Mount Pleasant Optimisation Project

Mt Pleasant submission

I object to this project on a number of grounds.

1 Final void and final landform . The final void (non-draining basin left at the end of mining) will be approximately 2.5 x 5 km. The lake at the bottom 3 x 0.5 km. This lake will become more saline as time goes by. Forever. The void should be filled so natural water movement through the landscape is resumed. This type of forever impact is not allowed in other advanced countries. If reshaping the landscape, so the overburden emplacement links in with the Mt Pleasant ridge to the west, is not economically viable, then the project is not economically viable. The proposed final landform to 320m in height is unacceptable. It will alter the landscape beyond recognition and will unnaturally dominate the vista. Again, into geological time.


2 Water. 40ML of water, mainly from the Hunter River alluvials will flow into the void annually. While this claimed to be a small amount, it is like the void, forever, into geological time. We are entering an age of great uncertainty around climate. Who is to say what is a small amount of water. Furthermore, a significant area of land will drain into the final void, not the Hunter, in runoff events.

3 Air quality. Muswellbrook already suffers from poor air quality as a direct result of this mine, directly upwind of the town, as well as cumulative impacts from all mining. The tonnage expansion will inevitably make this situation worse. EIS modeling confirms this. It needs to be remembered that there is no safe level of air pollution and there are already elevated levels of respiratory disease in the Upper Hunter. Health costs to the community and the government must be factored into any economic cost benefit analysis of the project.

4 Biodiversity impact. Two threatened fauna species are found in the area, the striped legless lizard (Pteropus poliocephalus and the squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis). In Addition the tiger orchid (Cymbidium canaliculatum), belonging to the endangered Hunter population, occurs on the site. Grassy Grey box woodland and derived grassland is prevalent on the site. The offset areas are predominately in the Merriwa district on basalt-derived soils, and as a result quite different ecosystems. They are NOT like for like.


5 Climate impact. Climate change is already occurring, the 2019-2020 fires are just one example of the impacts. The IPCC 2018 report made clear the huge difference between 1.5 degree C of warming and 2 degrees C. A recent UN report predicted that if already committed reductions were achieved (by 2030) total annual emissions would be 1% less than current totals. The scientific assessment accepted by the UN states that a 45% reduction by 2030 is what is required if we are to be on track for a 1.5 deg C limit. This project will result in adding 860 million tonnes of CO2 to the atmosphere. It matters not at all where it is added. It needs to be pointed that this is approximately 0.2% (1/500th)of the total global carbon budget we have left to avoid going above 1.5 degrees. For 600 jobs for 27 years. We all have a moral responsibility to include the interests of future generations when we make decisions that will without doubt impact on them. Everyone involved in the bureaucratic chain of decision-making has this responsibility

CONCLUSION. This project has two basic components, an application to extend mining beyond 2026 to 2048, and to double the extraction rate. I ask the department to treat the two aspects separately. If permission is NOT granted to increase the rate of extraction, the impacts of the Mt Pleasant mine will not increase beyond those currently being endured by the surrounding population. No one will lose their job as a result. Less than 4 years ago MACH was satisfied with 10.5 mt/y. That is what they applied for. Now that the mine is in place, MACH would like to mine 21mt/y. This indicates a strategic, and basically dishonest, application in 2018.

Tony Lonergan, Kayuga 2333

I would like to submit my objection to this project for a number of important reasons.

While not a local resident for whom the negative impacts are both onerous and overt, as a frequent visitor to the Upper Hunter I am greatly concerned about the effects of this mine on the immediate environment should it be expanded and extended, as well as the broader contribution its increased output will make to climate change when the coal extracted is subsequently burned. The total emissions from this one project amount to 0.2% (1/500th) of the worlds remaining carbon budget, if warming is to be limited to an already dangerous 1.5C.

In addition to this, air quality in the Upper Hunter is already hugely compromised by the disturbing concentration of coalmines in the area, with the third worst levels of air pollution in Australia after the Pilbara and Mt Isa, but with a significantly larger population than those two regions being exposed to such dangerous levels. I know this has had meaningful negative health impacts on local residents, including increased levels of respiratory diseases and even lower birth weights for babies.

But one of the reasons I visit the Hunter is for its beautiful landscapes and natural environments; the damage to and destruction of habitats, loss of native bushland and wildlife that will occur should Mt Pleasant be granted permission to expand and extend its timeline is dreadful to contemplate. Given the environmental destruction and visual insult the mine already represents, and the further damage and destruction that will occur should the approval be granted, the name 'Mt Pleasant' is already a terrible irony.

Australian woodland ecosystems are collapsing; the Great Eastern Ranges Initiative has identified the Upper Hunter as a bottleneck in continuous habitat migration opportunity for species; plant, animal, fungi and micro-organisms, as habitat changes with the climate. Biodiversity here needs protection, not more destruction.

The mine site also includes two threatened fauna species - the striped legless lizard (Pteropus poliocephalus) and the squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) - as well as the tiger orchid (Cymbidium canaliculatum), which belongs to the endangered Hunter flora. Given Australia's appalling record on extinctions, how it can be knowingly and deliberately considered appropriate to hasten the extinction of three living species for a dirty, polluting industry that is deservedly facing extinction itself, other than for sheer greed, political favours and profit - all of the latter to go to a foreign entity with zero returned to this country, let alone the residents of the Hunter.

While rock mounds planned for the west side might be reduced in area, the eastern landform near the river will become significantly higher - the eastern spoil pile would be almost as high as Mt Pleasant itself in places and visible from Scone, while breaking through the east-west ridge of Castlerock Road will significantly impact the visual amenity of people in Aberdeen and break into the Upper Hunter Valley.

The sop of offset land being granted to *balance* this wholesale wreckage of the environment - on basalt country mostly west of Merriwa – is nothing whatsoever like the fertile and productive land and landscape that will be destroyed should this mine expansion occur.

As a concerned voter and visitor to the Hunter, I am trusting that common sense, the greater good and concern for both the environment and the future will prevail, and you will not permit the Mt Pleasant expansion and extension to proceed.

Sincerely, Carolyn Diamond.

I am concerned about the negative effect that mining is having in the Upper Hunter Valley , especially on water levels, air quality and the size of the voids left when the mining is finished. This modification will encroach on Aberdeen and there is insufficient buffer between the mine and other people living in the area. The draw down of water is unacceptably high particularly in light of the increased variability of rainfall.

I object to the Mount Pleasant Optimisation proposal and seek that an Independent Planning Commission reviews the proponent’s technical reports, particular water and final void impacts, Hunter River impacts, and cumulative impacts particularly on water, air quality and dust

I object to the Mount Pleasant Optimisation proposal and seek that an Independent Planning Commission reviews the proponent’s technical reports, particular water and final void impacts, Hunter River impacts, and cumulative impacts particularly on water, air quality and dust.

There will be significant changes to landform and many negative inter-generational impacts once the mine closes.

The coal mining industry is on the decline. It is permanently dislocating more prime agricultural land. We need to look to the future and support our agriculture and tourism industries. They are here for the long term and provide sustainable jobs and strong diverse regional economies. They should be respected and protected not constantly under siege.

The Hunter needs economic diversity. Sustainable agricultural and tourism industries and these jobs should not be sacrificed for mining. Governments should end the land use conflict in the Hunter by protecting our lands, water and agricultural / tourism industries.

The following attachment promotes the support of the optimisation project at Mount Pleasant. Not only will it ensure continued employment but lead to an increase in employment to over 800 miners. The proposal will also guarantee continuity of the mine and the benefits Mount Pleasant brings to the community of the Upper Hunter. My submission will demonstrate how Mount Pleasant through the creation of the Aboriginal Community Development Fund has improved the outcomes and closed the gap for Aboriginal people in the Upper Hunter in; education, health, culture, and employment.

*This mine is directly upwind of Muswellbrook - a town that already suffers air quality that doesn't meet national standards. The health impacts of doubling production of this mine until 2048 is not acceptable. As a nurse, I object to the continuation of detrimental impacts on the respiratory health of our citizens due to mines that continue to push the lifetime of their mines forward well past the time they were meant to close and be rehabilitated. It is irresponsible in these times when alternate energy sources are available and effective.
* The volume of water required to continue mining is concerning. We are a dry nation and we are becoming a drier nation. With the continuing and increasing consequences of climate change the water loss due to this unnecessary extension is not acceptable.
* The visual impact of the increased height of landforms to the people of Aberdeen is worrying. The height of the proposed landforms also create a possible problem with blocking of TV, radio and emergency signals to the area from Rossgole tower.
*Muswellbrook area has rich agricultural soils surrounding it. Increasing the size of mines around the area decreases the ability of the community to diversify and therefore impacts on it's ability to remain healthy.
* The mine proposes to leave an even bigger void which will mean more salty, toxic lakes in the Hunter - not acceptable.
* The areas biodiversity needs protection. With two threatened fauna species - the striped legless lizard and the squirrel glider- in the area as well as the endangered tiger orchid, there is more reason to reject this extension than there is to extend it's life.
* The proposed offset land is not like for like so therefore totally inappropriate.

I would like to object in the strongest possible terms to the Mount Pleasant Optimisation Project.
For over 40 years I have lived in the Upper Hunter Valley. I have run a successful business with my husband in this area and now my 2 sons and their families are also successful in business in this area. When I first settled here, there were a few underground coal mines and one open cut mine which did not appear to be a major problem to the surrounding environment. Since that time the cumulative affect of a myriad of open cut coal mines in this area has created a number of unacceptable problems for the residents of the Upper Hunter. Air quality has deteriorated considerably and creates a health hazard to all who live in the area. The consumption of our precious water resource to be pumped into a toxic void is a tragedy. The thought of opening up more mining, on such a massive scale, at a time when the majority of scientists are warning us that we need to be finding alternate sources of energy and moving away from coal beggars belief that this project is even being considered.
Enough is enough. I do not want to see this beautiful area destroyed. Some of my closest friends are already choosing to leave this area because of the destructive mining. Surly it's time to take the threat of climate change seriously and start knocking back these mega coal mine proposals for the good of the future of our grandchildren.
I am not a scientist nor an expert in any of these fields but I have read enough data written by the experts to understand that this development has the potential to cause major environmental damage

Please see attached submission for consideration

Submission Attached

Please refer to our detailed submission in the attachments.

The Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders Association objects to the Mount Pleasant Optimisation Project

I wish to object to the Mount Pleasant Optimisation Project on the following grounds:
1. the 2333 postcode is already rated as the most polluted in the State. With recent air quality exceedences of more than four times the NEPM guidelines for PM10 pollution I would argue that this area cannot possible sustain additional open cut mining. Further, I would argue that NO ADDITIONAL PROPOSALS SHOULD BE APPROVED without a though cumulative impact assessment of the air quality impacts of all existing approvals at full capacity (noting that a number of large projects such as Mount Arthur are producing well below their approved capacity.)
2. The Hunter Bioregional Assessment identified a shortfall of 5-12 gigalitre shortfall of water in the Hunter River if additional mines are approved beyond 2012 levels. Many of the potential proposals flagged in this assessment have already been approved. It is unacceptable to our community to approve further impacts. A contemporary cumulative assessment of water impacts is required immediately to update the advice of the Hunter Bioregional Assessment before any additional mining should be contemplated.
3. Air quality has deteriorated in the local area since the establishment of the current Mount Pleasant operations. This can be reasonably expected to exacerbate symptoms for vulnerable local people including asthmatics. It is not acceptable to approve further health impacts without a rigourous cumulative impact assessment and associated human health study.
4. Noise - my husband and I live north of Aberdeen in a direct line from Mount Pleasant and are already subject to the noise of this operation at night. It is unacceptable to extend these impacts in what is already an overcrowded and increasingly industrialised environment.
5. It is inconsistent with planning instruments - particularly the Hunter Regional Plan.
6. It fails to acknowledge the likely impacts of the shift in global coal consumption and climate action and the risk this proposes to realising the forecast benefits of the process.
7. The (what should be glaring) fact that adding the equivalent of an Adani's worth of production just 3km from more than 10,000 residents is not in any way in keeping with the objectives of the EP&A act.
Please refuse this proposal.

As a young, sixth generation resident of the Upper Hunter, I am writing to object to this proposal on the grounds that in no wats approval in no way delivers intergenerational equity.
Specifically, its water and air quality impacts, generational visual impacts, opportunity costs for other more sustainable industries, health impacts and obvious climate impacts will have lasting ramifications for people like me.
Please refuse this project.

I strongly oppose the Mount Pleasant project.
Musselbrook is already choking from coal fire dust. Do people not matter?
But above all no new coal mine nor expansion of a mine should be allowed if we have to meet our Paris target to reduce carbon emissions. What is it our leaders in coal mining or in parliament don’t get? The tide has turned.
We will be overwhelmed with stranded assets. There’s no jobs in coal anymore but plenty awaiting in renewable energy. Develop a much more sustainable Hunter Valley and visitors will flock. Humans need places of beauty and liveable landscapes, not horrible coal dust covered deserts.
I trust you will listen to sensible people who know the future of the planet is at stake here.
In hope.

I work in the hunter mining industry, and in the relatively short time I have been in the industry I have had the great experience of working with Mount Pleasant people.

They are passionate about our community, health and safety and about minimising the impacts of their operations.

I fully support this important project and the benefits it can bring to our community.

As a former resident of the Wybong community and current member of the Aberdeen community I vehemently object to this proposal.
I am a fourth generation resident and remember the time pre-1999 when our area wasn't a wasteland created by mining. The scale of development approved by your department is appalling and has had serious social and environmental impacts which our community has to deal with.
This specific proposal is totally unsuitable and will exacerbate the significant dust, water and health impacts our area is dealing with.
Valuable riverside land has been sterilised by the current Mt Pleasant operations and this proposal would limit the ability for this land to be revitalised in the next few years.
My future of my grandchildren are being put at risk by all of these impacts and the related climate change impacts of this proposal.
Enough is enough. It's time for the NSW Government to stop treating the Upper Hunter like an industrial dump!

It will probably be a waste of time and breath, but I'm writing to tell this Department (AGAIN) that I object to this proposal and others like it.
Our community doesn't need more mines - we need clear air, water for our farmers and a future for our kids.
It seems like the whole world gets that this industry is on the way out except the Dept of Planning!
The mount pleasant expansion is unwelcome, will create nothing more than dust, noise, a big hole to trap our water and a bunch of DIDO jobs for contractors that aren't even employed by the company.
Has the Dept even looked at the background of MACH? Links to child labour, problems with local people in PNG... this isn't the kind of company we want to have operating in our community!
Wake up. Refuse this proposal.

For the reasons set out in the attached letter we object to the proposal to expand the Mount Pleasant Mine.