wilpinjong coal project wilpinjong coal project - Department of ...

No. Issue Response
12 Requests for information relating to contractual
arrangements between Macquarie Generation (MG)
and WCPL, in particular, the quantity of coal contracted
to MG over different periods of the Project life.
13 Concerns were raised in regard to non-Aboriginal
heritage, particularly:
• The level of research effort expended and the
level of detail of reporting of lesser significance
sites identified during the survey.
• A suggestion that archival recording should be
undertaken for all heritage sites identified, rather
than just moderate and high local significance
sites.
• Queries about the management and staging of
demolition of buildings in the mine and contained
infrastructure area.
• Suggestions that buildings in the mine and
contained infrastructure area should be relocated,
or mothballed and replaced onto the rehabilitated
landform and that a local history study could be
completed as a mitigation measure.
WCPL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Excel Coal Limited. As stated on Excel Coal Limited’s website
(http://www.excelcoal.com.au/operations/wilpinjong/index.htm):
• “In December 2003, the NSW Minister for Mineral Resources announced that Excel was the
successful tenderer for the development of the Wilpinjong Project in the Western Coalfields
of NSW.
• Excel subsequently signed a 19 year coal supply agreement with Macquarie Generation for
the supply of between 3.0 and 7.0 million tonnes of coal per annum and has been awarded
an exploration licence (EL6169) over the Wilpinjong coal resource.
Excel has entered into a contract with Macquarie Generation to supply coal to its Bayswater and
Liddell power stations for a period of 19 years commencing in 2007. The contract provides for the
supply of a specific quantity of energy equivalent to approximately 3 million tonnes of coal in the
first year, 4 million tonnes in the second year and 5 million tonnes per annum for years three, four
and five. For the remaining fourteen years of the contract, Excel will supply Macquarie Generation
with between 3 and 7 million tonnes of coal per annum.”
The WCPL agreement with Macquarie Generation contains confidentiality provisions and the agreement is
commercial in confidence between those two parties.
The assessment was undertaken in general accordance with the NSW Heritage Manual (NSW Heritage
Office and Department of Urban Affairs and Planning, 1996). The survey and research effort undertaken in
the Non-Aboriginal Heritage Assessment is appropriate for the EIS level of assessment.
No sites of Regional or State heritage significance were identified in the survey. As stated in Section G2.1
of Appendix G, Volume 3 of the EIS:
“No place within the Project area is entered in any of the following heritage registers:
• Local Environment Plan (LEP).
• NSW State Heritage Register.
• Register of the National Estate (Commonwealth).
• National Heritage List (Commonwealth).
• National Trust of Australia (NSW) Classified List.”
The report describes places assessed as having heritage significance at or above moderate local
significance level. Records of places of lesser heritage significance (i.e. low local significance or below low
local significance) were retained as field records.
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