HELENSBURGH COAL

COMMUNITY INFORMATION SESSIONS
Held on 29 April at Shop 1 41-43 Walker Street, Helensburgh
The information sessions were held to give the local residents an opportunity to meet with company representatives and discuss any issues they may have with the activities that are performed at the site and to learn about its operation. The other purpose was to inform residents about how the company has addressed the issues affecting them and what is still planned. The meeting room was prepared with posters and pictures explaining the layout of the site and how dust is currently managed. The presentation showed the improvements made to date, together with planned improvements still to be implemented. Up-to-date data from dust deposition gauges were also on hand to show residents the trends on dust.
During the last 12 months the main issue with residents has been dust. Most complaints were received from residences surrounding the mine site. Based on that information, a target area was determined with all houses within that area receiving an invitation to attend the sessions. The target area included all houses along Parkes Street north of the Walker Street roundabout, all houses to the north east of that and houses to the south west of the mine site.
Two sessions were held. The evening session was held to give those who work through the day a chance of attending.
At the 1 to 3pm session 11 people registered as attending, with the main discussion relating to dust. At the 7 to 9pm session 16 people registered as attending. Again dust was the main issue discussed but several also mentioned noise.
The main issues raised and suggestions put forward by those at the sessions were:
• Dust settling on and within houses
• Some noted no improvement in dust issue, others noted an improvement this year
• Dust on road at the roundabout in town centre - this could have been some time ago, check with chemist on corner
• Does dust collect on top of truck’s load covers and then blow off through town?
• Request by some residents for information on the health aspects of breathing coal dust
• Noise of the surface telephone at night
• Noise of reversing alarms coming from loaders at night
• Noise from washery at night, coal or stone falling/banging
• Request that graphs of the dust deposition gauge readings be sent to residents who have them on their properties
• Suggestion of a regular newsletter and a colliery open day or site tour be held.
Bill Huuskes, Manager Technical Services
Helensburgh Coal Pty Limited, 4294 7292
email: bill.huuskes@southcoal.com.au