Review slams controversial mining proposal

An independent review of plans for a controversial mine expansion on the edge of the Blue Mountains has recommended the project not be approved.

The Planning Assessment Commission has found the benefits of Coalpac's proposed mine development at Cullen Bullen, in the Lithgow district, are "substantially outweighed" by the negative impacts it will have. 

The company wants to extend and consolidate its Cullen Valley and Invincible mines, which would see up to 900 hectares of open cut mining developed. 

Two public hearings were held in the region as part of the review, where one woman told the panel her family was already suffering respiratory illness from the mine's current operations. 

In its report, the commission says it has serious concerns about the impacts of dust, noise and blasting on the health of residents. 

It says it is also concerned about site rehabilitation, as the area is already proposed for inclusion in the conservation reserve system. 

The development has been strongly opposed by environmental groups, who say it would damage the Gardens of Stone, an area of national and international environmental significance. 

The review says there is "considerable uncertainty" about the validity of rehabilitation claims made by the proponent.

Justin McKee from the Blue Mountains Conservation Society says its great to see the significance of the area acknowledged.

"It's impossible to rehabilitate things like endangered ecological communities, you can't replace endangered species, its veneer work, it's very limited in its capacity. 

"So, rehabilitating what's already there back to what it was is a really difficult project."

A final decision on the project is expected early next year.

Ref: ABC NEWS Fri Dec 21, 2012


The PAC’s report is available at www.planning.nsw.gov.au (look for the What’s New link at
the top right hand corner of the page).


Media Release by Planning Assessment Commission on the Coalpac project is available here. 

Posted for Guy 

Centennial bite the bullet

 Centennial bite the bullet
By LEN ASHWORTH Nov 29,2012, 4 a.m.

IN another disturbing development for the all important local mining industry the western field’s biggest operator, Centennial Coal, has announced a suspension of production at its newest mine, Airly.

The Airly mine, near Capertee, has been operating for only a few months.

It is now to be placed on care and maintenance with inevitable job losses.

Centennial will also stop production at its Mannering mine on the central coast.

A spokesperson for Centennial said yesterday the company was seeking to deploy as many of the displaced miners as possible.

The company has rejected reports from some media outlets yesterday that as many as 100 miners would lose their jobs.

General Manager External Affairs Katie Brassil emphasised an anticipated 40 job losses were anticipated ‘spread across the entire group, not just from Airly or Mannering’.

New capital expenditure is also being put on hold but Ms Brassil said that an expansion project at Angus Place and the coal loader extension at Wallerawang will not be affected and will go ahead as planned.

In a prepared statement released on Tuesday evening Centennial Coal said:

LIKE most other companies in the mining industry Centennial Coal (Centennial) has been reviewing its mining operations in response to the recent significant decrease in the US dollar price of export thermal coal over the past few months combined with the high Australian dollar.

The industry is suffering from record high production costs, a result of the resources boom-driven competition for scarce resources increasing wages and other input costs, but also the impost of increased government processes and charges.

As a result of this review, capital expenditure on a number of projects has been deferred, which will impact some positions across the group, and regretfully Centennial has decided to place both Mannering (Lake Macquarie) and Airly Mine’s (Western Coalfields) on ‘care and maintenance’ commencing January 2013.

“The decision to place these two mines on ‘care and maintenance’ has not been taken lightly,” Centennial’s Chief Operating Officer Steve Bracken said.

“Both mines have struggled to make a positive contribution in their own right not only through the lower coal price but a combination of difficult mining conditions, poor coal quality and, in the case of Airly, transport costs have hindered the viability of these mines.

“In the current market, their losses can no longer be absorbed without negatively impacting the group’s overall performance,” Mr Bracken said.

“Centennial will redeploy the majority of these employees to neighbouring sites across the group minimising redundancies to about 40,” he said.

While on ‘care and maintenance’ both mines will continue to meet safety and environmental regulations, studies and approvals currently under way will be progressed and the sites appropriately maintained to enable a reopening when market conditions improve.

Centennial are not the only mining company with major disruptions, head to page three in today's Lithgow Mercury to see how Coalpac staff have been effected by government indecision.

Posted for Guy

Cobbora Mine Public Meeting

The proposed Cobbora mine has major impacts on water supply to the Mudgee region. Possible coal trains are another big concern. If you want to find out more about these issues come to the meeting this Thursday 5th July.

Lue Action Group Newsletter – Blackmans Gully Mess & More

LAg Newsletter Issue 2 – Blackmans Gully Mess & More

Read all about it here (PDFDownload: LAg Newsletter Issue 2):
Update on impact of Kingsgate mine exploration on local environment, more fact about lead impact on health and environment, invitation to public meeting and more…

 

Click on text to enlarge

In the news: ICAC and coal exploration licence tender process

Members of the Obeid family, including the former Labor powerbroker Eddie Obeid, expressed interest in buying a Denman farm nearly three years before an Obeid family friend and financial adviser was granted a coal exploration licence over the property.

Read the story here: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/obeid-family-looked-at-land-on-coal-lease-20120522-1z1ri.html#ixzz1veWwkR63

See also: Looking at Eddie Obeid links in coal deal (The Telegraph, 24 May)

Sharyn Munro's Blog

Mudgee: the wHole mining story

Last week a swag of mining bigwigs paid a few thousand dollars each to gather at the Parklands Resort just outside Mudgee and no doubt discuss the many opportunities for them in the region.

Unfortunately, with the three coal mines already operating just 50kms north of their town – Ulan, Moolarben and Wilpinjong– and their planned expansions, plus the proposals for Cobbora, Bylong and Running Stream, a lot of locals take a rather different view on their prospects under coal — or silver, as at Lue, or CSG or whatever else can make a few billion for big business.

So the concerned community groups got together for the first time and held their own ‘people’s conference’ for free. Mid-Western Community Action Network, in conjunction with Bylong Valley Protection Alliance, NSW Nature Conservation Council, Lue Action Group, Merriwa Health Environment Group, Rylstone District Environment Society, Running Stream Water Users Association, and Mudgee District Environment Group, organised a great two-day event.

David Clarke from NSW Farmers is pictured above, speaking from the posh truck stage, watched by M.C. Nell Schofield from Running Stream. (Photo from the Mudgee Mining the wHole story website)


Buses lent and driven by Susan Symons and Grayson Tuck-Lee, themselves severely impacted by the Moolarben mine, took about 100 people to a rally opposite the Resort.

Speakers summed up the issues from the back of a truck; passing traffic stared, some tooted support; only one driver yelled abuse.

Then we walked back to town, carrying a plethora of signs, and chanting ‘No more mines near Mudgee!’

It was a scattered trail, as some walkers were aged and some frail, a few walking with the aid of a stick — and with difficulty.
Several pushed toddlers in strollers — the generation who will bear the brunt of what is happening here long after the bigwigs have nicked off with the loot.Some folk were from the almost extinct villages of Ulan and Wollar — cleared out by coal. Others had come from beyond the shire to lend support; those of us from the coal-trashed Hunter could only hope Mudgee does not go the same way.

Afternoon sessions at Lawson Park were illuminating, as a wide range of visiting and local speakers offered information and experiences and discussed various impacts, many already evident, from health to housing, business, wineries, tourism and farming. The day ended with a full-house dinner talk by me, called ‘Clearing out the country’, the title of the chapter about this area in my new book.

It was appropriate that I spoke there first about the book, Rich Land, Waste Land — how coal is killing Australia as the ‘Rich Land’ is embodied on the cover by my photo of the Andrews family at their Tarwyn Park property at Bylong — a spectacularly inappropriate place to mine!

Next day a full busload went on the Magical Misery tour to see current and possible future impacted areas. I’d had to leave, but then I’ve done my own misery tour for the book.
I feel that this Mudgee event foreshadows many such combinings of forces, as people power is increasingly seen as the only tool left to us, because, as I said in my talk, ‘reason and right and forward thinking have been taken out of the process’ by government.

'BRIDAL REGISTER' / WISH LIST

'BRIDAL REGISTER' / WISH LIST

Help make our event the best it can possibly be by

supporting one or more of the items on our register

We all know how a bridal register works: the couple-to-be make a wish list of things they'd like and guests can choose something appropriate from the list to purchase as their gift.

Well, we thought it would be a good idea to set up our own 'Bridal Register' for our “people’s conference” and rally!

It works like this:

     1. We list a series of specific items and their cost.

     2. You choose something from our list that you’d like to support, and for how much (it

          can be the whole amount or just part of the amount, a lot or just a little - it ALL

          helps!)

     3. You send us an email, saying how much you’re pledging - and for what item(s)

     4. We send you back an email with information on how to get the money to us

          (preferably by electronic transfer direct to our bank account, but a cheque/money

          order will also work)

     5. We acknowledge your contribution on the website (or you can remain anonymous if
         you wish).

Of course, all contributions will be receipted. Please note, however, that contributions are

NOT tax deductible.

See here for a selection of the items large and small you can contribute towards.

Thanks in advance for helping make “Mudgee Mining: the wHole Story” the great success it

deserves to be!

If you have any questions or need help with anything, please email:

info@mudgeeminingthewholestory.org.au 

We Want CSG - Media . . . Now ABC's response

People may have seen the CSG industry's complaints about the "factual errors" on the abc's website regarding the industry. Well it seems the abc has got it's research mostly right - check out the link below.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-13/abc-response-to-csg-complaints/3729214

Posted for President

PRIME7 – FARMERS FIGHT TO PROTECT BYLONG VALLEY

Last night, Prime7 (Orange) ran a story on the fight to protect the Bylong Valley.

Even though it was essentially a repeat of a story run late-ish in 2011, it’s still great coverage.

Summary and link below:

     The Bylong Valley is home to some of the most productive agricultural land in our region.
     But locals reckon that could change as miners dig underground in search of coal & gas.
     Calls to have mining exploration banned in the area have so far - fallen on deaf ears.
     But farmers are fighting on.

     http://au.prime7.yahoo.com/n3/news/a/-/local/12488079/farmers-fight-to-protect-bylong-valley-video/

(link courtesy of “Save Gloucester” team)

All the best,

CRAIG
Secretary
Bylong Valley Protection Alliance

OBEID DEAL UNDER INVESTIGATION

From: Bylong Mining
Date: Mon, Dec 19, 2011 at 11:12 AM
Subject: BVPA UPDATE - Obeid deal under investigation (Monday's Fin Review)
To: Bylong Mining

OBEID DEAL UNDER INVESTIGATION

Please see attached scan of an article in today’s Financial Review, reporting on Government investigations into the deal that saw Eddie Obeid’s purchase of “Cherrydale” in Bylong – and the start of the whole Mt Penny “saga”. Interesting stuff.

Posted for President

Mine challenge fails

Mudgee Guardian : Mine Challenge Fails (30 November 2011)

Ulan Coal Mine may be required to offset its greenhouse gas emissions as a condition of approval for expansion, under a NSW Land and Environment Court ruling handed down last week.

Justice Nicola Pain last week presented her judgement on Hunter Environmental Lobby's appeal against the $1.2 billion Ulan West project, which will include a new 239 hectare open cut mine and approximately 25 square kilometres of additional longwall mining.

The group (which was assisted by the EDO) contested the State Government approval of the project on the grounds of climate change, the effect on groundwater systems and clearing of critically endangered vegetation communities.

The Hunter Environment Lobby is a member group of the Nature Conservation Council of NSW, who welcomed the judgement.

The Council welcomed indications the Court will set a national precedent by requiring Ulan Coal to offset its greenhouse gas emissions.


To read this article, please click .

Posted for Vice President

PROTECT CULLEN BULLEN FROM OPEN CUT MADNESS

 Approaching Cullen Bullen - recent photo

The little town of Cullen Bullen is surrounded by coal mines, including the hubristically named Invincible Colliery, all of which are leaving a trail of environmental destruction as they blow up mountains and destroy water systems in their quest to excavate the last remains of ancient swamps.
The coal in this area is a result of eons of photosynthesis by giant plants which stored vast amounts of carbon dioxide in their cellular structure and later in the earth under pressure. This is coal - a mineral dated at around 300 billion years old. Reversing the process of photosynthesis by digging up the coal and burning it releases the carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere. The problem is that this is being done in a matter of generations as opposed to the millennia it took to create. When the carbon was laid down there were no humans on the planet. Today we are over 6 billion of us pumping out 90 million tonnes of CO2 each day! And about half of that is from coal fired energy generation.
Species such as humans, which took over 100,000 years to evolve, cannot adapt to the radical changes we are making to our home planet. Coal kills. So why do we insist on persisting with this outmoded industry?
There are many of us fighting to turn the tide. including the Blue Mountains Conservation Society which has launched a campaign for at least one of the proposed coal projects around Cullen Bullen to be stopped in its tracks. Click below to read about it in the Lithgow Mercury:

http://www.lithgowmercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/new-front-on-open-cut-protest/2362970.aspx

Mining boom no longer boosting growth: study

The benefits of the mining boom have peaked and the federal government must abandon its commitment to a budget surplus by 2012/13, a new study says.

The Australian Economic Report, by Victoria University economists Peter Sheehan and Bob Gregory, says the boom will continue and mining investment will increase but their net benefits for the Australian economy have peaked.

''The boom is no longer boosting growth in the Australian economy nor contributing to additional improved welfare for Australian citizens,'' Professor Sheehan says.

''The positive effects of the boom have become more muted, while the negative effects are becoming more pronounced.''

The study says many new mining projects have limited local content and are foreign owned, giving little direct benefit to the Australian economy.

The shift towards offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) mining, which relies heavily on foreign-supplied equipment, and the high value of the Australian dollar are compounding the problem.

The economists say the high exchange rate has left local industries such as manufacturing, tourism and education vulnerable, threatening jobs and slowing the economy.

They urge the government not to depress the economy further by slashing spending in a bid to bring the budget back into surplus as planned.

''With the mining boom boosting the economy further each year, it made sense for the government to take $50 billion - equivalent to about one year's growth in GDP (gross domestic product) - out of the economy over two years to achieve a budget surplus in 2012/13,'' they said.

''But without the ongoing boost from mining and with the economy slowing this is no longer appropriate.''

They also said further reductions in interest rates by the Reserve Bank of Australia may be necessary to boost spending and stimulate the economy.

 

Source: SMH November 10, 2011

 

SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS COAL ACTION GROUP NEWSLETTER
1 November, 2011

Dear Supporters,
Action is heating up across NSW regarding the contentious issues of
Coal and Coal Seam Gas mining. Politicians are being placed on notice
that communities will not tolerate uncontrolled expansion of these
industries with the impacts on our water resources, agricultural land,
the environment and landowners across Australia.
The pressure is on the NSW Coalition government to deliver on their
pre-election promises to introduce a Strategic Regional Land Use
Planning process, Aquifer Interference Legislation, Agricultural Impact
Statements and new Planning rules. Progress has been slow and the
jury is still out regarding the outcomes…but we can’t let the government
off the hook. In the meantime we have our own battles to fight on the
ground!

Watch Stateline at 7:30 on the ABC this Friday, 4 November
Producer Sharon O’Neill and the 7:30 team visited the Southern Highlands
this week and put together a story on our fight and the impact of Coal and Gas
mining activities on communities around NSW. This will be shown on Stateline
on Friday of this week.

OUR LAND, OUR WATER, OUR FUTURE Rally
To be held in Corbett Gardens, Bowral on Saturday 19 November
between 11am and 2pm. This is the biggest event of the year for SHCAG!
We’ve brought together a group of dedicated people who are leading the
charge in Australia in the fight against unconstrained and destructive Coal and
Gas mining.
The team will be led by MC Alan Jones and include Senator Bill
Heffernan, Drew Hutton from Lock the Gate, Tim Duddy from Caroona
plus distinguished speakers from the Southern Highlands and other affected
communities in Australia. Find out what’s in store for the Highlands if we let it
happen!

Hume Coal buys iconic properties in Sutton Forest
It has finally happened. Under the new front company “Aurelius Rural” set-up
by legal firm Blake Dawson Waldron on September 7 this year, our “open and
transparent“ miners led by Korean steelmaker POSCO have purchased two
properties in the heart of the coal lease. The properties are Wongonbra and
Carlisle Downs. It took quite a few phone calls and agitation before they finally
admitted that they were indeed behind the purchase.

Community Coal Reference Panel
SHCAG is an integral part of this panel set up by the Wingecarribee Shire
Council to review all activities associated with Coal and Gas mining in
Wingecarribee Shire. Deputy Mayor Larry Whipper chairs the group. Our
representatives include Alan Lindsay, Lynne Morrison (from Medway) and
myself.

Hume Coal approaching Landowners for Land Access in Sutton Forest
Hume Coal is continuing to write to selected landowners in the Sutton Forest
lease AUTH 469 seeking access to undertake exploratory drilling for coal.
WE RECOMMEND YOU TELL THEM TO GO AWAY AND LOCK THE
GATE.
YOU SHOULD NOT AGREE TO ANY LAND ACCESS AGREEMENT WITH
HUME COAL WITHOUT SPECIALIST LEGAL ADVICE. PLEASE NOTIFY US.

Join NSW Farmers Association
The NSW Farmers Association led by new President Fiona Simson has been
a leader in the fight for fair and balanced laws relating to mining in NSW. They
need us to support them in their activities. Please consider joining. Call 1300
794 000
 
The Southern Highlands Preservation Fund
Thanks to all of you who have contributed to The Southern Highlands
Preservation Fund. If you have yet to do so, please give generously to
protect the Southern Highlands. Make cheques payable to:
Southern Highlands Preservation Fund, PO Box 3380 Exeter 2579.
Or electronically to: Westpac Bank, Bowral Branch
BSB: 032716 Account Number: 298603

Volunteers
Thanks to all the VOLUNTEERS who are now helping at the markets and with
other activities. Please put up your hand up if you can. Virginia Brousse and
Kim Martin are coordinating volunteer activities. Virginia is away until early
November. In the meantime, contact Kim on 0412 443 142 if you wish to help.
Kind Regards
Peter Martin
Convener, Southern Highlands Coal Action Group.
pmartin@bigpond.net.au
Mobile: 0418 800 111

Inglenook Exploration Licenses

Dear Members
We have now had three meetings of the Community Consultative Committee (CCC), with apologies we haven't had the time yet to write up reports on the meetings.  (It's on the to do list!) However one thing we did get was copies of the Conditions of Exploration for each of the 4 licenses that cover the Inglenook Project (see Reference Documents). They appear to be the same for each, so even looking at just one will give you an idea. It is good to be familiar with them, because from experience with Ulan and Moolarben, it seems that it is up to the community to monitor and report any breaches. The EPA don't have enough staff to do it.
Happy bedtime reading!
Cheers
Jolieske

Posted for President RSWUA

A LETTER FROM OUR VICE PREZ

14 September 2011

The Editor

Lithgow Mercury101 Main Street

LITHGOW NSW 2790

Dear Sir/Madam

I am writing to convey my sincere and heartfelt gratitude to the Lithgow Council for opposing the continuation and expansion of open cut coal mining by Coalpac in the Cullen Bullen district. (6 September 2011.)

That a company needs to resort to open cut mining in a State Forest to supply coal for domestic electricity production is proof that the greed driven mass exportation of coal by international mining companies is detrimental to our way of life. 

60% of the world’s coal production is by underground mining; in NSW this figure is a mere 36%. The rest is by open cut mining. (NSW Mineral Council data) This is also evidence of the neglect shown by the companies for flora and fauna, removal of oxygen producing plants (a double whammy for carbon emissions), water, agriculture, tourism as well as aesthetic appreciation of the unique Australian landscape. 

The biodiversity offset project by Coalpac is pathetic. Not only is it miniscule compared to the amount of carbon being unlocked by Coalpac, it can’t even begin to compete with the depletion of the forest in the areas being, and proposed to be, open cut. Deception?

A further sad note is that it was once a productive agricultural property now being used to grow a row of trees to mask the utter degradation of a unique State Forest.  Still that is better than the green shade cloth on the other side of the highway. More deception??

In the article, “Open cut is vital to their survival”, the authors only mention coal for the local power stations. Nowhere in the letter could I find any reference to the corporate objectives of Coalpac to:-

• Commence export production by FY2012
• Secure rail and port access for export and other markets

The above is from their own website. More deception and more greed!

I find it difficult to believe that Coalpac knew nothing of the underground fires in this area. I personally feel that Coalpac would or should also have known  and that a buyer beware clause was not included. Was their plan all along to cry woe and attempt to gain public sympathy for their “need” to now justify further open cut mining? More deception I feel.

The photo in the article is not reflective of the gravity of Coalpac’s requests for continued expansion of their open cut mining operations. To me they look more like the used car industry’s “Salesman of the year” nominees.  More deception??

Guy Sim

Vice President

Running Stream Water Users’ Association

Too Much Luck - Paul Cleary

A date for your diary.

Australian Human Rights V's Coal Seam Gas

ALL ORGANIZATIONS. PLEASE MAKE THIS A CHAIN MAIL

ALSO CUT AND PAST AND...

send to "Attonery General Robert McLelland"



URGENT: Greetings Robert McLelland,

I am proud of Australia and what we have made it today since the pioneer days in the early 1800's. We are the "Lucky Country".

There is a massive growing movement against Coal Seam Gas Exploration and Drilling in Australia.

You would know that a great amount of organizations are being formed daily against this invasion on our soil in Australia. The everyday person once informed of the practices of this industry are hugely opposed to CSG entering at all and profiting at our expense.

We have just been awarded in Melbourne as the most liveable city in the World. With Sydney and Brisbane being in the top 10? I say absolutely well done to your department, government and our system and the people of Australia, every one of them.

My question fundamentally is why are we changing what is currently a working framework? We are presently a great example for the rest of the world!

Why then I ask, do we have to ruin this? Why then do we have Coal Seam Gas Drilling here on our continent? Can we have an early election? This issue will change how people vote most definitely.

My thoughts are that we will collapse our excellent food, water, tourism and health sectors and overload to breaking point our many charitable organizations in 5 years if CSG continues. I know, and I think you do to that this is not worth allowing and should be stopped immediately. Can we afford to import all our food and water? Many of us will die.

There is no return from this scenario. No plan to clean up the damage. I am advised that there is around an estimated 49% of gas available underground that International Mining CSG companies want to extract for profit to send to China and India and wherever else in the world. Abbott Point in North Queensland for example has a 99 year lease of crown land just granted in North Queensland. This is not very public information but a controlling factor in exports also.

There are plenty of documented cases in America of the health issues and environmental damages created by the current practices of CSG extraction. Will there be a huge class action legally in the future from the citizens of Australia against the Australian Government for negligent action and non transparency? I think so.

I am desperately begging that you consider this issue, please save what we are so lucky to have today. Please save our future and take action.

Please step in and cut the red tape, all contracts relating to CSG and export agreements to other countries, address parliament and advise every citizen of Australia urgently the direction that will save the paradise that the rest of the world considers Australia is.

I leave it in your expert hands as to whether an early election is a viable solution. I leave it in the hands of you and your department to help preserve Australian soil and citizens lives.

I believe you must take action NOW.

Your most sincere and concerned resident of Australia
 
Source: Lock The Gate Alliance <info@lockthegate.org.au>

COAL & COAL SEAM GAS MINING LAW

We have managed to organise a workshop on the weekend so if you missed the earlier workshops, Saturday 10th, 2011 is your chance to find out about mining and your legal rights. Dont miss it - it is a VERY informative 3 hours and IT'S FREE! Dont forget to RSVP so we have enough catering.

Posted for President

Lithgow council says no to open cut consolidation - Lithgow Mercury

LITHGOW Council appears to be embarking on a new hard line policy against open cut mining in the local area with a unanimous vote at this week’s meeting against an extension of a mining operation at Cullen Bullen.But while the council has made its position very clear the final decision now rests with the NSW Government.

The company wants to consolidate the management and operations of the two mines under a single planning approval from the NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure.

This is intended to continue coal mining operations for 21 years as well as the mining of a limited sand deposit.

And that's not all.

For the full story see Lithgow Mercury of 25 Aug, 2011.