Vickery Mine Extension

As an employee and employer in the mining industry within the region we
support the project to ensure our workforce being members of the
community with sustainable long term opportunities. Without such
projects this would not be possible. Our employees work, live and
spend in local communities and this further promotes a social culture
and economic stability for regional communities to prosper and attract
valued members of the community

I am local to the area living on a property between Coonabarabran and
Boggabri. I strongly object to this extension of Vickery Mine.
1. Recent report from IPCC stressed the urgency for action on climate
change if we are to keep warming to below <1.5C and we must act within
the next 12 years. Science tells us the best action we can take is to
REDUCE mining/use of fossil fuels. Those who ignore this science will
be CULPABLE for their actions that endanger today's children and their
futures. Legal actions are being taken now against
governments/individuals who wilfully ignore this knowledge. This alone
should be enough to stop this mine extension.
2. We are currently experiencing the worst drought across NSW in many
many decades. Sufficient water remains the vital ingredient to allow
agriculture and communities to exist in this region. Water resources
both surface and underground are currently threatened by large number
of established coal mines in the area. An extension of the mine will
simply add to the dangerous impacts on water resources and is
intolerable for the community. Again decisions that will impact water
in this way will be deemed CULPABLE in the future.
3. The proposed rail crossing over the Namoi River and the floodplain
gives serious concerns as there is a lack of information in the EIS
about the impacts into the future.
4. Forests, biodiversity and threatened species are in danger and
under extreme pressure across our NW region this proposal will simply
exacerbate these threats and especially impact the local koala
population which is highly stressed by the current drought and climate
changes. Offsets are not even proposed and Whitehaven have not even
fulfilled current obligations of offsets for Maules Creek. The company
has an appalling record on this and other factors so that the local
community has no faith in them. Whitehaven have no social licence for
this extension. Enough is enough!
5. The extension will threaten the heritage property "Kurumbede" that
inspired Dorothea Mackellar poems such as "My Country". The people of
NSW and Australia are tired of our heritage both ancient and recent
being sold out to corporate greed and political donations. Stop the
rot now.
6. The proposal will further damage the human, social and agricultural
capital of the town of Boggabri and the surrounding strategic
agricultural farmland .

Please stop this proposal for an extension of the Vickery mine by
Whitehaven. It has nothing to recommend it and will do lasting damage
to the climate, the health of the people, the local agriculture, the
water resources and the community of Boggabri. I strongly object to
this proposal and again remind decision makers that in the future you
will be held accountable and culpable for the damage such approvals
will cause.

When I bought my house in 2003 there were no coal trains that went north
of the Gunnedah CHPP.
Idemitsu Boggabri commenced in 2006, now exporting 7,000,000 MTA
equating to 875 trains P/A.
Narrabri Underground commenced in 2010/11 now exporting 8,000,000 MTA
equating to 1,000 trains P/A.
Maules Creek commenced in 2015 and have a target of 12,000,000 MTA or
more equating to 1,500 trains P/A.
Now Whitehaven are seeking to ad a further 1,250 trains P/A or
more.This will be 4625 trains P/A.
All of these trains pass less than 64 meters from my home
boundary.When trains are put on the holding line at Emerald Hill it is
not unusual for them to be there for hours idling the compressed air
relief valve discharges frequently and can be heard clearly from my
home disrupting my sleep as I'm a light sleeper. Further to this the
fumes of diesel smoke drift across into my home making it impossible
to leave doors and windows open.The coal dust off the wagons settles
on my roof which I rely on for water,as there is no town water.My
solar panelsdon't perform to expectations as they are constantly being
covered in coal dust. I have lost several ornaments dear to me through
unexplained movement, which was never evident before. I rented the
Railway Cottage for 2 years before I bought my current premises and
never had a problem of the above mentioned issues. The Railway Cottage
adjoins railway property, so you would think that if there where
vibrations I would have been aware of them. It appears to me that this
has come about with heavier and faster more frequent train movements,
since the opening of several coal mines in the area.

I bought this home in 2003 for the piece and quite country life style
that I craved to see my life out, over the last few years that has
been turned around and ruined by the noise of the coal trains. It
would have detrimental effects and devalue my property if I choose to
sell.

SSD7480 Vickery Mine Extention Proposal
RAILWAY SPUR IMPACT ON AVONA PROPERTY

We object to the railway spur to be constructed over road 2klm
from our house,and even less from our property.interferring withour
lifestyle and community.
Our concerns are noise,dust,water,and devaluation.

NOISE
When in operation these trains will be hauling 82 wagons of coal,and
whilst negotiating the overpass at 6.5m in height,it will be at its
maximum noise level which is our major noise concern.
There will be eight loaded trains a day and eight returning
empty(total of16) The empty trains are also of noise concern because
of the bunching up and rattling on the decline.

DUST
As these wagons have just been loaded the will be carrying a large
amount of dust.
When the wind is blowing in a northerly direction it will blow onto
our property and residence (this is the prevailing wind direction in
the summer) This is a health concern as my wife has breathing
difficulties in dusty conditions. This also applies to the mine dust.

WATER
As Whitehaven are planning to sink several bores for their operation
we are concerned for our aquifer levels as we depend on bore water for
our house and stock water.

DEVALUATION
We believe that because of this mine extension and railway spur the
devaluation of the property because of visual,noise and dust impacts
will be extremely significant.
The Avona property was purchased by us fourteen years ago as a
retirement property to reside at by the Namoi river with peace and
tranquillity.
We would like to see the railway spur relocated to the Boggabri/Maules
creek line.
Heather and Robert Mansfield
"Avona"
11904 Kamilaroi Hwy
Emerald Hill 2380

I am opposed to this development. Mining and agriculture cannot co exist.
I have concerns about the impact of this proposed development on
groundwater resources. I am concerned about health impacts on the
community. I am concerned about impacts on culturally significant
sites and refer to the Burra Charter.
Boggabri is a town in slow decline, despite the assurances that were
made by the coal industry when the Maules Creek mine was being
proposed that prosperity would come.

Despite strong support in the community for a dust monitor in the town
of Boggabri, which is supported by Boggabri Coal (Idemitsu Resources),
Whitehaven has opposed this plan. Although a Dept of Planning
representative recently blamed this on the NSW EPA, there is written
evidence that Whitehaven refused to support the Boggabri dust monitor
unless it were paid for by the NSW Government.

Loss of population has an impact on housing occupation levels.

The CIVEO worker camp benefits to Boggabri are overstated - CIVEO
never patronized the Boggabri butcher, for example, and bought their
meat from elsewhere.

Businesses in Boggabri have not seen the benefit from decade of coal
mines, if anything the reverse has happened. Only one pub out of three
remains in operation.

There is no child care centre and furthermore Whitehaven Coal
approached Narrabri Council and advised them not to invest in child
care in Boggabri, which is a disincentive to young families who may
wish to relocate there. Community bitterness surrounding the child
care centre has caused extreme distress to the Boggabri Business and
Community Progress Association, which strives to secure the survival
of the town.
We need to invest in renewable energy.

It is my submission that the Vickery mine extension Environmental Impact
Assessment should be rejected.


Although I do not live in the region I believe that I have a right to
make a submission since this is a State Significant Development and I
am a voter in NSW. I am concerned about climate change and the loss of
agricultural land and its implications for food security. I visit the
Narrabri/Boggabri district several times a year and have many local
friends.


The Vickery mine poses the risk of irreversible or catastrophic harm
to the Namoi River, and its surrounding surface water and groundwater
systems, and the health and well-being of human populations in the
Boggabri region as well as the habitat of the endangered koala and the
Commonwealth-listed Murray Cod.

The Gunnedah Basin in the vicinity of Boggabri is also the location
for 22 Million Tonnes per Annum of Approved coal mining. The 10 MTPA
proposed Vickery mine is surrounded by other Exploration Licences
which will, in the course of time, be sought to be developed,
including a licence which covers the Vickery State Forest itself.

Vickery Coal Mine Extension is another megamine the scale of Maules
Creek, and in close distance from the Leard Forest Coal Mining
precinct. Yet the EIA does not make any attempt to apply the
Precautionary Principle to its assessment of the cumulative impacts.
There are many examples where the EIA has ignored or misstated the
cumulative impacts. Eg locals are already badly affected by blasting
vibrations and dust from Whitehaven's Rocglen and Tarrawonga mines.
This is not alluded to in the EIA. The EIA also is misleading about
the distance between Vickery and Tarrawonga, stating they are 11km
apart when in fact there is just 4km distance between Tarrawonga and
the proposed Vickery borefield.

In view of pre-existing concerns about dust from the Leard Forest coal
mines, I am of the view that cumulative impacts of dust pollution and
the risk to the health of communities in the Gunnedah Basin are not
adequately assessed.

Due to Human Induced Global Warming, the world needs fewer coal mines,
NOT more.

The extensions proposed will have a potentially negative effect on future
NSW food security and on the environment.

There is inadequate protection for connectivity of wildlife corridors
which will impact negatively on small birds and on Koala. The
cumulative impact of the removal of vegetation across the area has not
been satisfactorily addressed. Nor has the impact on agriculture.

We need a rigorous, independent hydrology study.

Offsets are definitely problematic, so do not balance the negative
environmental impact of the proposed expansion.

New coal mining anywhere in the world is gross negligence.
Further to this mining near the Namoi river will ultimately be fatal
to river health and have a huge impact on agriculture and
biodiversity.
Habitat destruction of rare and or endangered ecological communities
for the sake of short term profit is intergenerational theft and again
negligent considering the track record in Australia and species
extinction.

Are you guys out of your mind?
Who the hell will benefit from this?
The risk to the water table and water stores that we desperately need
for our over populated future are too important to risk for some under
table deal that the public will not benefit from in the big picture.
Pull your bloody heads in and represent the countries best interests
like your meant to.

The destruction of native Flora and Fauna habitat is approaching the
point of no return . The executive of the mining companies concerned
are only interested in themselves and the sale of the product to
multinationals. NONE of the profits or the non payment of taxes will
benefit Australia .

I support the Vickery Project and Whitehaven coal. It has given myself
opportunity to grow in the mining industry in my career. It has also
given myself the opportunity to provide for my family. If there were
no mining activities in the area My family and I would not of moved
and built a house in the area

Dear sir/madam,
My concerns with Vickery Coal Mine are:
-the impact of the mine on the Namoi River water quality downstream of
the mine. The river below has been recognised internally by the then
DLWC of some of the best environmental habitat on the length of the
river and this is not reflected in the EIS and we would hate to see it
degraded
-the impact on groundwater nearby, both standing water levels and
water quality. The `bore survey' quoted in the EIS was done for the
the original proposal about 10 years ago. I don't believe any further
baseline surveys have been done for the current proposal.
-I am concerned that the EIS doesn't recognise how much the Braymont
Road will be used by miners travelling to work. The has been and still
is used by miners travelling to the current mines every morning and I
can't see people travelling the long way around to the new mine
without some serious attention to the problem.
Thank you

Based on a basic SWOT analysis.
Strengths / Opportunities:
1. Direct jobs - a significant increase in employment opportunities
(importantly including indigenous members of our community).
2. The positive multiplier effect on the local and regional economy.
3. Increased efficiency and environmental gains from having CHPP on
site.
4. Minimal loss of non-mine owned prime agricultural land - limited to
a 20 metre wide rail line.
5. No impediment to the operation of existing farming enterprises.
6. Whitehaven Coal has to date been a good corporate citizen -
supporting local sport and community groups / events.


Weakness / Threats:

1. Loss of amenity for those proximate to mine site and rail spur -
especially increased noise and perhaps dust levels.

These can no doubt be mitigated to some extent.

Note the pre-existence of numerous residences and farms close to the
main rail line between Narraabri and Newcastle Port.

2. Perceived / real threat of accelerated global warming. As yet, no
definitive concensus on this issue.

This project will create jobs many of them being local employees.
And after the around 30 year life of the project the surrounding land
area which is not currently qualified as farming land
will be restored to useful agricultural uses.
On the balance of economic and environmental considerations the
project will be of both economic and environmental benefit to the
Australian economy as well as boosting the local community
economically in the long term.

I object to this mine proposal. I think the flood modeling is badly
flawed. How many embakments are where they may be sited is only
vaguely alluded to as is the impact of any floods will have on the
railway and on the amount and quality of the water entering the Namoi
River.
Further the destruction of Koala habitat is of great concern. At a
time when the destruction of threes they need to survive is at an all
time high surely special consideration must be given to the Koala
population in the proposed mine extension.

I was employed in the Coal Industry for 33 years and fully support the
Australian Coal Industry.
Also right behind the Vickery Coal Project.

This mine expansion should not be approved. We have renewable energy
alternatives, we don't need more coal.

Seriously, climate change. It's a crisis. It's madness to continue to
invest in coal.

This mine would risk leakage of the precious surface and groundwater
systems of the Namoi's alluvial aquifer and the Namoi River itself.

The project would damage and destroy colonial heritage that inspired
Dorothea Mackellar's iconic poems including "My Country".

The project would impact farming productivity and amenity of local
people, it would damage the character and economic viability of nearby
Boggabri which is already suffering the impacts of resource
extraction.

Reject this mine! Please.

Community can never be overlooked for short term financial gain.
People make up Australian's and if the p3ople suffer from any activity
then it is not Australian. Please consider the future or our farmers
and our land before allowing a further developement.
The damage has been proved. Please dont all9w it to continue

Stop the rampant greed and consider the wishes of the people who voted
you in to represent them.