Mod 3 - Extension

I am a current employee of Bengalla Coal Mine which will be adversely effected by this modification as the train loop will be on the area which Bengalla has approval to mine until 2039. if this extension is granted to Mt Pleasant then Bengalla will have to cease operations well before this date. this will cause not only me but Bengalla's 600 other employees to loose there job and more then likely be forced to relocate out of Muswellbrook.
I believe the best outcome for the town is for both operations to operate in unison for as long as possible, however it is clear that this is not possible unless amendments are made to Mt Pleasants approval in regards to the location of there Rail Loop.
I have worked at Bengalla for 7 years and have no doubt that this operation has had a positive effect on the community, through the employment of the workers, supporting local businesses and the support that the company gives to local community groups and organisations.
if Bengalla were forced to close due to the approval of this extension, the knock on effect to the local township would be considerable, as I'm sure many families including my own would be forced to leave town to seek alternate employment.

Whilst I do support the Mt Pleasant operation and believe that it is a positive for the community, I cant support this application if it means a premature end for Bengalla.

Whittens supports the Mt Pleasant Project and MACH Energy.
This project is good for the community and jobs and Australia.

I have worked at Bengalla as a payroll officer for the past 18 months and have found it to be one of the best places I have ever worked. The people are amazing and the culture of the mine is very admirable.
The way Bengalla involves itself in the local community is particularly commendable to the company and it's employee's.
As a long term resident of the Lower Hunter Valley and recently moved to the Upper Hunter Valley I can see the connections that Bengalla has with the Upper Hunter community and local businesses.
I feel the Mt Pleasant modification if approved will allow the railway line for Mt Pleasant to remain in place and cause Bengalla to stop causing myself and 600 Bengalla employees to lose their jobs, which will be devastating to all families involved, not to mention have a detrimental impact on a large number of local businesses and the community.
I know the best outcome for Bengalla, Mt Pleasant, Muswellbrook, NSW and Australia is that both mines continue for their full life.

I have been employed at Bengalla for a period of 21 months as a Production Technician. I am a third generation miner in the Hunter Valley. I have 3 brothers who also work at Bengalla.
I am employed on a casual FTE roster, if Bengalla was to finish up, I would become unemployed. This would affect me significantly as I would have no income and no entitlements (eg: redundancy payout) to fall back on to get me through till I gained further employment.

I am currently working at Bengalla Mine and have done so for over 12 years in various roles. I see Bengalla Mine as an integral part of the community, both to Muswellbrook and the greater hunter area as it supports both its employees and the local community through contributions to many community organisations. Bengalla Mine is well regarded in the Muswellbrook community due to their support to the community and transparency of operations through community open days. During my time at Bengalla i have also been aware of Mount Pleasant to the north and their attempts to get it going. I am concerned with this Modification 3 to Mount Pleasant Consent as it extends Mount Pleasant operations another 6 years without certainty in relocating their rail infrastructure that is west of Bengalla's operations. If this rail line is not moved by 2022 it risks Bengalla's Operations and many consequences such as job losses and economic benefit to the community. I may potentially lose my job along with many others, and this will flow onto other support organisations that rely on Bengalla for income. The best outcome is for both mines to operate together for their Life of mine but this Modification does not ensure this for Bengalla and therefore I object to it.

I have some concerns with the mount pleasant extension as in the proposed rail loop as i feel an agreement needs to be settled and put in place with an agreed time frame for removal of the rail loop before impacting on bengalla and causing significant job losses and the financial impact on the community this issue needs to be resolved before any extension is granted i would also like to add that i have no issue with mount pleasant and know quite a few people working on the project it is in the community's best interest for both these mines to work together and have an agreed time frame for the removal of the proposed rail loop

I have been employed as a Purchasing Officer at Bengalla Mining Company since January 2007, during this time I have observed that Bengalla plays integral part to the success of the local community of the Upper Hunter. Bengalla has always been a very well regarded member within the Muswellbrook and Upper Hunter community and this has been demonstrated by Bengalla's strong track record of support to local community organisations and events over the past 20 years.
In my position of a Purchasing Officer at Bengalla I have formed a close network with a lot of local businesses owner's and their employees and have firsthand knowledge of how many local business and their employees depend on Bengalla's support which includes a spend of $106 million in the Muswellbrook area for 2016. Last month Bengalla ran the "Bengalla Supply Chain Forum" at Muswellbrook Race Club working closely with AUSTMINE working in partnership with the Australian Goverment in the delivery of services under the Entrepreneurs Programe, we were expecting 20 to 30 companies to attend and it turned out to be an overwhelming success, with more than a 120 business's in attendance. Bengalla is committed to supporting and growing the Muswellbrook and Greater Hunter communities by showing that the most effective way to do this is to further strengthen the relationship with local current and potential suppliers.
I am concerned if that the Mount Pleasant modification, if approved it will cause Bengalla to stop mining causing a loss of 600 Bengalla employees jobs with also huge flow on effect to the local community business's and their employees.
The best outcome for Bengalla, Mt Pleasant, Muswellbrook and the Hunter is that both mines continue for their full life without any restrains.

I am an employee of the Bengalla open cut mine and have been for 17 years, I have concerns that this consent modification could lead to the slowing down and potential stopping of Bengalla from being able to produce coal. This would have an affect on not only my family but the community in general.
Bengalla has been a very good corporate citizen and has been active in supporting many organisations during its operation.
I see that there are other options to allow both sites to be able to move forward together and both be productive and to not impact on each other.
I think that the government needs to assess the alternatives to what has been proposed and work with the 2 sites to come up with a reasonable and viable alternative.
The current modification is not in the best interest of Muswellbrook , and the state of NSW as it has the potential to put large numbers of people and a very good productive business out of work.

I have worked at Bengalla for .........
I have lived in the Hunter Valley all my life.
My role at Bengalla is in ............
Bengalla is well regarded in The Muswellbrook and Upper Hunter areas supporting many local events and organisations.
Bengalla is a low cost long term mining operation with the ability to deliver value to the employees and the community for more than 20 years into the future.
I am very concerned that the Mount Pleasant modification, if approved, will mean that Bengalla will begin to shut down in 2022, becoming cash negative and result in 600 employees losing there jobs as our operation is unfairly effected by the Mt Pleasant rail corridor.
The best outcome is that both mines have the opportunity to continue efficient operations for the life of their approvals

I have worked at Bengalla since April 2012 and was quick to learn the impact this mine has not just on Muswellbrook, but the rest of the Hunter Valley.
Bengalla Mine is one of the very few mines that has community support and very positive feedback from the Muswellbrook Community.
I am concerned with proposed Mt Pleasant Extension because if approved this would mean the 600 Bengalla Employees, their families would be directly affected with the possible closure of the mine. The flow on affect from this would also have a massive impact on local business, contractors and suppliers.
I believe the berst outcome for Bengalla, Mt Pleasant, Muswellbrook, the Hunter Valley and Australia would be for both mines to operate together.

Tourism and agriculture have an exciting and long term future in the Hunter Valley. Mining doesn't. The area has suffered more than it's fair share of ecological damage due to mining. Enough is enough. It's hard to believe the Government would even consider such a proposal. Scone is the Horse Capital of Australia. It's future as such should not be threatened by another open cut disaster. The beef, wine, horticultural and tourism industries also employ thousands of people and will continue to do so. Please don't allow this mine to go ahead.

Being a local business we want to see our town continue to grow and develop, We do put our support behind mining, and in this case Mount Pleasant Coal. We do require in return, Mount Pleasant and other mining companies to continue show our community loyalty and involvement. A lot of locals work for mines, work for contract companies who support mines, work for companies who support contract companies who support mines and so on. We work hard for out town and want to see our town benefit from our efforts and commitment to mining. We did not choose to put the coal in the ground and as I see it, we are lucky to have such a resource on our door step.

If the Mount Pleasant modification is approved this will only cause disruptions to both Bengalla mining and Mac energy in the future. The Mt Pleasant rail line can and should be place in a location that dose not impact on Bengalla Mines future operation.
Bengalla Mine supports many community organisations, events and charities in the area along with some 600+ jobs.
The time to find a solution to this is now so both company's can move forward without disruption.

Dear Sir / Madam
I strongly object to the Mount Pleasant Modification 3 proposal and seek that the Department of Planning and Environment either reject this proposal or require a comprehensive environmental impact assessment be undertaken to reflect today's environmental standards, government policies and community expectations.
This is not a straightforward or simple extension to an existing operating mine. No mining has taken place on this site since the DA was granted in 1999 - some 18 years ago.
During that time much has changed in terms of the government policies, environmental standards and community expectations - including any social licence to operate.

It is clear that the Environmental Impact Assessment undertaken in the late 1990's is no longer relevant to, or reflects the cumulative impacts associated with, the Modification sought in 2017.
Since the Mt Pleasant DA was granted in 1999, mines have opened and expanded in the area - including the Mangoola mine, expansion of the Bengalla mine and the extensions to the Mt Arthur mine.
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Land use conflicts have also heightened - especially between local agricultural land holders and mining companies.
Over the past 20 year period mines have encroached upon residents and landholders and imposed unacceptable risks to our livelihoods, our environment, our health, our future and the economic diversity and prosperity of our region.
It is not acceptable that a mine that was granted a DA nearly 20 years ago should be allowed to proceed without rigorous and contemporary environmental and socioeconomic
assessments.

It is not acceptable that the NSW Government should disregard its policies, environmental obligations and duty of care to the local community by allowing an open cut coal mine to proceed on this site without appropriate reassessment of the environmental and socio-economic impacts this mine would have today.

Given the Mount Pleasant DA was granted in 1999 and no mining has taken place on that site in the intervening period, this Modification should either be refused or the NSW Government should require MACH Energy to undertake a new environmental impact statement fully assessing the project, its cumulative impacts and the socioeconomic
consequences - including the unresolved land use conflicts in the region.

As an employee of Bengalla Mining Company for the past 10 years I am concerned that the extension of Mt Pleasant development consent until 2026 will impact negatively on job security for myself and 600 other Bengalla employees. Allowing the Mt Pleasant rail infrastructure to remain in place until 2026 is unacceptable and will negatively impact the progression of Bengalla mine.

Bengalla is an integral part of the economic and social fabric of Muswellbrook and surrounding areas, making significant contributions to employment, education, sporting and cultural events that occur in the region. The extension of Mt Pleasant's consent puts this contribution to the community at a significant risk.

Therefore, I do not support this application.

The DA for this mine was made in 1999. The Impact Assessment from 1999 is no longer relevant in 2017.

The environmental, social and economic landscape in this area in 2017 are completely different to those assessed in 1999.

MACH Energy should undertake a new environmental
impact statement this should include the impacts on not just the environment but the economic and social consequences of this modification.

I have three children growing up in the Upper Hunter - I would like them to at least have a broad choice of career and have a positive connection to the community and the place where they grew up. With a mine 'next door' this is hardly a place you want to call home

I have worked at Bengalla for 2 years. I am a production technician employed as a contractor through Workpac group.
I originally applied to Bengalla due tp their excellent safety record as well as substantial contribution to the local community through such ways as scholarships, sponsorships, endorsements, and Investment in local businesses.

The Mount Pleasant modification I feel is going to have a direct and indirect impact on Hundreds of local families whose livelihood and future plans depends on Bengalla's long term operation.
I feel in this age there is absolutely no reason an arrangement cannot be made that allows both mines to operate alongside each other in the long term. This would be to the benefit of he local community, the state of NSW, and Australia through way of jobs and revenue raised.

Mount Pleasant Operations allows myself and my family to be supported. In the region it will provide an opportunity for many jobs as well as undertaking state of the art mining practices.

The company I work for now employs 75 people (up to 100) on the project build. 75% of the workforce is local or have relocated for the project. Many seeking future opportunities with MTPO and other employers in the region.

The final land form will suit well with the surrounding landscape and rehabilitate land for either future agricultural use or general rehabilitation.

I am objecting and am concerned that the Mount Pleasant modification will impact not only my family but 600 other families who are Bengalla employees.
My partner has worked at Bengalla for 15 years, in a stable environment which has supported our family. As the bread winner in our house it has provided me the opportunity to work part time so that I can be at home for our child. Bengalla are supporters of family, they believe in family and they believe in their people.
Bengalla has provided support to lots of community organisations. They are supporters of small local businesses and where possible use local businesses for skills.
The best outcome for all involved is that both mines continue for their full life.

Mount Pleasant Coal Mine Modification 3
Re: Application Number DA 92/97 MOD 3
To Whom It May Concern
I have lived in the Muswellbrook area for most of my life and in that time I have seen the ebb and flow of economic growth and then decline in our town.
The Mining industry has provided the Upper Hunter with stable employment, donations to the Community and royalties to the State Government to provide better infrastructure, however, global coal prices caused a sharp downturn in recent years which has caused unemployment, financial hardship, along with house and land values plummeting and families leaving the area to find jobs, elsewhere.
Retail stores have closed their doors in our town and anyone wanting select goods and services have to travel or pay higher prices.
We believe that Mach Energy's vision and willingness to work with the Community will promote an economic resurgence in the Muswellbrook area, bringing employment, economic stability and a strong financial future for our area.
My family and I strongly support the Mount Pleasant Mine Modification and we look forward to working with Mach Energy in the coming years.