Mod 2 - Tarrawonga Processing

Dear Sir, I wish to object to the Broggabri Mine extension. The shortsightedness of governments (state @ federal) to continue to allow coal mining is beyond my comprehension. The lack of intelligence , to continually base the state and national economies on coal mining , demonstrates that governments think more of the fossil fuel lobby than they do of their country's future. The true cost if coal mining to the people is not factored into the miner's economics.The air and water pollution they cause ,with subsequent ill health , are paid for by taxpayers . Due to climate change,and the extreme weather events we suffered recently (floods,fires,storms) all our insurance costs have gone up alarmingly. State @ Fed. taxes have gone to emergency relief for these events.These taxes (paid by us) could have gone to other projects. Other costs of "coal fired climate change" include the fact that our oceans, and thus fishing industry , is being adversely affected.Our agricultural lands are threatened,with the wheat belt expected to shrink ,water becoming more unreliable (we may lose the ability to feed ourselves). Droughts,floods,fires will become more severe and frequent. I remind you that ,according to ACARP figures , the average mine emits 1kg of Methane per second(that's EVERY day) . If these environmental costs were factored into the coal mines economic equation,it will become apparent that they COST us dearly. Whilst I understand the coal mine's greed ,they have to make money to keep their shareholders rich,no matter the consequence to the rest of us.I cannot , however accept that a government department does not look at all , including any negative aspects of such proposals as this . I remind you that WE pay the Department of Planning's wages,you work for us,NOT the coal mining industry! It is time you start to factor the real cost of coal mining into these coal mine applications.

Thank you for providing the EPA an opportunity to review the Boggabri Coal Project Modification (09_0182 MOD 2) as detailed in the document titled Boggabri Coal Project Modification Environmental Assessment dated July 2013.

The EPA understands that the project will include:
· transport of ROM coal from the Tarrawonga mine to the Boggabri site;
· Boggabri Coal Mine Infrastructure Facilities processing up to 3Mtpa of ROM coal from Tarrawonga Coal Mine;
· an additional 3Mtpa of coal on the private Boggabri rail spur;
· co-disposal of Tarrawonga coal reject in the Boggabri open cut;
· expansion of the Boggabri site for additional coal stockpile and haul roads;
· require adjustment of lease boundaries for both Boggabri and Tarrawonga to accommodate new hauls roads, stockpile areas and water storages;
· relocation of the Tarrawonga water storage to a new 50Ml storage to the west on MLA441; and
· provision to capture and manage additional stormwater runoff from the Boggabri site.

These modifications were also considered in the Tarrawonga expansion EA which was recently assessed by the PAC.

The EA considers the additional noise, air, reject disposal and run-off water impacts. The impacts are demonstrated to be minimal and can be managed within existing Environment Protection Licence (EPL) limits for both sites.

On this basis the EPA does not object to the activities outlined in the document titled Boggabri Coal Project Modification Environmental Assessment dated July 2013 proceeding.

Boggabri and Tarrawonga will need to submit an application to have the conditions on the EPL for each mine site amended to accommodate the varied activities, premises descriptions and discharge points.

Regards

Robert O'Hern

Thank you for providing the EPA an opportunity to review the Boggabri Coal Project Modification (09_0182 MOD 2) as detailed in the document titled Boggabri Coal Project Modification Environmental Assessment dated July 2013.

The EPA understands that the project will include:
· transport of ROM coal from the Tarrawonga mine to the Boggabri site;
· Boggabri Coal Mine Infrastructure Facilities processing up to 3Mtpa of ROM coal from Tarrawonga Coal Mine;
· an additional 3Mtpa of coal on the private Boggabri rail spur;
· co-disposal of Tarrawonga coal reject in the Boggabri open cut;
· expansion of the Boggabri site for additional coal stockpile and haul roads;
· require adjustment of lease boundaries for both Boggabri and Tarrawonga to accommodate new hauls roads, stockpile areas and water storages;
· relocation of the Tarrawonga water storage to a new 50Ml storage to the west on MLA441; and
· provision to capture and manage additional stormwater runoff from the Boggabri site.

These modifications were also considered in the Tarrawonga expansion EA which was recently assessed by the PAC.

The EA considers the additional noise, air, reject disposal and run-off water impacts. The impacts are demonstrated to be minimal and can be managed within existing Environment Protection Licence (EPL) limits for both sites.

On this basis the EPA does not object to the activities outlined in the document titled Boggabri Coal Project Modification Environmental Assessment dated July 2013 proceeding.

Boggabri and Tarrawonga will need to submit an application to have the conditions on the EPL for each mine site amended to accommodate the varied activities, premises descriptions and discharge points.

Regards

Robert O'Hern

I object to the development based on the following reasons:

- We are the owners of the "Tarrawonga" property (54, 55 and 83 in report) and "Callandar" (91, 92, 93, 94, 95 and 96 in report). We object to the amount of noise and dust caused by the current operations and the increase in noise and dust by this development. We currently own the access/haul road for the Tarrawonga Coal mine, where a commercial lease is in place. The lease is due to expire in February 2015, as per previous advice from Whitehaven that the Tarrawonga Mine would cease operation then.

- We note that we have the right of acquisition by Tarrawonga Coal, Maules Creek Coal and Boggabri Coal mines due to dust (predicted to be breaching health standards) and noise levels. We have not had adequate negotiations with either parties, and are unhappy with the current situation, where no agreement on acquisition has been met. This has disrupted our business greatly over the past years causing no direction of our businesses future. We are reluctant to go through an acquisition process, as we have no indication that a fair result may be awarded.

- During the previous development of the Tarrawonga Life of Mine extension, Mr Richard Pearson of the DOPI stated in correspondence with us in relation to the haul road access being "a key issue that will need to be resolved during the assessment of this project". Please see attached letter ref: 12/01353. This was not resolved and the project was approved.

- We are happy to negotiate with these parties, yet no parties are adequately participating in these negotiations. I find this unacceptable considering the parties are large companies based in both Australia and Japan.

- We are unhappy with the process to date by both the DOPI and the past and present developers in relation to our properties, resulting in a lack of confidence in the planning system.

I look forward to further correspondence with both DOPI and the developer to resolve the above issues.

Regards
Robert and Rhonda McGregor

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