More than 50 Upper Hunter homes would be at risk of being exposed to dangerously high air pollution levels associated with a risk of premature death as a result of the proposed Hunter Valley Operations continuation project, a public hearing has been told.
University of Melbourne air pollution expert Gabriel da Silva told the Independent Planning Commission on Friday that allowing the mine to continue operating into the 2040s would have disastrous impacts on the region's air quality.
He said the most concerning air pollutant from the proposal was particulate matter less than 2.5 micrograms in diameter (PM2.5), both directly emitted from mining activities and formed through secondary reactions of other pollutants in the atmosphere.
As part of its application, HVO said it had reduced projected Scope 1 emissions (greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere from sources owned or controlled by an organisation) for the project by about 43 per cent (11.5 million tonnes).
This had been achieved by shortening the proposed mining timeline and altering extraction plans to avoid mining in an area known to contain high concentrations of methane.
HVO argues that the proposal before the IPC for determination aligns with regulatory requirements and government policy.
But, Dr da Silva, who appeared via video link, argued that modelling used for the project's application most likely underestimated the levels of pollution that would be generated.
"In my opinion, air quality modelling in the Environmental Impact Statement and the amendment report likely underestimates PM2.5 levels as it does not appropriately account for the major component of industrial PM2.5 in the region, which is secondary particles formed from industrial emissions," he said.
"The assumed PM2.5 backgrounds used in the reports, particularly the amendment report, are also inadequate. Because it neglects seasonal variability it also cannot capture worst-case scenarios.
"I disagree with the NSW EPA's finding that issues arising from deficiencies in the assumed background can be resolved through Environmental Protection Licence conditions on PM10 management, because this neglects impacts of this modelling error on annual mean PM2.5 levels.
The Mining and Energy Union has backed the project, arguing that it supports 1500 jobs in addition to providing significant benefits to local communities. The economic security provided by the project was also needed as part of a well-managed transition away from coal.
"It's an extremely important project; it will be criminal if the IPC doesn't approve this mine going forward. It will decimate the local economy and communities," Mining and Energy Union Northern Mining and NSW Energy District president Robin Williams said.
"This shouldn't be a case where we have a climate argument versus people's jobs.
"This is about people's jobs and this is about communities and ongoing support of those communities. I think it would be unfair, given the amount of time that coal miners have put into this area to have their jobs pulled out from under them."
HVO general manager Dave Foster thanked HVO workers for attending the IPC hearing.
"Your presence is an important reminder to everyone that this project is not theoretical or an academic debate, this approval carries with it the security and certainty for 1500 families and hundreds of businesses across the Hunter," he said.
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