Mount Owen Continued Operations

Dear Director, Mining Projects,

I am employee at Mt Owen and a resident of the Singleton Community. I am extremely supportive of this project gaining approval as it has been a key employer in the region for two decades providing substantial benefits both to the region and the state of NSW. The mine is very conscientious with regard to it's environmental obligations and I believe that it has demonstrated it's ability to meet those obligations in the past which gives me confidence that they will meet their future obligations as well. I have reviewed what I believe are the two most important community aspects in relation to the project being air quality and noise to which I believe that their current operations and those predicted are achievable and reasonable for the benefits created by the project.

It is difficult to put a weighting on the significance of mining in region and I believe the net benefits are likely to be under-stated in the project application as the multiplier effect is difficult to quantify however as a resident of Singleton it is easy to see the impacts when there is a downturn in the industry and what flow on effects there are to each business and those employee's in the town. When mining is strong and supported the town will be strong and able to provide the facilties, infrastructure and ultimately employment that make the region and state better for it's presence.

I sincerely request that the State Government look to the benefits of this project and deliver a quick and successful approval to this project.

King Regards,

Ashley McLeod

I support the continuation of mining operations at Mt Owen not only because I currently hold a position with the company that currently operate the pit, but because I believe there are numerous positive impacts the mine has on the local community in addition to the economic benefits.
I have been working at Mt Owen for 4 years and I have the utmost respect for my colleagues and those others that work here. In my time here I have seen that the staff and workforce show a sense of passion and there is a positive culture that strives to perform through best practice. Working as a Mining Engineer involved with the mine planning at Mt Owen. I help to ensure that we plan our mining operations to be as efficient as possible as well as meet our rehabilitation requirements. From a moral standpoint I believe that the mining industry must strive for sustainable development by minimising its negative impact on the environment and community. I make it my responsibility to factor this in when implementing any plan or design. As a team I believe we share the same values and we will continue to meet our environmental compliances and further reduce the negative impact of mining.

As an employee at Mount Owen. I am fully support the Mount Owen Continued Operations Projects and beyond. It is currently a well run and managed mine with plenty of success in the past and current, in terms of safety and productivity, and more importantly the mine have not had any issues with the surrounding community as far as I am concerned.

Personnally, This Project will enhance my career development as I have an opportunity to extent my stay with Thiess.

Also, creating more jobs or maintaining the employment around the Hunter Valley

Having read the EIS and worked at Mount Owen mine for several years, I concur that this extension is a good idea and that the benefits to the economy far outweigh the very minimal impact on the surrounding environment.

Mount Owen has always stood out as one of the best performers in the Hunter Valley in terms of environmental care; they should be rewarded with this extension for being a very good neighbour to all.

Strike Force Services provides cleaning services to the Mt Owen Coal mine. We currently have 5 team members who depend on the ongoing works within the mine.

Like most cleaning company's the cleaning sector of our business is a minimum wage industry, often with an unskilled work force. Mt Owen provides the perfect foundation to secure a future for the team and their families. The mining Industry and our local community have been struggling for last 4 years.

The People in the Hunter Valley are not asking for handouts just an opportunity to continue to look after their families and play their part in the community.

As an engineer at Mt Owen for the past four years, I have been involved in all levels of the site planning. In this time, I have observed and participated in the efforts to keep Mt Owen as an industry leader in sustainable mining and world-class rehabilitation. The environmental team at Mt Owen is award winning and revered by many sites in the Hunter Valley and Australia. The dust management is excellent (utilising the Dust TARP procedure), and all personnel feel responsible for the environmental sustainability of their work area. The University of Newcastle uses the rehabilitation at Mt Owen for research and trials, which have set the benchmark for the industry at a high standard. It is important that we keep industry leaders of environmental impact procedures operating to set the standard for others.

I have also been involved in blast design, at which Mt Owen is also an industry leader. Explosives and emissions are minimised by undertaking the through-seam blasting method for every blast. Vibrations and noise are carefully planned and approved for each blast.

Personally, every day I am able to influence health impacts such as dust and air quality by keeping a close eye on my work area, including housekeeping for spills, but also by speaking up when an area may soon get dusty or noisy and impede on air quality.

As a Thiess employed Mining Engineer that has worked at Mt Owen for the past 6+ years I can confirm ensuring the safety of people and looking after the environment are non-negotiable factors of any mine engineering work I have been involved in. Is a result, I'm proud to be the member of a team that always strives to maximise efficiency to minimise resource usage and has an outstanding environmental record.
On a more personal level, the Mount Owen mining project has provided my family and many other employees' families a decent income. In addition to funding basic living expenses, this income allows our families to spend cash in our local community and buy Australian made products resulting in further indirect employment of more Australians. Australians also benefit from royalties and significant direct and indirect tax revenue that is spent on behalf of all Australians by the Government. We (my family and I) are hoping the people of Australia will recognise the outstanding environmental record the site has earned and the huge value the continuation of the project will provide to all Australians.

I support the project at Mt Owen Mine for continued operations.
The mine creates financial support to me and my family, and also the community around the area.
If the mine did not go ahead for years ahead, would impact the local communities, charities, families, with possibility of being forced out of Singleton / Muswellbrook to find other employment.
I 100% support this.

As a local from Muswellbrook of 30 years I fully support the Mt Owen Continue Operations Project.

I object to the Mount Owen Continued Operations Project for the following reasons:
1. Mt Owen mine has had significant environmental impact over a 20 year period. The current proposal will disturb an additional 485 ha including 136.3ha of endangered ecological communities (EEC) and habitat for 29 threatened fauna species
2. The nationally endangered Spotted-tailed Quoll and Swift Parrot will be significantly impacted.
3. The proposed biodiversity offset areas are entirely inadequate and will not provide the environmental values lost. There is an 84.6ha deficit for impacted EECs
4. The cumulative impact of Mt Owen Mine since original approval in 1991 and in relation to surrounding mines has not been adequately addressed
5. Air quality will deteriorate further. Current operations exceed the national standards for PM10 emissions, the proposal will increase these exceedances.
6. Over 20 properties will experience higher noise levels
7. Climate change impacts have not been considered in any of the predictions
8. Cumulative impacts on tributaries and groundwater systems associated with Glennies Creek and the Hunter River have not been assessed
9. Estimated to generate 137,653,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent over 15 years of operation
10. Final landform will have 3 voids

I am currently employed with Thiess as Maintenance Manager at Mount Owen Mine and support the extension of the project. My family and I have now been living in Singleton for the past 7 years and have become actively involved in the local community and would like this to continue.
It is now obvious in the town and surrounding community that local established business's are now struggling and unfortunately some closing due to the downturn in the mining industry and families leaving the local area to seek further employment.
Therefore I believe for the Hunter Valley to remain sustainable and financially strong for both large and small companies mining needs to be part of the community. The loss of another mine in the area will lead to further reductions in local business and the community population which will have a "knock on" effect to the whole area.

Hi my name is Ashlee and I am 28, I am a wife of a contractor employed by Mt Owen, we have two babies under the age of 3 and I am a stay at home mum. I support the continuation of Mt Owen for a number of reasons.
* My husband has a passion for what he does, he is a hard worker, smart and loves to learn... he enjoys the challenges that he faces daily and works hard for his company, employers, workmates and to provide for his family.

*If this project was to discontinue it not only brings a financial burden over our heads and thousands of other families... but lets face it, its not exactly an easy industry for him or anyone to get alternative work, I, myself would have to go back to work and send my children to daycare which is not in our financial budget.

*Not only would this be a personal loss it would be a major loss to the community and hunter region, it would affect not only thousands of families but the businesses in the surrounding areas.

Please consider all of the above

Ashlee

I wish to object to the Mt Owen Continued Operations Project (20kms nw Singleton)
This mine has caused significant environmental impacts over the last 20 years and this proposal will disturb another 485ha including 136.3ha of endangered ecological communities and habitat of 29 threatened species.
The proposed biodiversity offset area are entirely inadequate. There is an 84.6ha deficit for impacted EECs.
The cumulative impacts of this project have not been adequately addressed.
Air quality will further deteriorate. Current operations exceed the national standards for PM10 emissions. this proposal will increase these exceedances.
More than 20 properties will be affected by this project.
Cumulative impacts on waterways associated with Glennies Creek and the Hunter River have not been assessed.
The final landform will leave 3 voids.
This project is unacceptable to the health of the residents and
the flora and fauna.
It must be rejected.

WE first moved to the Hunter in 1996 in order to develop and run a vineyard. It was a beautiful place and we were very happy to bring up our four young children in this vibrant rural community. However, unfortunately, over the years coal mining has taken over and it is no longer and an area that we wish to live in.

The hunter is a very precious agricultural area and I do not understand why our government would allow it to be destroyed by more and more coal mines.

The cumulative impact of Mt Owen Mine since original approval in 1991 and in relation to surrounding mines has not been adequately addressed. Where every you are now there is more that one mines that is impacted on the quality of the air you breath. Current operations exceed the national standards for PM10 emissions, the proposal will just increase the very serious problem.

We are very concerned about the destruction of endangered ecological communities, like the Spotted-tailed Quoll and the Swift Parrot. Mt Owen mine has had significant environmental impact over a 20 year period. The cumulative loss of native vegetation since the commencement of the mine will be 1,838 ha, if this latest expansion is approved.

The quality of river water in the area is compromised . Cumulative impacts on tributaries and groundwater systems associated with Glennies Creek and the Hunter River have not been assessed sufficiently.

Over 20 properties will experience higher noise levels

Most importantly climate change impacts have not been considered in any of the predictions. Mt Owen is estimated to generate 137,653,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent over 15 years of operation.

I wish to object to the Mt Owen Continued Operations Project for a number of reasons.
First I am very concerned that the Mt Owen Mine's cumulative impact has not been adequately addressed in relation to other mines and since it's being granted approval over 70 years ago
. In addition I believe that the mine has had a significant adverse environmental impact over that time and this proposal will result in an additional 485ha being disturbed. This includes 136.3 ha of endangered ecological communities and habitat for 29 threatened fauna species including the nationally endangered Swift Parrot and the Spotted-tailed Quoll which will be significantly impacted.

I have never been comfortable with the notion of biodiversity offsets and in this case as in many others, I believe that the proposed offsets are totally inadequate and will go nowhere near replacing the environmental values of the area lost.
In the light of the environmental damage that has occurred and is still occurring this proposal must be refused

I object to the MT Owen continued operation Project for the following reasons:
- there will be a further deterioration of the air quality which is currently exceeding the standard for PM10 emissions
- the noise levels will impact on an additional 20 properties
- the nationally endangered swift parrot and spotted quoll will be seriously impacted upon
- climate change impacts have not been taken into account
- cumulative impacts on Glennies Creek and the Hunter River have not been considered
- the final land form will have 3 voids.

I am opposed to the continuation of the Mt Owen Continued Operations Project because it cannot be offset and the impact will be felt initially by endangered species such as the Swift Parrot and the Spotted-tailed Quoll, but medium and long term by all of us via climate change, which has not been considered. Increasing the footprint of the mine by 485 Ha will inevitably result in an increased dust problem, particularly in periods of drought. The permanent impact on ground water systems, which has not been considered and the increase in noise for the duration of mining are cumulative degradation for neighbours and the environment.

5th March 2015

Dear Sir/Madam

I write to register my objection to the Mt Owen Continued Operations Project that has been put forward by Xstrata Mt Owen Pty Ltd.
Re - Application Number: SSD 5850

My family and I are objecting to this development due to the potential environmental and economic impacts on our property. We have resided on our property for forty years and have witnessed the beginning and growth of mining in the area.

The southerly extension of the existing North Pit further increases our exposure to the downside of mining.

Yours sincerely
Morris Porter

I object to this further extension of the Mt Owen mine for the following reasons;
1. The mine has already had a significant impact over it's 20 year lifespan so further destruction of 136ha of Endangered ecological communities which is habitat for 29 threatened fauna species is completely unacceptable. For example, the Spotted tailed Quoll and the swift parrot will be impacted.
2. Endangered Ecological Communities must be offset by like communities and if this is not possible, then the project should not procede
3. No mine should be able to leave a final void. If this makes the mine uneconomic, then it should not be allowed to proceed. This mine will leave three final voids which is unacceptable.
4. The mine will increase dust levels in the area which already beyond the national standard for PM10.
5 The greenhouse gas contribution for this project has not been considered. With clear indications already evident of global warming and sea level rises, this is simply suicidal.
6. There has been no assessment of effects on groundwater systems in the area. There may be effects on Glennies creek and the Hunter river.

This submission supports the application for the Mt Owen Continued Operations Project (SSD5850). Mt Owen Mine is considered an industry leader in open cut mining across the Australian coal industry. Thiess has been operating since 2004 at the Mt Owen Complex, and has worked closely with Glencore to ensure a leading practice mining operation, with uncompromising environmental and safety standards and community relations.

The operation of Mt Owen for the past 20 years has allowed for a significant understanding of the challenges, and optimal mining operations to be employed at the site to maximise resource recovery. Detailed mine planning considers a range of scenarios to develop a mine plan that increases plant efficiency, and achieves optimal material movement for the mine. In addition, Thiess has developed industry-leading specialised terrace mining and through-seam blasting techniques, leading to higher resource recovery. The operation of the mine has been carried out while maintaining a strong focus on environmental management, particularly in the areas of dust and noise management, and working with the community to ensure expectations are met.

The operation of Mt Owen Mine requires best practice management of environmental impacts during the mining process, and a holistic life-of-mine native vegetation rehabilitation program which exceeds industry standards. Thiess has worked closely with Glencore Mt Owen to develop and implement a rehabilitation program which is today recognised as industry best practice for rehabilitation. To date, more than 450 hectares of mined land has been rehabilitated to a standard that supports a mix of native forest, open woodland and pasture.

In partnership with the University of Newcastle - Centre for Sustainable Ecological Restoration, Mt Owen formed the Ravensworth State Forest Vegetation Complex Research Program and has progressively integrated the research findings into the rehabilitation program. The International Global Restoration Network has recognised the environmental management work being undertaken at Mt Owen Mine as one of Australasia's highly commended ecological projects.

Mount Owen has also undertaken studies on the threatened spotted tailed quoll in rehabilitation areas. The project shows that the spotted tailed quoll will utilise rehabilitation areas as part of its home range. This is a significant achievement as it shows that the rehabilitation at Mount Owen has habitat values for threatened species.

Mt Owen continues to provide long term benefits to the local communities in the Hunter Region. The site is a major source of employment in the Hunter Valley, providing direct and indirect job opportunities. The site relies heavily on local business for the provision of goods and services to the mine. The continuing operation of Mt Owen will result in positive economic impacts on local communities.

The approval of the Mt Owen Continued Operations Project, will see the Mt Owen mine continue as a benchmark for industry leading open cut coal mining efficiency and world class environmental management and mine rehabilitation. Thiess is in full support of the application, and looks forward to contributing to the ongoing success of Glencore's Mt Owen operation.