Mod 3 - Extension

It will provide jobs and have a positive impact on the community

I would like to submit an objection to the Mount Pleasant Mine Modification 3.
I am currently employed by Bengalla Mining Company.I have a young family with three children and live within the Muswellbrook shire. My family and I are actively involved in many local sporting and community groups. Many of these bengalla contributes significantly to. I am concerned that should the Mount Pleasant coal Mine Modification gain approval it will allow Mount Pleasants rail loop to remain in place which will have a detrimental effect on allowing Bengalla to continue operations into the future. This would obviously put my family and approx 600 other employees and their family's futures at risk.
I am not opposed to the Mount Pleasant Mine as a whole as I am sure that their are many families that also rely on this mine to be in operation however the position of the rain line needs to be addressed to allow both mines to be viable operations into the future.

Dear Sir/Madam
We lodge our objection to the modification being considered for the Mount Pleasant coal mine.
The reasons for our objection are as follows:
1. Since the mine was approved nearly 20 years ago there has been a massive expansion of mining in the area around Muswellbrook, greatly changing it, and affecting people near and far.
2. Air quality is considerably worse now than at that time, with PM 10 and PM 2.5 particulate concentrations continually exceeding goals. Thirty kilometres to the NNE, testing of the heavy metal levels in drinking water captured on our roof now records far greater concentrations than were recorded 20 years ago. The prevailing wind draft flows north up the valley, suggesting that it is highly likely that these concentrations have increased due to the mines around Muswellbrook.
3. Further and unacceptable pressure on water quality will result from the proposed modification.
3. We consider that a new EIS should be mandatory for the project due to the many cumulative changes to the environment due to the increase in mining in the area.
4. Following the EPA's adoption of the present particulate pollution limits the DoP's VLAMP should be amended before the modification is determined.
Yours faithfully
Peter Bennetto

More jobs in muswellbrook and more stuff in town

It will support employment opportunities for the community.

I want to support employment opportunities for this community.

There have been many studies on this site and I believe the mining should go ahead with the strictest of environmental conditions none watered down --further extensions to 2016 is desirable in my eyes providing the rate of extraction does not impact on the town --the neighbouring mine Bengalla did impact adversely in the first few years and should not have been allowed to do so --now that mine is not a problem --but a few other restrictions and it would not have been a problem in the first few years--open spoil heaps should not be large at Mt Pleasant and should not be allowed to stay un reclaimed for multiple years
I personally would like to see conditions to have the workforce more localised and more permanent in overall percentage than is currently being adopted nearby --I would like to see Mt Pleasant train their own workforce rather than use sudo training companies
Another consideration is that I would like to see more of an emphases placed on electric mining equipment rather than Diesel --both polute but the electrical is more efficient and produced locally --primary producer discounts impede on business decisions in this area and should be reduced and eliminated for large mining activities-not just Mt Pleasant

I support employment opportunities in this community

I have been employed at the Bengalla mine site since the beginning of ........ and have found it a great place to work due to the people employed there.

I am very concerned that the Mount Pleasant modification if approved will allow the railway line for Mount Pleasant to remain in place and cause Bengalla to curtail its operation causing myself and 600 bengalla employees to lose their jobs

I moved to the Hunter Valley from ....... and have brought a house and now have a young family. We are a .................... family and any impact on my employment will have a big impact on my family with no income and the lack of job opportunities within the Hunter valley.

I am also very concerned about the large number of local businesses that will be affected by Bengalla curtailing its operation which will have a detrimental impact on the local community. The impact of job losses on the local Muswellbrook community during the downturn in 2012 was quite noticeable with businesses closing down, people moving away to find jobs.

Bengalla is a very well regarded member of the Muswellbrook community and supports many community organisations, Upper Hunter education Fund, Upper Hunter Show, Muswellbrook high school plus provides many scholarships to local students.

The Best outcome for Bengalla, Mount Pleasant and Muswellbrook is that both mines continue for their full life.

I'm an employee of Bengalla Mining Company (BMC) for ..........., my role is a ........................... BMC has been a stable place for employment for me which has enabled me to support my family.

I'm extremely concerned on the Mount Pleasant Mod.3.

If this Modification is approved it will allow the railway line for Mount Pleasant to remain in-place and cause BMC to reduce its operation considerably. This will cause myself and 600+ other employees to lose there jobs which will have a detrimental impact on the local community and businesses in surrounding areas.

Sincerely

I object to the Mount Pleasant Modification 3 proposal and seek that the Department of Planning and Environment reject this proposal. 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.
Mining companies should not be allowed to sit on DAs, do nothing, not follow through on their commitments and keep communities in suspense for decades. This is not just or fair process and does not provide local landholders and residents with any confidence to invest in their future. After nearly 20 years of inaction, the Mt Pleasant mine should not be allowed to proceed.
We cannot co-exist with mining so close to our towns, agricultural and tourism industries.
We need appropriate buffers to protect us from the effects of mining and so that all industries can exist with certainty and balance.
Mining companies are destroying our agricultural lands and not rehabilitating the voids and moonscapes they leave behind. This is not acceptable.

16 July 2017

The Department of Planning & Environment

Mount Pleasant Coal Mine
Submission

I have worked at Bengalla since the mines inception, I am one of the original mine technicians to be employed by Bengalla and Bengalla has been a stable place of employment for me for over 19 years. My current position at Bengalla is a dragline operator and I am a member of the Mines Rescue Team.
Bengalla Coal mine is an integral part of the Muswellbrook Community employing 600 people and is a very large presence, sponsoring major events as the Muswellbrook Show, hosting the Bengalla community open day plus donating money to community and sporting groups. Bengalla employees also donate their time, with company approval to charity events.
Bengalla employees have already been on tenterhooks in recent years regarding their future employment when Bengalla was awaiting consent for the extension of their mining lease.
The Muswellbrook businesses and community, plus those of Scone and Singleton will be severely affected if Bengalla is to curtail its operation. Muswellbrook and these surrounding communities are still reeling from the effects of Drayton Mine being closed. There is not enough infrastructure in our community to absorb this and there is definitely not 600 jobs available for these employees to be able to find future employment.
Mining and its associated businesses are the major employers in this town. The Muswellbrook area will not survive the closure of another mine, especially a productive mine like Bengalla. The livelihood of 600 people and a town is not to be trifled with. Small business in our town will not survive, some are struggling as it is. Small businesses are not employing and the larger non mining industries are also cutting back on employing extra staff.
Many employees at Bengalla have young children or some like myself have a child getting ready to enter the workforce. How do you explain to a child who is keen and eager for work that there may not be jobs available for her because a major employer in our district has had to prematurely cease operations therefore the associated businesses that work in conjunction with Bengalla do not need to employ any more personal or train apprentices in their chosen trade.
I am very concerned that the Mount Pleasant modification if approved will allow the railway line for Mount Pleasant to remain in place and curtail Bengalla to curtail its operation causing myself and 600 Bengalla employees to lose their jobs.
The best outcome for Bengalla, Mount Pleasant, Muswellbrook and surrounding towns, NSW and Australia is that both mines continue for their full life.

My concern is around the modification to the Mt Pleasant Coal Mine due to the railway loop remaining in the mining patrhway of Bengalla Mine, which could potentially stop mining operations at Bengalla withing 5 years. This would result in job losses which would have a major impact on the community. I don't want to see either operation to stop, in fact the best outcome for the local community, NSW and Australia would be a solution to allow both operations to proceed mining until their respective end of mine lives without restraint.

I have been at Bengalla for the past 6 years and my family are established in this area, if Bengalla were to stop operations due to the Mt Pleasant railway loop remaining then that would be devastating for me and my family along with hundreds of other family's who's bread-winners work at Bengalla. Not to mention the flow on impact on the business and suppliers who will lose business.

Bengalla was approved to mine through to 2039, how could this be so if the railway loop was in place? Someone at some time must have looked over the planning and determined that this would be an impact.

Please consider having Mt Pleasant ensure that they have approved alternate locations for their railway loop prior to Bengalla reaching it, so that both companies can keep producing coal, employing people and stimulating the NSW economy for many years to come.
Thank you for your consideration.
Aaron

My concern is around the modification to the Mt Pleasant Coal Mine due to the railway loop remaining in the mining patrhway of Bengalla Mine, which could potentially stop mining operations at Bengalla withing 5 years. This would result in job losses which would have a major impact on the community. I don't want to see either operation to stop, in fact the best outcome for the local community, NSW and Australia would be a solution to allow both operations to proceed mining until their respective end of mine lives without restraint.

My husband been at Bengalla for the past 6 years and my family are established in this area, if Bengalla were to stop operations due to the Mt Pleasant railway loop remaining then that would be devastating for my husband and my family along with hundreds of other family's who's husbands and wives work at Bengalla. Not to mention the flow on impact on the business and suppliers who will lose business.

Bengalla was approved to mine through to 2039, how could this be so if the railway loop was in place? Someone at some time must have looked over the planning and determined that this would be an impact.

Please consider having Mt Pleasant ensure that they have approved alternate locations for their railway loop prior to Bengalla reaching it, so that both companies can keep producing coal, employing people and stimulating the NSW economy for many years to come.
Thank you for your consideration.

I am an employee of the adjoining Bengalla Mine where I have worked continuously for nearly ten years as a permanent employee. I currently hold the position of maintenance supervisor.

Bengalla is a proven community partner that provides stable employment and supports a wide variety of local community groups and projects.

I object to this proposal in its current format as it negatively impacts on the adjoining Bengalla Mine that has consent to mine through until 2039.

If this proposal is approved it will block access to the coal we are approved to mine in the near future and significantly impact our operation.

Blocking access to the resource (coal) put's our stable employment at risk.

I am in support of an Mt Pleasant that can co-exist with Bengalla. I am not in support of a Mt Pleasant that impedes and jeopardizes the progress of Bengalla and those that depend on it remaining a viable operation.

The current proposal submitted by Mt Pleasant does not support co-existence and fails to consider and adequately address the impacts on the adjoining operation, Bengalla.

For these reasons, this proposal should be rejected.

I would like to submit and objection to the Mount Pleasant Mine Modification 3.
I have a young family and live in Muswellbrook. I have worked within the local mining industry for in excess of 14 years. For the last few years I have worked at Bengalla as a contractor and have recently gained fulltime employment with Bengalla Mining Company. During this time I have witnessed and been involved in multiple local community events that Bengalla has played a major part in.
My objection to Mount Pleasant is in regards to the position of their rail line, this rail line should Mount Pleasant gain modification approval will remain in its current location and directly affect Bengalla in several years time as it is in Bengalla's direct Mine path.
I would like to see both mines be able to have viable operations however I fear Bengalla's future will be in jeopardy if Mount Pleasants Modification is approved.

i have worked at bengalla for the ........... as a ............ and the rail loop will shorten the life of my planed work here

i have worked for bengalla for 2 years my roll at bengalla is a contract shut down fitter. during my time at bengalla i have learned that bengalla is an integral part of the muswellbrook community as bengalla supports lots of community organisations. i am very concerned that the mount pleasant modification if approved will allow the railway line for mount pleasant to remain in place and cause bengalla to curtail its operations causing myself and 600 bengalla bengalla employees to lose there jobs.

I have worked at bengalla for the past ........ My role at bengalla is a .............. My whole family has worked in the mining industry and has supported us for numerous years. If bengalla is shut down 600+ employees will loose their job and large amounts of money will be lost in the local community.

I live and run a business within a few km of the proposed mine and
I 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.

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 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.
Land use conflicts have also heightened - especially between local agricultural land
holders and mining companies, which will directly impact on our business.
The previous owners of Mt Pleasant had no intention of proceeding with this mine.
After nearly 20 years of inaction, any new owners should be required by the NSW
Government to reapply for permission to mine on this site and be required to submit
a new, comprehensive and contemporary environmental impact assessment.

Mining is destroying our landscape and environment, devaluing our properties and
dividing our communities. This needs to stop.
I need certainty so that we can invest and grow our businesses with confidence,
and this mine will add to the uncertainty as it will threaten economic diversity in the
area..