Coalpac wants to merge its Cullen Valley and Invincible mine operations at Cullen Bullen into one very large open cut.

The project has led to a storm of concern from individuals, environmental groups and, tellingly, NSW Health and has resulted in clear divisions within the affected communities with views aired forcibly at previous public meetings.

The Planning Assessment Commission yesterday began a day long public hearing in Lithgow with the second and final session at Cullen Bullen this morning.

Chairman of the review committee Dr Neil Shepherd told the well attended session at the Workmens Club that the terms of reference included consideration of the environmental, social and water resources impacts from the Coalpac proposal.

He said that as part of the information gathering process the three commissioners had the previous day inspected the area in question by both helicopter and on the ground, accompanied by National Parks and Coalpac representatives.

The commission will present its report to the NSW Department of Planning by the end of November for consideration in the final assessment report which will recommend to the Minister whether the project should or should not go ahead.

Dr Shepherd said the timing for the final determination was not yet known.

A succession of speakers, all opposed to the project, addressed the morning session.

Perhaps the most telling was the address by Mrs Jacqueline Seraglio.

Mrs Seraglio said she and her husband had purchased the ‘Red Springs’ property five years ago with the aim of developing it into one of the most productive cattle breeding properties in the region.

“We brought our four small children here believing this would be the place we could raise them in rural tranquility,’ she said.

“Within two years my husband who is only 38 was diagnosed with a lung disorder from airborne matter.

“He now takes large daily doses of antibiotics to prevent pneumonia.”

Mrs Seraglio said that in the past three years her 10 year old daughter had developed bronchitis and required constant medication.

“Prior to moving to ‘Red Springs’ my own asthma was infrequent.

“It is now more constant and more severe,” she said.

She said dust was already affecting the property all the time and if the current proposal gains approval the open cut will advance to just 400 metres from the family home.

Coalpac, she said, had agreed to halt operations when the wind direction was towards ‘Red Springs’ but by the time the machinery was shut down it was already too late.

She said the noise from the existing Cullen Valley operation was already a constant problem for the family and for the entire valley.

“I now have great concerns for our life span,” she said.

Mrs Seraglio said the consultants employed by Coalpac had claimed in their report supporting the development application that there were ‘no known springs in the application area’ but this was false.

“Our property has an abundance of springs,” she said.

She said the family depended on their property for their livelihood but its value would be greatly depreciated if the Coalpac expansion goes ahead.

Other speakers in the initial session included Wayne Olling, from the Blacktown and District Environment Group; concerned private citizens Isabel Higgins and Anne Dillon, Keith Muir from the Colo Foundation for Wilderness; Lithgow doctor Richard Stiles and Dr Haydn Washington, from the Colo Committee.

The hearing was continuing yesterday afternoon.