wilpinjong coal mine blast management plan - Peabody Energy

WILPINJONG 

COAL MINE 

BLAST 

MANAGEMENT 

PLAN 

September 2011

WILPINJONG COAL MINE 

BLAST MANAGEMENT PLAN 

Revision Status Register 

Revision 

Number 

Author/Specialists 

Review 

Distribution Comments Received DP&I Approval 

Date 

BMP-R01-E Thiess DoP, DEC, MWRC, DPI-MR, ARTC 2 May 2006 2 May 2006 

BMP-R02-A Thiess DoP, DEC, DPI-MR August 2009 - 

BMP-R03-A WCPL DoP February 2010 - 

BMP-R03-B WCPL DoP - - 

BMP-R04-A WCPL DP&I, OEH July 2011 

BMP-R04-B DP&I, OEH 7 September 2011 

BMP-R04-C DP&I, OEH 15 September 2011 

September 2011

Wilpinjong Coal Mine – Blast Management Plan 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

1 INTRODUCTION 1 

1.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE 1 

1.2 STRUCTURE OF THE BMP 1 

2 BMP REVIEW AND UPDATE 5 

3 STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS 5 

3.1 EP&A ACT APPROVAL 5 

3.2 LICENCES, PERMITS AND LEASES 6 

3.3 DANGEROUS GOODS 7 

3.4 OTHER LEGISLATION 7 

4 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 8 

5 BLAST CRITERIA AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 10 

5.1 PROJECT APPROVAL BLAST CRITERIA 10 

5.1.1 Blast Impact Assessment Criteria 10 

5.1.2 Blasting Hours 10 

5.1.3 Blasting Frequency 11 

5.2 OTHER BLAST CRITERIA 11 

5.3 BLAST PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 12 

5.3.1 Performance Indicators for Blast Impact Assessment Criteria 

5.3.2 Performance Indicators for Operating Conditions 

12 

13 

6 BASELINE DATA 13 

7 BLAST MONITORING PROGRAM 14 

7.1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 14 

7.2 METEOROLOGICAL MONITORING 15 

7.3 ASSESSMENT AGAINST BLAST CRITERIA AND PERFORMANCE 

INDICATORS 15 

8 MANAGEMENT MEASURES 16 

8.1 PUBLIC NOTIFICATION 16 

8.2 PROPERTY INSPECTIONS 19 

8.3 PROPERTY INVESTIGATIONS 19 

8.4 BLASTING ADJACENT TO RAILWAY LINES 19 

8.4.1 Within 500 m but greater than 200 m of the Gulgong-Sandy Hollow 

Railway Line 19 





8.5 BLASTING ADJACENT TO ROADS 21 

8.5.1 Temporary Road Closures 21 

8.5.2 Notification of Road Closures 21 

8.5.3 Flyrock Removal and Road Maintenance 22 

8.6 OTHER PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE 22 

8.7 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS 22 

Revision No. BMP-R04-C 

Document ID: BMP-R04-C.doc 

Wilpinjong Coal – Blast Management Plan 

Page i


TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) 

8.8 BLAST PROTOCOL 22 

8.8.1 Safety 22 

8.8.2 Blasting Controls 23 

8.8.3 Meteorological Assessment 24 

9 CONTINGENCY PLAN 24 

9.1 POTENTIAL CONTINGENCY MEASURES 25 

10 ANNUAL REVIEW AND IMPROVEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE 25 

11 REPORTING 27 

11.1 INCIDENTS 27 

11.2 COMPLAINTS 27 

11.3 NON-COMPLIANCES WITH STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS 29 

12 REFERENCES 29 

LIST OF TABLES 

Table 1 

Table 2 

Table 4 

Table 5 

Management Plan Requirements 

Peak Particle Velocity Damage Criteria – Public Infrastructure 

Public Infrastructure Blast Performance Indicators 

Monitoring of Environmental Consequences against Performance Indicators and Criteria 

LIST OF FIGURES 

Figure 1 Regional Location 

Figure 2 Aerial Photograph - July 2011 

Figure 3 Blast Monitoring Sites 

Figure 4 Complaints Response Protocol 

LIST OF APPENDICES 

Appendix A 

Appendix B 

Environmental Approval Documentation Summary 

Blast Controller Checklist 




Page ii


1 INTRODUCTION 

The Wilpinjong Coal Mine is an existing open-cut coal mine located approximately 40 kilometres (km) 

north-east of Mudgee near the village of Wollar in central New South Wales (NSW) (Figure 1). The 

Wilpinjong Coal Mine is owned and operated by Wilpinjong Coal Pty Limited (WCPL), a wholly owned 

subsidiary of Peabody Energy Australia Pty Ltd (Peabody). An aerial photograph of the Wilpinjong 

Coal Mine illustrating the approved extent of open pits and contained infrastructure is shown on 

Figure 2. 

WCPL was granted Project Approval (05-0021) for the Wilpinjong Coal Mine under Section 75J of the 

NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act, 1979 (EP&A Act) on 1 February 2006. A copy of 

the Project Approval is available on the Peabody website (http://www.peabodyenergy.com.au). 

A modification to the Project Approval (the Modification) was granted on 8 September 2010 to 

increase the run-of-mine coal production rate from 13 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) to 15 Mtpa. 

The Modification also includes the extension of the coal handling and preparation plant, the upgrade 

of coal handling and stockpiling systems, an increase in the operational mobile fleet (e.g. number of 

haul trucks) and a marginal increase in the maximum annual waste rock production rate. 

1.1 PURPOSE AND SCOPE 

This Blast Management Plan (BMP) has been prepared for the Project in accordance with 

Condition 15, Schedule 3 of the Project Approval. 

The relationship of this BMP to the Wilpinjong Coal Environmental Management Structure is shown in 

Appendix A. 

This BMP has been prepared by Thiess Pty Ltd (Thiess) and WCPL. 

1.2 STRUCTURE OF THE BMP 

The remainder of the BMP is structured as follows: 

Section 2: 

Section 3: 

Section 4: 

Section 5: 

Section 6: 

Section 7: 

Section 8: 

Section 9: 

Section 10: 

Section 11: 

Describes the review and update of the BMP. 

Outlines the statutory requirements applicable to the BMP. 

Describes the roles and responsibilities at the Wilpinjong Coal Mine. 

Details the blast criteria and performance indicators that will be used to assess the 

Wilpinjong Coal Mine. 

Provides detailed baseline data. 

Describes the blast monitoring program. 

Describes blast management measures. 

Provides a Contingency Plan to manage any unpredicted impacts and their 

consequences. 

Describes the annual review and improvement of environmental performance 

process. 

Describes the management and reporting of incidents, complaints and noncompliances. 


Revision No. BMP-R04-C Page 1 

Document ID: BMP-R04-C.doc


Section 12: 

Lists the references cited. 




Mile 

NEW 

SOUTH 

WALES 

COOLABURRAGUNDY 

COOLAH RAILWAY 

WILPINJONG 

COAL MINE 

RIVER 

Western 

Coalfield 

Sydney Basin 

Newcastle 

Sydney 

760 000E 

COOLAH 

Turee 

Creek 

TALBRAGAR 

RIVER 

780 000E 

Four 

Creek 

MUNMURRA 

RIVER 

6 460 000N 

Cassilis 

VICTORIA 

Melbourne 

HIGHWAY 

Uarbry 

TURILL 

STATE 

FOREST 

GOLDEN 

Creek 

TA 

6 440 000N 

Slapdash 

6 420 000N 

CASTLEREAGH 

HIGHWAY 

LBR AGAR 

Merotherie 

Road 

Wialdra 

GULGONG 

GOLDEN 

COPE 

STATE 

FOREST 

Cope 

Cooyal 

Cainbil 

Cockabutta 

RIVER 

Road 

Creek 

Creek 

Creek 

COPE 

STATE 

FOREST 

Creek 

GULGONG - SANDY HOLLOW RAILWAY 

Home Rule 

GREAT 

DIVIDING RANGE 

Road 

Lindburn 

Ulan 

Creek 

GOULBURN 

Moolarben 

CURRYALL 

STATE 

FOREST 

Ulan Coal 

Mines 

Ulan 

Moolarben 

Coal Mines 

Cooks Gap 

Wollar 

Road 

Ulan - Cassilis 

RIVER 

Murragamba 

Cooyal 

Ulan - 

Creek 

Creek 

Cooyal 

Creek 

Wilpinjong 

MUNGHORN 

GAP 

NATURE 

RESERVE 

MUNGHORN GAP 

NATURE RESERVE 

Road 

Wollar 

Turil 

Murrumbline 

Creek 

DURRIDGERE 

STATE 

FOREST 

GOULBURN 

Creek 

Wilpinjong 

Cumbo 

Road 

Wilpinjong 

Coal Mine 

Creek 

GOULBURN RIVER 

NATIONAL PARK 

Creek 

ML1573 

RIVER 

Road 

Wollar 

Wollar 

Creek 

MUNMURRA 

STATE 

FOREST 

Wollar 

GULGONG - SANDY HOLLOW RAILWAY 

Barigan 

MUNMURRA 

MUNMURRA 

STATE FOREST 

Creek 

Barigan 

RIVER 

GOULBURN 

HIGHWAY 

KRUI 

RIVER 

MERRIWA 

Wollara/Ringwood 

GROWEE RIVER 

6 420 000N 

GOULBURN RIVER 

NATIONAL PARK 

RIVER 

Wollar - Bylong 

Bylong 

Road 

6 440 000N 

Creek 

Road 

BYLONG 

RIVER 

Stoney Creek 

Bylong Valley Way 

Ulan 

CUDGEGONG 

6 400 000N 

Drive 

Botobolar 

Road 

6 400 000N 

Henry Lawson 

Budgee 

Budgee 

Pipe 

Clay 

Creek 

Road 

GREAT 

Creek 

Lee 

RIVER 

AVISFORD 

NATURE RESERVE 

740 000E 

MUDGEE 

CASTLEREAGH 

Lawsons 

WALLERAWANG 

CUDGEGONG 

HIGHWAY 

GWABEGAR 

RIVER 

RAILWAY 

760 000E 

Lue 

MID-WESTERN 

REGIONAL 

Creek 

Lue 

Road 

DIVIDING RANGE 

780 000E 

LEGEND 

Mining Lease Boundary 

Local Government Boundary 

State Forest 

WOLLEMI 

NATIONAL PARK 

National Park/Nature Reserve 

0 2 

10 

Kilometres 

Source: WCPL (2005) 


FIGURE 1 

Regional Location 

WIL-05-05 BMP 2011_001A


2 BMP REVIEW AND UPDATE 

In accordance with Condition 4, Schedule 5 of the Project Approval, this BMP will be reviewed, and if 

necessary revised to the satisfaction of the Director-General of the DP&I within three months of the 

submission of an: 

annual review under Condition 3 of Schedule 5; 

incident report under Condition 7 of Schedule 5; 

 

 

audit under Condition 9 of Schedule 5; or 

any modification to the conditions of this approval. 

In addition, the BMP will be revised to the satisfaction of the Director-General of the Department of 

Planning (DP&I) if necessary, to ensure the plan is updated on a regular basis and to incorporate any 

recommended measures to improve environmental performance. 

The revision status of this BMP is indicated on the title page of each copy. 

In accordance with Condition 11, Schedule 5 ‘Access to Information’, WCPL will make the BMP 

publicly available on the Peabody website. A hard copy of the BMP will also be maintained at the 

Wilpinjong Coal Mine site. 

3 STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS 

WCPL’s statutory obligations are contained in: 

(i) 

(ii) 

(iii) 

the conditions of the Project Approval; 

relevant licences and permits, including conditions attached to mining leases; and 

other relevant legislation. 

These are described below. 

3.1 EP&A ACT APPROVAL 

Condition 15 of Schedule 3 of the Project Approval requires the preparation of a BMP for the 

Wilpinjong Coal Mine. Approval Condition 15 states: 

Blast Management Plan 

15. The Proponent shall prepare and implement a Blast Management Plan for the project, in consultation 

with DECCW, and to the satisfaction of the Director-General. This program must: 

(a) describe the blast mitigation measures that would be implemented to ensure compliance with 

the relevant conditions of this approval; and 

(b) include a blast monitoring program to evaluate the performance of the project. 

In addition, Condition 2 of Schedule 5 outlines the management plan requirements that are applicable 

to the preparation of the BMP. Table 1 indicates where each component of the conditions is 

addressed within this BMP. 





Table 1 

Management Plan Requirements 

Project Approval Condition 

Condition 2 of Schedule 5 

2. The Proponent shall ensure that the management plans required under this approval are 

prepared in accordance with any relevant guidelines, and include: 

BMP Section 

a) detailed baseline data; Section 6 

b) a description of: 

the relevant statutory requirements (including any relevant approval, licence or 

Section 3 

lease conditions); 

any relevant limits or performance measures/criteria; Section 5 

 

the specific performance indicators that are proposed to be used to judge the 

performance of, or guide the implementation of, the project or any 

management measures; 

c) a description of the measures that would be implemented to comply with the relevant 

statutory requirements, limits, or performance measures/criteria; 

d) a program to monitor and report on the: 

impacts and environmental performance of the project; 

effectiveness of any management measures (see c above); 

Section 5 

Sections 7, 8 and 9 

Sections 7, 8 and 10 

e) a contingency plan to manage any unpredicted impacts and their consequences; Section 9 

f) a program to investigate and implement ways to improve the environmental 

performance of the project over time; 

Section 10 

g) a protocol for managing and reporting any; 

incidents; 

Section 11 

complaints; 

Section 11 

non-compliances with statutory requirements; and 

Section 11 

exceedances of the impact assessment criteria and/or performance criteria; 

Section 11 

and 

h) a protocol for periodic review of the plan. Section 2 

3.2 LICENCES, PERMITS AND LEASES 

In addition to the Project Approval, all activities at or in association with the Wilpinjong Coal Mine will 

be conducted in accordance with the following licences, permits and leases which have been issued 

or are pending issue. 

 

 

 

The conditions of Mining Lease 1573 issued by the NSW Minister for Mineral Resources, under 

the NSW Mining Act, 1992. 

The current Mining Operations Plan approved by Department of Trade, Investment, Regional 

Infrastructure and Service NSW (DTIRIS NSW). 

The conditions of Environment Protection Licence (EPL) No. 12425 issued by the NSW Office of 

Environment and Heritage (OEH) under the NSW Protection of the Environment Operations Act, 

1997 1 . 

Water extraction licences issued by the NSW Office of Water under the NSW Water Act, 1912. 

 

Mining and occupational health and safety related approvals granted by DTIRIS NSW and 

WorkCover NSW. 

1 

EPL 12425 is periodically updated to reflect changes to the Project Approval and/or relevant environmental monitoring 

requirements. 





3.3 DANGEROUS GOODS 

The blasting subcontractor to Thiess will be responsible for all statutory requirements regarding the 

storage and transport of any dangerous goods used for blasting. This includes the storage of 

boosters, chord and detonators in custom made magazines, which are managed in accordance with 

the subcontractor’s management systems. The blasting subcontractor will be responsible for notifying 

all relevant authorities regarding the status of any dangerous goods used for blasting. 

Bulk explosive components may be stored at the Wilpinjong Coal Mine. The blasting subcontractor 

will be responsible for the locating and management of any storage compounds in accordance with 

relevant legislation, for obtaining all necessary approvals and development and submission of 

necessary safety and security plans. 

Should Thiess choose to undertake any of the tasks mentioned above they will be responsible for any 

relevant statutory and management requirements. 

3.4 OTHER LEGISLATION 

WCPL will conduct the Project consistent with the Project Approval and any other legislation that is 

applicable to an approved Part 3A Project under the EP&A Act. 

The following Acts may be applicable to the conduct of the Project (WCPL, 2005): 

Fisheries Management Act, 1994; 

Heritage Act, 1977; 

National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1974; 

Protection of the Environment Operations Act, 1997; 

Roads Act, 1993; 

Rural Fires Act, 1997; 

 

Water Act, 1912; and 

Water Management Act, 2000. 

Relevant licences or approvals required under these Acts will be obtained as required. 





4 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

Specific responsibilities under this BMP are as follows. Titles shown may vary from that shown on the 

current organisation chart, particularly during the construction stage, and reflect position descriptions. 

Peabody General Manager 

 

 

ensure that all persons that have responsibilities under this plan are aware of those 

responsibilities; and 

ensure resources are available to implement the requirements of this plan. 

Peabody Environment and Community Manager 

 

manage blasting related complaints in accordance with the complaints management procedure. 

Thiess Environmental Advisor 

 

 

 

 

 

notify the Peabody General Manager, Mining Manager and Peabody Environment and 

Community Manager of any blasting exceedance or incident and associated reporting; 

assist the Drill and Blast Supervisor with investigations of blasting exceedances, incidents or 

complaints; 

liaise with the Drill and Blast Supervisor and Management Secretary to co-ordinate the 

implementation and maintenance of the blasting hotline; 

co-ordinate the implementation of the Mine blast monitoring program in accordance with this plan; 

and 

co-ordinate the management of records and reporting of blast monitoring results to the Peabody 

Environmental Advisor. 

Peabody Environmental Advisor 

 

assist in the management of blasting related complaints, with particular emphasis on liaison with 

external stakeholders; 

 

 

 

 

 

assist the Drill and Blast Supervisor with investigations of blasting exceedances, incidents or 

complaints; 

communicate reportable environmental blasting incidents to regulatory agencies; 

co-ordinate periodic reviews/audits of this plan in consultation with the Peabody Environment and 

Community Manager; 

communicate proposed blasting times and locations to relevant surrounding mining operations; 

and 

communicate blasting information to the drill and blast supervisor for relevant surrounding mining 

operations. 





Drill and Blast Supervisor/Engineer 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

determine the type of blast being considered and apply relevant management controls under this 

plan; 

regularly review blast design parameters on the basis of blast monitoring results; 

schedule blasts with consideration to relevant surrounding mining operations to minimise 

cumulative blasting effects; 

design and carry out blasts to comply with the requirements of this plan, including the 

identification of meteorological blasting exclusion windows, where implemented; 

assess meteorological conditions prior to blasting to determine whether conditions are 

appropriate for blasting, in consultation with the Peabody Environmental Advisor (i.e. atmospheric 

inversions, effects of dust and fume etc); 

confirm that the blast monitoring network is calibrated, operational and in place prior to blasting; 

confirm that all steps for blasting within 500 metres (m) of the Gulgong – Sandy Hollow Railway 

or 500 m of Ulan – Wollar Road, as detailed in Sections 8.4 and 8.5, are complied with. Including 

obtaining approvals from ARTC and/or Mid-Western Regional Council; 

advise the Management Secretary of the current blasting schedule, including changes to the 

schedule; 

maintain the public blasting notification signs; 

maintain records of blasts initiated and forward monitoring results of Type B blasts to the 

Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) within 7 days; 

assist the Thiess Environmental Advisor with investigations into blasting exceedances, incidents 

or complaints; 

ensure limits on frequency and number of blasts are complied with; 

maintaining a current checklist for the Shotfirer that includes all relevant elements of this Plan; 

ensure the drill pattern is drilled in accordance with the blast design; and 

ensure that the blast is loaded with the correct quantity and quality of explosive and stemmed in 

accordance with the blast design. 

Shotfirers 

 

 

 

 

notify the Drill and Blast Engineer of any factors that may lead to non-compliance with this plan; 

ensure the pre-blast checklist is strictly complied with; 

load and fire blasts in accordance with the design supplied by the Drill and Blast Supervisor; and 

manage misfires in accordance with relevant legislation and this Plan. 

Drillers 

 

 

record drill status, including hole depths, pattern and relevant information, including any 

environmental issues; and 

drill the blast pattern in accordance with the design supplied by the Drill and Blast Supervisor. 





Management Secretary 

 

 

 

 

maintain the Blasting Hotline in consultation with the Thiess Environmental Advisor and the Drill 

and Blast Supervisor; 

advertise in local newspapers the blasting hotline number at least quarterly; 

where relevant, notify private residents of blasting times and any subsequent modifications to 

blasting times; and 

maintain the register of private residents to be notified of blasting times. 

Other Employees and Contractors 

 

all employees and contractors are required to comply with the requirements of this plan. 

5 BLAST CRITERIA AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 

5.1 PROJECT APPROVAL BLAST CRITERIA 

5.1.1 Blast Impact Assessment Criteria 

Table 4 of Condition 8, Schedule 3 of the Project Approval stipulates the blast impact assessment 

criteria as follows: 

Table 4: Blasting impact assessment criteria 

Location Airblast overpressure Ground vibration (mm/s) 2 Allowable exceedance 

(dB(Lin Peak)) 1 

Residence on privately 

owned land 

1 

dB(Lin Peak) = decibel linear in peak. 

2 

mm/s = millimetres per second. 

115 5 5% of the total number of 

blasts over a period of 12 

months 

120 10 0% 

5.1.2 Blasting Hours 

Condition 9, Schedule 3 of the Project Approval limits the hours that blasting is to be carried out to 

between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm, Monday to Saturday inclusive. No blasting is to be carried out on 

Sundays, public holidays, or at any other time without the written approval of the Director-General of 

the DP&I. 





5.1.3 Blasting Frequency 

Condition 10, Schedule 3 of the Project Approval states the maximum number of blasts to be 

performed. Approval Condition 10 states: 

10. The Proponent shall comply with the following blasting restrictions on site: 

(a) a maximum of 2 blasts per day; 

(b) a maximum of 5 blasts per week, averaged over any 12 month period; 

(c) a maximum of 2 blasts per week where the maximum instantaneous charge (MIC) is greater 

than 400kg; and 

(d) a maximum of 1 blast per week where the MIC is greater than 400kg, when averaged over any 

12 month period. 

The Director-General of the DP&I may however approve minor variations to these restrictions for short 

periods of time. 

5.2 OTHER BLAST CRITERIA 

In the absence of Project Approval criteria for surrounding infrastructure and Aboriginal cultural 

heritage sites, appropriate alternative impact assessment criteria have been sourced. 

Australian Standard (AS) 2187.2-2006 Explosives – Storage, Transport and Use – Use of Explosives 

nominates blast vibration building damage assessment criteria which range from 5 mm/s to 25 mm/s 

peak vector sum (PVS) according to building type and use. The damage criteria adopted in 

accordance with AS 2187.2-2006 is 10 mm/s for all dwellings. 

Damage criteria for public infrastructure are summarised in Table 2. 

Table 2 

Peak Particle Velocity Damage Criteria – Public Infrastructure 

Infrastructure 

Peak Particle Vibration Limit (mm/s) 

Concrete power poles 1 50 

Railway culverts/bridges 2 80 

Railway lines 3 200 

1 

Criteria adopted from other Hunter Valley coal mines. 

2 

Blast design vibration damage control limit (Heggies Australia, 2006a). 

3 

Blast design vibration damage control limit (Heggies Australia, 2006b). 

There are no regulatory criteria nominated in Australia for the assessment of damage to 

archaeological/geological structures from vibration. Research, however, has been undertaken by the 

US Army Corps of Engineers into the effects of large surface blasts on the dynamic stability of unlined 

tunnels of various diameters in sandstone and granite (Dowding, 1985). The results of the research 

indicated that intermittent rock fall or observable damage did not occur until vibration levels exceeded 

460 mm/s. 

The German Standard DIN 4150-3 Structural Vibration Part 3: Effects of Vibration on Structures 

(February 1999) includes a vibration velocity guideline of 80 mm/s for evaluating the effects of 

“short-term” vibration on buried clay and concrete pipework. The application of this criterion to 

geological structures is considered conservative and introduces a five-fold safety factor by comparison 

to the observed damage value of 460 mm/s (as described above). 





There are no regulatory criteria nominated in Australia for the assessment of damage to roadways or 

concrete pavements. Heggies (2010) recently conducted a literature review associated with concrete 

pavements which concluded that none of the United States, Swedish, Canadian or United Kingdom 

blasting studies (including those achieving 125 mm/s to 250 mm/s ground vibration) found cases of 

slab and pavement cracking. In addition, asphalt roadways are relatively more flexible and less 

susceptible to cracking by comparison to concrete pavements. The research indicated that the 

adoption of roadway/pavement damage criterion of 125 mm/s would be very conservative. 

The above criteria will be considered for the monitoring and reporting of blast activities carried out at 

the Wilpinjong Coal Mine. 

5.3 BLAST PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 

5.3.1 Performance Indicators for Blast Impact Assessment Criteria 

The blast monitoring program (Section 7) will include blast performance indicators which will be used 

to guide operations at the Wilpinjong Coal Mine to prevent exceedances of Project Approval blast 

impact assessment criteria (Section 5.1.1). The blast performance indicators will be set at 

110 dB(Lin Peak) and 3 mm/s for airblast overpressure and ground vibration monitoring respectively 

at all residences on privately-owned land. 

Where blast monitoring is conducted near public infrastructure listed in Table 2, dwellings, roadways 

or concrete pavement, archaeological structures, the performance indicators will be as described in 

Table 3. 





Table 3 

Public Infrastructure Blast Performance Indicators 


Blast Performance Indicator (mm/s) 

Dwellings 10 

Concrete power poles 50 

Railway culverts/bridges 80 

Railway lines 200 

Archaeological structures 460 

Roadways or concrete pavement 125 

5.3.2 Performance Indicators for Operating Conditions 

WCPL will review operational compliance with Conditions 13 and 14, Schedule 3 of the Project 

Approval during mining operations. Approval Conditions 13 and 14 relevantly state: 

13. During mining operations on the site, the Proponent shall: 

(a) implement best blasting practice to: 

protect the safety of people and livestock in the area surrounding blasting operations; 

protect public or private infrastructure/property and Aboriginal cultural heritage sites in the 

area surrounding blasting operations from blasting damage; and 

minimise the dust and fume emissions from blasting at the project; 

(b) limit temporary blasting-related road closures to 1 per day; 

(c) co-ordinate the timing of blasting on site with the timing of blasting at the adjoining Moolarben 

and Ulan coal mines to minimise the potential cumulative blasting impacts of the three mines, 

and 

(d) operate a suitable system to enable the public to get up-to-date information on the proposed 

blasting schedule on site, 

to the satisfaction of the Director-General. 

14. Prior to carrying out any blasting within 500 metres of a public road or railway on the site, the 

Proponent shall obtain approval from Council (in respect of public roads) and ARTC (in respect of the 

Gulgong-Sandy Hollow railway). 

6 BASELINE DATA 

A summary of the environmental monitoring results collected by WCPL is presented on the Wilpinjong 

Coal Mine website (http://www.peabodyenergy.com.au/nsw/wilpinjong.html) every two months in 

accordance with Conditions 8 and 11, Schedule 5 of the Project Approval. This summary includes the 

results of blast monitoring and a summary of compliance with the relevant blast impact assessment 

criteria (Section 5.1.1). 





7 BLAST MONITORING PROGRAM 

7.1 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 

All monitoring is to be undertaken in accordance with the Project Approval, conditions of EPL 

No. 12425 and AS 2187.2-2006. The results of the blast monitoring program will be assessed against 

the airblast overpressure and ground vibration criteria identified in Section 5.1.1. 

A blast monitoring program has been developed for the Wilpinjong Coal Mine, which includes 

monitoring of airblast overpressure and ground vibration for all blasts at privately-owned residences 

within 3 km of the blast and select public infrastructure and Aboriginal heritage sites (Figure 3). The 

objective of the monitoring is to obtain assurance that amenity overpressure and vibration limits are 

being achieved at privately-owned residences and that damage criteria are being achieved for public 

infrastructure (Section 5). 

An airblast overpressure and ground vibration monitoring site is currently located approximately 1 km 

to the north-east of the Wilpinjong Coal Mine adjacent to the Gulgong-Sandy Hollow Railway line 

(Figure 3). Monitoring locations will vary according to the location of blasting activities. 

Ground vibration monitoring will be conducted when blasting is within (Figure 3): 

 

 

 

 

350 m of concrete power poles; 

350 m of railway culverts/bridges; 

100 m of railway lines; and 

1 km of Aboriginal rock art sites 72, 152 and 153 in accordance with the Aboriginal Cultural 

Heritage Management Plan and North Eastern Wiradjuri Cultural Heritage Management Plan. 

Monitoring equipment used on-site will typically include a geophone (e.g. standard 4.5 hertz geophone 

with a range of up to ± 556 mm/s) and microphone (e.g. with a range of between 80 to 140 decibels). 

The monitoring equipment will display the due date of upcoming calibration. Calibration of the 

monitoring units will be undertaken by an off-site specialist. 

The blast monitoring program will be reviewed and where necessary revised over the life of the 

Wilpinjong Coal Mine, according to physical changes in mining operations, following the acquisition of 

privately-owned land by WCPL, or as a result of complaints. 





7.2 METEOROLOGICAL MONITORING 

The on-site meteorological station continuously monitors the following meteorological parameters: 

 

rainfall; 

temperature at 10 m; 

temperature at 2 m; 

 

 

 

 

 

relative humidity; 

net solar radiation; 

sigma theta; 

wind direction; and 

wind speed. 

Data obtained from the meteorological station will be used during the review of blasting controls and 

used to assist with the investigation of any blasting related complaints and blasting 

exceedances/incidents. 

7.3 ASSESSMENT AGAINST BLAST CRITERIA AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 

The monitoring results will be used to assess the Wilpinjong Coal Mine against the performance 

indicators and performance criteria detailed in Table 4. 

If data analysis indicates a performance indicator has been exceeded or is likely to be exceeded, an 

assessment will be made against the performance criteria. If the data analysis indicates that the 

performance indicator is likely to be exceeded if management measures are not implemented, WCPL 

will implement suitable management measures (Section 8) and continue to monitor. If any blast 

criteria are considered likely to have been exceeded or are likely to be exceeded, the Contingency 

Plan will be implemented (Section 9). WCPL will implement suitable contingency measures (Section 

9) and continue to monitor (Section 7). 





8 MANAGEMENT MEASURES 

8.1 PUBLIC NOTIFICATION 

Any private landholder within 2 km of the Wilpinjong Coal Mine that registers an interest in being 

informed of the blasting schedule shall be notified via either telephone or e-mail, or as otherwise 

agreed between the parties. Initiation of misfires will be separately advised if more than one hour has 

elapsed since the blast that resulted in the misfire, or the misfire is more than 30% of the original blast. 

In order to keep the local community informed of the blasting activities at the Wilpinjong Coal Mine, a 

free-call Blasting Hotline will operate to provide information on the daily and proposed weekly blasting 

schedule. The Blasting Hotline is updated as soon as any change to the program becomes known. 

The Blasting Hotline will operate for the life of the Wilpinjong Coal Mine and the contact number will be 

advertised in local newspapers at least quarterly, via the Wilpinjong Community Newsletter and on the 

Wilpinjong Coal Mine website. The Blasting Hotline number is 1800 649 783. 

Road closure notification boards will be maintained on the Ulan-Wollar Road and will reflect the most 

current blasting program. Every effort will be made to give at least three days warning of impending 

road closures although short-term blasting demands may limit the notification period. 




776 000 E 

778 000 E 

Creek 

Wollar 

Wollar 

Creek 

ML 1573 

Wilpinjong 

Creek 

ECA - B 

Creek 

ECA - C ECA - A 

Creek 

Creek 

Narrow 

Cumbo 

Bens 

Creek 

Planters 

Creek 

Creek 

Murragamba 

Spring 

Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve 

G oulburn River National Park 

MGNR 

WOLLAR 

6 420 000 N 

Mogo Road 

G U L G O N G - S A N D Y H O L L O W 

R A I L W A Y 

Slate Gully Road 

Araluen Lane 

6 418 000 N 

Ulan - Wollar Road 

1km 

1km 

6 416 000 N 

BARIGAN 

776 000 E 

778 000 E 

Upper Cumbo Road 

774 000 E 

774 000 E 

770 000 E 

772 000 E 

770 000 E 

772 000 E 

768 000 E 

768 000 E 

766 000 E 

766 000 E 

6 422 000 N 

6 420 000 N 

6 418 000 N 

6 416 000 N 

100m 

Railway Culvert 

350m 

45 

Smith 

45 

Smith 

LEGEND 

Mining Lease Boundary 

Outline of Open Cut Mine and Contained 


Enhancement and Conservation Area (ECA) 

Dwelling 

Blast Monitoring Site (Overpressure and Vibration) 

Ground Vibration Monitoring Site 

Aboriginal Heritage Assessment Recording 6 422 000 N 

Meteorological Station 

152 

153 

72 

FIGURE 3 

Blast Monitoring Sites 

0 

Kilometres 

1 

G U L G O N G - 

S A N D Y 

H O L L O W 

R A I L W A Y 

1km 

Road 

Wollar 

Ulan - Wollar Road 

WIL-05-05 BMP 2011_003B 

W I L P I N J O N G C O A L M I N E


Table 5 

Monitoring of Environmental Consequences against Performance Indicators and Criteria 

Performance Indicator 

Monitoring of Environmental Consequences 

Sites Parameters Frequency 

Data Analysis to Assess against 

Performance Indicator 

Assessment of Performance Indicator 

Assessment of 

Performance 

Criteria 

Relevant Management and Contingency 

Measures 

Airblast overpressure is to remain below 

110dB(Lin Peak) at residences on privatelyowned 

land. 

Airblast 

overpressure 

monitoring 

location 

(Figure 3). 

dB(Lin Peak) Each blast Blast Monitoring - airblast overpressure 

measurement procedures in accordance 

with the requirements of AS 2187.2-2006. 

The performance indicator will be considered to be exceeded if 

the airblast overpressure measured at the airblast overpressure 

monitoring location is higher than 110 dB(Lin Peak). 

Refer Section 5.1.1 

WCPL reviews blasting operations and implements 

additional reasonable and feasible blast controls. 

If requested, WCPL conducts a property 

investigation of affected properties in accordance 

with Condition 12, Schedule 3. 

WCPL to repair or commission the repair of any 

public infrastructure damage due to airblast 

overpressure associated with blasting activities at 


Ground vibration is to remain below 3 mm/s at 

residences on privately-owned land and below 

the relevant levels listed in Table 3 for public 

infrastructure. 

Ground vibration 

monitoring 

locations 

(Figure 3). 

mm/s Each blast Blast Monitoring - ground vibration 

measurement procedures in accordance 

with the requirements of AS 2187.2-2006. 

The performance indicator will be considered to be exceeded if 

the ground vibration measured at the ground vibration 

monitoring locations is higher than the relevant levels listed in 

Table 3 for public infrastructure. 

Refer Section 5.1.1 

WCPL reviews blasting operations and implements 

additional reasonable and feasible blast controls. 

If requested, WCPL conducts a property 

investigation of affected properties in accordance 

with Condition 12, Schedule 3. 

WCPL to repair or commission the repair of any 

public infrastructure damage due to airblast 

overpressure associated with blasting activities at 






8.2 PROPERTY INSPECTIONS 

In accordance with Condition 11, Schedule 3 of the Project Approval, if WCPL receives a written 

request for a property inspection from any landowner within 3 km of the Wilpinjong Coal Mine, WCPL 

will within two months of receiving the request: 

 

 

commission a suitably qualified, experienced and independent person, whose appointment has 

been approved by the Director-General, to: 

- establish the baseline condition of any building or structures on the land; 

- inspect the condition of any building or structure on the land, and recommend measures to 

mitigate any potential blasting impacts; and 

give the landowner a copy of the property investigation report. 

8.3 PROPERTY INVESTIGATIONS 

In accordance with Condition 12, Schedule 3 of the Project Approval, if any landowner of privatelyowned 

land claims that buildings and/or structures on their land have been damaged as a result of 

blasting associated with the Wilpinjong Coal Mine, then within three months of receiving the complaint, 

WCPL will: 

 

 

commission a suitably qualified, experienced and independent person, whose appointment has 

been approved by the Director-General, to investigate the claim; and 

give the landowner a copy of the property investigation report. 

If the findings of the independent property investigation confirm the landowner’s claim, and both 

parties agree with these findings, WCPL will repair the damages to the satisfaction of the Director- 

General. 

If WCPL or the landowner disagrees with the findings of the independent property investigation, then 

either party may refer the matter to the Director-General for resolution. 

8.4 BLASTING ADJACENT TO RAILWAY LINES 

WCPL will only undertake blasting operations with and subject to the conditions imposed by ARTC’s 

consent to such blasting operations as provided for and in strict accordance with the terms of the 

Blasting Deed between ARTC and WCPL. 

8.4.1 Within 500 m but greater than 200 m of the Gulgong-Sandy Hollow Railway Line 

Four hours immediately prior to the intended blast time the area Controller/Signaller at the nearest 

manned station shall be notified and train timetables obtained to ensure that the track is clear for a 

minimum of 2 km in either direction of the blast area at the time of the blast. 

If it is observed that flyrock had landed on or near the track or ground vibration limits (described in 

Section 5.2) have been exceeded, the track and any associated structures shall be inspected to 

ensure there is no flyrock on the track and to ensure that no damage to the track or associated 

structures has occurred. The nearest manned signal box shall be notified immediately. The track will 

be inspected and certified as fit for traffic by a certified track examiner. 





8.4.2 Within 200 m but greater than 100 m of the Gulgong-Sandy Hollow Railway Line 

Short notice possessions will be arranged in consultation with the appropriate ARTC 

Possessions/Logistics Coordinator. At least 16 days notice will be given of any blasting within 200 m 

but greater than 100 m of the Gulgong-Sandy Hollow Railway Line. If any approved or programmed 

blast cannot be performed as scheduled the coordinator is to be notified as soon as possible to allow 

rescheduling of operations. The relevant ARTC team member will be again notified at least seven 

days and 12 hours prior to the intention to blast. 

The notice must specify: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the proposed days, dates and times for the blast; 

the proximity to any ARTC infrastructure; 

the type of blasting (for example pre-strip or highwall); 

the number of bank cubic metres; 

the extent of area from which the blast will be visible; and 

the area to which the effects of blasting are likely to be observed by the train drivers and 

passengers including but not limited to flyrock, vibration and airblast. 

The area Controller/Signaller at the nearest manned station will be notified 12 hours prior to blasting 

and timetables for scheduled services will be provided. Blasting times will then be scheduled to avoid 

services, in consultation with the area Controller/Signaller. A minimum of 30 minutes is required to 

allow for the shot to be fired and inspection of the track made, if required. 

Two hours and immediately prior to a blast, the Drill and Blast Supervisor will check with the nearest 

manned signal box to ascertain whether the line is clear, and the period of time for which the line will 

be clear, for 2 km in either direction of the blast area. 

WCPL will take possession of the track by way of a suitably qualified and ARTC recognised Protection 

Officer (at least a PO2 qualified) prior to blasting. WCPL will ensure vibration and blasting monitoring 

points are setup as per clause 4.6.4 of the Blasting Deed. 

After Blasting 

Blast monitoring points shall be monitored and all results are to be reviewed and advised/provided to 

ARTC within seven days of the blast. 

If it is observed that flyrock had landed on or near the track or vibration limits (outlined in Section 5.2) 

have been exceeded, the track and any associated structures will be inspected to ensure there is no 

flyrock on the track and to ensure that no damage to the track or associated structures has occurred. 

The nearest manned signal box will be notified immediately. The track will be inspected and certified 

as fit for traffic by a certified track examiner. 





8.4.3 Within 100 m of the Gulgong-Sandy Hollow Railway Line 

For all blasting operations that are less than 100 m from ARTC infrastructure the following will be 

carried out after blasting. 

The railway will be inspected and the track certified as fit for traffic by a certified track examiner such 

as the ARTC recognised PW52/53 qualified person. This (infrastructure hand back) will happen prior 

to the Protection Officer fulfilling the short notice possession (traffic hand back). 

Any changes/damage to ARTC infrastructure or safety incidences will be reported immediately to the 

relevant ARTC Team Manager (including instance where flyrock lands in the rail corridor). The team 

manager or his/her nominated person will be responsible for managing repairs to ARTC infrastructure 

(in consultation with WCPL) with costs associated with the repairs to be borne by WCPL. 

Each individual blast will be analysed on its own merits, taking into account the predicted and 

measured effects of ground vibration, air blast and the possibility of flyrock affecting the track and 

other structures. The above procedures may then be modified to the satisfaction of the local ARTC 

staff after consultation with WCPL. 

8.5 BLASTING ADJACENT TO ROADS 

8.5.1 Temporary Road Closures 

Ulan-Wollar Road will be temporarily closed whenever blasting is carried out within 500 m of the road 

as a precautionary measure to ensure public safety. These closures are typically for a period of less 

than 15 minutes. Designated Wilpinjong Coal Mine personnel who have received Roads Traffic 

Authority (RTA) approved traffic controller training will manage traffic flow during these closures. 

Traffic control signs will be set up in accordance with the RTA/Mid-Western Regional Council (MWRC) 

guidelines. Adequate training will also be provided on “Introduction to Traffic Control at Roadworks” 

for the purpose of setting up and removing traffic control and controlling any on-site hazards. All 

temporary road closures will be scheduled, where practicable, for outside peak traffic flow periods. In 

particular, school bus times will be avoided. Roads will be closed to traffic by qualified traffic 

controllers approximately five minutes prior to any blast. Traffic controllers will remain in radio contact 

with the Wilpinjong Coal Mine throughout the closure period, to enable cessation of the blast in the 

case of emergency. 

8.5.2 Notification of Road Closures 

Notification of temporary road closures will be co-ordinated with the MWRC, as necessary, to meet 

their requirements. Notice of temporary road closures will be provided via the posting of signs on the 

relevant roads at least three days prior to blasting and notifying the MWRC one day prior to the blast. 

It is not practical to notify all relevant emergency services of temporary road closures well in advance 

of scheduled blasts as it is necessary to consider weather conditions when determining when to blast. 

All relevant emergency services will be contacted by telephone and informed of the Wilpinjong Coal 

Mine’s temporary road closure procedures. They will be advised that, if requested, they can be 

notified by telephone or email within two hours of a planned blast time. Advice of road closures will 

also be provided on the blasting hotline (Section 8.1). 





8.5.3 Flyrock Removal and Road Maintenance 

All blasts will be visually inspected and monitored to determine whether any flyrock is generated. If it 

appears possible that flyrock may have landed on the road after a blast event, then prior to re-opening 

roads, the traffic controllers will undertake a visual inspection of the roads to ensure that it is safe for 

traffic to proceed. In the event that flyrock has impacted upon public roads, traffic controllers will 

immediately notify the Mining Manager who will initiate a clean-up and repair response with hand 

removal of any rock. Traffic controllers will continue to keep roads closed and monitor road traffic until 

authorised to re-open the road by the Mining Manager. In addition, WCPL will engage a suitably 

qualified contractor approved by MWRC to undertake any road repair works, resulting from blast 

related activities, if required. Notification will also be made to the relevant agencies. 

8.6 OTHER PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE 

Power transmission lines and a fibre optic telephone cable are located within the potential impact zone 

of some blasts. The infrastructure will be accurately located prior to any blasting in the vicinity and the 

infrastructure owners consulted on the most appropriate management strategies. Internal supply 

facilities will be monitored and managed in consultation with Country Energy. A telecom service is 

located near the road-rail corridor. While there are no known specific vibration limits on the line, a 

hierarchy of vibration controls will be implemented. Including; trying to minimise blasting in the vicinity, 

use of electronic detonators to control vibration levels, and possibly a temporary or permanent 

relocation of the line. The final strategy will be developed in conjunction with Telstra. 

8.7 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS 

In accordance with Condition 13, Schedule 3 of the Project Approval, the timing of blasting on site will 

be co-ordinated with the timing of blasting at the adjoining Moolarben and Ulan coal mines to minimise 

the potential cumulative blasting impacts, to the satisfaction of the Director-General. Blasting times 

and locations will be communicated via blast notifications emails between the relevant mines. 

8.8 BLAST PROTOCOL 

The Wilpinjong Coal Mine has a blasting protocol in place which is consistent with the relevant 

legislation. 

8.8.1 Safety 

The safety focus of this protocol is to ensure the safety of people, property, livestock and 

infrastructure. Key features of this protocol are: 

 

 

 

a minimum blasting exclusion zone of 500 m applies for persons; 

use of electronic blasting technology for improved control in vibration sensitive areas where 

deemed appropriate; 

pre-blast inspections are undertaken to ensure that no persons, property or livestock are at risk 

from blasting; 

 

 

sentries are posted on all access points to ensure that there is no possible access to the blasting 

exclusion zone; 

no blasting will occur within 500 m of privately-owned property without consultation with relevant 

landholders to satisfaction of DP&I; 





 

 

 

 

prior to carrying out any blasting within 500 m of a public road or railway, WCPL will obtain 

approval from Council (in respect of Ulan-Wollar Road) and ARTC (in respect of the Gulgong- 

Sandy Hollow railway); 

notification of blasting times provided to closest private residences on request; 

manage misfires in a safe manner and in accordance with this BMP; and 

visual monitoring of all of blasts with video records of significant blasts. 

8.8.2 Blasting Controls 

Detailed design is undertaken for each blast in order to maximise the blast efficiency, minimise the 

dust, fumes, vibration and airblast, and ensure compliance with site specific blasting conditions. 

In order to minimise the potential for exceedance of the relevant criteria (outlined in Section 5), blast 

management procedures will be implemented, including: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

training all relevant personnel on environmental obligations and safe handling of explosives; 

inspections and preparation of proposed blast areas to ensure all soft, loose or blast damaged 

material is removed prior to drilling; 

designing blasts to ensure that ground vibration and airblast overpressure limits are met, and 

there is no damage to life or property from flyrock, including consideration of wind speed, 

direction and other meteorological factors prior to blasting to minimise impacts on neighbours; 

notification of blasting times to private residents within 2 km of the Wilpinjong Coal Mine on 

request and maintenance of a free-call Blasting Hotline; 

use of adequate stemming, a delay detonation system, and careful drilling and hole loading to 

ensure that the required blast design is implemented; 

assessment of wind speed and direction immediately prior to each blast to minimise the potential 

for dust emissions from blasting to adversely impact on neighbouring private residencies; 

monitoring of blasts at the closest private residences to determine whether airblast and ground 

vibration limits are met; 

completion of the Blast Controller Checklist (Appendix B); 

review of monitoring results and modification of the blast design, if necessary; 

documentation of the date and time of the blast, location of blast holes and quantity of explosive 

used in each blast; and 

periodic review of blast management practices to evaluate performance and identify responsive 

action, if required. 





8.8.3 Meteorological Assessment 

Meteorological based constraints on blasting will be used at the Wilpinjong Coal Mine. A protocol will 

be established to ensure that blasts are postponed during adverse weather conditions, which have the 

potential to exacerbate dust, fume and overpressure impacts on nearby residents (e.g. inversions, 

wind direction etc.). The need for such an exclusion arc will be based on experience gained from 

early blasts and understanding of local weather patterns. 

A “blasting exclusion” arc would be calculated on the basis of: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

wind direction; 

wind speed; 

depth of the blast below natural ground surface; 

size of the blast; 

blast loading design; and 

rock strength and competency. 

The meteorological assessment system would be developed and updated over the life of the operation 

to reflect site observations, physical changes to mining operations, acquisition of properties by WCPL, 

or where necessary, following validated complaints from nearby residents. A copy of any current 

meteorological assessment protocol will be reported in the Annual Review and provided to residents 

on request. 

9 CONTINGENCY PLAN 

In the event that the blast criteria detailed in Section 5 is considered to have been exceeded, WCPL 

will implement the following Contingency Plan: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The exceedance of the blast criteria will be reported to the Peabody Environment and Community 

Manager or Peabody Environmental Advisor within 24 hours of assessment completion. 

The Peabody Environment and Community Manager or Peabody Environmental Advisor will 

report the likely exceedance to the General Manager as soon as practicable after becoming 

aware of the exceedance. 

WCPL will report the exceedance of the blast criteria to OEH and DP&I as soon as practicable 

after WCPL becomes aware of the exceedance. 

WCPL will identify an appropriate course of action with respect to the identified impact(s), in 

consultation with specialists and OEH, as necessary. For example: 

– proposed contingency measures; and 

– a program to review the effectiveness of the contingency measures. 

Contingency measures will be developed in consideration of the specific circumstances of the 

exceedance and the assessment of environmental consequences. Potential contingency 

measures include the management measures described in Section 9.1 of this BMP. 

WCPL will, on request, submit the proposed course of action to DP&I for approval. 

WCPL will implement the approved course of action to the satisfaction of the DP&I. 





9.1 POTENTIAL CONTINGENCY MEASURES 

Potential contingency measures will be reviewed during revisions of this BMP. Key potential 

contingency measures to be implemented following the exceedance of blast criteria identified in 

Section 5 may include the following: 

 

 

 

 

 

In accordance with Condition 7, Schedule 5, WCPL will notify the Director-General and any other 

relevant agencies as soon as practicable of any exceedance of the criteria specified in Condition 

8, Schedule 3 of the Project Approval. WCPL shall provide the Director-General and any relevant 

agencies with a detailed report on the incident within 7 days of the date of the incident. 

In accordance with Condition 2, Schedule 4 of the Project Approval, WCPL will notify affected 

landholder/tenants of the exceedance and provide the affected landowner/tenants with blast 

monitoring results, until the results show that the project is complying with the criteria in 

accordance with Condition 8, Schedule 3 of the Project Approval. 

WCPL will complete a review of the blasting operations to identify the potential cause/s of the 

exceedance. WCPL will then implement additional reasonable and feasible blast controls to 

minimise the likelihood of additional blast criteria exceedances. 

Upon request by the landowner, WCPL will conduct a property investigation in accordance with 

Condition 12, Schedule 3 of the Project Approval. 

If a property investigation indicates that damage to any building and/or structure on privatelyowned 

land is as a result of blasting associated with the Wilpinjong Coal Mine, WCPL will repair 

the damages to the satisfaction of the DP&I. 

10 ANNUAL REVIEW AND IMPROVEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE 

In accordance with Condition 3, Schedule 5 of the Project Approval, WCPL will conduct an Annual 

Review of the environmental performance of the Project by the end of December 2011, and annually 

thereafter. 

The Annual Review will specifically address the environmental performance of the BMP and will: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

describe the development (including any rehabilitation) that was carried out in the past year, and 

the development that is proposed to be carried out over the next year; 

include a comprehensive review of the monitoring results and complaints records for the 

Wilpinjong Coal Mine over the past year, including a comparison of these results against the: 

relevant statutory requirements, limits or performance measures/criteria; 

monitoring results of previous years; and 

relevant predictions in the EA; 

identify any non-compliance over the last year, and describe what actions were (or are being) 

taken to ensure compliance; 

identify any trends in the monitoring data over the life of the Wilpinjong Coal Mine; 

identify any discrepancies between the predicted and actual impacts of the Wilpinjong Coal Mine, 

and analyse the potential cause of any significant discrepancies; and 

describe what measures will be implemented over the next year to improve the environmental 

performance of the Wilpinjong Coal Mine. 





As described in Section 2, this BMP will be reviewed within three months of the submission of an 

Annual Review, and revised where appropriate. 





11 REPORTING 

11.1 INCIDENTS 

An incident is defined as a set of circumstances that causes or threatens to cause material harm to 

the environment, and/or breaches or exceeds the limits or performance measures/criteria in the 

Project Approval. 

The reporting of incidents will be conducted in accordance with Condition 7, Schedule 5 of the Project 

Approval. WCPL will notify the Director-General of the DP&I and any other relevant agencies of any 

incident associated with the Project as soon as practicable after WCPL becomes aware of the 

incident. Within seven days of the date of the incident, WCPL will provide the Director-General of the 

DP&I and any relevant agencies with a detailed report on the incident. 

Notification reporting will also be made to DTIRIS NSW in accordance with clause 16(1)(j) of the Coal 

Mines (Open Cut) Regulation, 1999 for flyrock incidents and the Coal Health and Safety Act, 2006 for 

misfires. 

11.2 COMPLAINTS 

In accordance with Condition 1, Schedule 5 of the Project Approval, the Environmental Management 

Strategy details the procedures to be implemented to receive, handle, respond to and record 

complaints in relation to blasting. 

The objective of the Complaint Response Protocol is to reply to community concerns that relate to 

blasting. The Protocol will be the responsibility of the Peabody Environment and Community Manager 

(or delegate) and is outlined on Figure 4. The response to a blasting complaint will include: 

 

 

 

 

The detail of the complaint will be recorded in the complaints register. 

Preliminary investigations will commence within 24 hours of the complaint receipt to determine 

likely causes of the complaint using information regarding prevailing meteorological conditions, 

the nature of mining activities taking place and recent blast monitoring results. 

Blast control measures will be determined following an investigation into the complaint, if 

required. Those mitigation measures developed as a result of the assessment will be 

implemented by the relevant mining operations supervisor (e.g. Open Cut Examiner). 

Following implementation of blast control measures (if required), monitoring will assess the 

effectiveness of the additional blast control measures. 

In the event of a complaint where aiblast overpressure or vibration levels are demonstrated to be 

below the relevant criteria (Section 6), the resolution process will involve discussion between the 

complainant and the Peabody Environment and Community Manager (or delegate). The complainant 

will be made fully aware of the monitoring and reporting procedures used at the Wilpinjong Coal Mine. 

Every effort will be made to ensure that concerns are addressed in a manner that results in a mutually 

acceptable outcome. 

In accordance with Condition 11, Schedule 5 of the Project Approval, the complaints register will be 

made publicly available on the Wilpinjong Coal Mine website and updated on a monthly basis. 




COMPLAINT RECEIVED 

Determine whether airblast overpressure and/or ground vibration levels 

were within compliance criteria in relation to closest blast monitor 

Airblast overpressure and/or 

ground vibration levels 

within compliance criteria 

Airblast overpressure and/or 

ground vibration levels 

exceed compliance criteria 

Notify regulatory authorities 

Call complainant 

within 12 hours 

No answer 

Leave a message to 

call back 

Contact made with 

complainant 

Complainant has made various 

verified past complaints 

Carry out investigation and 

consider installing continuous 

noise monitor at or close to 

residence to assist with noise 

management 

Discuss details of complaint 

Use complainant discussions/ 

suggestions to improve noise 

management in future 

W I L P I N J O N G C O A L M I N E 

FIGURE 4 

Complaints Response Protocol 

WIL-05-05 BMP 2011_005A


11.3 NON-COMPLIANCES WITH STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS 

Compliance with all approvals, plans and procedures will be the responsibility of all personnel (staff 

and contractors) employed on or in association with the Wilpinjong Coal Mine, and will be developed 

through promotion of Wilpinjong Coal Mine ownership under the direction of the General Manager. 

The Peabody Environmental Advisor will undertake regular inspections, internal audits and initiate 

directions identifying any remediation/rectification work required, and areas of actual or potential 

non-compliance. 

As described in Section 11.1, WCPL will notify the Director-General of the DP&I and any other 

relevant agencies of any incident associated with the Wilpinjong Coal Mine as soon as practicable 

after WCPL becomes aware of the incident. Within seven days of the date of the incident, WCPL will 

provide the Director-General of the DP&I and any relevant agencies with a detailed report on the 

incident. 

A review of WCPL’s compliance with all conditions of the Project Approval, mining leases and all other 

approvals and licences will be conducted prior to (and included within) each Annual Review. The 

Annual Review will be made publicly available on the Peabody website. 

Additionally, in accordance with Condition 9, Schedule 5 of the Project Approval, an independent 

environmental audit will be conducted by the end of December 2011, and a minimum of once every 

three years thereafter. A copy of the audit report will be submitted to the Director-General of the DP&I 

and made publicly available on the Peabody website. The independent audit will be conducted by an 

appropriately qualified, experienced and independent team of experts whose appointment has been 

endorsed by the Director-General of the DP&I. 

12 REFERENCES 

Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (1990) Technical Basis for 

Guidelines to Minimise Annoyance due to Blasting Overpressure and Ground Vibration. 

Dowding, C.H. (1985) Blast Vibration Monitoring and Control. 

Heggies (2005) Wilpinjong Coal Project, Construction, Operation and Transportation Noise and 

Blasting Impact Assessment. Report 30-1212R1. 

Heggies (2006a) Blast Vibration Criteria Gulgong-Sandy Hollow Railway. 

Heggies (2006b) Blasting Impact Assessment Gulgong-Sandy Hollow Railway. 

Heggies (2010) Duralie Extension Project Noise and Blasting Impact Assessment. 

Wilpinjong Coal Pty Ltd (2010) Wilpinjong Coal Mine Environmental Monitoring Results Summary 

March 2010 to August 2010. 





APPENDIX A 


ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVAL 

DOCMENTATION SUMMARY 



Wilpinjong Coal Mine – Blast Management Plan

WILPINJONG PROJECT 

APRIL 2004 

WILPINJONG COAL PTY LTD 

Cl;ent Nl 1846988 

I 

Dutl- .^v/l 

t*.no 

Assldelails: CP' 

 

 

MININGLEASE 

MININGACT1992 

NO l 5-13 

DATED B e-lorrsarra Z oo 6 

-) 

THEMINISTERFORMINERAL 

RESOURCES 

OFTHE STATE 

OFNEWSOUTHWALES 

TO 

WilpinjongCoalPty Ltd 

A.C.N.104594694 

INTERIM 

MINING 

OPERATIONS 

PLAN 

February 2006 - January 2007 

SPONTANEOUS 

COMBUSTION 

MANAGEMENT PLAN 

May 2006 

 

 

BLAST 

MANAGEMENT 

PLAN 

October 2010 

SITE 

WATER 

BALANCE 

November 2010 

Main Report Appendices ENVIRONMENTAL A to Appendices E 

ENVIRONMENTAL 

F and Appendices G 

ENVIRONMENTAL 

HA to HE 

Appendices ENVIRONMENTAL 

I to O 

ENVIRONMENTAL 

IMPACT 

IMPACT 

IMPACT 

IMPACT 

IMPACT 

STATEMENT 

STATEMENT 

STATEMENT 

STATEMENT 

STATEMENT 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SITE WATER 

MANAGEMENT 

PLAN 

March 2009 

EROSION AND 

SEDIMENT 

CONTROL PLAN 

November 2010 

REPORT OF THE 

INDEPENDENT HEARING AND ASSESSMENT PANEL 

FOR THE 

WILPINJONG COAL PROJECT 

Panel of Experts 

Allen Kearns (Chair), Hugh Middlemis and Ross Hardie 

 

 

November 2005 

NOISE 

MANAGEMENT 

PLAN 

June 2011 

SURFACE WATER 

MANAGEMENT AND 

MONITORING PLAN 

November 2010 

Responses to 

ENVIRONMENTAL 

Submissions 

ASSESSMENT 

DIRECTOR-GENERAL’S REPORT 

Proposed Wilpinjong Coal Project 

______________________________________________________________________________________ 

1. SUMMARY 

Wilpinjong Coal Pty Limited (the Proponent), a wholly owned subsidiary of Excel Coal Limited, is proposing 

to establish a new open cut coal mine, approximately 40 kilometres northeast of Mudgee, NSW (see Figure 

1). 

Licence12425 

ronmentProtectionAuthority-NSW 

Figure 1: Regional Context 

Envi 

1 

 

Archived:08-Feb-2006 

EnvironmentProtectionAuthority Licencenumber: 12425 

Filenumber: 261840 

EnvironmentProtectionLicence LicenceAnniversaryDate: 08-February 

Section55ProtectionoftheEnvironmentOperationsAct1997 

Reviewdatenotlaterthan08-Feb-2009 

LicenceType 

Premises 

Licensee 

WILPINJONG COALPTY LTD 

POBoxH287 

AUSTRALIA SQUARE NSW1215 

LicensedPremises 

WilpinjongCoalPtyLtd 

Ulan-WollarRd 

WOLLAR NSW2850 

FeeBasedActivity 

CoalMining(26) 

EPARegion 

NorthWest-Bathurst 

219HowickStreet 

BATHURST NSW2795 

Phone:0263327600 

Fax:0263322387 

POBox1388BATHURST 

NSW2795 

 

Scale 

>500000-2000000Tproduced 

GROUNDWATER 

MONITORING 

PROGRAMME 

November 2010 

Page1of24 

Project Approval 

Section 75J of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 

I, the Minister for Planning, approve the project referred to in schedule 1, subject to the conditions in 

schedules 2 to 5. 

These conditions are required to: 

prevent, minimise, and/or offset adverse environmental impacts; 

set standards and performance measures for acceptable environmental performance; 

require regular monitoring and reporting; and 

provide for the ongoing environmental management of the project. 

 

SIGNED 

Frank Sartor MP 

Minister for Planning 

Sydney 1February 2006 F ile No: S04/00699 

SCHEDULE 1 

Application No: 05-0021. 

Proponent: 

Wilpinjong Coal Pty Limited. 

Approval Authority: 

Minister for Planning. 

Land: See Appendi• 1. 

Project: 

Wilpinjong Coal Project. 

Major Project: 

Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 

Annual Return 

WILPINJONG COAL PTY LTD 

ANNUAL RETURN 

LICENCE NO. 12425 

LICENCE HOLDER WILPINJONG COAL PTY LTD 

REPORTING PERIOD 

 

08-Feb-2006 to 07-Feb-2007 

The proposal is classified as a Major Project under section 

75B(1)(a) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 

1979, because it is a development of a kind described in clause 5 

of schedule 1 to State Environmental Planning Policy (Major 

Projects) 2005. 

1 

ENVIRONMENTAL 

MANAGEMENT 

STRATEGY 

November 2010 

If your licence has been transferred, suspended, surrendered or revoked by the EPA during this reporting 

period, cross out the dates above and specify the new dates to which this Annual Return relates below: 

REVISED REPORTING PERIOD ______/______/______ to ______/______/______ 

(Note: the revised reporting period also needs to be entered in Section E) 

THIS ANNUAL RETURN MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE EPA BEFORE 09-Apr-2007 

Your Annual Return must be completed, including certification in Section E, and 

submitted to the EPA no later than 60 Days after the end of the reporting period for 

your licence. 

Failure to submit this Annual Return within 60 days after the reporting period ends 

may result in: 

• the issue of a Penalty Notice for $750 (individuals) or $1500 (corporations); 

OR 

• prosecution. 

Please send your completed Annual Return by Registered Post to: 

Licence Administration and Revenue Unit 

NSW EPA 

PO Box A290 

SYDNEY SOUTH NSW 1232 

It is an offence to supply any information in this form to the EPA that is false or misleading in a material respect, or to cer tify 

a statement that is false or misleading in a material respect. 

THERE IS A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF $250,000 FOR A CORPORATION OR $120,000 FOR AN INIDIVIDUAL. 

Details provided in this Annual Return will be available on the EPA’ s Public Registerin accordance with section 308 of the Protection 

of the Environment Operations Act 1997. 

Licence 12425 Page 1 of 11 

261840 

SURFACE AND 

GROUND WATER 

RESPONSE PLAN 

November 2010 

ANNUAL 

ENVIRONMENTAL 

MANAGEMENT 

REPORT 

January 2008 

 

ANNUAL 

ENVIRONMENTAL 

MANAGEMENT 

REPORT 

February 2009 

 

 

Operational Phase 

ENVIRONMENTAL 

Mine Access Route 

ASSESSMENT 

and 

Blasting Frequency 

Modification 

 

ABORIGINAL CULTURAL 

AIR QUALITY 

HERITAGE MANAGEMENT PLAN 

MONITORING 

AND GREENHOUSE GAS 

AND 

NORTH EASTERN WIRADJURI 

PROGRAMME 


CULTURAL HERITAGE 


June 2011 June March 2011 2009 

 

CUMBO 

CREEK 

RELOCATION 

PLAN 

February December 2008 2010 

Mining Rate 

ENVIRONMENTAL 

Modification 

ASSESSMENT 

 

 

 

LANDSCAPE 

MANAGEMENT 

PLAN 

November 2010 

REHABILITATION 

MANAGEMENT 

PLAN 

October 2010 

 

NON-ABORIGINAL 

HERITAGE 

ARCHIVAL RECORD 

OF SITES 1 TO 9 

January 2006 

PLANNING 

FOCUS 

Planning Focus Document 

April 2004 

Director-General’s Requirements 

June 2004 

1 

WILPINJONG 

WILPINJONG 

WILPINJONG 

WILPINJONG 

WILPINJONG 

COAL 

COAL 

COAL 

COAL 

COAL 

PROJECT 

PROJECT 

PROJECT 

PROJECT 

PROJECT 

2 3 4 5 

Environmental Impact Statement 

May 2005 

EIS Submissions 

WILPINJONG 

COAL 

PROJECT 

Responses to Submissions 

October 2005 


ENVIRONMENTAL APPROVAL 

DOCUMENTATION SUMMARY 

Project Application 

Under Part 3A 

September 2005 

WILPINJONG 

COAL 

PROJECT 

WILPINJONG 

COAL 

MINE 

Panel Submissions 

Independent Hearing and 

Assessment Panel 

November 2005 

IHAP Report 

November 2005 

Director-General’s Report 

January 2006 

Project Approval (05-0021) 

February 2006 

Modification 2007 

Modification 2010 

Water Licence Applications 

(Water Act, 1912) 

Mining Lease Application 

(Mining Act, 1992) 

WILPINJONG 

COAL 

PROJECT 

Part 5 Water Licences 

Mining Lease (ML 1573) 

February 2006 

Environmental Management Strategy 

November 2010 

Environmental Protection 

Licence Application 

(Protection of the Environment 

Operations Act, 1997) 

WILPINJONG 

COAL 

PROJECT 

WILPINJONG 

COAL 

PROJECT 

WILPINJONG 

COAL 

PROJECT 

WILPINJONG 

COAL 

PROJECT 

WILPINJONG 

WILPINJONG 

COAL 

COAL 

PROJECT 

PROJECT 

WILPINJONG 

COAL 

PROJECT 

Timing to be 

Determined 

WILPINJONG 

COAL 

PROJECT 

December 2011 

Mining Operations Plan 

February 2006 - January 2007 

Blast Management Plan 

June 2011 

Site Water Management Plan 

November 2010 

Noise Management Plan 

June 2011 

Environment Protection Licence (12425) 

July 2009 

Annual Return 

Aboriginal Cultural 

Heritage Management Plan and 

North Eastern Wiradjuri 

Cultural Heritage Management Plan 

June 2011 

Air Air Quality Monitoring and Greenhouse Programme Gas 

Management March 2009 Plan 

June 2011 

Landscape Management Plan 

November 2010 

Non-Aboriginal Heritage 

Archival Record of Sites 1 to 9 

January 2006 

Ulan Road Strategy 

WILPINJONG 

COAL 

PROJECT 

Spontaneous Combustion 

Management Plan 

May 2006 

WILPINJONG 

COAL 

PROJECT 

Site Water Balance 

November 2010 

WILPINJONG 

COAL 

PROJECT 

Erosion and Sediment Control Plan 

November 2010 

WILPINJONG 

COAL 

PROJECT 

Surface Water Management 

and Monitoring Plan 

November 2010 

WILPINJONG 

COAL 

PROJECT 

Groundwater Monitoring Programme 

November 2010 

WILPINJONG 

COAL 

PROJECT 

Surface and Groundwater 

Response Plan 

November 2010 

WILPINJONG 

COAL 

PROJECT 

January 2008 

Cumbo Creek Relocation Plan 

December 2010 

December 2010 

Final Void Management Plan 

WILPINJONG 

COAL 

PROJECT 

Rehabilitation Management Plan 

October 2010 

December 2010 

Mine Closure Plan 

WILPINJONG WILPINJONG 

COAL COAL MINE 

PROJECT 

December 2011 

January 2008 

Annual Environmental 

Management Report / Environmental 

Management Report 

Annual Review 

Independent Environmental Audit 

October 2008


APPENDIX B 

BLAST CONTROLLER CHECKLIST 



Wilpinjong Coal Mine – Blast Management Plan

WILPINJONG COAL PROJECT 

BLAST CONTROLLER CHECKLIST 

Location: Pit Strip Block Shot No: Day/ Date: 

Scheduled Blast Time: 

Actual Blast Date/Time: 

WIND SPEED, DIRECTION and CLOUD COVER DO NOT BLAST IF 1. Wind speed > 4m/s and Westerly OR 2. Wind speed >7m/s 

Source: http://wilsws01/command=RTMC&screen=AWS%20Overview 

Time 

Results and Comments 

OK to Proceed with blast 

Action 

Pre Start YES/NO YES: Proceed tie up, NO: Reschedule blast 

1 hour prior to blast YES/NO YES/NO: Proceed blast, check conditions 

5 min prior to blast YES/NO YES: Proceed blast, NO: 30 minute window 

Call or radio Jim Smith monitor for position confirmation YES/NO to check conditions, if no change proceed with 

Blast Security Guard process 

Blast Security Guard: D/S N/S Guard tied-in shot, delineate area, communicate to OCE 

CONFIRM AT LEAST 45 MIN PRIOR TO SCHEDULED BLAST TIME 

Does this blast comply with the 'maximum 2 blasts per day' limit 

Does the blast comply with the 'maximum 5 blasts per week' limit 

YES / NO 

YES / NO 

Is the rail loop and train load out in the blast exclusion radius YES / NO If YES: go to 4. Otherwise proceed with checklist 

Has the train schedule been confirmed with the CHPP control room 

YES / NO 

Does the confirmed train schedule affect the blast time YES / NO If YES: reschedule blast time, distribute notification, inform OCE 

CONFIRM PRIOR TO TIE UP 

YES NO N/A 

YES NO N/A 

Blast Notice Boards Active 

Thiess Office Notified 

Neighbours Notified 

Client Notified 

Subcontractors Notified 

Blast Holes Surveyed 

500m Exclusion Zone Mapped 

Is there a westerly wind 

Is the shot in overburden 

What is the MIC for this shot 

Equipment Park up Confirmed 

Blast Area OCE Advised 

Local Council Notified (Road Closure) 

Blast Signs on Road 

Rail Possession secured 

Rail Protection officer secured 

Rail Controller called as per BMP 

If yes to both then must use nonel surface connection 

If the MIC > 400kg and two blasts have already occurred this week with MIC > 400kg, 

DO NOT PROCEED WITH BLAST. If MIC < 400kg, proceed with blasting 

BLAST MONITORING 

Monitor Location Unit Number Person Responsible 

Comments 

Jim Smith 1 

Jim Smith 2 

Wilpinjong Rail Loop 

Magazine 

Sensitive Location 

Additional 

MISFIRE EVENT 

Advised by Shotfirer: YES NO 

If YES: Mine Manager Advised: 

Delineated: YES NO 

Mine Supt. Advised: 

Removed: YES NO 

OCE Advised: 

Surveyed: 

YES NO 

Investigation Complete: YES NO Learning's Implemented: YES NO Date Implemented: 

Time: 

Signed: 

Name: 

Blast Controller 

Drill and Blast Supervisor 

Thiess Pty Ltd 

Blast Controller Checklist.xls

wilpinjong coal mine blast management plan - Peabody Energy

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?