposed 3 year extension for Wambo open cut will defer current rehabilitation commitments
8. The impact on perched aquifers supporting the endangered Warkworth Sands Woodlands has not been assessed
9. Extended production of thermal coal is irresponsible and will hinder climate change mitigation and management

I object to the proposed Wambo Mine modification 12 because:

1. As a public health professional, I note that Health impacts from noise and particulate matter generated by current operations is not assessed. The air quality in this area is already poor, and expansion of this mine will add significantly to community health risks.

2. Peabody Energy has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and may not have the financial capacity to comply with obligations under the mining act.

3. Management of Wambo mine impacts over a long period of time has been very poor.

4. The cumulative impact of Wambo Mine and surrounding mines has not been assessed.

5. The mine has had a significant subsidence impact on Wambo Creek. The required repair work has not been carried out under conditions of approval and management plans. This issue has been ongoing since longwall mining commenced in 1991.

6. The dam wall collapse at the mine in January 2016 causing pollution of water ways demonstrates ongoing harmful project management. South Water Storage Dam built in 2009 has also failed on one occasion by overtopping with mine waste water.

7. The proposed 3 year extension for Wambo open cut will defer current rehabilitation commitments.

8. The impact on perched aquifers supporting the endangered Warkworth Sands Woodlands has not been assessed.

9. Extended production of thermal coal is irresponsible and will hinder climate change mitigation and management.

I object to the proposed Wambo mine modification 12 for the following reasons:

1. The mine has had a significant subsidence impact on Wambo Creek. Subsidence from the underground mine has cracked Wambo Creek and caused important permanent pools to be destroyed. These pools provided drought protection for wildlife and farming activities.
This problem has not been satisfactorily addressed despite numerous court cases and agreements with affected landholders. North Wambo Creek was also diverted for a couple of kms around the open cut mine. The required repair work has not been carried out under conditions of approval and management plans. This issue has been ongoing since longwall mining commenced in 1991
2. The dam wall collapse at the mine in January 2016 causing pollution of water ways demonstrates ongoing harmful project management. South Water Storage Dam built in 2009 has also failed on one occasion by overtopping with mine waste water.
3. !. The cumulative impacts of Wambo Mine and surrounding mines has not been assessed.
4. The proposed modification to the underground mine and extension of the open cut will cause additional environmental and social damage that has not been adequately assessed this includes the impact on perched aquifers supporting the endangered Warkworth Sands Woodlands which has not been assessed
5. Health impacts from noise & dust generated by current operations is not assessed
6. The proposed 3 year extension for Wambo open cut will defer current rehabilitation commitments
7. Extended production of thermal coal is irresponsible and will hinder climate change mitigation and management

I object to the Modification 12 , Southern longwall modification, because cumulative impacts have not been assessed as a whole, and future impacts are likely to be entirely unacceptable.
In the past, assessment predicted that watercourses would not be impacted, but they have in fact subsided and drained. These are critical to the sustainability of surface landuse. It is clear that further predictions that longwall mining is innocuous, are very likely to be false also.
People are tired of mine impacts for negative results of mining overall, and we want a shift to a new generation of clean, forward thinking jobs for these miners. We need a brighter investment for the money; we need sustainably produced energy which gives our grandchildren some hope of a future.

Refuse this Modification 12; start an upward climb.
Pull back from killing further Fenwick land, and further land in general in what used to be a productive, happy, clean, safe and beautiful valley area.
Thankyou for the opportunity to comment.

I object to the proposed Wambo Mine modification 12 on the following grounds:
1. Financial
Peabody Energy is in the process of bankruptcy, and the taxpayer and the local community will end up paying for the repair of the site and the damage that has already occurred.
2. Health impacts
The health impacts from noise & dust generated by current operations have not been factored in
3. Global effects
Extended production of thermal coal will contribute unnecessarily to global warming

The proponent has failed to consider cumulative impacts of mining in the area and has a poor record of managing the impacts from its operations. The existing mine has caused subsidence which has affected Wambo Creek and the proponent has failed to carry out repair work as required in consent conditions. There is a history of dam collapse and other failure and the proponent has proven that it does not have the capacity to prevent such occurrences. The proponent has failed to consider health impacts from noise and dust and the mine's contribution to climate change. The effects on aquifers and the Warkworth Sands Woodland have been overlooked. The owner, Peabody, has filed for bankruptcy and cannot be relied upon to meet ongoing obligations.