Message from the Operations Manager Gary Wills
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United Wambo Joint Venture
Community Newsletter - February 2021
Message from the Operations Manager PHASE 1A
Construction and Starter Pit Development
Gary Wills • Phase 1A commenced on the 6th January 2020
• This phase involved construction works and
Welcome to the 7th Community Newsletter for the development of the United Starter Pit
United Wambo Joint Venture. • Construction activities included:
• Building of haul roads
It has been a busy yet rewarding few months at • Commencement of construction of a new
United Wambo Joint Venture with integration, Mining Infrastructure Area
or Phase 2 of development for the operation, • Setup for relocation of power lines
commencing on 1 December 2020. This marked a • Development of water management
Infrastructure
significant milestone, being the culmination of over
10 years of effort by the United Project team which PHASE 1B
finally saw the joint venture between Peabody and Mining Operations
Glencore, announced in 2014, become a reality.
• Phase 1B commenced on the 20th July 2020
The transition between Phases 1B and 2 involved • This phase allowed mining of coal to occur
commitment and planning from every department while construction activities continued
within the business in order to ensure smooth PHASE 2
integration of the former Wambo Coal Open WE ARE HERE
Integration with Wambo
Cut Mine into the operation. In addition to the
onboarding of approximately 270 former Wambo • Phase 2 commenced on 1 December 2020
• As of this date, the United Wambo Joint
personnel, the change required approval of nine Venture assumed responsibility for the
Phase 2 Environmental Management Plans, management of the existing Wambo Coal
variation of Environmental Protection License 3141 Open Cut Mine.
as well as on-ground works in the mine to align • All complaints and enquiries regarding open
cut operations in the United and Wambo Pits
with Glencore standards. should now be directed to the United Wambo
Joint Venture Community Information line:
I am excited to see what the future holds for this
new integrated operation. 1800 801 440
Environmental Monitoring Network
United Wambo Joint Venture (UWJV) operates an Noise Monitoring
environmental monitoring network which incorporates a Real-time noise monitors provide 24 hour continuous
number of static and real-time systems covering a wide recording of quantitative ambient noise data and audio near
range of environmental parameters such as: noise, blasting, to the monitoring site that can be used to determine the
meteorological conditions, air quality and water quality. likely sources of noise. Real-time noise monitoring is used
This network helps ensure compliance with the prescriptive for proactive noise management of day to day operations at
conditions outlined in Development Consent SSD 7142 and UWJV, allowing personnel to monitor noise from the site and
Environmental Protection License 3141 and helps facilitate make operational changes as required.
effective and environmentally responsible mining operations.
Attended noise monitoring is conducted by an independent
Currently the UWJV environmental monitoring network noise specialist each month in accordance with SSD 7142
consists of: and EPL 3141. This is a compliance check conducted by an
• 7 real-time noise monitors appropriately qualified person during night time operations.
• 6 attended noise monitoring locations Air Quality Monitoring
• 18 blast monitors The UWJV air quality monitoring program includes a
combination of High Volume Air Samplers (HVAS), which
• 6 real-time air quality monitors (2 x PM2.5 and 4 x PM10)
measure Total Suspended Particles, and real-time continuous
• 2 high volume air samplers Particulate Matter (PM) monitoring units (TEOMs), which
• 3 real time meteorological monitors measure particulate matter less than 10 (PM10) and 2.5 (PM2.5)
• 25 surface water monitoring locations microns in diameter.
• 45 ground water monitoring locations All air quality monitoring is undertaken in accordance
with the statutory requirements associated with our
Meteorological Monitoring Environmental Protection License and Development Consent,
Weather conditions are monitored continuously by which specify required methods of sampling, analysis and
Meteorological stations at the northern and southern ends frequency of monitoring.
of the site as well as at the United Office area. These stations
monitor rainfall, temperature at 2 and 10 m above ground level, Water Monitoring
solar radiation, wind speed and direction at 10 m in addition to Surface and ground water samples from UWJV are routinely
several other parameters. analysed for pH, electrical conductivity and total suspended
solids as well as metals. Depth to groundwater is also regularly
Blast Monitoring determined.
Each blast event at UWJV is recorded by a network of monitors
A bi-monthly review of the results of this monitoring is
which measure airblast overpressure (dB) and ground vibration
conducted and associated trends in water quality determined
(mm/s). These monitors are located as close as reasonably
to allow comparison of these values to background trends and
practical to the private residential receivers nearest to the mine
pre-determined trigger values. Any exceedance of triggers is
as well as on or near items of infrastructure such as heritage
investigated by UWJV personnel.
sites, dams and power poles.
2 Community Newsletter - February 2021 United Wambo Joint Venture
Update on Activities
New Equipment Deliveries
UWJV are taking progressive delivery of new plant and equipment
for use in the operation of the mine.
Where required, new equipment brought to site is fitted with sound
suppression and Tier 4 final emissions technologies, assisting in the
reduction of noise, diesel particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen
from the operation.
To date, UWJV have taken delivery of;
• 9 Komatsu 930E-5 Dump Trucks
• Komatsu D475-5EO Dozer
• Caterpillar MD6250 Drill
• Caterpillar 18M Grader
• Liebherr 9800 Excavator
• Liebherr 9400 Excavator
Powerline Realignment
Since the commencement of construction works at UWJV, the
team have been working on realigning sections of 330 kV, 66 kV
and 11 kV powerlines that previously traversed the site. To date this
has included;
• Installing 90 power poles
• Installing 16 km of fibre optic cable
• Installing 10 transmission towers for 330 kV powerlines
• Installing 54 km of high voltage electrical conductor
• Recovering 17 km of redundant conductor
Cut over for the 330 kV is currently scheduled for early-March
2021. During this process, the existing extent of powerline will be
decommissioned and the electricity rerouted through the new
conductors.
Southern Mine Infrastructure Area (MIA)
Construction has continued on the UWJV Southern MIA, which is
located adjacent to the existing Wambo MIA.
• Administration buildings, bathhouse and warehouse offices are in
place with the internal fit-out underway.
• Wash facilities for heavy and light vehicles have been constructed
• 5 bay maintenance workshop and store have been constructed
• Fuel and lubricant storage and dispensing infrastructure is currently
under construction
• Facilities such as carparks, lighting, access gates are nearing
completion
Construction of the MIA is expected to be completed in mid-2021.
Artefact Salvage
The UWJV site is located within the traditional homelands of
the Wonnarua / Wanaruah people and within the modern day
Wanaruah Local Aboriginal Land Council boundary. Many Aboriginal
sites were discovered within the mine’s operational area, mostly
consisting of stone tool sites which occur extensively and are of
significance to the Aboriginal community.
Throughout two campaigns during 2020 archaeologists, with
the assistance of local Wanaruah representatives, salvaged
approximately 130 Aboriginal Sites the from UWJV disturbance area.
These artefacts will be held in a secure storage facility before being
transferred to the Minimbah Teaching Place, which is currently being
constructed at the Wollombi Brook Conservation area. The artefacts
will remain at the Teaching and Keeping Place for the life of the mine
to ensure they are protected from damage.
United Wambo Joint Venture Community Newsletter - February 2021 3
Working With Our Community
Voluntary Planning Agreement (VPA) Community Investment
UWJV entered into a VPA with Singleton Council which was • Glencore is committed to delivering positive and lasting social
executed on the 16 December 2020, with the payment of $2.65 and economic benefits in the regions where we operate.
million provided to Council on 5 January 2021 in accordance
with SSD 7142. • Glencore support a comprehensive Community Investment
This VPA will allow significant investment to be made towards program, partnering with a range of organisations delivering
upgrading the Jerrys Plains village centre, recreation grounds services and initiatives in key investment areas
and main street as well as other projects benefiting the
• UWJV’s community program includes donations, sponsorship
local area. Half of this payment was made to the Singleton
Community and Economic Development Fund for future use. and in-kind assistance for a range of environmental, community
and educational initiatives across the local community.
Community Information Session
• Information about and application forms for our community
UWJV held a Community Information Session at the Jerrys
Plains School of Arts Hall on 9 September 2020. There was a sponsorships can be accessed via the Smarty Grants page:
great turnout of community members to meet the team and https://glencore.smartygrants.com.au/
learn more about the operation. We would like to thank all the
community members that joined us on the evening.
Our next Community Information Session will be held
We appreciate the chance to discuss any concerns you
on 21 April 2021 may have.
As we continue construction activities and mining in the
United Wambo Joint Venture operates a United and Wambo Open Cut Mines we will continue to
Community Information Line 24 hours a day keep the community informed.
7 days a week. If you have any questions please contact
Aislinn Farnon, Environment & Community Manager on
1800 801 440 02 6578 9506 or aislinn.farnon@glencore.com.au
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