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State Significant Development

Determination

Mount Pleasant Optimisation Project

Muswellbrook Shire

Current Status: Determination

Interact with the stages for their names

  1. SEARs
  2. Prepare EIS
  3. Exhibition
  4. Collate Submissions
  5. Response to Submissions
  6. Assessment
  7. Recommendation
  8. Determination

Extend the life of the open cut operation by mining deeper coal seams, using existing and proposed new infrastructure.

Attachments & Resources

Notice of Exhibition (1)

Request for SEARs (2)

SEARs (13)

EIS (48)

Response to Submissions (3)

IESC (2)

Agency Advice (25)

Amendments (2)

Additional Information (26)

Recommendation (3)

Determination (3)

Approved Documents

There are no post approval documents available

Note: Only documents approved by the Department after November 2019 will be published above. Any documents approved before this time can be viewed on the Applicant's website.

Complaints

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Enforcements

There are no enforcements for this project.

Inspections

9/04/2021

16/03/2022

Note: Only enforcements and inspections undertaken by the Department from March 2020 will be shown above.

Submissions

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Showing 161 - 180 of 267 submissions
Dams Safety NSW
Comment
Parramatta , New South Wales
Message
Attachments
Michelle Eckersley
Support
SCONE , New South Wales
Message
I would like to register my support for the Mount Pleasant Optimisation Project. If successful this project would significantly contribute to the local and state economy, whilst undertaking progressive rehabilitation using geofluvial design principals to ensure post-mining land use is compatible with the local surrounding land uses and conservation efforts. This project would provide an approximate additional 300 jobs on top of the current workforce of 300. Whilst the peak full-time equivalent positions would rise from 380 to 830. This would provide long term employment stability for many families who live in the Hunter and Upper Hunter; which in turn would assist in supporting the viability of the local communities.

To date The Mount Pleasant Operation has demonstrated its commitment to undertaking progressive rehabilitation and its involvement in the local community. This project would allow the Mount Pleasant Operation to continue to support the local community and suppliers for an additional 20+ plus years while continuing best practice mine rehabilitation ensuring the site is integrated into the broader landscape.
Ausgrid
Comment
Sydney , New South Wales
Message
Attachments
NSW Rural Fire Service
Comment
GRANVILLE , New South Wales
Message
Attachments
Department of Regional NSW - Primary Industries
Comment
,
Message
Please see attached submissions from the Department of Primary Industries:
- Agriculture; and
- Animal Welfare Unit.
Attachments
Name Withheld
Object
LINDFIELD , New South Wales
Message
I object to the project on multiple grounds as follows:

Air and noise: The mine is already causing noise and air pollution nuisance as the complaints register shows. Muswellbrook is experiencing air quality that well exceeds national standards. This expansion will greatly increase increase the disturbed area and thereby the impacts on the town and surrounding areas. I am also concerned that the higher spoil piles will trap pollutants in the town of Muswellbrook and further exacerbate the air and noise pollution. This needs to be carefully studied and considered.

Climate: Mach Energy is now proposing extraction of approximately 247 Mt of additional run of mine coal. The estimated greenhouse gas emissions over the life of the mine if this goes ahead are 860 million tonnes. We are already at 1C warming. Greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced now. Further emissions as from this proposal cannot be allowed and at the same time expect that we will still have a hospitable climate for future generations.

Visual impact: the eastern spoil pile will be 100m higher and will be visible from Scone, let alone the impact on Muswellbrook and on Aberdeen. There is also the impact on dust and noise pollution to be considered as above.

Strategic context and justification: Upper Hunter has an economic strategy that focuses on agriculture and tourism. Muswellbrook needs investment in economic diversification and further entrenchment of mining obstructs this investment and potentially causes issues for water availability.

Water: Cumulative 10m drawdown is predicted in the Hunter River alluvium and the impact of the mine on water resources, including the alluvium and Dartbrook will worsen after mining ceases. This will have negative impact for existing and future agricultural water uses.

Social impact: There are 30 privately-owned rural residences or parcels of land with the right to acquisition upon request because of intolerable air and noise pollution. The social impact assessment acknowledges the flow-on impact this will have on the social fabric and volunteer organisations like the RFS.

Thank you for considering these issues.
Kiran Kashyap
Object
BARDWELL PARK , New South Wales
Message
Expanding the service of this coal mine is completely irresponsible for economic, ecological and social reasons. I object to the optimisation and urge for it to be considered by the independent planning commission.
Tasman Miller
Object
MARRICKVILLE , New South Wales
Message
No need for more coal mines, money should be put into renewable energy options.
D Williamson
Object
WAMBERAL , New South Wales
Message
I reject the application to increase the rate of extraction and extension of the life of the Mt. Pleasant mine at Muswellbrook. The following reasons for my rejection of this application are fivefold:
i) Biodiversity: Australian woodland ecosystems are collapsing (See The Conversation reference below). The Great Eastern Ranges Initiative 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.
 The mine site includes two threatened fauna species, the striped legless lizard (Pteropus poliocephalus and the squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) and the tiger orchid (Cymbidium canaliculatum), which belongs to the endangered Hunter population.
 The threatened ecological community, under the EPBC Act, consists of 3 Plant Community Types (PCT)- Grey box x Whitebox grassy woodland (45Ha), Forest Redgum grassy open forest and White box, Narrow leaved Ironbark and Blakely’s Redgum are found on the site.
ii) Cultural: Indigenous artefacts have been found all over the mine site, evidence of significant occupation.
iii) Air pollution: This mine is NW and directly upwind of Muswellbrook and only a few kilometres away. The prevailing wind is from the NW. Muswellbrook already experiences air quality that does not meet national standards and air pollution is the most obvious and serious health impact experienced and recognised in town. Doubling production until 2048 can be expected to seriously exacerbate this problem. 
iv) Groundwater: It is estimated 32 million litres will be lost initially from the Hunter River each year. The groundwater impact assessment estimates the cumulative drawdown up to 10m near Kayuga. The long-term reduction from base flow into the rivers is predicted to be 40 million litres every year. This may seem like a small amount but in the context of climate change, this may be a significant long-term loss of volume no longer available for irrigation or the environment. The water, instead of flowing down the river, will drain into the mine and after closure flow into the final void. There it will evaporate, concentrating dissolved salt, forever.
v) Climate Emergency: This proposal is not merely an extension in time of already approved mining: MACH is now proposing extraction of approximately 247 Mt of additional run of mine coal, which doubles output. 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 1.50C. If Australia is to comply with it's undertakings under the 2018 Paris climate agreement, this application must be rejected.

D J Williamson B. Sc., Dip. Ed., M. Env.


Reference:
https://theconversation.com/existential-threat-to-our-survival-see-the-19-australian-ecosystems-already-collapsing-154077#:~:text=We%20found%2019%20Australian%20ecosystems,and%20moss%20beds%20in%20Antarctica.
Hunter Environment Lobby Inc
Object
EAST MAITLAND , New South Wales
Message
Please advise of receipt of our submission by return email
Attachments
Name Withheld
Object
SCONE , New South Wales
Message
I object to the "Mount Pleasant Optimisation Project" due to the negative impacts upon our local environment in terms the following:
Serious health issues of air pollution and damage to the local water supply covering a wide area of the Upper Hunter;
Destruction of valuable farming land, our limited areas of forest and habitat for local wildlife and damage to other industries such as tourism including areas of cultural significance.
Local lifestyle which will be very much affected by the large area of land to be mined undoubtedly having a huge visual impact on existing communities.
Current plans worldwide to gradually move away from mining to more sustainable industry and power sources including solar and wind and our obligation to future generations to reduce pollution and protect our existing rural areas while developing industries which will aid the environment and also provide ongoing employment and positive lifestyles.
Therefore, I believe that the expansion of this mine is a backward step which will negatively affect local communities and create complex issues for the future of the Upper Hunter.
Name Withheld
Object
MUSWELLBROOK , New South Wales
Message
To whom it may concern:

I would like to express my objection to the NSW Project of the Encroachment of Mount Pleasants mine in the Upper Hunter. I am a house wife with no political affiliations.

When my husband and I first moved to the Hunter 10 years ago it was a bustling town, the average temperature, humidity and allergen levels were perfect for someone like me with asthma and an auto-immune disease.
It was a safe bustling town and we bought a house in North Muswellbrook with beautiful views to the valley along Kayuga.

10 years have passed and a lot has changed especially since the start of Mount Pleasant Operations in 2017.
The shops in the main street are empty, business struggle to keep open, there are no jobs or affordable housing for locals; the Real Estates give preference to tenants that work in the mines and these rather spent their earnings in their hometown, to which most of them return on the weekends; There is not much future for our youth and everyday you hear of another brake-in.
The views from our house have now changed to a baren, man-made mountain in a constant cloud of dust. My white house and any patio furniture left out are covered in thick black dust; I can't hang the washing out anymore and have to be on daily puffers to be able to breathe.

Im sure there are regulations in place to protect us from the air pollution and to fine the mines when the dust levels are exceeded but the result of those fines are not given to the local government for the people that have to deal with the consequences of the mines infringement.
Also, the current system in place is not policed enough and doesn’t work as a deterrent since probably in most cases it would be more expensive for the mine to shut down operations for the day than to pay a fine of 30.000$.
It appears to me that with no significant changes in place allowing the Encroachment of the Mount Pleasant mine would only make this, above mentioned conditions, worsen and therefore should not be approved.
Kind Regards
Name Withheld
Support
DARLINGTON , New South Wales
Message
I am proud to have been part of the development of Mount Pleasant Operation since September 2017 as part of the Thiess team, working closely with Mach Energy to deliver sustainable, best practice mining operations with uncompromising environmental and safety standards. The reason I support the project include but are not limited to the fact that;
* The mining workforce are predominantly local residents (+80%) with a strong level of diversity within the workforce.
* The work culture on-site is a positive one with a strong focus on team-members being happy to promote the site as a great place to work. We have brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, fathers and sons working together due solely to team members advocating the project as a great place to work.
* An excellent safety record has assisted to build a strong workplace culture. To date no lost time injuries in the mining operation since the project commenced in mid 2017.
* The post-mining landform that is industry best practice. First rehabilitation was completed before first coal was mined. First rehab was completed approx 7 months before the first coal was railed off-site. Feedback from regulators and stakeholders has been heartwarming to the teams completing the work given the passion for delivering a more visually appealing, natural post mining landscape compared with other operations. 60 hectares delivered up to June 30 2020 and another 37 hectares planned by June 30 2021.
* Use of real team monitoring tools to minimise the impact of the operation on neighbours. Noise, dust and lighting are all monitored in the field by supervisors.
* The project is delivering significant social and community benefits through employment, procurement and training.
* The fundamentals of the project, specifically the deposit, are that each coal tonne extracted from MPO has a smaller carbon footprint than all other projects in the area. The deposit also has a long mine mine life supporting base load power generation as our economy transitions to renewables.

I am in full support of the application and look forward to contributing to the long-term success of the Mount Pleasant Operation via industry best practice mining and rehabilitation.
Name Withheld
Object
Artarmon , New South Wales
Message
Attachments
Melanie Parker
Support
MUSWELLBROOK , New South Wales
Message
I support the project.
Yvonne Castellana
Support
MUSWELLBROOK , New South Wales
Message
I support the Mount pleasant operations project as it brings jobs to the local community.
Paul Adams
Object
MIDDLE BROOK , New South Wales
Message
I object to the proposal because of the cumulative impact and because it is counter to our Paris Climate Accord obligations
Joanne Ufer
Support
SINGLETON HEIGHTS , New South Wales
Message
I write this submission to support the Mount Pleasant Optimisation Project as both an employee and a resident of the Hunter region. I have worked on the project since October 2017. This project has provided me with the opportunity to continue and progress my career in the mining sector as I did in Queensland prior to relocation to NSW in 2016. The prospect of being able to see out my working life at Mount Pleasant excites me as I have been witness to how the project has already so successfully evolved over the last few years. Although I live in Singleton, I often support local businesses in Muswellbrook shopping, medical appoitments, buying fuel etc. Working at a residential mine so close to home also allows me valued time to spend with family and friends which is so important. Another highlight of working at Mount Pleasant has been to see the outstanding job on rehabilitation completed to date adding such aesthetic value to the local landscape. To look from the township of Muswellbrook towards Mount Pleasant instills in me such pride to be part of, and involved with companies such as MACH Energy and Thiess who are so passionate about the environment and their local community.

I have seen first hand the way in which both MACH Energy and Thiess as the Mining Contractor remain committed to such things as community consultation at each stage of the mine and community involvement by sponsoring many events and donating to great causes across the Hunter region. This is a coal mine and from time to time complaints will be made, but I have seen these complaints always treated seriously and every effort is made and continues to be made to mitigate events such as dust and noise and blasting events. I see daily how the team plans and works actively to continuously improve and minimise the impact the mine operations has on local residents.

The approval of this project to continue mining will ensure the ongoing creation of jobs and opportunities for many across the region, local businesses will be supported, local schools and charities will benefit and the community as a whole will benefit for years to come.
Amy Paynter
Support
MUSWELLBROOK , New South Wales
Message
The town of Muswellbrook's business owners would depend on this projects approval and for my family without approval of this project we would have to move away from Muswellbrook as we would no longer have employment.
Kylie Jones
Object
NELSON BAY , New South Wales
Message
This area is already subjected to air pollution that breaches national standards. We need an end to coal and a transition to new jobs. New technology is cleaner than coal, it is cheaper than coal. It will provide more jobs than coal. The sooner we change the more opportunities we will have.

Pagination

Project Details

Application Number
SSD-10418
EPBC ID Number
2020/8735
Assessment Type
State Significant Development
Development Type
Coal Mining
Local Government Areas
Muswellbrook Shire
Decision
Approved
Determination Date
Decider
IPC-N

Contact Planner

Name
Joe Fittell