Mount Pleasant Optimisation Project

Dear Sir / Madam

Friends of the Upper Hunter Inc is a not for profit community organisation comprised of Upper Hunter residents including parents, grandparents, doctors, teachers, allied health professionals, farmers, tradespeople, business people and even miners.
We are not anti mining but we and our members are firmly of the view that the Upper Hunter cannot safely sustain any additional mining at this time.
We are also of the view that cumulative impact assessments should urgently be conducted to understand the air quality, water, human health and other impacts that have already been approved by your Dept in approving the doubling of production of coal from our region in the period from 1999 to present.
This cumulative impact assessments must inform a sensible and comprehensive economic, social and environmental plan for our region.
No additional proposals should be approved in the absence of these assessments and the related plan, including this proposal (which is the equivalent in production to the now notorious Adani mine - but which is located within 10km of more than 15000 residents and immediately adjacent the Hunter region's most important water supply).
We refer you to the many reasonable concerns we have raised regarding other similar proposals, around social, environmental and economic impacts which this and other proposals will create.
More than 20,000 objections have been raised with your Dept and the IPC by our community since 2008. Despite this, we are not aware of a single instance where your Dept has recommended that a Hunter mining proposal be rejected. Now, in the face of overwhelming global understanding of the need to transition away from coal and in the face of the significant impacts which your Dept already has ample evidence of, is the time to do the right thing.
Specifically in relation to this proposal we and our members are concerned about the following negative impacts:
- dust
- noise
-visual pollution
- reputational and other impacts to other important industries, particularly farming, tourism and horse breeding
- social dislocation
- human health impacts
- infrastructure access issues related to its large DIDO workforce
- concerns regarding the environmental track record of the local Mount Pleasant operations and of MACH Energy internationally
- concerns regarding the local cultural heritage
- concerns regarding the final void
- the potential inability of this proponent to deliver claimed benefits or to fulfil their social and environmental obligations in the face of deteriorating market conditions
- climate change impacts
- impacts for future generations
- continuing impacts to the rural way of life in the Upper Hunter
- impacts to biodiversity.

Please reject this proposal.

Sincerely
Kirsty O'Connell
Committee Member
for
Friends of the Upper Hunter Inc

I object to this submission due to the impact it will have on our immediate environment.

I strongly object to the expansion of the Mt Pleasant mine. I live in Aberdeen and we are currently experiencing noise and excess coal dust from mines in the area. Any subsequent mining in my view is detrimental to health and well being of people living in the town and those on the land. Why is government allowing the rape of arable Hunter land? Is the government not looking forward to when the food bowl of Australia will be come non-existent due to excess mining.

Please see attached submission.

I support the Mount Pleasant Optimisation Project for the following reasons:
- If the project doesn't go ahead the current direct workforce will lose their jobs including myself.
- If the project doesn't go ahead approximately 300 additional future job opportunities will be lost.
- The project brings major capital works and ongoing operating expenditure which support businesses.
- Mt Pleasant will contribute billions of dollars in royalties and tax contributions.
- Mt Pleasant has spent significant time and effort developing a rehabilitated landform (in collaboration with universities and specialists) that will outperform other mines in the area.
- Mt Pleasant will achieve best practice in all areas of mining as this is what needs to be done for a sustainable future in the industry.
- There is a coal demand gap that will need to be filled if Mt Pleasant Optimisation project doesn't go forward with other mines in the area getting closer to end of life.
- Mt Pleasant supplies a cleaner coal than most countries it supplies, which will only be replaced by an inferior coal that will contribute to increased greenhouse gas emissions.

I am concerned about the negative effects mining is having, and that this mine will have, on our community and environment.

Commissioners,
I am writing to object to the Mount Pleasant optimisation project. The mining and thoroughbred industries have been coexisting for some time. However the continuing expansion of mining footprint around the Hunter Valley threatens that existence. Every IPC hearing related to this issue bears witness to stories of stymied investment in the thoroughbred industry owing to the negative impacts and perception of mining impacts. Practical measures such as 10k buffers have never been countenanced and instead it is left to ordinary people and businesses to fight to maintain their status quo. At close quarters these are incongruous industries owing to the negative air quality and visual impacts of mines. The risks are too great and the the benefits accrued by the mining operators should not `be at the expense of the thoroughbred industry and neighbouring community. Thank you for your time.

Des Hernon

Please see attached submission in objection to the Proposal.

To whoever it may concern,
I would like to make this submission to object to the Mt Pleasant Optimisation Project.
My family and I live approximately 7km to the north of the Mount Pleasant mine.
My objection is simply based on the current licence having adverse effects on our property.
This relates to two main areas: dust and noise.
When I am working in my paddock I have a clear line of sight to the Mt Pleasant mine. On a number of occasions in the last few months I have photographed large plumes of dust moving over the town of Muswellbrook or heading towards Aberdeen. These dust plumes dissipate quickly. Sometimes I don't get a chance to photograph them, or get a clear photograph. It happens often and I have repeatedly requested the EPA to set up more stringent monitoring, because, you know, they are the pollution, not me or any other resident. When they have been reported to the EPA, the EPA say because they are operating within the conditions of consent, there is effectively nothing they can do. When I have spoken to the Mt Pleasant people, they say the same - ultimately they have a legal right to do what they are doing.
Basically, the conditions of consent are so loose, Mt Pleasant have a legal right to cover Aberdeen and Muswellbrook in dust. This can be backed up by not only my own photographs, but also air quality reports.
In regards to noise, I have had several instances now when work is being conducted in the furthest northern pit, that sound is audible at my house.
Of course, this won't trip any sound level meters, but it sounds like a train is constantly approaching, or an aircraft, and it simply doesn't fit in with the rural environment.
This sound will go on for up to 72 hours at a time. You can't help but notice it and it eventually becomes very annoying.
But, like the dust issue, Mount Pleasant are legally entitled to do this.
I object to any ongoing mining based on these problems that they have admitted they don't need to do anything about, because they are operating within the loose conditions of consent.
This is supposed to be a rural area, not heavy industrial. The prevailing winds are from the west and south, or a combination, so it is very likely that any dust generated will cover the town. Any further extension to the mining activity will only make these existing problems from the current operation worse.
The IPC must take into account that the current licence conditions are causing problems.
Fair and reasonable licence conditions need to be set, not a rubber stamp that allows further devastation so close to town, and certainly not an extension.

Regards, Matthew O'Connell

I strongly object to this project. Extending the life of an open cut mine by 22 years and doubling the coal output is unacceptable when we are facing catastrophic climate change and need to rapidly transition to a carbon neutral economy.
In addition, the project will contribute to poor air quality in the Muswellbrook area which is already experiencing particulate levels that exceed the NEPM and in a community with higher vulnerability to health stressors. Actions need to be taken to improve air quality in the region rather than worsen it.

I fully support MACH’s proposal to extract additional coal reserves within existing Mount Pleasant Operation Mining Leases and an increase in the rate of coal extraction.

The main contributing factors of my decision are:
- The Australian economy continues to rely on coal as a source of affordable and reliable electricity.
- The high-quality thermal coal within the Mount Pleasant Operation Mining Leases ideally matches the requirements for modern, high efficiency coal-fired power plants.
- The characteristics of the high-quality thermal coal within the Mount Pleasant Operation Mining Leases can lead to reduced emissions when compared to the use of lower-quality coal from other exporters.
- The increase in coal extraction does not significantly increase the total disturbance footprint due to the use and upgrade of existing and approved infrastructure at the mine site.
- The operation has offset the biodiversity impacts of its mine, with over 12,000 hectors of offset properties.
- The project would provide for the continuation of employment of the existing workforce and near double the workforce required over the extended life of the mine.
- The project would continue to support a high number of local businesses within Muswellbrook and the surrounding Hunter Region.
- The Project would invest approximately $950 million in capital expenditure within the Hunter Region at a time when investment is greatly needed.
- The Project would generate a significant net benefit to the State of NSW and will play a vital part in contributing to the state’s recovery from COVID-19.

In conclusion, I strongly believe the Project to be in the public interest of the State of NSW, the Hunter Valley, and the local communities.

I support this project due to my ongoing employment with Thiess. Living in Scone, this extension would mean the survival of many of these local communities due to the flow on effects with the additional workers moving into the region. More economic growth would enable us to have access to better facilities within these communities, keeping many families such as mine here. My 3 children go to school locally and many of their friends parents either directly or indirectly rely on mines such as Mt Pleasant on income.
Not approving the new extension would be a major backwards step for the region, in particular with what has been going on the world with Covid-19. Our industry was one of the only industries not to put anyone off. I know of many families who would have to leave the area if this does not go ahead, which would impact many of these smaller communities immensely.
The region needs this proposal to go forward for everyone involved otherwise it could spell the end for many small businesses and communities would ultimately suffer economically with remaining locals paying the price.

I would like you to accept this submission.
I am concerned about the cumulative impacts of coal mining in the Upper Hunter.
There are problems with the following:
AIR POLLUTION ; Does not meet National standards. Its impact is observed and recognised through local respiratory issues, being much higher than average. There are also higher birth defects in our region.
GROUND WATER ; A reduction of base flow into the Hunter river resulting in significant long term loss for irrigation and the environment. The water will instead drain into the final void creating a toxic lake.
VISUAL ; The spoil piles will change the natural beauty of our area. The Upper Hunter is a regional area based on agriculture and tourism, which are sustainable, and need to be preserved as future industries. Coal is short term.
The world is moving away from coal ,due to our CLIMATE EMERGENCY. We need to be responsible.
The extension of this mine SHOULD NOT BE APPROVED.

Dear Minister of Planning,

I am writing to you as a resident of Muswellbrook for the past 50 years.

Please say no to this extension. Presently, there are three coal mines on the doorstep of town and accessing the Hunter River , which is the main water source for a number of towns.

Since Mount Pleasant was allowed to go ahead , the town is frequently swathed in a blanket of sulphuric gas from the blasting. This poses a significant threat to people with respiratory conditions. and allergies. Our own local council did not want this mine to be approved nor did our doctors, due to legitimate concerns of the impact to the health of the community. The air quality and dust levels in Muswellbrook are regularly poor. Many homes have structural damage due to mine blasting; Mt Arthur Coal Mine is less than 2 kilometres away from my home and the damage is costly to repair. Minister, I’d like to invite you to spend a week in town and see what it’s really like. You cannot fathom it from a pass through trip or your offices in Sydney. We have enough mines for now. Furthermore, there is nowhere for more workers to go with all towns at zero vacancy rates. Local townspeople are homeless as properties are being taken up by FIFO workers- so much for local employees- and there is no where to rent. We don’t need this extension now . Please give it 5 years at least before they can extend this mine. We really don’t need it right now.

Fiona Leedham