Mining Offensive on Denman and Wybong

Muswellbrook Coal have been going since white man first hit the district.  In the late 1970's Draytons kicked off.  Then a power station arrived and another.   Then a cople more mines. Around 1996 Dartbrook and Bengalla Mines came to town.

Then what started out in 2006 as Centennial Coal - Anvil Hill Open Cut Coal Mine" became "Xstrata - Anvil Hill Open Cut Coal Mine" .  Same terms, same conditions.   The first (and most ecologically intense) piece of Wybong to be alienated, leaving the next segments to fall.

Almost immediately thereafter came Modification1 - Change of Consent to Commence Construction Prior to Certain Conditions being met (Completion of Wybong Road Upgrade downgraded) with Modification 2 attached - to alter the Mine Water Plan for bulk importation and storage of water and Route of 66kV mine electricity supply.

MODIFICATION 1 & 2 (Approved)

                          Wybong Road Upgrade 
                          Wybong Road East (Kayuga Rd to Bengalla Link Rd)
                          Wybong Road (Bengalla Link Rd to Mine Northern Access Road)

Modification 3 then passed on administrative approval without public referral (we reserve our opinion on the decision) Change the Conditions of Consent to relocate the MIA and re-orient workshops to a more NE publicly exposed, noise and light emitting location.

MODIFICATION 3 (Approved)
Modification of original mine plan for:
Relocation of Human Infrastructure (to more visible location)

Modification 5 then passed on an administrative approval without public referral (we accept that decision) to Amend the Conditions of Consent for 48 hrs for underboring railway infrastructure (Modification 2 Water Supply)

MODIFICATION 5 (Approved)

Modification of original mine plan to underbore railway line at night for 48 hrs

Meanwhile Modification 4 (Anvil Hill transmogrifies into the New Mongruella Mine) by moving the Transgrid 500kV Interlink awaits the complete Environmental Assessment and Public Exhibition.

The Mangoola Mine is completely different mine proposal to Anvil Hill.  It will operate with an intensity not ever envisaged in the Anvil Hill Mine Plan, its impacts are so dramatically expanded that it must be treated as a New Project and publicly exhibited for comment, amendment and ultimately dismissal.

MODIFICATION "4" NEW XSTRATA MANGOOLA MINE PLAN (TBA)
Modification of original mine plan for:
Relocation of 500kV State Power Transmission Line (to direct alignment within metres of Key Habitat, major alteration to mine operation, noise, dust, odours, equipment etc)

What Next?  Ridgelands Coal ELA
+ Spur Hill ELA, Yarrawa ELA, Castle Rock ELA

Xstrata tendered twice for the Ridgelands ELA. BoTai Consortium have also entered a tender. 

Its not to difficult to see the NSW Government intention for Doyles Creek, Yarrawa, Wybong, Ridgelands to replicate Mt Thorley, Wambo,  United, etc .

Community Consultation/Information Sessions

XSTRATA:

Oct 2006 - Oct 2009: 3

14 July 2010, 5pm - 7pm, Wybong Hall 

Issues arising:

Mod 4 - EA not available

Brogheda Noise - admitted that monitor readings from 98 Ridgelands Road are inapplicable to determining actual Noise measured at Brogheda - refused mobile or fixed monitor on any timeframe - est at 98 Ridgelands Road have been 36-39db(A)

Wybong Upland Management Strategy - not available

Mine sequencing - not available

Intersection - not resolved