Wilpinjong Coal Mine Extension

The health effects of coal mines on the community have been proven. The environmental impacts of coal powered energy has been proven. The declining financial impacts of the industry benefit very few.
It's an absolute no brainer that there should be no further new coal mines or coal mine expansions in a time where we must be transitioning to renewable energy.
Based on all the facts and scientific evidence, common sense must prevail. No mine expansion.

The extension of Wilpinjong Mine will make the village of Wollar unlivable.
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 totally inadequate.
Air quality has not been assessed against the new standards adopted in December 2015.
The extension will remove 354 hectares of remnant native vegetation and have an impact on 24 threatened species and ecological communities - more than the current approval. The biodiversity offsets will not provide sufficient habitat for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater.
The cumulative impacts on biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage, water sources, greenhouse gas emissions, community and rural industry have not been rigorously assessed.
The mine will produce an additional 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gasses a year, exacerbating the impacts of climate change. This is at odds with Australia's commitments under the Paris Accord.
The area has significant Aboriginal cultural heritage values that have not been assessed in a regional context.
The extension removes existing buffer zones for the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve.
The extension will leave three final voids that will permanently scar the landscape and harm waterways for hundreds of years.
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 its 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

I cannot believe in todays age with all climate change research obvious governments all over the world bar Australia, we still need to even discuss let alone object or approve coal mines!!
In Germany this discussion took place 20 years ago, can Australia not take a modern and futuristic stance on this and think of our children future!

The extension of Wilpinjong Mine will make the village of Wollar unlivable.
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 totally inadequate.
Air quality has not been assessed against the new standards adopted in December 2015.
The extension will remove 354 hectares of remnant native vegetation and have an impact on 24 threatened species and ecological communities - more than the current approval. The biodiversity offsets will not provide sufficient habitat for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater.
The cumulative impacts on biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage, water sources, greenhouse gas emissions, community and rural industry have not been rigorously assessed.
The mine will produce an additional 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gasses a year, exacerbating the impacts of climate change. This is at odds with Australia's commitments under the Paris Accord.
The area has significant Aboriginal cultural heritage values that have not been assessed in a regional context.
The extension removes existing buffer zones for the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve.
The extension will leave three final voids that will permanently scar the landscape and harm waterways for hundreds of years.
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 its 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.

The following are my reasons for objecting to the Wilpinjong Coal Mine - Wilpinjong Extension Project Proposal:

The extension of Wilpinjong Mine will make the village of Wollar unlivable.
The noise assessment, monitoring and mitigation measures are totally inadequate.
Air quality has not been assessed against the new standards adopted in December 2015.
The extension will remove 354 hectares of remnant native vegetation and have an impact on 24 threatened species and ecological communities - more than the current approval. The biodiversity offsets will not provide sufficient habitat for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater.
The cumulative impacts on biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage, water sources, greenhouse gas emissions, community and rural industry have not been rigorously assessed.
The mine will produce an additional 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gasses a year, exacerbating the impacts of climate change. This is at odds with Australia's commitments under the Paris Accord.
The extension removes existing buffer zones for the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve.
The extension will leave three final voids that will permanently scar the landscape and harm waterways for hundreds of years.
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 its 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.

Coal is dead and should be buried and stay buried.
The expansion of this mine into local communities and so close to the village is totally unacceptable.
Governments should act on behalf of communities, not against them.
Governments should not represent the voices of corporations who have nothing but their own self interest in mind.
The way of the future is renewables and this coal mining company is already in financial difficulties.
Who will clean up their mess when they leave?
We the taxpayers will pay for it not them.
STOP this insanity now and say NO to coal.

I object strongly to the expansion of the Wilpinjong Coal mine Extension on the following grounds :-
* The extension of Wilpinjong Mine will make the village of Wollar unlivable.
* 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 totally inadequate.
* Air quality has not been assessed against the new standards adopted in December 2015.
* The extension will remove 354 hectares of remnant native vegetation and have an impact on 24 threatened species and ecological communities - more than the current approval. The biodiversity offsets will not provide sufficient habitat for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater.
* The cumulative impacts on biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage, water sources, greenhouse gas emissions, community and rural industry have not been rigorously assessed.
* The mine will produce an additional 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gasses a year, exacerbating the impacts of climate change. This is at odds with Australia's commitments under the Paris Accord.
* The area has significant Aboriginal cultural heritage values that have not been assessed in a regional context.
* The extension removes existing buffer zones for the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve.
* The extension will leave three final voids that will permanently scar the landscape and harm waterways for hundreds of years.
* 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 its 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.
I make a special plea that this coal mine not be expanded at all

The extension of Wilpinjong Mine will make the village of Wollar unlivable.

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 totally inadequate.

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

The extension will remove 354 hectares of remnant native vegetation and have an impact on 24 threatened species and ecological communities - more than the current approval. The biodiversity offsets will not provide sufficient habitat for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater.

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

The mine will produce an additional 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gasses a year, exacerbating the impacts of climate change. This is at odds with Australia's commitments under the Paris Accord.

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

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

The extension will leave three final voids that will permanently scar the landscape and harm waterways for hundreds of years.

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 its 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.

Sincerely,
Greg Warwick

I wish to object to this proposal because the extension of Wilpinjong Mine will make Wollar uninhabitable and
the social impact of the subsequent population loss from mining projects in the region has not been thoroughly considered. People will be forced to leave the town because noise assessment, monitoring and mitigation measures are totally inadequate and air quality has not been assessed against the standards adopted in December 2015.

Furthermore, the extension will remove 354 hectares of remnant native vegetation and have an impact on 24 threatened species. In particular, the biodiversity offsets will not provide sufficient habitat for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater.

The extension will also produce an additional 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gases a year, exacerbating the impact of climate change, which is at odds with Australia's commitments under the Paris Accord.

In summary, the cumulative impacts on biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage, water sources, greenhouse gas emissions, community life and rural industry have not been rigorously assessed. For these reasons, I urge you not grant the extension to this mine. Thank you.

It is well past time to reduce our use of fossil fuels, and no new mines or expansions should be allowed. The government should be supporting renewables, and protecting all communities from this kind of dangerous expansion.
The Paris agreements have made it clear that Australia has a responsibility to act to reduce coal and csg use.

I am writing to oppose the Wilpinjong extension on the following grounds:

The extension of Wilpinjong Mine will make the village of Wollar unlivable.
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 totally inadequate.
Air quality has not been assessed against the new standards adopted in December 2015.
The extension will remove 354 hectares of remnant native vegetation and have an impact on 24 threatened species and ecological communities - more than the current approval. The biodiversity offsets will not provide sufficient habitat for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater.
The cumulative impacts on biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage, water sources, greenhouse gas emissions, community and rural industry have not been rigorously assessed.
The mine will produce an additional 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gasses a year, exacerbating the impacts of climate change. This is at odds with Australia's commitments under the Paris Accord.
The area has significant Aboriginal cultural heritage values that have not been assessed in a regional context.
The extension removes existing buffer zones for the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve.
The extension will leave three final voids that will permanently scar the landscape and harm waterways for hundreds of years.
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 its 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.

Folks,
Coal is becoming uneconomic and likely to be a stranded asset.
Peabody's coal is already in financial trouble.
Australia's agricultural land already has significant long term economic value which coal mines will destroy for short term benefit.
Most importantly, coal is the single biggest contributor to climate change which is already creeping dangerous two degree mark.
Please do not endanger communities and valuable pastoral land for the narrow interests of big coal

To ensure a sustainable future for Australia and the planet as whole I strongly object to any extension of present coal mines. I am appalled to think such extension is even being considered. I support fully the reasons listed below:

The extension of Wilpinjong Mine will make the village of Wollar unlivable.
* 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 totally inadequate.
* Air quality has not been assessed against the new standards adopted in December 2015.
* The extension will remove 354 hectares of remnant native vegetation and have an impact on 24 threatened species and ecological communities - more than the current approval. The biodiversity offsets will not provide sufficient habitat for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater.
* The cumulative impacts on biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage, water sources, greenhouse gas emissions, community and rural industry have not been rigorously assessed.
* The mine will produce an additional 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gasses a year, exacerbating the impacts of climate change. This is at odds with Australia's commitments under the Paris Accord.
* The area has significant Aboriginal cultural heritage values that have not been assessed in a regional context.
* The extension removes existing buffer zones for the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve.
* The extension will leave three final voids that will permanently scar the landscape and harm waterways for hundreds of years.
* 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 its 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

I trust that the final decision will be enlightened, just and directed towards the common good.

Hi :

I object to Peabody Energy's proposal to expand it's Wilpinjong Coal Mine due to a significant negative impact on the People living in the nearby village of Wollar & the removal of 354 hectres of remnant native vegetation that provides vital habitat for our wildlife & contains Aboriginal Cultural Heritage.

The extension removes existing buffer zones for the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve. Unsustainable mining practices such as this leaves permanent damage to the environment & community to continue extracting low quality Coal with all these long term negative impacts is totally irresponsible. Also this is not needed to supply the current contract to AGL's Bayswater Power Station.

I do not support this application for the following reasons:
negative impact on living conditions for residents of Wollar; inadequate noise assessment, monitoring and mitigation measures; removal of 354 ha remnant native vegetation; negative impact on threatened species and ecological communities; production of additional greenhouse gasses; removal of existing buffer zones for the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve; impact on groundwater and surface water systems; simply not justified in our current climate context.

I strongly believe that this mining project is an abhorrent idea and should not proceed any further.

I base this opinion on environmental factors, being that coal is unquestionably bad for our planets future. The impact of extracting this coal will also have a very real and measurable human cost.
These two factors alone should make this mining proposal totally and utterly unreasonable for any further consideration, and I urge that it be rejected.

The extension of Wilpinjong Mine will make the village of Wollar unlivable.
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 totally inadequate.
Air quality has not been assessed against the new standards adopted in December 2015.
The extension will remove 354 hectares of remnant native vegetation and have an impact on 24 threatened species and ecological communities - more than the current approval. The biodiversity offsets will not provide sufficient habitat for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater.
The cumulative impacts on biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage, water sources, greenhouse gas emissions, community and rural industry have not been rigorously assessed.
The mine will produce an additional 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gasses a year, exacerbating the impacts of climate change. This is at odds with Australia's commitments under the Paris Accord.
The area has significant Aboriginal cultural heritage values that have not been assessed in a regional context.
The extension removes existing buffer zones for the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve.
The extension will leave three final voids that will permanently scar the landscape and harm waterways for hundreds of years.
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 its 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,
Yvonne Lollback

I am objecting to the granting of this application, on the following grounds:

1. The company involved, Peabody, is in serious financial difficulties, and so may not be able to continue operating the mine, which would mean that the adverse effects noted below would be incurred unnecessarily.

2. The burning of fossil fuels i known to be a major contributor to global warming, and the effects of this are already being felt in Australia, with severe bush fires and increasingly severe weather events. It follows that we should not be expanding coal mining at this time, but rather increasing the use of clean renewable energy.

3. The nearby community of Wollar will be severely adversely impacted, and their health threatened, by coal dust and noise pollution.

Thank you.

The extension of Wilpinjong Mine will make the village of Wollar unlivable.
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 totally inadequate.
Air quality has not been assessed against the new standards adopted in December 2015.
The extension will remove 354 hectares of remnant native vegetation and have an impact on 24 threatened species and ecological communities - more than the current approval. The biodiversity offsets will not provide sufficient habitat for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater.
The cumulative impacts on biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage, water sources, greenhouse gas emissions, community and rural industry have not been rigorously assessed.
The mine will produce an additional 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gasses a year, exacerbating the impacts of climate change. This is at odds with Australia's commitments under the Paris Accord.
The area has significant Aboriginal cultural heritage values that have not been assessed in a regional context.
The extension removes existing buffer zones for the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve.
The extension will leave three final voids that will permanently scar the landscape and harm waterways for hundreds of years.
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 its 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.

The extension of Wilpinjong Mine

The mine will produce an additional 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gasses a year, exacerbating the impacts of climate change. This is at odds with Australia's commitments under the Paris Accord.
The proposal to continue extracting low quality coal while causing irreversible environmental and social damage cannot be justified.

WATER: The extension will leave three final voids that will permanently scar the landscape and harm waterways for hundreds of years.
The ongoing impacts on groundwater and surface water systems will be greater than predicted
SOCIAL IMPACT: The inhabitants of the village of Wollar will have to be relocated.
The cumulative social impact of loss of population through mining projects from Ulan to Bylong has not been considered.
HEALTH: The noise assessment, monitoring and mitigation measures are totally inadequate.
Air quality has not been assessed against the new standards adopted in December 2015.
BIODIVERSITY
The extension will remove 354 hectares of remnant native vegetation and have an impact on 24 threatened species and ecological 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 cumulative impacts on biodiversity, Aboriginal cultural heritage, water sources, greenhouse gas emissions, community and rural industry have not been rigorously assessed.
The area has significant Aboriginal cultural heritage values that have not been assessed in a regional context.

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

Climate change is a problem that Australia recognised at the Paris Accord. Our Government made commitments to cut back on greenhouse gases. The coal extracted from the extension of Wilpinjong Mine will add an extra 20 million tonnes of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere a year.
As well, there will be damage to the groundwater, local biodiversity and the amenity of the local community in the village of Wollar. Do not disregard the very real and deleterious short and long term affects on community and environment for the sake of short term gains whose benefits are far too easily inflated by the mining companies that plan to make large profits.