Rix's Creek North Mine - Landform & Blasting Frequency Modification

Please refer to attached letter of support.

I support the proposed Modification 9 to the Rix’s Creek North Mine.
The proposed changes to the final landform with micro-relief will provide a surface that will have improved drainage with an associated improvement in the vegetation development and grazing potential for the final land use.
The micro-relief will enable runoff to be directed to surface dams for stock watering as well as benefiting native animals.
Additionally the landform with the micro-relief will appear more natural and integrate with the surrounding topography as opposed to the flat plateau currently approved and partially developed.
The proposed change to blasting requirements will allow flexibility to take advantage of the times when environmental conditions are in an optimal state to minimize the impacts on the surrounding community.
The proposed change to the allow exploration activities to be undertaken more efficiently is a benefit to the mine and the community as it will encourage more exploration and help stimulate the local economy.

Please refer to attachment

I strongly support the Rix's Creek North Project Modification 9. Please see attached.

Please find attached note of support

I support the project

I support the Rix's Creek North Mine - Modification 9 project.

I support Mod-9 as it will:
1. enhance the post mining landform and ensure biodiversity while providing productive agricultural land;
2. allow the increase in daily blast events (while maintaining the weekly limit) to occur under environmentally favourable conditions; and
3. aside from the minor modifications, the current approval remains the same.

Rix's Creek has recently afforded me a short term contract as an Environment Officer to cover for a maternity leave vacancy. This followed on from their generous offer to allow me to work in a casual capacity with them while completing my degree as a mature aged student at University of Newcastle last year. In the past 18 months the Environment department have given me a comprehensive overview of all aspects involved with ensuring we work hand in hand with our local community. I have personally been involved in a number of community consultations via letterbox drops to our closest neighbours and the Singleton Council Chambers covering a number of items.
The Mine as a whole is very proactive and focused on our rehabilitation of the land and returning the land form to a final land use, be that grazing land or tree over pasture. Being a part of the Environment team I have had the opportunity to watch and learn the best practice processes that Rix's Creek Mine incorporate with their rehabilitation and its management. This Mod 9 will allow the Rix's Creek mine to sculpt the land to assist drainage and rehabilitation as we move forward, creating a final land use of gently sloping grazing land.
Rix's Creek Mine, as part of the Bloomfield Group, performs regular monitoring of environmental conditions including mine noise, air quality, ground and surface water sampling and testing, weed management, blast monitoring etc as we strive to continue playing our part as a responsible member of the communities of Singleton and surrounding areas. These same processes will continue to be implemented when Mod 9 is approved and Rix’s Creek continue to rehabilitate the mine back to a after mine life final land use. From a personal point, I will be able to continue my education and increase my skills as an Environment Officer with the approval of Mod 9 as a part of a great team here at Rix's Creek mine.

I support this project as this development is one with only minor modifications from that which has already being granted approval. The final landform design will integrate with the surrounding natural landform.

I support the proposed modification as it;
- employs local people both directly and indirectly
- good for the economy
- provides training and learning for the next generation
- has excellent environment policies
- provides support for local community groups

I fully support this proposal that offers long term employment, training and security to many local families especially in today's dire times. I support the company's commitment to the environment and the safety of their employees and the community. I support the company's continued support of local community and sporting groups and charities.

I object to the project on three main points the Height of the overburden dump as this will increase the dust on our property which is across the road in an easterly direction. At the moment when the westerly winds blow we get a lot of dust from this mine, any increase is unacceptable (I am an asthmatic and this affects me) . The extra blasting will also increase the dust levels as well as the noise and shaking of the ground which over time affects the two residences we have on our property. Another concern is the area they are going to potentially explore and mine I would like to see more detail sent to us on this as this could also encroach on our current lifestyle. I would be happy to address the committee/ decision maker-s on any of these points and invite those involved to visit our property and see the dust levels for themselves. On some days if you wash your car by the time it is dry and ready to be put away there is a visible layer of dust on the vehicle. I thank you for your consideration and make myself available for discussions at any time.

Greg Cooper 0408162306

I would like to voice my support for the Rix’s Creek North Mine – Landform and Blasting Frequency Modification as is currently exhibited on the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment NSW Planning Portal.

Having reviewed the application and associated final landform visual projections, the impacts of the proposed 15 metre modification appear to be minor and in most examples provide an improvement over the original designs. The proposed final landform, being convex, appears to look much more natural and blend into the existing landscape far better than the flat plateau of the original design. The proposed changed landform will direct more rainwater into surface dams and streams reducing the amount of run off water “lost” to the final mining void, another positive.

The proposed option of having an additional blast event per day will allow the operation to optimise blasting so as to not only improve the operational efficiencies, but also to schedule blasts for environmental conditions when they will have lower impacts on the surrounding communities. I note the proposal does not ask to increase the total number of blasts permitted during each week, just the ability to optimise their timing.

Impacts on noise and dust appear to be unchanged from the existing approvals and there are no increase in production. The development remains substantially the same as what has been previously approved and the modifications requested

Having lived in the Singleton township for 25 years up until September 2019 and worked at Rixs Creek for 9 years, I can vouch for the companies’ genuine commitment to complying with the development guidelines and regulations that apply to their mining operations and to minimise the impact of the operation on their surrounding neighbours.

Please see attached response

Please see attached advice.

Please find the attached letter.

see attached letter