Mod 8 - Ulan West Continued Operations

I am in full support of this project and providing more jobs for the community.

This will help continued employment in the region and contribute to the regional economy.

I object to the Project on behalf of Environmentally Concerned Citizens of Orange on account of the environmental and social impacts it will cause

My family property is on the Goulburn River downstream from the three enormous coal mines that suck water out of the landscape and then discharge it as ‘mine wastewater’ into the river system adding to the salinity levels and affecting natural flows.
O’Briens Crossing on Ringwood Rd, one of only three ways to cross the Goulburn River, is crumbling into disrepair. The increased salinity load and more constant high flows is not helping the condition of the low level causeway.
Ulan Coal Mine has the largest discharge licence of the three mines. The Mod 8 proposal to extend mining impacts, landscape dewatering that intercepts base flows and ongoing discharge into the river for an additional sixteen years, adding over 30,000 tonnes more salt is just not on.
I am an active member of the Cumbo RFS Brigade. Intensified extreme weather events fueled by carbon emissions are causing more fires in the district. The loss of local volunteers through coal mine expansion and purchase of private property has increased the workload for those of us left in the district. Applying to continue coal extraction and the release of more greenhouse gas up to 2041 shows Glencore’s lack of corporate social responsibility.
Climate change is already impacting food and water security, causing more intense storms, heat, drought, flood and fire. Property insurance is now a huge increase in the cost of living. The economic, social and economic impacts of the Mod 8 proposal have not been properly assessed.
There are no jobs on a dead planet.

Glencore go home!

Please see the attached document

The Ulan mining district, and Ulan Complex has underpinned the greater Mudgee region for decades. The approval of Mod 8 will allow support continued economic growth both within the region and the state.

The Ulan mine is a major employer in the region, and its expansion would help secure long-term jobs for local workers. Mining operations generate hundreds of direct jobs and many more indirect roles in contracting, transport, equipment maintenance, hospitality, and local retail. For many regional towns, stable employment provided by mining is a backbone of the local economy.

I Reece Robinson of 1060 Blue Springs Road Gulgong 2852, to which I have owned for more than 25yrs, would like to provide comments regarding the Ulan West Project as this does have some impact on my property, below I have made some points of validation that I wish to express my concerns as a landholder.

* Redirection of a grade 3 watercourse due to subsidence.
* Health and longevity of existing wetlands.
*Dewatering of the fault line (groundwater to surface water fault line) adjacent to their main heading, and the effect to two permanent waterholes of the cockabutta creek.
*General health and wellbeing to main (over an acre) dam which is 40feet in depth approximately which is spring fed.
*Concern of the dewatering effect of the North Western Main Heading. Waters being processed in treatment works east of the great dividing range allowing the treated waters to flow into the Goulburn River Catchment.
*Concern of modification of Mine ventilation, probability of a secondary ventilation shaft being constructed on the North Western End of proposed heading (property boundary).
*Harmonic disturbance of main heading in relationship to farmhouse dwelling less than 500metres.
*Subsidence of North Eastern corner of property.
* Devaluation of property.
* Lack of discussion and denial for compensation.
*Dewatering effect on historic fauna and flora is of concern, and the longevity of 200yr old trees in the cope forest.
* As my property is a lifestyle sanctuary wildlife, flora/fauna are my concerns of 1060 Blue Springs Road Gulgong, also to the safeguarding of this ancient site.
*Somewhat of a major concern is the redirection of some estimated 50 to 75 megalitres per 24hrs being processed into their water processing plant and flowing into the Goulburn River Catchment.
* Concern of being the only 100 hectare property within the several hundred hectare footprint but being the venue of approximately 2.5km's of the main corridor heading of the extension.

Ulan Underground Extension (Glencore) have little or no interest in purchasing or compensating a lifestyle property to which was to be my retirement, an offer was put to me a few weeks ago which was far less than market value and not to mention an insult to me.

I am more than happy to expand on the above within submission.

Regards
Reece Robinson
1060 Blue Springs Road Gulgong NSW 2852
0427759242

The project provides the opportunity for ongoing employment to the Mudgee region, it supports local businesses and suppliers and pays taxes and royalties to the state and federal governments. Glencore's Ulan West is a regular donator to local charities, sporting clubs and NFP organisations, which helps the region thrive.

I object to Glencore’s Modification 8 proposal to expand the Ulan Coal mine. It should be rejected as it is entirely outside the current mining lease and its environmental impacts have not been assessed. Also, the Mod 8 application is an extension of the Ulan Mod 6 project that is under legal appeal so it does not make sense to extend mining for the period between 2035-2041 when approval to mine between 2033-2035 has not been granted. The underground longwall panels for Mod 8 are directly attached to the panels for Mod 6 so again, it is nonsensical to consider the Mod 8 proposal when it relies on the previous, non-approved Mod 6 application.
There are many reasons to object to this mine that do not involve the legalities mentioned above. A major one is to protect the loss of significant Aboriginal cultural heritage. There is ample evidence of continuous Wiradjuri occupation of the region with spiritualconnection to country. Ulan Mod 8 will impact an additional 71 recorded sites.
From an environmental perspective, Mod 8 is extremely damaging. Not only will it impact 120 square kilometers of high biodiversity bushland, it has a high likelihood of affecting water quality as it intercepts the Murray-Darling Basin and the Hunter catchment. At a time of increasing climate chaos caused by burning of fossil fuels, it is inexcusable that any expansion of coal mines are being considered. This extension is estimated to release an additional 105 Mt of greenhouse gas.
Furthermore, there is no need for extended coal mining in the region to provide local jobs. The Mudgee region has many opportunities to diversify the economy. Skilled labour is in short supply for construction, housing and particularly in renewable energy industries where there is currently a shortage in the Central West with local workers urgently needed for the CWO REZ construction.
The Central West Future Jobs and Investment Authority has been prioritised by the NSW Government to manage the transition away from coal mining.
I request that you reject the Mod 8 proposal.

Thank you,

Tassia Kolesnikow

Mudgee District Environment Group objects to this proposal. Details are in the attached document.

Please see attachment.

Please see submission attached

I support the continuation and upgrade of the coal mine because it helps keep local jobs and brings stability to our community. The proposed improvements also seem to make the operation safer and more efficient, which is better than letting the existing site age without updates.

See attached submission

Support

I object to this mine expansion because it will add over 100 Megatonnes Co2-e to our rapidly warming atmosphere. I am not satisfied that fugitive emissions will be properly monitored or reported. Greenhouse gas emissions affect everyone in NSW (and on fact on Earth) not just local residents.
Although a city-dweller,I have visited and stayed in the Mudgee area, viewed the coal mines there, and spoken to locals about issues associated with coal mining. I wish to echo concerns about local effects on water quality and quantity. I have served on a catchment management committee in the past , and in this case I understand that flows all the way to the Macquarie Marshes could be affected.
As a volunteer bushcarer for thirty years, I also am worried about the loss of biodiversity. Box Gum Woodland and 1743 hectares of sandstone country will be disturbed, with impacts on nationally threatened species, including the Koala. The Koala population of the Mudgee area is remarkably resilient having survived the Black Summer bushfire season - we must protect this important part of NSW habitat.

Please see attached submission.

Submission re Ulan Coal Mine Mod 8 – Ulan West Continued Operations

I express my strong objection to the expansion of coal mining at Ulan. I object to the Ulan Coal Mine Mod 8 primarily because of the release of more greenhouse gases in a world which is already suffering serious impacts from climate change. Glencore Ulan Coal Mine already has approval to mine 20 MT/year of thermal coal until 2035.
The Mod 8 proposal would add the extraction of a further 43MT of coal and continue mining until 2041. This coal will not be needed because the coal fired generators will be replaced by renewable energy. Export of coal to other countries will still contribute to more global warming when it is burned.
Mod 8 should be assessed as a whole new mine because it is outside the area of the existing Glencore mining lease. It must be assessed with the most up to date knowledge of the impacts of greenhouse gasses on the ability of the world to grow sufficient food for people.

I object to this project because of its impacts on the surface environment. It is estimated that the mine will disturb an additional 1743 hectares of sandstone escarpment including caves and overhangs. This country supports Box Gum Woodland which has suffered so much clearing that it is now listed as critically endangered. Disturbance or damage to these habitats would add to existing pressures on nationally threatened species such as the Regent Honeyeater, koala, Eastern Cave Bat and Large-eared Pied Bat.
This proposed mine will require the construction of a large new tailings dam. Although it is proposed to be located within a revegetated old open cut pit, there are serious concerns that it could leak toxic contaminants into the Goulburn River. I have camped at the Drip Gorge which is a wonderful place. Water quality in the Goulburn River currently is impacted by salt discharges from the existing mines. What impact will the additional mine have?
An additional mine will take workers away from other vital construction projects in the Central West Renewable Energy Zone as well as housing. There are already labour shortages in the region.

There are no good reasons for extending coal mines in the area and certainly none for beginning new ones.