WHITEHAVEN COAL LIMITED WERRIS CREEK COAL COMMUNITY CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
63rd Meeting of the Committee held at the Werris Creek Bowling Club on
Wednesday, 8 November 2023 at 9:30AM
Meeting opened at 9:20AM
Record of Attendance | |
Michael Smith OAM | Independent Chairperson |
Jane Bradford OAM | Independent Minute Taker |
Murray O'Keefe | Whitehaven Coal - Operations Manager |
Andrew Raal | Werris Creek Coal - Superintendent Close Mines |
Daryl Robinson | Whitehaven Coal - Environment & Mine Rehabilitation Manager |
Olivia Hulbert | Whitehaven Coal - Environmental Advisor |
Mike Lomax | Community Representative |
Noel Taylor | Community Representative |
James O'Brien | Community Representative |
Apologies | |
Jacki Scott | Whitehaven Coal - Manager Community Partnerships & Investment |
Darren Swain | Whitehaven Coal - General Manager Community Engagement |
Non-Attendance | |
Nathan Skelly | Director of Infrastructure & Environmental Services - Liverpool Plains |
Shire Council | |
Lindsay Bridge | Community Representative |
Col Stewart OAM | The Chair advised that Mr Stewart had resigned from the Committee. Mr |
Silver expressed his appreciation for Col's long involvement with the | |
Committee and extended best wishes to him in retirement. |
- Acknowledgement of Country
The Chair acknowledged the Traditional Owners of the land on which the meeting is being held and recognised their continuing connection to the land, water and culture, paying respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. - Declaration of Pecuniary or Other Interests
The Chair advised that his meeting expenses are borne by the proponent. Other members - Nil - Minutes of the previous 62nd meeting held on the 12 July 2023 were approved on 22 August 2023.
- Matters Arising - Nil
- Quarterly Environmental Monitoring Report - June to September 2023 Andrew Raal went through the Report with the following comments:
1.1 Weather Station - Below normal rainfalls to date - under half compared to this time last year and high winds normal for the change of season.
2.2 Werris Creek Mine deposited dust - "Cintra" averaged "4" which is within the 12-month average.
4.0 Blasting - Total of 15 blasts - all within required levels.
5.1.2 Surface Water - Flood last year - this year dry so decline in levels.
5.2.1 Monitoring data results - Dams mostly dry, using atomizers to stay low. Coal in F & G seams only - must be kept dry for mining.
6.0 Complaints Summary - One received in mid-June - action has been taken.
- General Business
- Closure of Mine was to be January / February - extended to February / March 2024.
- Excavator has been moved to other operation - one cell cleared faster than anticipated - slowed down in October hence extended closure date. Staff have been offered positions at the Vickery mine
- Liverpool Plains Shire Council has expressed interest in part of rail line, sheds etc - other interested parties including agriculture maybe in 2027 - 2028 before further action can happen.
- Current Mining Legislation is changing - approvals given in 2005 are being updated as the Department of Mining gains more experience and knowledge is being gained from mine closures.
- Water levels - unable to forecast if water levels will return to pre-mining levels until some years after mine closure.
Note: James O'Brien thanked the Management team for attending these meetings - it has been appreciated by the Community Committee Members and by the people of Werris Creek and surrounds as the years have passed.
Note: Open Weekend at the end of October proved very successful and Whitehaven very pleased with the response from both locals and visitors with 500 plus people participating in the mine tours as well.
Note: Fire on Whitehaven land - no-one came from Whitehaven to either open the locked gate or cut fence or assist with extinguishing the fire.
Response - Werris Creek Mine not aware of the fire - comes under Whitehaven Biodiversity team who work out of Gunnedah and did not receive either a phone or email message - would always be prepared to assist - once advised of an issue.
The emergency or hot line number is 1800 942 836 - the message is converted to text and sent out to a number of people.
Note: Tree guards did not burn due to the fire moving too fast to catch and burn.
Note: Tree planting progressing well, and dead trees will be replaced!
-
Next Meeting Date and Time Wednesday, 14 February 2024 at 9:30AM
Venue: Board Room at the Werris Creek Mine. A mine visit will be undertaken prior to the meeting. - Meeting closed at 11:00AM
Meeting Minutes Approved:
Michael J Silver OAM | |
Independent Chairperson | Date: 4 December 2023 |
Environmental Monitoring Report | 1st June to 30th September 2023 |
WERRIS CREEK COAL PTY LTD
QUARTERLY ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING REPORT
June - September 2023
This Environmental Monitoring Report covers the period 1st June to 30th September 2023 for the Werris Creek Coal Mine Community Consultative Committee.
The report includes environmental monitoring results from the on-site Weather Station, Air Quality, Noise, Blasting, Surface Water, Groundwater and Discharge Water Quality together with any community complaints received and general details on site environmental matters.
Note: Elevated monitoring results above the relevant monitoring criteria are highlighted in yellow.
Werris Creek Coal | Page 1 of 16 |
Environmental Monitoring Report1st June to 30th September 2023
CONTENTS | ||
4.1.2 | Discussion - Compliance / Non-Compliance | 8 |
4.2 | BLAST COMPLAINTS | 8 |
5.0 | WATER | 8 |
5.1 | GROUND WATER | 8 |
5.1.1 | Monitoring Data Results | 9 |
5.1.2 | Discussion - Compliance / Non-Compliance | 9 |
5.2 | SURFACE WATER | 10 |
5.2.1 | Monitoring Data Results | 10 |
5.2.2 | Discussion - Compliance / Non-Compliance | 10 |
5.3 | SURFACE WATER DISCHARGES | 10 |
5.3.1 | Monitoring Data Results | 10 |
5.3.2 | Discussion - Compliance / Non-Compliance | 10 |
5.4 | WATER COMPLAINTS | 10 |
6.0 | COMPLAINTS SUMMARY | 10 |
7.0 | GENERAL | 11 |
Werris Creek Coal | Page 2 of 16 |
Environmental Monitoring Report | 1st June to 30th September 2023 |
1.0 METEOROLOGY
1.1 WEATHER STATION
Werris Creek Coal (WCC) collects meteorological data from the onsite weather station located on the top level of the overburden emplacement. The following table summarises rainfall data for the last four months. The monthly rainfall during the reporting period (June - September 2023) was below the historical average. Directional wind data, presented in the wind-rose figures below, indicate the prevailing wind direction was predominantly from the north during the reporting period.
Month | Rainfall (mm) | |||||
Onsite | Historical Average | 2023 Total | ||||
June 2023 | 43.8 | 61.9 | 281.8 | |||
July 2023 | 22.2 | 42.0 | 304.0 | |||
August 2023 | 21.6 | 38.3 | 325.6 | |||
September 2023 | 17.6 | 48.4 | 343.2 |
JUNE 2023 | JULY 2023 |
AUGUST 2023 | SEPTEMBER 2023 |
Werris Creek Coal | Page 3 of 16 |
Environmental Monitoring Report | 1st June to 30th September 2023 |
- AIR QUALITY
- HVAS (PM10) and TEOM (PM10 & PM2.5)
WCC operates five High Volume Air Samplers (HVAS), four sites measuring particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10) and one site measuring total suspended particulate (TSP) matter. HVAS sampling is scheduled every 6 days for a 24-hour run period in accordance with Environment Protection Authority (EPA) guidelines. Results are reported in micro grams per cubic metre (µg/m3) of air sampled. In addition, WCC operates a Tapered Element Oscillating Microbalance (TEOM) monitor in Werris Creek measuring real time PM10 and PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 microns) dust levels. Dust monitoring locations are identified in Figure 1.
2.1.1 Monitoring Data Results
The average results for the last four months are provided in the table below.
24Hr | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP 2023 | 2023 AVG | CRITERIA (µg/m3) | |||||||||||||||||
MONITORING LOCATION | Maximum | 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||
(µg/m3) | (µg/m3) | Annual | 24hr | ||||||||||||||||||||
(µg/m3) | (µg/m3) | (µg/m3) | (µg/m3) | ||||||||||||||||||||
PM2.5 - TEOM92 "Werris Creek" | 12.6 | 6.2 | 3.6 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 4.3 | - | - | |||||||||||||||
PM10 - TEOM92 "Werris Creek" | 18.4 | 9.4 | 7.9 | 9.5 | 9.6 | 9.8 | 30 | 50 | |||||||||||||||
PM10 - HVP20 "Tonsley Park" | 25.2 | 12.5 | 8.1 | 12.6 | 15.9 | 12.6 | 30 | 50 | |||||||||||||||
PM10 - HVP1 "Escott" | 13.8 | 4.2 | 3.2 | 4.1 | 8.7 | 6.5 | 30 | 50 | |||||||||||||||
PM10 - HVP11 "Glenara" | 28.1 | 7.7 | 6.6 | 13.2 | 14.2 | 11.8 | 30 | 50 | |||||||||||||||
PM10 - HVP98 "Kyooma" | 12.1 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 8.6 | 5.7 | 30 | 50 | |||||||||||||||
TSP - HVT98 "Kyooma" | 25.3 | 7.1 | 7.0 | 9.4 | 18.0 | 13.4 | 90 | - | |||||||||||||||
Yellow Bold- Elevated dust level.
2.1.2 Discussion - Compliance / Non-Compliance
All TSP, PM10 and PM2.5 dust results were within criteria during the period.
2.2 WERRIS CREEK MINE DEPOSITED DUST
Deposited dust monitoring measures particulate matter greater than 30 microns in size that readily settles out of the air related to visual impact. Dust deposition is monitored at 18 locations around WCC. Sampling is scheduled monthly in accordance with EPA guidelines and results are reported as grams per square metre per month (g/m2.month). Dust monitoring locations are identified in Figure 1.
Werris Creek Coal | Page 4 of 16 |
Environmental Monitoring Report | 1st June to 30th September 2023 |
2.2.1 Monitoring Data Results
The results for the last four months are provided in the table below.
JUN 2023 | JUL 2023 | AUG 2023 | SEP 2023 | 2023 | Annual | |||||||||||||||
MONITORING LOCATION | AVERAGE | Criteria | ||||||||||||||||||
(g/m2/month) | (g/m2/month) | (g/m2/month) | (g/m2/month) | |||||||||||||||||
(g/m2/month) | (g/m2/month) | |||||||||||||||||||
DG1 "Escott" | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 4.0 | ||||||||||||||
DG2 "Cintra" | 11.5* | 5.1 | 7.0 | 2.3 | 4.8 | 4.0 | ||||||||||||||
DG3 "Eurunderee" | 1.4 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 4.0 | ||||||||||||||
DG5 "Railway View" | 2.0 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 4.0 | ||||||||||||||
DG9 "Marengo" | 1.1 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 4.0 | ||||||||||||||
DG11 "Glenara" | 2.6 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.9 | 4.0 | ||||||||||||||
DG14 "Greenslopes" | 1.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.7 | 4.0 | ||||||||||||||
DG15 "Plain View" | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 4.0 | ||||||||||||||
DG17 "Woodlands" | 2.1 | 5.1* | 2.9 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 4.0 | ||||||||||||||
DG20 "Tonsley Park" | 0.1 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 1.2 | 4.0 | ||||||||||||||
DG22 "Mountain View" | 0.3 | 0.5 | 1.4 | 0.2 | 0.6 | 4.0 | ||||||||||||||
DG24 "Hazeldene" | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 1.2 | 4.0 | ||||||||||||||
DG34 8 Kurrara St | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 4.0 | ||||||||||||||
DG62 Werris Creek South | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.8 | 4.0 | ||||||||||||||
DG92 Werris Creek Centre | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 4.0 | ||||||||||||||
DG98 "Kyooma" | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 4.0 | ||||||||||||||
DG101 "Westfall" | 1.1 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.6 | 4.0 | ||||||||||||||
DG103 West Street | 2.4 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 4.0 |
- - sample contaminated with excessive organic matter (>50%) from non-mining source (i.e., bird droppings and insects); # - indicates sample is contaminated from a Non-Werris Creek Coal dust source; Yellow Bold- Elevated dust level; NS - No Sample; Site damage - stand and bottle vandalised
2.2.2 Discussion - Compliance / Non-Compliance
All monthly dust deposition gauge results were below the annual criteria of 4.0 g/m2/month throughout the period with the exception of:
- DG2 (Cintra) exhibited high dust levels in July and August 2023. The dust is consistent with the activities of the nearby mining activity immediately adjacent to the dust gauge - DG2 is located within the Mining Lease Boundary.
2.3 AIR QUALITY COMPLAINTS
There were no dust complaints recorded during the period.
- NOISE
- OPERATIONAL NOISE
Monthly attended noise monitoring is undertaken representative of the following 16 properties from 13 monitoring points below. Attended noise monitoring was undertaken twice for either 60 minutes at privately owned properties or 15 minutes at properties with private agreements; representative of the day period and the evening/night period.
Werris Creek Coal | Page 5 of 16 |
Environmental Monitoring Report | 1st June to 30th September 2023 |
3.1.1 Monitoring Data Results
The WCC operation's noise level (not ambient noise) results for the last four months are outlined in the tables below. Noise monitoring locations are identified in Figure 2.
15th Thursday, June 2023
Location | Day dB(A) Leq | Criteria dB(A) Leq | Evening/Night | Criteria dB(A) Leq | |||||||||
15min | 15min | dB(A) Leq 15min | 15min | ||||||||||
A | "Rosehill" R5 | Inaudible | 35 | Inaudible | 35 | ||||||||
B | West Quipolly (R7*, R8, R9* & R22*) | Inaudible | 40 | Inaudible | 40 | ||||||||
C | Central Quipolly (R10*, R11*) | Inaudible | 40 | Inaudible | 40 | ||||||||
D | "Hazeldene" R24 | Inaudible | 37 | Inaudible | 37 | ||||||||
E | "Railway Cottage" R12 | Inaudible | 38 | Inaudible | 38 | ||||||||
F | "Talavera" R96 | Inaudible | 38 | Inaudible | 37 | ||||||||
H | "Kyooma" R98 | Inaudible | 35 | Inaudible | 35 | ||||||||
I | Kurrara St, WC R57 | Inaudible | 35 | 30 | 35 | ||||||||
J | Coronation Ave, WC | Inaudible | 35 | Inaudible | 35 | ||||||||
K | Alco Park (R21*) | Inaudible | 40 | 30 | 40 | ||||||||
L | West St, WC (R103) | Inaudible | 35 | 25 | 35 |
WC - Werris Creek; * - Private agreement in place with resident; Yellow Bold- Elevated noise; # Adverse weather with wind >3m/s, temperature inversions
>+12oC/100m or >2m/s and >0oC/100m; 1 - R22 criteria is 36 dB(A) Leq 15min while R9 is 37 dB(A) Leq 15min
NM- Denotes Not Measurable. If site only noise is noted as NM, this means some noise from the source of interest was audible at low-levels, but could not be quantified
25th Tuesday, July 2023
Location | Day dB(A) Leq 15min | Criteria dB(A) Leq | Evening/Night | Criteria dB(A) Leq | |||||||||
15min | dB(A) Leq 15min | 15min | |||||||||||
A | "Rosehill" R5 | Inaudible | 35 | 24 | 35 | ||||||||
B | West Quipolly (R7*, R8, R9* & R22*) | Inaudible | 40 | 21 | 40 | ||||||||
C | Central Quipolly (R10*, R11*) | Inaudible | 40 | 25 | 40 | ||||||||
D | "Hazeldene" R24 | Inaudible | 37 | 22 | 37 | ||||||||
E | "Railway Cottage" R12 | Inaudible | 38 | 23 | 38 | ||||||||
F | "Talavera" R96 | Inaudible | 38 | Inaudible | 37 | ||||||||
H | "Kyooma" R98 | Inaudible | 35 | Inaudible | 35 | ||||||||
I | Kurrara St, WC R57 | Inaudible | 35 | Inaudible | 35 | ||||||||
J | Coronation Ave, WC | Inaudible | 35 | Inaudible | 35 | ||||||||
K | Alco Park (R21*) | Inaudible | 40 | 25 | 40 | ||||||||
L | West St, WC (R103) | Inaudible | 35 | Inaudible | 35 |
WC - Werris Creek; * - Private agreement in place with resident; Yellow Bold- Elevated noise; # Adverse weather with wind >3m/s, temperature inversions
>+12oC/100m or >2m/s and >0oC/100m; 1 - R22 criteria is 36 dB(A) Leq 15min while R9 is 37 dB(A) Leq 15min
NM- Denotes Not Measurable. If site only noise is noted as NM, this means some noise from the source of interest was audible at low-levels, but could not be quantified
28th-29th Monday-Tuesday, August 2023
Location | Day dB(A) Leq | Criteria dB(A) Leq | Evening/Night dB(A) | Criteria dB(A) Leq | |||||||||
15min | 15min | Leq 15min | 15min | ||||||||||
A | "Rosehill" R5 | Inaudible | 35 | Inaudible | 35 | ||||||||
B | West Quipolly (R7*, R8, R9* & R22*) | Inaudible | 40 | 26 | 40 | ||||||||
C | Central Quipolly (R10*, R11*) | Inaudible | 40 | Inaudible | 40 | ||||||||
D | "Hazeldene" R24 | Inaudible | 37 | Inaudible | 37 | ||||||||
E | "Railway Cottage" R12 | Inaudible | 38 | Inaudible# | 38 | ||||||||
F | "Talavera" R96 | Inaudible | 38 | Inaudible | 37 | ||||||||
H | "Kyooma" R98 | Inaudible | 35 | Inaudible# | 35 | ||||||||
I | Kurrara St, WC R57 | Inaudible | 35 | Inaudible | 35 | ||||||||
J | Coronation Ave, WC | Inaudible | 35 | Inaudible | 35 | ||||||||
K | Alco Park (R21*) | Inaudible | 40 | 23 | 40 | ||||||||
L | West St, WC (R103) | Inaudible | 35 | Inaudible# | 35 |
WC - Werris Creek; * - Private agreement in place with resident; Yellow Bold- Elevated noise; # Adverse weather with wind >3m/s, temperature inversions >+12oC/100m or >2m/s and >0oC/100m; 1 - R22 criteria is 36 dB(A) Leq 15min while R9 is 37 dB(A) Leq 15min
NM- Denotes Not Measurable. If site only noise is noted as NM, this means some noise from the source of interest was audible at low-levels, but could not be quantified
Werris Creek Coal | Page 6 of 16 |
Environmental Monitoring Report | 1st June to 30th September 2023 | ||||||||||||||
26th & 27th Tuesday-Wednesday, September 2023 | |||||||||||||||
Location | Day dB(A) Leq | Criteria dB(A) Leq | Evening/Night dB(A) | Criteria dB(A) Leq | |||||||||||
15min | 15min | Leq 15min | 15min | ||||||||||||
A | "Rosehill" R5 | Inaudible | 35 | Inaudible# | 35 | ||||||||||
B | West Quipolly (R7*, R8, R9* & R22*) | Inaudible | 40 | Inaudible# | 40 | ||||||||||
C | Central Quipolly (R10*, R11*) | 26 | 40 | Inaudible# | 40 | ||||||||||
D | "Hazeldene" R24 | 26# | 37 | Inaudible# | 37 | ||||||||||
E | "Railway Cottage" R12 | Inaudible# | 38 | Inaudible | 38 | ||||||||||
F | "Talavera" R96 | 32# | 38 | Inaudible | 37 | ||||||||||
H | "Kyooma" R98 | Inaudible# | 35 | Inaudible# | 35 | ||||||||||
I | Kurrara St, WC R57 | Inaudible# | 35 | Inaudible# | 35 | ||||||||||
J | Coronation Ave, WC | Inaudible# | 35 | Inaudible# | 35 | ||||||||||
K | Alco Park (R21*) | Inaudible# | 40 | Inaudible# | 40 | ||||||||||
L | West St, WC (R103) | Inaudible# | 35 | Inaudible# | 35 |
WC - Werris Creek; * - Private agreement in place with resident; Yellow Bold- Elevated noise; # Adverse weather with wind >3m/s, temperature inversions >+12oC/100m or >2m/s and >0oC/100m; 1 - R22 criteria is 36 dB(A) Leq 15min while R9 is 37 dB(A) Leq 15min
NM- Denotes Not Measurable. If site only noise is noted as NM, this means some noise from the source of interest was audible at low-levels, but could not be quantified
3.1.2 Discussion - Compliance / Non-Compliance
Noise from Werris Creek Coal Mine was inaudible at a high percentage of the monitoring sites during the quarter. Throughout the period, Werris Creek Coal Mine adjusted mining operations and shut down equipment at various times to reduce noise generation potential in response to noise levels measured at the real time noise monitors.
3.2 Noise complaints
There was one noise complaint recorded during the period.
4.0 BLASTING
During the reporting period there was a total of 15 blasts fired by WCC with monitoring of each blast undertaken at "Glenara", "Kyooma", "Werris Creek South" and "Werris Creek Mid". Compliance limits for blasting overpressure is 115dBL (and up to 120dBL for only 5% of blasts) and vibration is 5mm/s (and up to 10mm/s for only 5% of blasts). Blast monitoring locations are identified in Figure 3.
4.1 BLAST MONITORING
4.1.1 Monitoring Data Results
The summary tables of blasting results over the last four months are provided below.
JUNE 2023 | "Glenara" R11 | "Kyooma" R98 | Werris Creek South R62 | Werris Creek Mid R92 | |||||||||||||||||||||
mm/s | dB(L) | mm/s | dB(L) | mm/s | dB(L) | mm/s | dB(L) | ||||||||||||||||||
Monthly Average | 0.11 | 98.0 | 0.86 | 101.0 | 0.36 | 100.4 | 0.23 | 100.4 | |||||||||||||||||
Monthly Maximum | 0.16 | 105.6 | 1.38 | 109.9 | 0.63 | 109.1 | 0.33 | 115.5 | |||||||||||||||||
Annual Average | 0.10 | 99.6 | 0.81 | 100.5 | 0.50 | 100.8 | 0.29 | 99.3 | |||||||||||||||||
Criteria | 5 | 115 | 5 | 115 | 5 | 115 | 5 | 115 | |||||||||||||||||
% | Rolling 12-mo | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 1.35% | ||||||||||||||||
>115dB(L) | Average | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
or 5mm/s | YTD | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 3.23% |
Werris Creek Coal | Page 7 of 16 |
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Disclaimer
Whitehaven Coal Limited published this content on 17 December 2023 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 19 December 2023 03:45:30 UTC.
