Vickery Mine Extension

It's time to push past the failed left wing narrative on Anthropogenic
Global Warming and start creating real jobs for the Australian people.
Hopefully this will lead in turn to a move towards coal fired HELE
power generation in the Upper Hunter and reduced electricity prices,
as per the practical experience across China and the rest of Asia.

Fully support this great project that will continue to support a
fantastic regional community and provide economic benefit for the
state and country for many years to come.

My family runs a successfu small business in gunnedah.
This business would not be successful without the presence of the
mining industry within the Gunnedah basin.

To sustain this industry for the next several decades, new and larger
mining operations need to be started.

More jobs.

I fully support the project. A great opportunity for Gunnedah to continue
thrive.

This submission is to support the proposal for an extention to the major
coal mining projects in Gunnedah local government area. To maintain
and increase the employment opportunities vital to the residents in
rural NSW .The additional injection of funds this project will provide
to local businesses, will inturn increase opportunities for growth of
goods and services provided in Gunnedah NSW and beyond.

I live and work in the region and believe that Whitehaven are creating a
lot of employment opportunities for the surrounding towns. Vickery is
going to add a huge boost for the region.

This will be great for local employment as long as Whitehaven stipulate
that majority of employees are living locally.

To whom it may concern,
Over the last 15yrs, I have developed a good working relationship with
Whitehaven Coal in the field of condition monitoring of heavy mining
equipment looking for the presence of fatigue cracking.
During the past 5yrs my wife and I have opened up our own Non
Destructive Testing business (LPND), and moved our family of 6, from
the Singleton area to Boggabri, to enable us to provide a more
accessible service to our Whitehaven clients.
We are currently in the process of growth with the addition of two
Techicians assisstants being put on to help cover the growth in the
business.
With the Vickery expansion, I will be able to create further
employment opportunities in our business to cater for the expected
growth in Non Destructive Testing requirements.
This expansion by Whitehaven Coal will have a ripple affect for the
smaller communities of the area bringing much needed growth in our
towns, and the need for greater resources in the communities to be
provided by a joint effort between the Mining industry, Communities,
and local Goverment.
Our company looks forward to the challengs ahead, and gives our full
support behind this expansion in our local area.

Greg Debreceny - Director/Senior Technician

LPNDT

Vickery mine will be a great boon for the region of Gunnedah as well as
the state & country. Many jobs will be provided both in supporting the
mine and running the mine. Significant taxes will be generated and
used to good effect. The coal produced will be of high quality low
ash. We should be using this sort of coal for our own country's power
generation needs.

I am drought feed in cattle and have very limited time for a detailed The
proponent states this is just an extension to the already approved
Vickery mine however this proposal includes new infrastructure to
service much bigger needs than for Vickery itself. For example a new
rail crossing across the river and the establishment of a new large
coal handling facility that will service other mines in the region.
The scale of infrastructure proposed could service much greater mining
in the region. As such it seems like approval creep where a minor
application actually opens the door for new and other expansions. This
makes tracking the true cumulative impacts of all developments a
challenge.

2. The Department has no guidelines for mining companies to follow
when undertaking a 'cumulative assessment' under NSW law. This is
particularly important for Vickery extension which has not considered
the combined impacts of the existing approval in the current EIS.
Whilst the Extension identifies a 2m groundwater drawdown caused by
the Extension, it is unclear if that is taking into account the
cumulative impact of the original approval as well as the other major
mines in close proximity.

3. The proponent stated they responded to community concern over the
close proximity of the coal pit to the river, and moved the pit a
little further away from the Namoi River. However the mine footprint
is still perilously close to the critical water source of the Namoi.

4. The proponent has been responsible for a raft of environmental
breaches, created significant social impacts in the local township of
Boggabri and left a string of broken promises to neighbours and
locals. Much controversy surrounds the water impacts caused by the
proponent's Werris Creek and Maules Creek mines. Their Maules Creek
mine was recently given the poorest rating possible (1 of only 3 mines
in the state with that rating) in terms of environmental problems.
They are not a fit and proper proponent to be allowed to build another
mine.

5. This proposal is seen by many as the "tipping point" for the small
community of Boggabri with locals believing the infrastructure of the
community cannot handle the fifth mine in close proximity to the town.
They are concerned that the scale is too large for the town to cope
with. Another 450 operational staff are proposed for the mine and yet
any local who seeks to work in the industry already does, leading to a
need to import large numbers of workers, further disrupting the town.

6. The mine will be located close to the historically significant
property and homestead "kurumbede" which is the inspiration for a
number of Dorothea Mackellar poems including the famous "My Country".
One outbuilding will be destroyed by mining and the homestead is
likely to suffer the effects of blasting. This important culturally
significant site must be protected for future generations.

7. The area adjacent to the proposed mine is strategic agricultural
land and the impacts of dust and noise will make this land unlivable
and will likely impact the quality of crops grown there. This is the
first project seeking approval so close to strategic agricultural land
and sets a dangerous precedent.

8. Whilst more in depth science is yet to be done on the water impacts
of this proposal, it is sufficient to assume that this mine, combined
with the others in the close proximity will have a significant and
dangerous impact on the water resources of the region.

9. There is a serious lack of information in the EIS about the rail
crossing across the Namoi River and the floodplain. This crossing will
be the second one in close proximity causing serious concerns about
the risk of debris build up during flooding and the flow on impacts
created.

10. 76 family farms have already been purchased in close proximity to
the town if Boggabri. This has hollowed out the township, caused
suffering to businesses and seriously changed to social setting of the
area. This proposal will likely cause more of the same, irreversibly
changing the town and the area.

10. This stretch of the Namoi River that runs on the boundary of the
project area is a permanent waterhole even in times of extreme drought
and has already been noted for its biodiversity and natural assets
that must be protected from the impacts of mining. The proponent
proposes to leave a strip of vegetation along the river which will
mitigate any negative impacts on biodiversity but the proposed bridge
crossing will impair the movement and wildlife including the koala.

11. No offsets areas for biodiversity loss are being proposed and so
the issue of the impact of the mine on biodiversity has not been
resolved. A lack of suitable local remnant vegetation raises questions
as to whether this can be resolved. Whitehaven has a poor record of
meeting offset requirements. They still have not fulfilled their
requirements at Maules Creek five years after approval. The community
has little faith they can fulfill their obligations at Vickery.

12. A report issued 7th October, by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC), says the planet will reach the crucial
threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above
pre-industrial levels by as early as 2030, precipitating the risk of
extreme drought, wildfires, floods and food shortages for hundreds of
millions of people. They recommended that Australia and the rest of
the world must virtually eliminate the use of coal for electricity
within 22 years if there is to be a chance to save even some of the
Great Barrier Reef. This project must not add to a continual demise
into climate change problems.

This project is a sign of defiance and arrogance by a company who
believe they are above the law. Approval cannot be given for a project
of this scale in a region already suffering the water and social
impacts of prior poor planning decisions and lack of compliance
oversight.

We wish to show our support for the Whitehaven Coal's Vickery project.
As with the other local Whitehaven mine sites this project will
provide local people and businesses with much needed jobs.
Jobs bring in families to the region which in turn grows our
communities.
Whitehaven has shown community spirit by using local contractors who
are in turn able to grow their businesses and employ more local
people.

I HAVE ONLY JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS AND I BELIEVE THAT THE PEOPLE OF
BOGGABRI AND SURROUNDING AREAS NEED THIS EXTENTION TIME TO FURTHER
INVESTIGATE THIS WHOLE SITUATION .. I FOR ONE HAVE ONLY SKIPPED
THOUGHT IT AT PRESENT .. BUT IT DOES NEED MORE TIME .. YOU ARE TALKING
.. LIVES HERE AND YOU CANNOT MAKE THOSE DECISIONS ON SOMETHING LIKE
THIS IN THE 6 WEEK TIME FRAME ON SOMETHING THAT IS FOREVER .. TO ME..
IT LOOKS AT PRESENT LIKE THERE IS A LITTLE RAT IN THE WOOD PILE !!!!!
.. SOMEWHERE .. BUT WHERE .. THAT IS WHY THEY NEED MORE TIME..
THANKING YOU .. HAVE A GREAT DAY :)

I object to the extension of the Vickery Coal Mine for the following
reasons:
*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, this is not amenable to the
local community nor does it comply to the Paris Climate Agreement.
Australia should not be mining more coal.
*The infrastructure the company is proposing has larger capacity than
the proposed mine, and farmers know from experience that coal mines
tend to grow. Be honest and state the full extent of this mining
operation.
*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, this proposal is too large and
needs a separate assessment and approval process.
*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 which places the aquifer at risk of
contamination. More assessment of potential impacts of this
contamination needs to be performed before approval.
*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 and fragmenting
this community.

I object to the proposed development on the following;
There is no assessment about the Aboriginal Anthropological
significance of the Namoi River, namely relating to the Creation
Stories (WAA WI the Rainbow Serpent) the river maker.
The proposed coal mine is too close to the river and there is the
potential for local extinctions of fish and other native species that
use the river by blasting processes used by the mine. Vibratons
through the ground plus noise and dust caused by blasting would
disturb fish and other wildlife.
The location is to sensitive for coal mining. Water may be
potenitially lost from the river through cracking the river bed by
blasting. Therre may be gas pockets underground that may impact upon
the water quality if these are disturbed through blasting. I don't
think we need another coal mine espeicially here as stated above.

To whom it may concern,
I write this brief submission to formally object to the expansion of
Vickery Coal Mine in all forms.
Water is our most precious resource in Australia, all life depends on
it. The mine, and the expansion of it, greatly threatens the Namoi
River and underground aquifers that it relies on. The approval of this
project is unethical, provides very few benefits for locals and
Australia as a whole and the Australian Government has a mandate to
move to a lower emissions economy.
To reject the expansion of this project is the right thing to do by
our environment and all global citizens.

I would like to express my utmost support for the proposed Whitehaven
Coal Vickery Extension. My wife and I have recently purchased our
family home in Gunnedah, my wife is employed by a local business and
my two children attend a local school. I am currently employed by
Workpack as a casual employee working on site at Whitehaven Coal
Maules Creek. I rely on my current employment to support my family and
service my mortgage.
I have seen firsthand the dedication of Whitehaven Coal to safety,
environmental and community and I endorse the Vickery Extension and
intend to apply for a permeant position at Vickery once the site is
operational. I have no doubt that without the mining industry in
Gunnedah I would be forced to find employment in another location.
To see Gunnedah and surrounding areas go through a devastating drought
the only real economic support came from the mining sector. This
revenue was distributed throughout the community and local businesses
reducing the local economic decline.
Whitehaven Coal support local businesses and services, they employee
local people and encourage new employees from other areas to settle in
local areas. Whitehaven Coal is a responsible sustainable and ethical
coal producer and it is essential that the Vickery Extension is
approved to continue this economic growth in the Gunnedah Basin area.
Regards,
Robert Eyre

Supporting the NSW coal mining industry and its local communities

I fully support the Vickery Project

Im a local resident of the Gunnedah region, having moved recently from
Sydney with my young family. Mining has given us the opportunity to
experience the lifestyle and culture of this local area and we have
been immediately accommodated by the regions friendly nature.
The opening of Vickery will only boost and strengthen the experience
that we have had and i have no doubt many more families will
appreciate the same. Whitehaven has proven they have a great working
relationship with local families and i believe this will continue in
the future. They have also shown that environmental protection is a
clear focus of their current projects.
The project will also cement the countries need for low emission power
generation in line with world standards, aiming to reduce global
emissions.