Mount Pleasant Optimisation Project

See attached for RR comments.

I object to this proposal. The Hunter Valley is becoming one enormous void an the mines eat huge chunks of it. The people of the Hunter have had enough of choking on the dust and seeing the fertile lands destroyed. The world has had enough. It is no longer radical to call for an end to coal mining. There are calls for no new coal mines and no expansion of existing ones from the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
The existential threat to our very civilisation becomes more real each day as polluters and governments fail to heed the warning of scientists.
What is needed in the Hunter, and what Hunter communities are crying out for is a just transition to sustainable, clean jobs. Jobs that are part of the solution, not that perpetuate the problem.

I think that without mining and specifically Mt Pleasant Operations, the social fabric of the Upper Hunter Valley would decline dramaticaly.
As tree changers,myself and my family moved to the Upper Hunter few years ago to find a more connected lifestyle.At first I found it difficult to find regular well paid work even as a qualified construction tradesman of thirty years.After doing some casual work in the mining sector I decided to apply for a mining operator traineeship.I completed the twelve month program and am now a full time employee.
My son who is currently in year ten at school, has ambitions to start his career journey at Mt Pleasant.He has seen what a family can achieve when permanent, full time, well paid work is available. If these opportunities were not available I know that not only my family but hundreds of others just like us would have our lifestyles effected negatively and would probably have to move away from regional NSW.Given the current trend of people wanting to move from densely populated areas to regional NSW,permanent fullime work needs to be available.Mt Pleasant offers these opportunities and along with other mining operations in the valley, have helped create a thriving,prosperous community in this region.I am grateful to be employed at Mt Pleasant Operation and i hope my son can get a rewarding career in mining just as i have.

I support the MACH Energy Australia (Mount Pleasant Mine) SSD application. Mount Pleasant currently has the most stringent consent conditions of any mine in the Hunter Valley . It is well managed and is proactive in all facets of its mining and offset compliances.
It contributes not only to the State and Muswellbrook revenue but also to the communities of Merriwa and Gunnedah where their Offset properties are located.
Without the VPA contributions from mining, townships like Muswellbrook and Singleton would not have the facilities currently afforded to them.
You do not see the racing industry contributing similar amounts of money to the community unless it directly involves racing, typically in this area race meetings like the Scone Cup. Of course the horse studs utilise the local road infrastructure, much of which is provided for through the mines local government contributions.
The Racing and Breeding industry will have you believe that they were "here first" - this is a fallacy. You only have to look at the history of the Muswellbrook region to note that mining, in particular coal mining, was established well before any horse studs were established. Names like Kayuga Coal Company and Muswellbrook Coal were here well before the 1900's. I truly believe that both industries can co-exist, they have done so before and I can see no reason why they can't into the future. Many coal miners and syndicates own and race thoroughbreds born and bred in the Upper Hunter Valley.
Many objections will come from persons who will make unfounded accusations, with little or no scientific base and who remain quite frankly unchallenged. Claims wide and far about the impact of mining, not only Mount Pleasant.
Some objectors/complainants fail to recognise other contributing factors when highlighting the impacts of the Mount Pleasant Mine such as location to rail and road infrastructure. Whilst their right to object/complain remains, consideration should also be given to the motives of such individuals.
Focussing on Mount Pleasant it provides employment for many people, the majority of whom are locally based. Wherever possible local companies are used in the
supply chain. Mount Pleasant's head office was relocated to Newcastle so that the focus can and will remain in the Hunter Valley.
Some will have you believe that coal mining is an ageing dinosaur with little life expectancy. This may or may not be true. However, the majority of analysts still see a future in coal for at least the next thirty (30) years. Mount Pleasant with its low strip ratio coal is in a position to ride out the highs and lows of the industry far better than other older, high ratio mines.
Please consider these comments when making you ruling.

I object to the Mount Pleasant Optimisation proposal and seek that an Independent Planning Commission reviews the proponents technical reports, particular water and final void impacts, Hunter River impacts, and cumulative impacts particularly on water, air quality and dust. This is not a straightforward or simple extension of activities – it is increased rate of activities with expansion of mining. We need more time to properly consider this new proposal and its impacts on our future, our businesses and community – 4 weeks is not enough time to expect individuals, farmers and small businesses to get across over 6,500 pages of technical information. The mining company takes years to prepare these documents and has deep pockets and access to experts. We do not. It must be remembered that for the people this mine negatively impacts – it is not their day job to monitor and respond to ongoing and draining government mining proposals. If the Department and Government were genuine about community consultation they should give us enough time to respond.Previously the EPA and Department of Health during the Modification assessment criticised the proposal for discharge in to the Hunter and cumulative air quality deterioration. An acceleration and expansion will increase all impacts.

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.

Thiess is in full support of the Mount Pleasant Optimisation Project and looks forward to contributing to the long-term success of the Mount Pleasant Operation and Hunter region.

As an employee of the Mount Pleasant Operation, this role has provided me with stable employment for the last 3 years, this has helped provide a stable and comfortable home life for my family. MPO is also very active amongst the local community and support a wide range of sporting groups, educational and health awareness campaigns as well as pathways for local Indigenous residents to upskill / work in industries that they would otherwise be overlooked.

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If this is not approved I may have to leave the area to find work as mining is my only skill set. We are a family who live locally and job security is of the up most importance to us as we need it to live. If it does not get approved we will have to relocate and support a town that supports us.

i object to the mine expansion at Mt Pleasant. as my family has just bought property in the town of Muswellbrook we want the air to be as clean as possible. this mine will only make the air quality worse. with the clean energy revolution we are hoping that all the mines in the area will close down very soon. opening up this one is totally unacceptable and crazy. as you should know that coal dust is a toxic substance that is harmful to the health of people. so it is your responsibility to not do anything that harms peoples health.

Good for the local economy.

I object to this project as there is already too much coal mining in the region leading to unacceptable pollution levels. What is needed is development that will lead to sustainable jobs in the Hunter region that will replace the declining coal industry.

With global warming having such a bad impact on the environment in so many ways and the world inexorably moving towards zero global emissions, it is NOT the time to open a new mine or expand the scope of any current mine!! Mount Pleasant is a new mine but it’s already planning a big expansion, with the owner Mach Energy wanting to expand the mine and get approval to operate beyond 2040.

The mine already looms visibly over Muswellbrook. If it expands, it will further empty the rural community at Kayuga, increase air pollution for Aberdeen and Muswellbrook and produce mountainous, ugly spoil piles visible from idyllic Scone. With Muswellbrook already copping air pollution that breaches national standards, an intensification of open cut mining on the edge of town is bound to make the situation worse.

Approval of the Mount Pleasant mine would be a retrograde step for NSW and the world climate!

As it has been scientifically proven that coal is an unsustainable industry financially and environmentally. I object to the Mount Pleasant Optimisation project. It also being the case that the local community is apposed to this project for health reasons. It would be in the Governments best interest to pay attention to community needs and concerns. The Government should ensure that no permissions are granted to extend the life span or capacity of this [Mount Pleasant] coal mine or any other coal mine.
kind regards Mike.v

It is outrageous, that in the face of our knowledge that mining and burning more coal is the last thing we should be doing to have any chance of surviving climate change, yet another proposal to increase CO2 output is being raised. There must be no expansion of existing mines and no new mines. The threat to residents in the immediate area of this mine begins even before any of the coal is burned. Air pollution from the mining process and coal dust distribution is already seriously affecting residents, with emissions already breaching guidelines. This project must not be approved.

I will keep my submission brief:
Mt. Pleasant is a new coal mine. Already the owners are asking to expand it.
We should be transitioning from coal. We do not need new coal or expanded mines.
In addition to the danger coal usage presents to our specie's very existence, taxpayers will probably be contributing to the ongoing costs of the mine and definitely, we will be footing the bill for remediation. Just as problematic is the risk of a stranded "asset" as coal use winds down, hopefully, much quicker in the future with new, ecologically safe technologies, coming online.

It brings many jobs to the local area. It provides income for local businesses. Australia needs the income from Coal.

Although Mt Pleasant is a new mine they are already planning a big expansion which must be rejected for the sake of Muswellbrook and its environs. The mine already looms visibly over Muswellbrook and any expansion will seriously increase the air pollution for Aberdeen and Muswellbrook and further empty the rural community of Kayuga. The monstrous ugly spoil dumps will also be visible from Scone. Muswellbrook already has air pollution that breaches national standards and any intensification of mining in the area can only increase this pollution. The region has already suffered enough from unchecked mining and it is time to diversify the regional economy. This project is far too risky and should not be approved. People's lives and health and clean air must come first. On my last trip to the region I was horrified to see the damage already done in the region by mining ventures and strongly believe that any further mining is completely unacceptable.

I write this letter to object to the expansion of the Mt Pleasant mine.

I live and work in the Upper Hunter and belong to a vibrant and sustaining community. I have raised and had my children educated in this region. In this district, there are so many breathtakingly beautiful places, made so much more spectacular subsequent to this amazing season we’re all enjoying. I understand that we now have significant numbers of people moving from our Capital cities (a ‘silver-lining’ consequence of COVID-19) to live and enjoy the best of what this region has to offer. I believe we’re placing all this optimism, our futures, our health and well-being at great risk should mines such as Mount Pleasant, be given the green light to further expand.

I understand this project intends to extend the life of open cut mining operations to 2048; extract an additional 247 million tonnes through mining of deeper coal seams with expansion in a northerly direction to currently unmined areas; and increase train numbers and volume carried.

It is my understanding that this would effectively be a doubling of coal extraction from the mine. I note that there are upwards of 40 open cut coal mines in the Hunter Valley. Each new mine proposal is considered in a stand-alone manner throughout the planning process. This does not allow for adequate assessment of the cumulative impacts of each new mine or mine expansion on the air quality, water resources, visual amenity, social fabric and health & wellbeing of the communities of the Upper Hunter region.

The visual impacts from the currently approved Mt Pleasant mine are stark and impossible to ignore. I understand that the eastern spoil pile of the mine will be 100m higher, and if this expansion project is approved, will be visible from Scone.
The legacy being left by open cut coal mining in the Upper Hunter is nothing short of tragic. The communities of this region are experiencing, and will be left with environmental degradation on a scale that no other community in NSW is being subjected to.

There exists a real and substantiated RISK to the quality of our air and water supply for those of us living in the Upper Hunter (UH) should mining expansion occur. That if allowed to expand and continue, there will be long-term further negative consequences for our social and natural environments. The cumulative impacts from the already existing multiple mines in the UH already significantly impact our environments – additional mining will see a tipping point reached, where we cannot rectify the damage done.

The Scientific community have been warning us all, for many years, that we cannot continue burning fossil fuel. Concurrently there is a global trend to move away from the mining and burning of fossil fuels. Why then do we continue to want to expand this industry here? It seems so sensible and simple, surely we must think long-term and at minimum, consider a risk mitigation approach.


Indigenous and other wise people from around the world have always seen their role as 'care-taker', to contribute to community and land and leave behind a better place for generations to come. I feel so overwhelmed when I think about my local community’s future – I tend to think big. We are one, small, amazing blue planet in an infinitesimal universe – we all share it. If we don’t look after our home, our community, our nation, our WORLD - we ALL loose!

Change needs to start somewhere – I am hoping that expansion of this mine, in my back yard, is NOT approved. I truly hope that those decision makers who will consider the risk Vs benefits, will think long-term. That this decision might mark a new beginning. That our collective brilliant minds and actions can begin to work toward valuing and caring for this beautiful place that sustains us all now, and for all those generations to follow.

I am a local to the Hunter Valley and currently work at Mount Pleasant. Having grown up in Singleton and now established a Family of my own with two young children, Mount Pleasant will give me and my family the opportunity to remain settled. The same goes for the current workforce and the increase in workforce as the project expands into a successful and sustainable operation.

With such a large local workforce and potential to increase if the project is approved the gains will not only be for the local community but NSW and our country. It will deliver vast amounts of indirect jobs, spending and new opportunities that will benefit many.

Mount Pleasant is at the forefront of mine rehabilitation in the Hunter Valley and this has been the case since the operation commenced in 2017. I am Proud to be apart of this and look forward to continuing to improve the operation for Muswellbrook and the local community in the many years to come.

With arguably the greatest coal deposit in the region that will be well established by the year 2026 it would be a waste to have this operation stop after all the hard work has been done. The pit is established, dump profiling will continue to lead the way and by 26’ the operation continues to move further away from the township.

The operation safely and responsibly follows the strict environmental guidelines imposed under the current consent and EPL and under continuous improvement will only get better.

The continuation of the Mount Pleasant operation is a great opportunity. The pros outweigh any cons and I look forward to remaining in the Hunter Valley a part of the Mount Pleasant Operation.