Lake Coal - Chain Valley Coal Project | Latest Forum Topics/News Articles

Proforma for nomination to CCC

Communications Team — 2012-02-21 12:07:50 +1100

RE: CHAIN VALLEY COLLIERY – COMMUNITY CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE

I would like to nominate _______________________________, as a potential representative for the Chain Valley Colliery Community Consultative Committee.

I understand the appointment for members is undertaken by the Director-General of the NSW Department of Planning and Infrastructure, which is based upon selection criteria in the Guidelines for Establishing and Operating Community Consultative Committees for Mining Project, June 2007 (the Guidelines).

I note the selection criteria for community and other stakeholders below and provide information for consideration of this nomination as detailed in points 1 to 3.

Willingness to contribute constructively.

2Experience and ability to provide feedback to the community and stakeholder groups.

3Current residence in the local area and/or awareness of the local and other relevant issues.

The contact details for the person nominated above are:

Name:
Address:
Phone Number:
Email Address:

Other comments in relation to this nomination.

New Community Consultative Committee (CCC)

Communications Team — 2012-02-21 11:44:29 +1100

Call for Expressions-of-Interest for membership of Chain Valley Colliery

Community Consultative Committee (CCC)

In accordance with the conditions of approval for Chain Valley Colliery, a Community Consultative Committee (CCC) is to be established.

The purpose of the CCC is to provide a forum for open discussion between representatives of the company, the community, the local council and other stakeholders on issues relating to the mine’s operations and environmental performance, and to keep the community informed of these matters.

LakeCoal are now seeking expressions-of-interest from community representatives, which will be forwarded to the Director-General of the Department of Planning and Infrastructure for selection and appointment to the committee.

Selection criteria for membership will include:

Willingness to contribute constructively;
Experience and ability to provide feedback to the community and stakeholder groups; and
Current residence in the local area and awareness of local issues.

It is expected that the CCC would meet approximately twice per year, or more frequently if required.

If you would like to nominate as a potential representative of the CCC please contact Chris Ellis on 0429774246 or cellis@ldo.com.au to obtain further information.

Project Application Update

Communications Team — 2010-12-09 14:28:05 +1100

Following adequacy review of the Chain Valley Mine Part B Continuation of Mining, Preliminary Environmental Assessment, the Department of Planning require further information prior to the EA going to Public Exhibition.

The studies will be completed in the New Year and it is expected the EA will be on Public Exhibition in late February 2011. A Stakeholder Reference Group meeting will be scheduled prior to this date.

The Department of Planning have taken action to extend the transitional period during which existing mines are exempt from requiring a major project approval under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act 1979 till 31 December 2011, providing that the Department's Director – General has (on or before 16 December 2010) notified environmental assessment requirements under the Act.

The full text of the amendment is available at: http://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/maintop/view/force/subordleg+557+2000+cd+0+N

LakeCoal establishes levy to assist local community

Communications Team — 2010-09-30 13:43:25 +1000

LakeCoal has made a commitment to assist the local community, by paying a levy on each tonne of coal produced at the Chain Valley Mine. The levy will form part of the Part 3a (Part B) development application.

Two cents per tonne produced will go directly to Wyong Shire Council which will prioritise the funds for the benefit of the Summerland Point, Gwandalan, Chain Valley and Mannering Park communities.

An additional one and a half cents per tonne produced will go into the ‘Chain Valley Community Fund’. Although details of the Fund need to be finalised, it is envisioned that a panel of LakeCoal and Community representatives will call for submissions for funding from local community organisations. The submissions will then be assessed by the panel, with funding awarded on merit.

Based on the projected output of 1.2 million tonnes, the levy would raise $24,000 and $18,000 annually.

According to Chain Valley Mine Manager, David McConnell, the levy was derived to highlight the Company’s commitment to the local area, to ensure the community benefit from the Mine’s production and to acknowledge the strong commitment shown by the project’s Stakeholder Reference Group toward their local community.

“LakeCoal believes companies have a responsibility to contribute to the communities in which they live. The Mine is living up to this responsibility by establishing a levy to directly assist the local community.”

Changes to Chain Valley Coal Project Application

Communications Team — 2010-07-28 11:57:11 +1000

LakeCoal has received notification from the Department of Planning that its application for continuation of mining at Chain Valley mine will need to be processed as two separate application.

This will ensure the Department of Planning can be process part one (named Part B) of the application by 16 December 2010. It is a requirement that all Coal Mines operating under existing use agreements have contemporary environmental approvals in place by this date.

The Part B application includes a selected area of the lease, where there are current Subsidence Management Plan approvals and will ensure continuation of operations. It is expected Part B application will go on Public Exhibition in the near future. Once dates are confirmed they will be posted on this website. The community will have the opportunity to make a submission during this time.

The original Part 3a will continue to be worked on and be presented next year.

LakeCoal will be meeting with the Stakeholder Reference Group, made up of community group representatives, to detail the changes to the application.

LDO Coal, the managing agent of LakeCoal, is committed to building a sustainable and safe business at Chain Valley Mine. The proposed application will secure employment for operation’s 120 employees and ensure that environmental standards are up to date.

A map of the Part B Application Area is available from the library section of this website.

General Comments

admin — 2009-07-17 15:12:37 +1000

This area is for general comments and discussion about the project

Proposal

admin — 2009-07-17 14:21:43 +1000

LakeCoal Pty Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary of LDO Coal Pty Ltd) has submitted an application to consolidate and replace existing approvals for the Chain Valley Coal Mine, effectively securing employment for the operation’s 120 employees.

The application has been made under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and would extend the life of the mine by 21 years to 2030.

The Chain Valley Coal Project will enable the continuation of underground mining operations at the Chain Valley Mine within the area covered by existing mining leases. The planned mining areas are located in the Swansea-North Entrance Mine Subsidence District.

The mine has been in operation since August 1960, with LDO Coal assuming ownership in December 2009 from Peabody Energy Australia.

The development application will secure the future of the Chain Valley operations and continue the mine's contribution to employment, the economy and the local community.

The application includes a proposal to increase production from 0.75 million tonnes per year up to 1.2 million tonnes per year from the Great Northern and Fassifern Seams. Coal is extracted using the bord and pillar method, a method that is flexible in design to maximize resource recovery and to control surface subsidence in relevant areas.

Existing surface and underground facilities would be used to service the Project, with some new facilities and modifications to existing infrastructure required to support ongoing mining activities and the proposed increase in mine production. The Coal Handling and Preparation Plant, for example, will be upgraded to increase throughput to approximately 600 tonnes per hour.

Product coal will continue to be transported by truck to the PWCS Carrington Coal Terminal and to domestic customers, including the Vales Point Power Station.

The mine is an important part of the local community, supporting more than 450 families through direct and indirect employment and a network of contractors and suppliers in the local area and throughout NSW.

Location

admin — 2009-07-17 14:20:50 +1000

The Chain Valley Coal Project will enable the continuation of underground mining operations at the Chain Valley mine within the area covered by existing mining leases. The planned mining areas are located in the Swansea-North Entrance Mine Subsidence District. This includes parts of Gwandalan, Summerland Point and Chain Valley Bay. Mining will also occur under parts of Lake Macquarie.

From the early 1960s to 1997 much of the application area, including Gwandalan and Summerland Point, was mined beneath in the Wallarah Seam.

Participation

admin — 2009-07-17 14:19:28 +1000

An Environmental Assessment of the possible impacts of the project will be prepared in accordance with specific requirements set down by the Director-General of the Department of Planning. Once issued, these requirements will be available on the Department’s website at http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/page/project-sectors/mining--petroleum---extractive-industries/mining/?action=view_job&job_id=3387

It is anticipated that one of these requirements will be community consultation. Consultation with the community will ensure that all factors of importance to the community will be considered in the Environment Assessment.

Once the Environmental Assessment is completed it will be submitted to the Department of Planning and placed on exhibition for community comment. Submissions can be made to the Department of Planning during this period.

All submissions will be considered and the Department will prepare a report for determination of the application by the Minister for Planning under Part 3A of the Environmental Planning & Assessment Act.