Many issues have been raised and questions have been asked by local residents during extensive community consultation throughout the years of exploration activity. We would encourage residents to contact us if you require any additional information. Responses to common questions will be posted for the benefit of all residents.

What is subsidence and what does it mean for our properties?
Who is responsible for any damage that does occur?
Will the underground mine take away our groundwater?
What happens to rivers and waterways?
Will any groundwater enter the mine?
Will the Mine affect the water supply catchment?
What will be the impact on the proposed Mardi to Mangrove Dam water supply pipeline?
Will the Project impact on the Wyong Employment Zone?
What are the impacts on Blue Haven?

What is subsidence and what does it mean for our properties?

When the coal is extracted the overlying rock is disturbed. Although the coal seam is generally around 500 metres (half a kilometre) below the surface, there will still be some movement on the surface. However, because of the depth and the high density of the overlying rock, allied with the sensitive mine design approach, the discernible surface effects will be limited. This has been demonstrated in similar mining operations at similar depths.

However, there are well documented cases where subsidence has caused very noticeable damage and these examples are often portrayed in the media as the norm. This is not the case and the reasons for why the damage occurred is well understood. Invariably it is caused by very shallow mining depth or when specific geological conditions occur. The Wallarah 2 Coal Project will extract coal at considerable depths and given our extensive exploration program, we have a very good knowledge of geological conditions within the proposed mining area. The landscape and geological settings are significantly different to areas such as the Southern Coalfields.

The Mine Subsidence Board (MSB) is an independent authority that is responsible for repairing any land improvement damaged by mine subsidence. This includes all structures such as dwellings and sheds, fencing, dams, landscaping and paddocks. Any other damage not covered by the MSB is the responsibility of the mine owner. This includes environmental issues such as loss of bore water should this occur. This point is discussed further in the next question.

Before mining occurs in an area, a detailed plan is prepared for every property which may be affected by subsidence. This plan not only identifies every structure on the property but the condition within and around each structure. Photographic records are taken and provided to the land owner along with a copy of all reports prepared in relation to the property. Any damage caused as a result of mining must be repaired to equal or better condition following mining.

All inspections must be carried out with the permission of the landowner. As a company policy, we prefer the landowner also to be present at all times and privacy is always protected.

This is not a new process, the Mine Subsidence Board has been in operation for many years throughout NSW.

No - however some minor and temporary effects could occur to local bores. All bores will be inspected and flow rates confirmed prior to mining. We will be responsible and liable for any temporary or permanent loss of bore water, either quality or yield, as a result of mining. Because groundwater management issues are important to the local community, the project will continue its groundwater monitoring activity so that a full understanding of the groundwater system can be gained and reported.

There has been some media coverage on this issue where it has been suggested that this project is the same as the Sydney Gas Project and that a report had been done which supposedly proves that underground mining will cause loss of groundwater and flows in rivers.  This is not correct.  The report undertaken by Northern Geosciences on behalf of the Australian Gas Alliance speculated on the potential effects of gas production wells in the Dooralong Valley.  A response to this report has been made by the Department of Primary Industries.  Irrespective of the scientific validity of the report, the fact remains that the proposed Wallarah 2 Coal Project will be extracting coal at considerable depths where the only groundwater to enter the mine will be saline.  This water is not currently used by groundwater users or natural surface water systems.  This water will be brought to the surface at the Tooheys Road site for treatment and recycling initiatives.

Any underground mine clearly seeks to avoid any surface water entry to the mine, for safety and operational reasons. Accordingly, mines are planned to ensure that they are fully isolated from overlying water systems, and mining has had many years of experience safely mining beneath water storages, dams, lakes and ocean.
 

There are a few, though well documented cases of underground mining causing impacts on rivers and creeks in other, very different landscapes and geological settings to those that occur here. Although the reasons why and how these affects occur are well known, it is still an issue that requires detailed attention. While any such risk of permanent damage to waterways is considered very low, the company acknowledges that it will be fully responsible for repairing any damage that may be caused.

As part of the project, we will be undertaking monitoring within the Dooralong and Yarramalong Valleys and we are required to carry out inspections prior to, during and after mining beneath any creek line. Any damage must be fully remediated as soon as practicable.

Yes, however this water exists within and just above the coal seam. No surface water will enter the mine as a result of mining. This is simply not possible and a common misconception.

There are many examples of coal mines operating beneath lakes and oceans without fear or risk of surface water entering the mine. It is a function of depth and rock type. The Wallarah 2 Coal Project will be deeper than current operations beneath the ocean. There is no risk of surface water entering the mine.

Any groundwater that enters the mine will be pumped to the Tooheys Road site and treated to a standard suitable for potentially being able to be returned to the surface drainage system. This would in fact increase the total amount of water in the Wyong Water Supply Catchment. The water will be treated in an appropriate treatment plant which will be capable of producing drinkable water quality.

The project will in fact increase the total usable water for both the community and the environment. We will be installing a water treatment plant which will treat saline water contained in the coal seam making it available for other purposes. The final uses of this excess water will ultimately be determined by the government.

The proposed mine plan will not impact on the proposed water supply pipeline which is proposed to be constructed within the Yarramalong Valley. 

The W2CP team has been proactively liaising with the pipeline project's management and design teams working at Wyong Council as well as the Mine Subsidence Board.  There will be negligible effects discernible on the pipeline due to deep underground mining that is proposed further north.  It is known that any such effects on the pipeline from the mining proposal, if at all discernible, are well within the routine engineering design criteria for such pipelines.  Any implication that the mining project could cause collapse of the pipeline is patently absurd and is nothing more than deliberate misinformation spread by opponents such as the Coal Alliance.  The Wallarah 2 Coal Project will not be conducting any mining at all beneath the Wyong River and its deep underground mining area does not represent "a large area of the region's water catchment" but actually lies beneath less than 5% of it, which of course is not "pristine" but includes grazing lands, fertilised turf farms, many unsewered houses, waste tip, and commercial and industrial land uses.  Wallarah 2 is paying full attention to safeguarding the water catchment and managing social and environmental impacts while maximising net benefits for the community as well as the regional economy and workforce.

There has been a lot of misinformation regarding the implications of the project on the Wyong Employment Zone (WEZ).  The only component of our project which is close to the edge of the proposed WEZ will be the Buttonderry Site.  This site will consist of our offices and employee amenities area which is entirely compatible with the types of industries proposed for WEZ.  It is without doubt that the W2CP will provide a significant boost to the WEZ by providing additional services in currently un-serviced areas.  We have in fact had several inquiries from interested industries wishing to locate adjacent to our surface facility sites.  These inquiries will obviously increase once or project is approved.

There has been much debate about our impacts on Blue Haven.  There has been suggestions that we are located adjacent to the suburb.  This is incorrect as can be seen from our plans and air photos.  There have been ridiculous suggestions that we will cause Blue Haven or even the entire Central Coast to be “clouded in dust” (Alliance we won’t settle for coal dust  May 11).  These suggestions are both silly and an unnecessary cause for concern for residents.

The proposed mine surface facilities will be close to the Freeway some four kilometres from the Blue Haven community.

Quite apart from the fact that no-one would expect the NSW Government to approve a project that could even potentially cause such impacts, the Wallarah site is further from the Blue Haven community than much larger coal loading facilities at the Munmorah Power Station.  The Wallarah 2 stockpile and loader will be something less than one third the size of the power station coal handling and loading facility that has been in place for decades. 

Some, but not all, Blue Haven residents also know that between their homes and the Wallarah site there is an existing working quarry.  Residents want to protect their current air quality amenity, and should be relieved to know that the presence of these two existing major facilities as well as the Motorway link has had no significant impacts because modern environmental controls are in place.  Our project also will be developed with stringent environmental controls for dust management to avoid impacts on air quality at Blue Haven.

We encourage members of the community to question our project; that is a helpful process that ensures the best possible proposal will be submitted, but we invite you to judge this project on its merits and not on scare mongering.