Wilpinjong coal

My name is Wayne Riley. I have seen the direct devastation of the Community of the Upper Hunter due to the Cumulative affect of Open Cut mines in close proximity to regional towns and high quality farming land. Wollar and the Goulburn River Valley stands to suffer the same fate as the Upper Hunter Valley. Coal should simply not be mined by Open cut at ALL unless the land is completely barren and uninhabitable. Only underground mining should be selectively chosen so it doesn’t impact major water resources or agricultural land. These companies use to build towns for their workers, now they simply destroy them, and anything else in their path. Avatar the Science Fiction Movie, Wollar the Reality. The Goulburn River valley and surrounding land is some of the most pristine farming and eco-sensitive land in NSW South west. It is the neighbouring valley to Bylong where the mine was refused due to environmental constraints. Why is Wollar any different? Wollar and the surrounding rural properties have similar capacity for wide spread agricultural pursuits, which in the long term have a much better financial return and stabilising affect on communities for generations, then Coal ever will. Wollar and the surrounding area should be thriving but instead are dying due to the infestation of irresponsible planning and mining by this Current government. Covid is only a sneeze compared to this completely irresponsible approach to the mining of our resources, at the expense of our rural communities. Peabody Coal who I believe owns this mine, is the Company who destroyed pristine parts of the American Continent and featured in John Denver’s Song “Paradise” almost fifty years ago. This company has shown the same complete disrespect to the Australian environment and farming land and is no better than a Cancer on our land. Enough is Enough. Australia only has a very small percentage of land of this environmental importance to our ecology or quality for farming and should be protected at all costs. Say No to protect the Long Term Future and Prosperity of Australia for all Australians. Get out of your City Offices and actually go and take a look at this Beautiful, Beautiful Valley. SAVE OUR LAND

I wish to state my objection to the potential granting of Exploration Licence Application 6415 to Wilpinjong Coal Pty Limited.

My objection primarily reflects community, scientific and legal opinion to cease any support for projects that increase the unnecessary industrial release of carbon and methane emissions. (ref: theguardian.com/environment2021/nov/13/cop26-countries-agree-to-accept-imperfect-climate-agreement ) (ref: https://theconversation.com/bushfire-survivors-just-won-a-crucial-case-against-the-nsw-environmental-watchdog-putting-other-states-on-notice-166820 Bushfire survivors just won a crucial case against the NSW environmental watchdog, putting other states on notice August 27, 2021 4.20pm AEST “a New South Wales court compelled the state Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to take stronger action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It’s the first time an Australian court has ordered a government organisation to take more meaningful action on climate change.)

Facilitating the possibility of future coal mining at Wollar, by granting Exploration Licence 6415, irresponsibly denies the reality of the climate emergency the world faces and the limited capacity of the natural environment to recover from coal mining.

Exploration Licence 6415 should be denied.

Megan Benson, 16 Neotsfield Ave, Gloucester 2422.

I am Marcus Cremonese and live in Rylstone with wife Elizabeth.
Based on the premise that community consultation is a vital part of the process by which governments are expected to manage the use of the land and its resources, I am writing to express our concerns regarding the Licence Application 6415.
As residents in the vicinity of this welcoming small town, we object to the Exploration Licence application 6415. Some of our concerns and reasons are as follows:
• There is habitat for koalas and many endangered bird species including the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater. Other threatened bird species rely on native grass seed found therein.
• Wollar and Wilpinjong Creeks are within the application area with alluvial aquifers associated with surface flows. Many springs occur in the surrounding landscape.
• The northern section of the application area is adjacent to Goulburn River National Park that should not be affected by mining activity.
Hoping the involved authorities listen to the locals’ concerns.
Hoping the authorities involved listen to the locals’ concerns.

I am writing to strongly object to the Exploration License Application 6415 for Wilpinjong Coal Pty Ltd. Apart from the numerous, credible objections on environmental grounds, approval of this License would be further evidence of the Government’s pandering to vested interests, rather than meeting the needs and expectations of the community.

I am writing to strongly object to the Exploration License Application 6415 for Wilpinjong Coal Pty Ltd. Given the current state of knowledge regarding climate change, and the NSW Government’s ambitious emissions reductions targets, it is absurd to be issuing new coal exploration licences anywhere within the state. And considering the damage that has already been done to the community of Wollar and the surrounding natural environment, approval of this license would be bordering on criminal action. Common sense needs to prevail and the application rejected.

Jacqueline Holmes from Mittagong writing to support the people and community of Wollar who rightly object to the Exploration License Application 6415 for Wilpinjong Coal Pty Ltd. as this will further damage and destroy their lives and livelihoods and environment. How and why is it permissible to ruin lives and eco systems for the possibility of finding a product (coal) that has already caused much environmental and personal damage and is quickly being phased out in the majority of countries.
We need to stop looking for coal and grow and develop non damaging sources of power for our environment to be able to continue to function to support all life, including us. With farms, aquifers, endangered animals and birds, aboriginal heritage and the town of Wollar all in danger of annihilation l totally object to any licenses being cosidered or granted.
Our shared environment needs protecting at every cost now.
Yours sincerely
Jacqueline Holmes

My name is Mary Watson of 172 Tudor St Hamilton and I object to the granting of Exploration Licence Application 6415 to Wilpinjong Coal Pty Ltd. I totally object to a coal exploration licence being granted within 500m of Wollar village over 1670 ha of grazing and cropping country, bushland and creeks
There are significant Aboriginal cultural heritage sites in the Wollar area particularly near creeks and rock overhangs, including artwork, ochre quarries, scar trees and artefact scatters.
There are critically endangered ecological communities in the application area, including remnants of Box Gum Woodland and derived native grasses and habitat for many endangered bird species including the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater and threatened bird species reliant on native grass seed.
There is habitat for Koala in the Wollar area and we are just now hearing that that are critically endangered Wollar and Wilpinjong Creeks are within the application area with alluvial aquifers associated with surface flows. Many springs occur in the surrounding landscape.
The northern section of the application area is adjacent to Goulburn River National Park and Wollar Village is the access point for visitors to the Goulburn River National Park. The exploration area within 500m of the village covers scenic landscape views.
I totally object to any new coal resources being released in NSW. We should be focussing on the wonderfully bountiful and free solar and wind technologies

My name is SUSAN TANNER of Randwick and I strongly object to the granting of a coal exploration licence application number no 6415 to Wilpinjong Coal Pty Ltd.

Mining more coal goes against our current knowledge of the damage fossil fuels do to our planet. It is like trying to keep the steam engine alive!

Coal mining is archaic and belongs in our past. There is too much destruction to the local community of Wollar Village and surrounding grazing and farm land.

I believe our endangered flora and fauna need to be protected by our laws and this area has critically endangered native grasses, ecological communities, and trees such as Box Gum stands. We know that native grasses and trees support local animal, insect and birdlife and so are often critical for the survival of certain species.

And don’t forget our poor koalas please!!!

Aboriginal cultural sites of significance exist in the area and should morally, ethically and legally be protected.

Surely we are no longer the ignorant ecological rapists that first settled Australia!

I say a definitive NO to further coal resources being explored and released in NSW.

I speak on behalf of my whole family and many other voters I know who want a government to properly protect our planet and country from climate change and show they are worthy of being custodians of our beautiful country.

Yours sincerely

Susan Tanner

I Kate Pell (Merrigang Street, Bowral) object to the granting of Exploration Licence Application 6415 to Wilpinjong Coal Pty Ltd.

It is totally inappropriate for coal exploration at a time where the whole world is heeding the science and recognising that burning fossil fuels is now unacceptable for the health of everything on the planet.

I object to a coal exploration licence being granted within 500m of Wollar village over 1670 ha of grazing and cropping country, bushland and creeks
There are significant Aboriginal cultural heritage sites in the Wollar area particularly near creeks and rock overhangs, including artwork, ochre quarries, scar trees and artefact scatters.
There are critically endangered ecological communities in the application area, including remnants of Box Gum Woodland and derived native grasses.
There is habitat for many endangered bird species including the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater and threatened bird species reliant on native grass seed.
There is habitat for Koala in the Wollar area.
Wollar and Wilpinjong Creeks are within the application area with alluvial aquifers associated with surface flows. Many springs occur in the surrounding landscape.
The northern section of the application area is adjacent to Goulburn River National Park.
Wollar Village is the access point for visitors to the Goulburn River National Park. The exploration area within 500m of the village covers scenic landscape views.
Object to any new coal resources being released in NSW.

But most of all it is archaic that the NSW government is even considering this as an energy option. Climate change is real and if governments continue to pollute this planet then they will be voted out for a governance that understands the severity of the time.

Yours sincerely
Kate Pell

I object to further land for exploration licence 6415 at Wilpingjong Coal-within 500metres of Wollar town being granted for coal expansion. This is grazing and cropping land and if granted will mean the township will be surrounded by coal production which has almost destroyed the ‘village’ atmosphere and closed vital shops like the post office and others. Stop the destruction of this area by granting a further lease for coal!

There are a myriad of reasons not to proceed with this coal mine. The overriding reason is that we cannot afford to develop any new fossil fuel projects because of CO2 emissions. The climate is already changing, if we don’t transition to 100% renewable energy as quickly as possible, global warming will have devastating effects, beyond anything that we have already caused.

We have all demonstrated we don’t need more coal. It is old technology. The would needs to move to renewables, which do create jobs, and will help the planet survive!
Coal mines cost the government\ a lot in the end. The effects coal mines have on health is enormous! yet it is not the coal mine who pays for this, it is the tax payer. How many coal mines would still exist if they were not subsidized by the government, paid for their own mistakes in fixing up the damage they have done to the environment, to peoples health and then the land they have destroyed once the mine closes????

Therefor I Object to a coal exploration licence being granted within 500m of Wollar village over 1670 ha of grazing and cropping country, bushland and creeks

There are critically endangered ecological communities in the application area, including remnants of Box Gum Woodland and derived native grasses.
There is habitat for many endangered bird species including the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater and threatened bird species reliant on native grass seed. For which the government has poured thousands of dollars into saving, not to mention the time many volenteers have put into in helping these little guys.

There are significant Aboriginal cultural heritage sites in the Wollar area particularly near creeks and rock overhangs, including artwork, ochre quarries, scar trees and artifact scatters. If the coal mine was to go ahead, it would be another slap in the face for the traditional owners of the land yet again. We have National Sorry day – to say sorry we took your children and your land…. but we are still doing this!!! It must stop! We must stop taking their land and significant sites. We have taken enough from these people, we can not take what is left of their history and past. It can not be replaced!
Please do not let this expansion go ahead!

This government has a blatant disregard for people, water resources, sustainable agriculture and the planet. We are now obliged to fight/deal with climate change and we all have to live with the results of decades of abuse of our planet. And still they won’t stop with the money grubbing. Who is making money out of destroying our country and the village of Wollar? These people need to be exposed and shamed for their crimes against our country and our air, soil and water.

Who is making money out of destroying our country and the village of Wollar? These people need to be exposed and shamed for their crimes against our country and our air, soil and water.

How are we going to move forward as a local/national/global community if fossil fuel projects like this keep getting support.
All those who profit from environmental damage should be ashamed of themselves.

Don’t we have enought Coal mines already?

Can’t eat Coal, Can’t drink Gas
Stop fricking around with out Climate

This government has a blatant disregard for people, water resources, sustainable agriculture and the planet. We are now obliged to fight/deal with climate change and we all have to live with the results of decades of abuse of our planet. And still they won’t stop with the money grubbing. They need to be voted out and we need a government with a few ideas that will set Australia up for a globally productive future. Instead we have fossil fuel junkies to deal with as well. NO MORE FOSSIL FUEL MINING IN AUSTRALIA- this means coal, oil, gas and anything that needs fossil fuels to work like your version of hydrogen production. GET WITH THE PARADIGM, THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX PLEASE.

PLEASE DO NOT GRANT APPROVAL FOR EXPLORATION 6415 TO WILPINJONG COAL PTY LTD. IN THIRTY YEARS TIME WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR KIDS AND GRANDKIDS. I AM GUESSING, CLEAN WATER, CLEAN AIR, MORE FISH IN THE OCEAN, LESS POLLUTION, A PLANET THAT IS COMFORTABLE TO LIVE ON. THE SCIENCE IS VERY CLEAR. REDUCE EMISSIONS URGENTLY. WE MUST NOW DO A JUST TRANSITION FOR FOSSIL FUEL WORKERS AS THEY HAVE DONE IN GERMANY AND SPAIN. ALL WORKERS ARE TRANSITIONED TO A RENEWABLE JOB OR A PAY OUT. THIS WILL HAPPEN. YOU HAVE A CHOICE TO DO THE RIGHT THING. JENNIFER JONES

I object to the request for approval of coal Exploration Licence Application 6415 to Wilpinjong Coal Pty Ltd.Exploration Licence 6415 close to (within five hundred metres of) the village for the following reasons:
• The land area of 1,670 hectares is presently grazing and cropping country which is productive and attractive with creeks running through bushland. Close to the town is an exploration area from which visitors can enjoy majestic views. Tourists enjoy this area particularly.
• Aboriginal residents value the significant sacred objects and places near creeks and rock overhangs which mining will destroy. These include ochre quarries, artworks, scar trees and artifact scatters. There was worldwide outrage when Rio Tinto dynamited the caves in the Juukan Gorge
despite verified evidence of occupation for more than 60,000 years and rational people thought that Aboriginal heritage would never again be thoughtlessly destroyed. Obviously, mining companies have not learned those lessons, but people all over Australia will still fight for the first nation’s right to have its way of life undisturbed.
• In addition, in these days of mass extinctions, there are critically endangered ecological communities in the application area, including remnants of Box Gum Woodland and derived native grasses. Many endangered bird species inhabit this area. These include the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater and threatened bird species which rely on native grasses.
• There is Koala habitat in the region. The bushfires killed or injured more than 60,000 koalas, and the population had already been in steep decline before that event. The extinction of such a well-loved and symbolic animal would be a tragedy. Without far-reaching conservation, including protection of habitat, they might be extinct in the wild by 2050. Think how this would affect the tourism industry.
• The creeks flowing through the application area (Wollar and Wilpinjong creeks) feed alluvial aquifers which support many springs in the area. Disturbance of this system would cause harm to a large area of land even beyond the application area.
• With the northern section of the application area being adjacent to Goulburn River National Park, pollution of the river and damage to the national park seems almost certain to occur.

While all these reasons are valid and defensible and should be sufficient to have the licence rejected, there is another fact that by itself should also be enough. Global warming is an existential threat not only to this area but to the whole of Australia and the world. Australia is a laughingstock because of its abject failure to act. Surely the least we can do is to stop mining coal and gas. Big or small, we do not need fossil fuel in a country where ‘green’ energy is plentiful and storage methods are improving rapidly.
The people of this town have had their enjoyment of their surroundings reduced by mines almost surrounding it. Now all they want is the remaining rural setting and the natural places around it to remain intact for the future. They have already been all but swallowed by coal mining and this final blow would affect their tourist industry badly.
6415 close to (within five hundred metres of) the village for the following reasons:
• The land area of 1,670 hectares is presently grazing and cropping country which is productive and attractive with creeks running through bushland. Close to the town is an exploration area from which visitors can enjoy majestic views. Tourists enjoy this area particularly.
• Aboriginal residents value the significant sacred objects and places near creeks and rock overhangs which mining will destroy. These include ochre quarries, artworks, scar trees and artifact scatters. There was worldwide outrage when Rio Tinto dynamited the caves in the Juukan despite verified evidence of occupation for more than 60,000 years and rational people thought that Aboriginal heritage would never again be thoughtlessly destroyed. Obviously, mining companies have not learned those lessons, but people all over Australia will still fight for the first nation’s right to have its way of life undisturbed.
• In addition, in these days of mass extinctions, there are critically endangered ecological communities in the application area, including remnants of Box Gum Woodland and derived native grasses. Many endangered bird species inhabit this area. These include the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater and threatened bird species which rely on native grasses.
• There are Koala habitat in the region. The bushfires killed or injured more than 60,000 koalas, and the population had already been in steep decline before that event. The extinction of such a well-loved and symbolic animal would be a tragedy. Without far-reaching conservation, including protection of habitat, they might be extinct in the wild by 2050. Think how this would affect the tourism industry.
• The creeks flowing through the application area (Wollar and Wilpinjong creeks) feed alluvial aquifers which support many springs in the area. Disturbance of this system would cause harm to a large area of land even beyond the application area.
• With the northern section of the application area being adjacent to Goulburn River National Park, pollution of the river and damage to the national park seems almost certain to occur.

While all these reasons are valid and defensible and should be sufficient to have the licence rejected, there is another fact that by itself should also be enough. Global warming is an existential threat not only to this area but to the whole of Australia and the world. Australia is a laughingstock because of its abject failure to act. Surely the least we can do is to stop mining coal and gas. Big or small, we do not need fossil fuel in a country where ‘green’ energy is plentiful and storage methods are improving rapidly.
The people of this town have had their enjoyment of their surroundings reduced by mines almost surrounding it. Now all they want is the remaining rural setting and the natural places around it to remain intact for the future. They have already been all but swallowed by coal mining and this final blow would affect their tourist industry badly.
Susan Brown

I object, I object, I object to the granting of Exploration Licence Application 6415 to Wilpinjong Coal Pty Ltd.
Coal, and gas, will very soon be a totally outdated energy source. Why ruin farmland, and endanger water resources? Why destroy wildlife habitat, and continue to provide the fuel for the destruction of the only home we have, planet Earth? The village of Wollar should not be destroyed to provide profit for a private mining company. Nina Payne

It is time that we stepped away from this source of energy and looked for cleaner options. We are already seeing the environmental damage caused by such pollutants as coas. It is time for change.

I object to any expansion of coal licences polluting our environment and exacerbating climate change. And I particularly object to it so close to Wollar village and 1670 ha of grazing and cropping land, aboriginal cultural heritage sites, koala habitat, and Goulburn River National Park.

Coal is on the way out so where is the sense in destroying all of the above areas for short-term profits for a private mining company. Put the country, the people and the environment before short-term private interests.

We do not need any more coal mines to pollute the environment.. Think of the future for our children and grandchildren .

The Wollar village and surrounds have suffered so much and it goes on relentlessly.
Have we learn nothing about what’s happened to our environment?
Where is the endpoint of our destruction?

This is an appalling abuse of this area and so out of touch with the Future needs of our children and gandchildren to live unpolluted lives in harmony with other living things.

I object to a coal exploration licence being granted near Wollar on environmental, indigenous heritage and tourism grounds – we should be exploring clean energy sources and not destroying culture, habitat, biodiversity and local livelihoods and health for an outdated energy sector

I object to the exploration license being granted within 500 metres of Wollar village over 1670 ha of grazing and cropping land, bushland and creeks on the grounds that this will lead to further coal mining when scientific research has shown that burning coal releases greenhouse gases which will result in catastrophic temperature increases. This is a suicidal pathway being imposed on humanity by corporate denialists and goes against the government’s self mandated policy of being responsible for the safety of their constituents and their children. Responsible governmental employees can no longer keep supporting the expansion of coal mining while maintaining that they are primarily concerned with public safety.