Vickery Mine Extension

I n making a submission to the extension of the coal mine, I object for
the following reasons:
1: By increasing coal production Australia is continueing to fail
meeting its international carbon emission obligations under the 2016
Paris Agreement.
2: The latest IPCC report into global warming indicates all fossil
fuel carbon emissions must be stopped as a matter of urgency if
warming is to be kept within 1.5 degrees. I have kids and want to hand
them a future which is environmentally friendly, rather than hostile.
3:The proposed placement of the pits now come close to the edge of the
Namoi's alluvial aquifer, the productive groundwater that underlies
the river, and feeds it. The pits will induce leakage from the
alluvial aquifer and the Namoi River itself.
4:The area adjacent to the proposed mine is strategic agricultural
land and the impacts of dust and noise will make this land unliveable
and likely impact the quality of crops grown there.
5: Already, 76 family farms have been purchased by Whitehaven in close
proximity to the town of Boggabri. This has hollowed out the township,
affected local businesses and rent the social fabric of the district.
This proposal will mean more rural properties bought up because of air
and noise pollution, irreversibly changing Boggabri.
6: Whitehaven already has an approval for a mine at the site, but with
this project the company wants to more than double the volume of coal
it mines every year, to 10 million tonnes. The infrastructure the
company is proposing has larger capacity than the proposed mine, and
farmers know from bitter experience that coal mines tend to grow...

Not only is the mining of this prime agricultural land short-sighted,
providing short term gain for irreparable loss, it actually harms
people as well as the environment. The possibility of permanent damage
of aquifers is too high to risk. The contribution to climate change is
significant, and unprincipled. Rather than extending coal mines,
government should be reducing them.

This proposed coal mine is not in the best interests of the local farmers
and graziers, nor is it in the best interests of the citizens of New
South Wales. It is a threat to the viability of farming for
generations to come, with unknowable impacts on the water table and
aquifers, which cannot be undone, once they occur.
There is no compelling evidence of long-term benefit to communities
where mining is the principal economic activity; indeed, once the
mines are depleted, those communities face slow deaths, since mining
does not lead to the development of other sustainable activities. The
only benefits derived flow to the mining companies and their
shareholders, and to the state government in the form of pathetic
royalties, a near-farcical level of return on the resources to their
owners, the citizens of this state and nation.

At a time in the world's history when most countries are moving away from
destructive mining - affecting farmland like the Namoi area, people's
health and their livelihoods - NSW politicians look myopically towards
our complete destruction. Global warming is a reality; farmers are
real; ill health from polluted water from mining is a reality. If the
world continues to heat, everyone is affected, including politicians
and mine owners. There are alternative energy sources. It's time
mining companies looked to them instead of destroying the only planet
that is habitable. Start with the Namoi region by protecting it. It's
for farming food!

Whitehaven already has an approval for a mine at the site, but with this
project the company wants to more than double the volume of coal it
mines every year, to 10 million tonnes. The infrastructure the company
is proposing has larger capacity than the proposed mine, and farmers
know from bitter experience that coal mines tend to grow...
The company proposes a new rail crossing over the Namoi River and
floodplain and a new large coal handling facility that can process
coal from other mines in the region.
Thanks to the efforts of farmers fighting the mine, Whitehaven was
forced to move its pits a little further away from the Namoi River,
but the pits now come close to the edge of the Namoi's alluvial
aquifer, the productive groundwater that underlies the river, and
feeds it. The pits will induce leakage from the alluvial aquifer and
the Namoi River itself.
People in the small community of Boggabri believe the community cannot
handle a fifth mine in close proximity to the town. They're concerned
that the scale is too large for the town to cope with.
The mine will be located close to the historically significant
property and homestead "Kurumbede" which was the inspiration for
several Dorothea Mackellar poems including the famous "My Country."
One outbuilding at Kurumbede will be destroyed by mining and the
homestead could suffer from the vibration of blasting and the loss of
scenic value and quietude.
The area adjacent to the proposed mine is strategic agricultural land
and the impacts of dust and noise will make this land unliveable and
likely impact the quality of crops grown there.
Already, 76 family farms have been purchased by Whitehaven in close
proximity to the town of Boggabri. This has hollowed out the township,
affected local businesses and rent the social fabric of the district.
This proposal will mean more rural properties bought up because of air
and noise pollution, irreversibly changing Boggabri.

I lived in Narrabri for 10 years and I don't want to see the land destroy
by this proposed mine. We are destroying too much of our precious land
and using too much water on mining.
Whitehaven already has an approval for a mine at the site, but with
this project the company wants to more than double the volume of coal
it mines every year, to 10 million tonnes. The infrastructure the
company is proposing has larger capacity than the proposed mine, and
farmers know from bitter experience that coal mines tend to grow...
The company proposes a new rail crossing over the Namoi River and
floodplain and a new large coal handling facility that can process
coal from other mines in the region.
Thanks to the efforts of farmers fighting the mine, Whitehaven was
forced to move its pits a little further away from the Namoi River,
but the pits now come close to the edge of the Namoi's alluvial
aquifer, the productive groundwater that underlies the river, and
feeds it. The pits will induce leakage from the alluvial aquifer and
the Namoi River itself.
People in the small community of Boggabri believe the community cannot
handle a fifth mine in close proximity to the town. They're concerned
that the scale is too large for the town to cope with.
The mine will be located close to the historically significant
property and homestead "Kurumbede" which was the inspiration for
several Dorothea Mackellar poems including the famous "My Country."
One outbuilding at Kurumbede will be destroyed by mining and the
homestead could suffer from the vibration of blasting and the loss of
scenic value and quietude.
The area adjacent to the proposed mine is strategic agricultural land
and the impacts of dust and noise will make this land unliveable and
likely impact the quality of crops grown there.
Already, 76 family farms have been purchased by Whitehaven in close
proximity to the town of Boggabri. This has hollowed out the township,
affected local businesses and rent the social fabric of the district.
This proposal will mean more rural properties bought up because of air
and noise pollution, irreversibly changing Boggabri.

The destruction of community and the environmental degradation through
this extension is clear. The dust, danger to aquifers, and the
destruction of good farming land will clearly impact of health ,
livelihood and productivity. of the region. No amount of public
relations by the company will alter that fact.

As a coastal resident I am not immediately impacted but feel great
shame that the laws of this country will allow such damage to take
place. It is nothing short of a violation in the many senses of the
word. How can this take place while mental health and well being are
promoted by agencies across the country? Ripping country apart,
destroying farmland and communities on the one hand and then (after
health issues have emerged) sending in counsellors and medical
facilities to pick up the pieces, is a disgusting approach.

Coal mining needs to be would back and alternative, renewable energy
sources promoted. Employment yes..but in energy creation that does not
destroy country and health both of the locals and the planet.

I object to the Vickery coal mine extension, for a number of reasons.
More than doubling coal output from this mine, is irresponsible with
climate change already having dire effects. The extension threatens
groundwater supplies that farmers in the region rely on. Dorothea
Mackellar's "Kurumbede" will be adversely affected. Boggabri township
will continue to decline with so many farmers displaced or bought out
by the mine. Agricultural land surrounding the mine will be rendered
worthless, permanently. This mine extension should not proceed.

Whitehaven already has an approval for a mine at the site, but with
this project the company wants to more than double the volume of coal
it mines every year, to 10 million tonnes. The infrastructure the
company is proposing has larger capacity than the proposed mine, and
farmers know from bitter experience that coal mines tend to grow...
The company proposes a new rail crossing over the Namoi River and
floodplain and a new large coal handling facility that can process
coal from other mines in the region.
Thanks to the efforts of farmers fighting the mine, Whitehaven was
forced to move its pits a little further away from the Namoi River,
but the pits now come close to the edge of the Namoi's alluvial
aquifer, the productive groundwater that underlies the river, and
feeds it. The pits will induce leakage from the alluvial aquifer and
the Namoi River itself.
People in the small community of Boggabri believe the community cannot
handle a fifth mine in close proximity to the town. They're concerned
that the scale is too large for the town to cope with.
The mine will be located close to the historically significant
property and homestead "Kurumbede" which was the inspiration for
several Dorothea Mackellar poems including the famous "My Country."
One outbuilding at Kurumbede will be destroyed by mining and the
homestead could suffer from the vibration of blasting and the loss of
scenic value and quietude.
The area adjacent to the proposed mine is strategic agricultural land
and the impacts of dust and noise will make this land unliveable and
likely impact the quality of crops grown there.
Already, 76 family farms have been purchased by Whitehaven in close
proximity to the town of Boggabri. This has hollowed out the township,
affected local businesses and rent the social fabric of the district.
This proposal will mean more rural properties bought up because of air
and noise pollution, irreversibly changing Boggabri.
In a time when it is obvious what damage mines like this are doing to
the environment, the massive amounts of water taken from food
production, and the total loss of endangered species in destroyed
forests, this mine expansion should NOT go ahead

Please do not approve this project. As this current drought is proving,
our country has such a limited supply of potable water available. It
should be used for food production and human consumption, not used,
polluted and wasted by mining giants!

Please protect what limited decent farming land is left in this
country and start looking towards renewable energy sources instead.
Just because mining companies have plenty of money to buy government
support, doesn't mean they have the support of the majority of
population. Please represent those too small and poor to fight such
invasions!

I object to the expansion of this coal mine turning agricultural land
into a moon landscape? There are other areas to mine. Agricultural
land must be protected- they aren't making any more of it!
Above all our rivers must be protected, they already suffer from the
affects of the drought.
Such an area is too valuable to destroy!

I object to the extension of the Vickery coal mine on environmental
grounds. Coal mining needs to be phased out - not increased. The
on-going detrimental impact on surrounding community members and the
country itself is unconscionable.

* Whitehaven already has an approval for a mine at the site, but with
this project the company wants to more than double the volume of coal
it mines every year, to 10 million tonnes. The infrastructure the
company is proposing has larger capacity than the proposed mine, and
farmers know from bitter experience that coal mines tend to grow...
* The company proposes a new rail crossing over the Namoi River and
floodplain and a new large coal handling facility that can process
coal from other mines in the region.
* Thanks to the efforts of farmers fighting the mine, Whitehaven was
forced to move its pits a little further away from the Namoi River,
but the pits now come close to the edge of the Namoi's alluvial
aquifer, the productive groundwater that underlies the river, and
feeds it. The pits will induce leakage from the alluvial aquifer and
the Namoi River itself.
* People in the small community of Boggabri believe the community
cannot handle a fifth mine in close proximity to the town. They're
concerned that the scale is too large for the town to cope with.
* The mine will be located close to the historically significant
property and homestead "Kurumbede" which was the inspiration for
several Dorothea Mackellar poems including the famous "My Country."
One outbuilding at Kurumbede will be destroyed by mining and the
homestead could suffer from the vibration of blasting and the loss of
scenic value and quietude.
* The area adjacent to the proposed mine is strategic agricultural
land and the impacts of dust and noise will make this land unliveable
and likely impact the quality of crops grown there.
* Already, 76 family farms have been purchased by Whitehaven in close
proximity to the town of Boggabri. This has hollowed out the township,
affected local businesses and rent the social fabric of the district.
This proposal will mean more rural properties bought up because of air
and noise pollution, irreversibly changing Boggabri.

Thankyou for the opportunity to make this submission.
I object to the Vickery mine extension project for the following
reasons.

First and foremost it is NOW urgent to reign in Australia's coal
extraction. The most recent IPCC report on climate change is crystal
clear that if we don't make an urgent switch to renewable energy we
doom the planet to catastrophic climate change. This is the opinion of
specialized scientists with accepted credibility world wide. As one of
the largest exporters of coal Australia must act now. The NSW
government has a responsibility of care to future generations to do
its utmost to ensure a safe climate for future generations. It is
absolutely essential that no new coal mining is licensed from now.

The NSW government also has a duty of care to the people of NSW. Coal
is poisonous and carcinogenic, coal mining has a history of serious
pollution. Mining in the Boggabri area threatens among the best of our
agricultural land, the ground water and the surface water. There is a
history of people being forced from their land and livelihoods where
ever there is coal mining. The legacy of this lasts for generations.
Dust from this mining is a threat to the health of the communities of
those area and evidence is emerging of its impact on the people of NSW

I AM WRITING TO EXPRESS MY OBJECTION TO THE VICKERY EXTENSION PROJECT.

I am a resident of North West NSW, and have watched the residents of
Maules Creek and Werris Creek suffer the consequences of mining
conducted by Whitehaven.

I have visited and discussed with my farming friends in both locations
the impact of water loss, lack of monitoring of air and sound levels,
and the disregard of Whitehaven to information provided to them by
community groups on these matters.

I believe the concerns expressed by local residents to the Vickery
Extension to be valid, and I believe that at this point, there is no
evidence of the NSW Department of Planning taking these concerns into
account. This must happen. Surely, Government must adhere to the
Precautionary Principle and uphold its Duty of Care to residents i.e.
if there is reasonable evidence that risk is possibly, the
precautionary principle would indicates that a project like this is
contraindicated.

Whitehaven's refusal to accept any responsibility for residents dry
bores is unacceptable. Yes - we are in the grip of a massive drought,
but these water losses occurred well before the drought.

This Government MUST, in considering the approval of this extension,
also consider the impact on water supplies and hence agricultural
production in this area. Doubling the volume of coal mined by
Whitehaven in this extension will simply extend the risk to farming
viability in the area, with the pits inducing leakage from the
alluvial aquifer and the Namoi River itself.

I am also concerned about the proposal for a new rail crossing over
the Namoi River and floodplain and a new large coal handling facility
that can process coal from other mines in the region.

I am appalled that Dorothea MacKellar's Kurumbede Homestead will be
placed at risk by blasting from this mine. Risking ruining such an
iconic and historic place is heedless and heartless. and would be a
further indication of the low regard that this Government holds not
only country people, but our heritage.

The area adjacent to the proposed mine is strategic agricultural land
and the impacts of dust and noise will make this land unlivable, and
likely impact the quality of crops grown there.

I oppose any further coal mine extensions by Whitehaven as they will
pollute aquifers, damage good farmland and contribute to greenhouse
emissions.

Our Climate is already in peril from Coal mining and other CO2 pollution,
methane emissions... Drought-affected farmers need help not a big new
coal mine. Wasting massive amounts of water to cool down open-cut coal
mines is not acceptable, while our food producers struggle, not having
enough water. We need food, but we can produce energy without coal,
without destruction of valuable farm land, without pollution and coal
dust. Australia is blessed by infinite amounts of sun, wind, hydro,
methane and wave power. No need for new coal mines.

The mine is proposed by Whitehaven Coal and the people of Boggabri
have learned from experience at Werris Creek and Maules Creek that
Whitehaven does not keep promises.

Whitehaven has left rural communities shattered and landholders
struggling when groundwater bores have run completely dry adjoining
Whitehaven coal mines and they have refused to accept responsibility.

Whitehaven already has an approval for a mine at the site, but with
this project the company wants to more than double the volume of coal
it mines every year, to 10 million tonnes. The infrastructure the
company is proposing has larger capacity than the proposed mine, and
farmers know from bitter experience that coal mines tend to grow...
The company proposes a new rail crossing over the Namoi River and
floodplain and a new large coal handling facility that can process
coal from other mines in the region.
Thanks to the efforts of farmers fighting the mine, Whitehaven was
forced to move its pits a little further away from the Namoi River,
but the pits now come close to the edge of the Namoi's alluvial
aquifer, the productive groundwater that underlies the river, and
feeds it. The pits will induce leakage from the alluvial aquifer and
the Namoi River itself.
People in the small community of Boggabri believe the community cannot
handle a fifth mine in close proximity to the town. They're concerned
that the scale is too large for the town to cope with.

The mine will be located close to the historically significant
property and homestead "Kurumbede" which was the inspiration for
several Dorothea Mackellar poems including the famous "My Country"
which starts `I love a sunburnt country'. One outbuilding at Kurumbede
will be destroyed by mining and the homestead could suffer from the
vibration of blasting and the loss of scenic value and quietude.
The area adjacent to the proposed mine is strategic agricultural land
and the impacts of dust and noise will make this land unliveable and
likely impact the quality of crops grown there.
Already, 76 family farms have been purchased by Whitehaven in close
proximity to the town of Boggabri. This has hollowed out the township,
affected local businesses and rent the social fabric of the district.
This proposal will mean more rural properties bought up because of air
and noise pollution, irreversibly changing Boggabri.
Please stop this extension of a coal mine and any further mines.

I support this because it strengthens my job security in this region.
Everyone needs work and what better way than more jobs being given to
the locals via this extension.

To whom it may concern;
I write to you specifically to oppose the Vickery coal mine and
extension near Boggabri, and to oppose all new coal mining in general.
There are so many reasons to oppose new coal mining in general. Some
are for the health of the Earth's climate, and others are for the
health and well being of our farmers and their communities, farmland
and water resources.
The IPCC report on climate change released recently is a sobering
reminder to all about the state of the global environment.
There is a lot of money invested in coal infrastructure already and to
add to that will mean even more "stranded assets" in the very near
future. Coal is done on a financial level already. It is cheaper now
to build renewable energy infrastructure than new coal power
generators! Fact!
If we keep digging up coal and burning it, anywhere in the world, the
financial costs of sea level rises and major weather events will dwarf
any lost revenue from future coal sales!
Exporting coal will not protect us from the effects of other countries
burning it! It's a no brainer!
On a more local tact. Australia is the driest continent on the planet.
We rely heavily on ground water to feed the nation. Coal and gas
(fracking) mining is very heavily reliant on massive amounts of water.
Countless farm bores have dried up after mining nearby.
This country cannot afford to lose any more farmland or water
resources to an industry that is killing the environment!
Please cancel all mining licences connected to the Vickery mine, and
all new coal mining in general. It is NOT the way of the future.
sincerely
Jeremy White

The growth will allow the next generation to stay with in the region and
help build/grow the smaller communities. Employment is the key or this
and any industry expandsation needs to be supported