Whitehaven Coal : BTM Noise Strategy

NOISE MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

For Boggabri - Tarrawonga - Maules Creek Complex

AP R I L 2 02 4

Idemitsu Australia Pty Ltd

Boggabri Coal Operations Pty Ltd

Whitehaven Coal Limited Tarrawonga Coal Pty Ltd, Maules Creek Coal Pty Ltd

DOCUMENT CONTROL
Version	Date	Prepared by	Reviewed by	Approved by
01	4 Nov 11	N Pennington	D Young
02	14	Nov 11	N Pennington	W Jones
03	21	Nov 11	N Pennington	W Jones
04	21	Sep 12	N Pennington	B Bird		J Green / D
						Martin /
						D Young
05	20	Mar 14	N Pennington / B	J Green / D Martin /	J Green / D
			Bird	D Young		Martin /
						D Young
06	17	July 14	N Pennington	B Bird / J Green / D	J Green / D
				Martin / L Johnson	Martin /
						L Johnson
07	16	December 14	S Crick	J Green / D Martin /	J Green / D
				L Johnson		Martin / L
						Johnson
08	4 March 2016	S.Crick/ J Watson	C Simmons/L		H. Russell / J
				Johnson / T Dwyer	Johnson
09	17	May 2017	T Dwyer	S Mitchell / D Martin	D Martin / J
				/ L Johnson		Johnson &
						DPE (6/6/2017)
10	8 April 2024	E. Bulkeley	T. McDermott/M.		BTM
				Wright

Contents

			Page Number
1.	Introduction	1
	1.1	Background and purpose	1
	1.2	Document structure	3
	1.3	Scope	4
2.	BTM Complex	5
	2.1	Boggabri Coal Mine	5
	2.2	Tarrawonga Coal Mine	5
	2.3	Maules Creek Coal Mine	5
3.	Noise criteria	8
	3.1	Cumulative noise assessment criteria	8
4.	Monitoring Network	9
5.	Data Sharing	10
6.	Non compliance notifications	10
7.	Review and revision	12
8.	References	13

Tables

Table 1.1 Management and Ownership of BTM Complex Mines	1
Table 1.2 Approval requirements for cumulative noise impact management	2
Table 3.1	Cumulative noise assessment criteria	8
Table 6.1	Boggabri Coal Reporting Obligations for Non-Compliances	10
Table 6.2	Tarrawonga Coal Mine Reporting Obligations for Non-Compliances	11
Table 6.3	Maules Creek Coal Mine Reporting Obligations for Non-Compliances	11

Figures

Figure 2.1 Project boundaries and noise monitoring locations for the BTM Complex Mines 7

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Glossary

Glossary
AQMS	Air Quality Management Strategy
BCOPL	Boggabri Coal Operations Pty Ltd
BTM Complex	Boggabri-Tarrawonga-Maules Creek Complex (previously Leard Forest Mining
	Precinct)
CCC	Community Consultative Committee
CL	Coal Lease
DA	Development Application
dB(A)	A-weighted Decibel
DCCEEW	Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
DoEE	Commonwealth Department of the Environment and Energy (Now DCCEEW)
DP&E	NSW Department of Planning and Environment (Now DPHI)
DPHI	NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
EA	Environmental Assessment
EPA	NSW Environmental Protection Agency
EP&A Act	Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, 1979
IA	Idemitsu Australia Pty Limited
MCCM	Maules Creek Coal Mine
Mtpa	Million Tonnes Per Annum
NMP	Noise Management Plan
NMS	Noise Management Strategy
OEA	Overburden Emplacement Area
OEH	NSW Office of Environment and Heritage
PAC	NSW Planning Assessment Commission
ROM	Run of Mine
SCADA	Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
TCM	Tarrawonga Coal Mine
TCPL	Tarrawonga Coal Pty Ltd - Tarrawonga Joint Venture
the Strategy	BTM Complex Noise Management Strategy
WRF	Weather Research and Forecasting

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1.Introduction

1.1 Background and purpose

The purpose of this cumulative noise management strategy (NMS) is to document the approach that will be taken by mines within the Boggabri-Tarrawonga-Maules Creek Complex (BTM Complex)1 to monitor and collectively manage the cumulative noise impacts of their operations. The NMS outlines the cumulative noise management protocols that will be implemented within the BTM Complex.

The BTM Complex is an existing mining precinct located within and around the Leard State Forest, approximately 15 kilometres (km) northeast of Boggabri in the Narrabri Local Government Area (LGA). The BTM Complex includes the Tarrawonga Coal Mine (TCM) in the south, the Boggabri Coal Mine (BCM) to the north and the Maules Creek Coal Mine (MCCM) to the northwest. The extent of the relevant tenements for each of the mines that comprise the BTM Complex are presented in Figure 2.1. BCM is managed by Boggabri Coal Operations Pty Limited (BCOPL), a wholly owned subsidiary of Idemitsu Australia Pty Limited (IA). TCM is managed by Tarrawonga Coal Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Whitehaven. MCCM is managed by Maules Creek Coal Pty Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Whitehaven Coal Mining Limited (Whitehaven). A Summary of the ownership details for the mines within the BTM Complex is provided below in Table 1.1 Management and Ownership of BTM Complex Mines.

Table 1.1	Management and Ownership of BTM Complex Mines
Mine		Management	Ownership	Share
Boggabri Coal Mine	Boggabri Coal Operations Pty	Idemitsu Australia	80%
		Ltd
			Chugoku Electric Power	10%
			NS Boggabri Pty Limited	10%
Tarrawonga Coal Mine	Tarrawonga Coal Pty Limited	Whitehaven Coal Mining Limited	100%
Maules Creek Coal Mine	Maules Creek Coal Pty	Aston Coal 2 Pty Limited	75%
			(owned 100% by Whitehaven
		Limited	Coal Limited)
			Itochu Coal Resources Australia	15%
			Maules Creek Pty Ltd (ICRA
			MC)
			J-Power Australia (J-Power)	10%

Project applications for the continued operation of BCM (application number 09_0182) and the development of the MCCM (application number 10_0138) were determined by the NSW Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) in July and October 2012 respectively, under delegation by the NSW Minister for Planning and Infrastructure. Subsequent to this, the (then) Commonwealth Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (SEWPAC), now the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water DCCEEW ) granted conditional approval for both the BCM Extension (EPBC 2009/5256) and the MCCM Project (EPBC 2010/5566) on

• In previous environmental assessments and approval documents this group of mines has been referred to as the Leard Forest Mining Precinct. For the purposes of this strategy and all other relevant cumulative impact management documents, all references to the 'Leard Forest Mining Precinct' have been replaced with the term 'BTM Complex'.

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11 February 2013. These projects were granted approval subject to stringent conditions related to the management of cumulative impacts.

The TCM application for continuation of mining was approved on 22 January 2013, with similar cumulative impact management conditions to those detailed in the BCM and MCCM. The (now) DDCCEEW granted EPBC approval (EPBC 2011/5923) to the Tarrawonga project on 11 March 2013.

Approval conditions require the preparation of a suite of regional strategies, developed in partnership by all three mines of the BTM Complex. This NMS has been developed to satisfy each mine's project approval conditions , and should be considered in conjunction with other BTM Complex Strategies, in particular the Air Quality Management Strategy (AQMS) that describes the predictive meteorological forecasting system for the Complex.

Approval conditions relevant to the management of cumulative noise impacts within the BTM Complex are detailed in Table 1.2.

Table 1.2 Approval requirements for cumulative noise impact management

Boggabri	Maules Creek	Tarrawonga	Details	Section
Coal Mine	Coal Mine	Coal Mine		reference
Project	Project	Project		in NMS
Approval	Approval	Approval
09_0182	10_0138	11_0047
Condition	Condition	Condition
Schedule 3	Schedule 3	11 (b)	Operate a comprehensive noise management	Whole of
Condition	Condition15		system on site that uses a combination of	NMS along
12 (b)	(b)		predictive meteorological forecasting and real	with
			time noise monitoring data to guide the day-to-	respective
			day planning of mining operations and	site NMP's
			implementation of both proactive and reactive	and the
			noise mitigation measures to ensure compliance	AQMS
			with the relevant conditions of this approval
Schedule 3	Schedule 3	11 (h)	Co-ordinate the noise management on site with	Whole of
Condition	Condition15		the noise management at other mines within the	NMS,
12 (j)	15 (i)		Leard Forest Mining Precinct to 2inimize the	including
			cumulative noise impacts of these mines	Section 4
	Schedule 3	12 (g)	Prepare and implement a Noise Management	Whole of
	Condition 16		Plan that…	NMS.
	(g)		includes a Leard Forest Mining Precinct Noise
			Management Strategy that has been prepared in
			consultation with other coal mines in the Precinct
			to minimise the cumulative noise impacts of all
			mines within the Complex Precinct, and
			includes:
			 A description of the measures that would be
			implemented to ensure that the noise
			management of the mines is properly
			coordinated to ensure compliance with the
			relevant noise criteria;
			 a suitable monitoring network for the
			Precinct;
			 protocols for data sharing; and
			 procedures for identifying and apportioning
			the source/s and contribution/s to cumulative
			noise impacts for the operating mines and
			other sources, using the noise and

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Boggabri	Maules Creek	Tarrawonga Details
Coal Mine	Coal Mine	Coal Mine
Project	Project	Project
Approval	Approval	Approval
09_0182	10_0138	11_0047
Condition	Condition	Condition

	meteorological monitoring network and
	appropriate investigative tools.
	Note: The Leard Forest Mining Precinct Noise
	Management Strategy can be developed in
	stages and will need to be subject to ongoing
	review dependent upon the determination and
	commencement of other mining projects in the
	area.
Schedule 3	Prepare and implement a Noise Management
Condition	Plan that…
13 (g)	includes a Leard Forest Mining Precinct Noise
	Management Strategy that has been prepared in
	consultation with other coal mines in the Precinct
	to minimise the cumulative noise impacts of all
	mines within the Precinct, that includes:
	 Systems and processes to ensure that all
	mines are managed to achieve their noise
	criteria;
	 a shared environmental monitoring network
	and data sharing protocol; and
	 procedures for identifying and apportioning
	the source/s and contribution/s to cumulative
	noise impacts for operating mines and other
	sources, using the noise and meteorological
	monitoring network and appropriate
	investigative tools.
	Note: The Leard Forest Mining Precinct Noise
	Management Strategy can be developed in
	stages and will need to be subject to ongoing
	review dependent upon the determination and
	commencement of other mining projects in the
	area.

Section reference in NMS

Whole of NMS, specifically Sections 4 and 5

1.2 Document structure

The structure of this strategy is as follows:









Section 1 provides an introduction to the NMS, including the background to the NMS, and the scope of the NMS.

Section 2 provides an overview of the BTM Complex mines (BCM, TCM, MCCM).

Section 3 describes the cumulative noise criteria applicable to each of the mines in the BTM Complex

Section 4 describes existing monitoring networks, sets objectives for cumulative noise monitoring, responsibilities of each mine, data interpretation, noise triggers for each individual mine and mitigation measures and processes to mitigate outcomes for the BTM Complex.





Section 5 describes data management

Section 6 describes the review and revision of the NMS

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• Section 7 provides a list of references used in this document.

1.3 Scope

This document is the overarching strategy for management of cumulative noise for the BTM Complex.

Individual mines will manage their ongoing operations and associated noise emissions in accordance with their site-specific Noise Management Plans (NMPs) that will, by default, ensure that the cumulative noise criteria of the BTM Complex will be met. Statutory requirements relating to noise will be provided in each individual mine's NMP.

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2.BTM Complex

The BTM Complex is centred within and around the Leard State Forest, approximately 15 km northeast of Boggabri in the Narrabri Shire local government area. The current mines within the Complex include TCM in the south, the BCM to the north and the MCCM to the northwest. The extents of the EA boundaries and noise monitoring locations for each of the mines that comprise the BTM Complex are presented in Figure 2.1.

2.1 Boggabri Coal Mine

BCM is an existing open cut mine that consists of an open cut pit, overburden dump, infrastructure area including coal processing facilities, water management structures, and a rail spur. BCM obtained NSW State Government approval on the 18 July 2012, and Commonwealth Government approval on 11 February 2013. These approvals (as modified) allow operations at BCM to extend until 2036 at a rate of 8.6 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of run-of-mine (ROM) coal. The project approval for BCM provides for operation of existing ancillary equipment; construction and operation of a new coal handling and preparation plant (CHPP); 17 km rail spur line; bridges over the Namoi River and Kamilaroi Highway; a rail load-out facility located at the mine; upgrade of the overburden and coal extraction haulage fleet (with an option for a drag-line); upgrade of electricity transmission lines; and establishment of a water supply bore field and other ancillary infrastructure.

BCM have modified PA09_0182 on multiple occasions since approval with the most recent being in January 2024, relating to an increase in the depth of mining.

2.2 Tarrawonga Coal Mine

The TCM is an existing coal mining operation that was granted approval by the (now) DPHI to extract 2 Mtpa of ROM coal in 2005 (DA88-4-2005). TCPL, a subsidiary of Whitehaven Coal, submitted a project application in July 2011 for an extension of open cut mining operations with an increased production rate to 3 Mtpa of ROM coal for a further 17 years from 2013 to 2030. This project application was determined by the PAC on 22 January 2013 and included, under Condition 12 (g), the requirement that the proponent shall prepare and implement a NMP that must include a NMS for the BTM Complex.

TCM have modified Project Approval 11_0047 on a number of occasions since then, increasing coal extraction to a maximum of 3.5 million tonnes in 2020. The most recent modification was determined in December 2023 to increase the road haulage hours of operation.

2.3 Maules Creek Coal Mine

The MCCM Project Approval (PA 10-0138) was granted by the PAC as delegate of the Minister of DP&E on 23 October 2012. The approval includes extraction of up to 13 Mtpa of ROM coal for 21 years, construction and operation of site infrastructure including a CHPP and associated facilities; train loading facility; rail spur and loop; a mine access road; communications and power reticulation; explosives storage; and a water pipeline from the Namoi River.

MCCM have modified Project Approval 10_0138 on a number of occasions since then, with the most recent being in March 2024. This latest modification authorised changes to the existing biodiversity strategy and construction and use of an electricity transmission line.

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