Wilpinjong Coal Mine Extension

Please think long term for the health and social needs and issues if Wilpinjon mine is expanded. This is very short sighted for the future of our country. I strongly object to this proposal.

I am writing to make a strong objection to the extension of Wilpinjong mine. This has been an on-going nightmare for the people of Wollar and this new proposal is an outrage. There has been no adequate or accurate measurement made of noise, air quality, the cumulative effect on biodiversity and water sources.

Furthermore the financial position of Peabody Energy has been well publicised and may mean that they are unable to fulfill their obligations.

I urge you to put a stop to the digging up of more coal - it is yesterday's technology and the destruction it causes is no legacy for future generations.

I am writing in support of the WEP submission. I am employed by Peabody Energy at Wilpinjong & work within the Production department. For me, the approval of the WEP provides my family and I with job security, and our involvement within the community by staying within the local area.

I support the approval of the extension project at Wilpinjong Coal. I work here and the approval for me would mean financial security for me and my family and my ongoing involvement in the local community due to not having to move anywhere to support my financial requirements. I will continue to spend my money in the local town supporting local businesses.

Oh no!!! Yet another atrocious proposal by a coal mining company. Seems that big business and the state government's dream of creating a spewing, big black open cut exposed carbon gutter right through the Hunter Valley and beyond may eventually be a reality. What happened to the recent Paris Accord? There are so many key points of objection and reasons not for this to happen, it seems trivial just to pick one. However, I'll just mention one that is often used as a salve to ease the concerns of the local communities. This being the issue of workforce, once again the predicted job numbers are grossly overstated. A stunning recent example of this phenomena was to be found on the front page of the Mudgee Gaurdian, Monday February 16. An article headlining the fact that Kepco, the Korean power company seeking to develop a 3,000 hectare coal mining project in the Bylong Valley, has recently offered Mid Western Regional Council $8.95 million dollars if the project receives approval. If this blatant attempt at bribery is not enough, further along in the article, a more cynical reason for this new approach from Kepco becomes obvious. A recent environmental assessment of the project by Hansen Bailey has suggested that peak workforce projected numbers are over estimated based on other mines in the region. Oh so murky and dirty, coal. Best of luck Wollar!

I am not disturbed by the operating of the current mine in any way. The project extension is a positive for the future of the mine. It extents and secures an important resource. While the mine continues to meet all environmental obligations I am in favour of the mining project extension. We need a future with economic employment. Change is part of life, we must move forward with respect for people and the environment.

25 February 2016


NSW Department of Planning & Environment


To Whom It May Concern

I strongly object to the Wilpinjong Extension Project, the reasons for which are listed below. Further to these, it is obvious that this project is both unnecessary and destructive to Australian people, environment and wildlife.

I trust you will protect the people of Australia and in this case, the community of Wollar and the environment in this entire area from any further destructive impacts by rejecting any further extension of the existing mine

* The extension of Wilpinjong Mine will destroy the community of Wollar. The cumulative social impact of loss of population through mining projects from Ulan to Bylong has not been considered.

* The noise assessment, monitoring and mitigation measures are highly inadequate.

* Air quality has not been assessed against the new standards adopted in December 2015.

* The cumulative impact on biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage, water sources, greenhouse gas emissions, community and rural industry has not been rigorously assessed.

* The ongoing coal extraction will produce an additional 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gas per year, which will exacerbate the impacts of climate change, and is at odds with Australia's commitments under the Paris Accord.

* The area has significant landscape Aboriginal cultural heritage values that have not been assessed in a regional context.

* The extension will remove 354 ha of remnant native vegetation impacting 24 threatened species and communities - more than the current approval. The biodiversity offsets will not provide sufficient habitat for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater.

* The extension removes existing buffer zones for the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve.

* The extension will leave 3 final voids in the landscape that will impact the local environment and waterways for hundreds of years into the future. This is a completely unacceptable legacy.

* The ongoing impacts on groundwater and surface water systems will be greater than predicted.

* The predicted job numbers are overstated compared with the current workforce extracting the same volume of coal.

* Peabody Energy is in deep financial distress and may not be fit to meet all obligations.

* The contract to supply AGL's Bayswater Power Station can be met by the current approval.

* The proposal to continue extracting low quality coal while causing irreversible environmental and social damage cannot be justified.

Yours sincerely


Robin Varian

Coal mines should be shut down not extended. Little communities should be supported by their governments, not threatened by dirty coal mines.

I am a great-grandson of George Nathaniel Mason, buried in the churchyard at Wollar; and grandson of Cecil George Mason, who set out from the family farm at Wollar to fight (and sustain serious wounds) for Australia in the Great War.

I object to the proposal for the legacy of these men to be further despoiled, by approval of extension of a foreign mining operation, of shaky financial basis, devouring their village and its surrounds. The extension of Wilpinjong Mine will destroy the community of Wollar.

I make this submission in the expectation that this matter will be determined according to law (rather than otherwise, as was notoriously the case under a previous Government).

In particular:

1. Financial position of proponent should preclude approval: No application by or on behalf of Peabody Energy can properly be approved without full consideration of the increasingly financially distressed position of that entity (a matter of public record and notoriety), and consequent doubt as to its ability to meet obligations to remediate areas affected by mining following conclusion of mining operations. Failure to take the financial position of a proponent adequately into account, of course, would constitute a fundamental error of law (failure to consider a relevant consideration).

2.Unacceptable scale and impact of final voids: Even were Peabody Energy to remain in a position to undertake some level of required remediation (which as noted above cannot permissibly be assumed), the extension will leave 3 very large "final voids" (final voids, indeed) in the landscape that will have deleterious impact on the local environment and waterways into the indefinite future. This is a legacy which is completely unacceptable .

3.Inadequate environmental offsets: I note that the extension will remove 354 ha of remnant native vegetation impacting 24 threatened species and communities - more than the current approval - and that in particular the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater.. I submit that approval cannot validly be given to a proposal where its associated biodiversity offsets do not meet basic tests for justifiable offsets, including:
(a) `like for like' offsetting, within a reasonable geographic proximity;
(b )no `net loss' biodiversity outcomes

4. Inadequate impact assessments and mitigation proposals: I submit that the proponents have not satisfied reasonable expectations regarding:
(a) noise assessment, monitoring and mitigation measures; (b) air quality, noting that the proposal does not include assessment against the new standards adopted in December 2015;
(c) the cumulative impact on biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage, water sources, greenhouse gas emissions, community and rural industry. In particular, the area has significant Aboriginal cultural heritage values that have not been assessed in a regional context.

We need renewable energy.
NOT coal mine expansion.

The Wilpinjong Coal operation has provided many benefits both directly and indirectly for the community of Mudgee (and surrounds) since the mine was established 9-10 years ago. Not only does the the mine provide full time employment for almost 500 local residents, Wilpinjong Coal are also active in contributing to local road upgrades and other council projects. On top of this, the company continues to donate thousands of dollars each year to local charities and non-profit organisations.

.

I am deeply concerned that the Wilpinjong mine extension proposes to destroy a further 800 ha of land and extend the mine's life until 2033.

Bringing the mine to within 1.5km of the village of Wollar would completely destroy the village community by making the village unliveable through noise and dust pollution. Please note the company's own "Social Impact Assessment" which identifies that this will accelerate the decline of the community, which was a vibrant community until the mine moved in ten years ago.

Continuing to extract the low quality coal at Wilpinjong while causing irreversible environmental and social damage cannot be justified.

I ask the NSW State Government to consider the cumulative social impact of loss of population through mining projects from Ulan to Belong which has not been considered.

My connection with delightful village of Wollar, its community and culture, began when I first visited the area in 1971. I lived in the village in the 1990s during a chronic illness where the support of the community was crucial in helping me to regain my health. Friends within Wollar and surrounding district provided me with much needed practical and emotional support.

Wollar not only provides a close-knit community but also has a long tradition of supporting a range of community events, most notably through its regular use of the village hall for fund raising events, dances, weddings etc.

I strongly object to any further expansion of the Peabody US Wilpinjong mine.

I live in Sydney and am concerned about the NSW Government's continued approval of mine extensions and approvals of green field mines when the economics don't stack up and we should be protecting our rural communities which are being lost to coal mining.

The Wilpinjong mine Peabody Energy is in deep financial distress and may not be fit to meet all obligations and the contract to supply AGL's Bayswater Power Station can be met by the current approval. This mine extension should therefore not be approved. With the low price of coal the royalties and corporate tax revenue do not out weight the social disadvantages to the region.

Key Points of Objection:
I have read the following points and find them very disturbing especially after Peabody's damage at Waratah Rivulet and surrounds in our water catchment area. Also Australia has committed to reducing our greenhouse gases.

1. The extension of Wilpinjong Mine will destroy the community of Wollar. The cumulative social impact of loss of population through mining projects from Ulan to Bylong has not been considered.
2. The noise assessment, monitoring and mitigation measures are highly inadequate.
3. Air quality has not been assessed against the new standards adopted in December 2015
4. The cumulative impact on biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage, water sources, greenhouse gas emissions, community and rural industry has not been rigorously assessed.
5. The ongoing coal extraction will produce an additional 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gas per year, which will exacerbate the impacts of climate change, and is at odds with Australia's commitments under the Paris Accord.
6. The area has significant landscape Aboriginal cultural heritage values that have not been assessed in a regional context.
7. The extension will remove 354 ha of remnant native vegetation impacting 24 threatened species and communities - more than the current approval. The biodiversity offsets will not provide sufficient habitat for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater.
8. The extension removes existing buffer zones for the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve.
9. The extension will leave 3 final voids in the landscape that will impact the local environment and waterways for hundreds of years into the future. This is a completely unacceptable legacy.
10. The ongoing impacts on groundwater and surface water systems will be greater than predicted.
11. The predicted job numbers are overstated compared with the current workforce extracting the same volume of coal.
12. Peabody Energy is in deep financial distress and may not be fit to meet all obligations.
13. The contract to supply AGL's Bayswater Power Station can be met by the current approval.
14. The proposal to continue extracting low quality coal while causing irreversible environmental and social damage cannot be justified.

I strenuously object to the proposed extensions to Peabody's appalling holes in the ground near Wollar.
I object for the following reasons....

1. Cumulative noise impacts from machinery operating in the mine, increased rail movements from all three mines to the west of us and major increases in road traffic have never been assessed.
The peace and quiet which we have long enjoyed on our rural property no longer exists. Expanding the mine closer will make things worse.

2. Loss of the local fire brigade has increased our isolation and risk of threat in times of wild fire and potential traffic accidents.

3. Loss of local services in Wollar village i.e. mechanical has already cost me work hours and longer travel distances for repairs (120km round trip). If Wollar shop closes we will unable to purchase any goods or groceries locally.

4. The extension cannot be justified as all previous predictions concerning tonnage of coal, job numbers, impacts on Wollar community and benefits to the wider community have been proven seriously wrong.
I don't trust Peabody to get anything right.

5. I believe that this expansion is only aimed at giving Peabody a saleable asset at the expense of the Wollar community as they are obviously close to bankruptcy as all financial reporting is telling us.

6. How does an obviously financially distressed company guarantee its rehabilitation commitments
# I don't support three final voids sterilising land into the future.
# if Peabody cannot afford to backfill its pits then the mine is economically unviable.

I think it is great that the coal mines support the local communities and businesses.

I support the Wilpinjong Extension Project as this represents an opportunity for a local employer to continue to employ local people. I live in Mudgee, work at Wilpinjong and love the Mudgee area. I plan to live and work in the Mudgee area for as long as possible and any extension to Wilpinjong must be a good thing for the local community.

I would like to support the Wilpinjong Extension Project. This is a great opportunity to create jobs in regional NSW and to bring additional wealth to our local, state and national governments.

As Commercial Manager at Wilpinjong, I am very well aware of the hundreds of people the mine employs - largely from the Mudgee region, as well as the millions of dollars a year we pay in royalties to the State government, and hundreds of thousands to the local Council for community infrastructure.
But money isn't everything - what about our impact on the local area ?
Wilpinjong has a rigorous environmental monitoring program, and we abide by the many conditions required under our various licenses.
Just recently, cattle were grazed on an area that was mined less than 10 years ago, demonstrating that the land can be successfully restored to its former use after it has been mined.
This application will not increase the annual mining activity, but rather extend the life of mine so it can go on bringing all the economic benefits to the Mudgee area for another 7 years.