HVO North Open Cut Coal Continuation Project

I am writing to provide my personal submission in support of the proposed extension of the hunter valley operations mine. As a singleton local, I recognise the importance of this project to both our region and the broader economy.

I wholeheartedly support the continuation of mining at Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) through the 2040s, as I believe it will play a vital role in sustaining employment across the company and for many third-party contractors. This project represents more than just ongoing operations—it reflects long-term security, stability, and support for the livelihoods of countless families and the wider community.

The NSW Court of Appeal's recent ruling on the Mt Pleasant coal mine expansion underscores the necessity of evaluating the full impact of downstream emissions on climate change when assessing project applications. This has not been done in the HVO expansion submission. The court mandated consideration of environmental, social, and economic ramifications, including rising costs associated with extreme weather. However, the HVO’s revised assessment ignores these downstream emissions, leading to a significant underestimation of economic repercussions. This coal mine expansion, the largest in NSW history, plans to extract 429 million tonnes of coal and contribute 803 million tonnes of lifecycle greenhouse gases by 2045, making it a substantial challenge for NSW's climate targets. Even direct emissions will exacerbate the state's greenhouse gas output and double methane emissions. Furthermore, the proposed extension threatens the Hunter Valley’s land and water resources, particularly affecting the Hunter River and its alluvial aquifer, leading to increased groundwater drawdown and exceeding water quality standards. Instead of proceeding with the expansion, stakeholders such as Glencore and Yancoal should focus on environmental remediation of the existing site.

I support the HVO North Open Cut Coal Continuation Project because it plays a vital role in our local community and economy. HVO has operated responsibly for decades, meeting strict environmental standards and consistently demonstrating transparency in its performance. The mine supports over 1,500 local jobs and contributes significantly to local businesses and community groups through sponsorships and donations.

As the global transition to a low-carbon future progresses, continued use of high-quality, lower-emission coal from the Hunter Valley remains important. Global coal demand will persist until viable alternatives are fully adopted. Reducing Australia’s supply—whether through policy or project rejection—will not eliminate demand but shift it to producers with potentially lower environmental and governance standards. Australian coal is produced under strict regulatory frameworks, ensuring better environmental outcomes. Maintaining responsible supply is essential while demand continues.

The continuation gives economic security for the Hunter region, NSW government and families who have relatives employed HVO.

For me personally it provides for my family and their future.

I, personally, look forward to the opening of the new relocated road to replace the current Moses Crossing route. The new bridge over the Hunter River, allowing uninterrupted access to the New England Highway, will be a welcome change, given the numerous times Moses Crossing has been closed to traffic this year, due to the rain events, etc.

Please accept this as my objection to Glencore and the HVO Continuation Project.

A decision by the NSW Court of Appeal on the Mt Pleasant coal mine expansion found that the full contribution of downstream emissions (Scope 3) to climate change from a coal mine must be assessed, even if the fuel is burnt overseas. That the full environmental, social and economic impacts of climate change on a locality must be considered in making a decision on a project.  This should include costs like rising insurance premiums and increasing costs of repairing roads and infrastructure after extreme weather, which we are experience more frequently in recent years. The Hunter Valley Operations revised assessment specifically excludes consideration of downstream emissions in its economic assessment, and as a result it drastically underestimates the negative economic impacts of the project. As such, the revised assessment should be withdrawn and the full assessment required by the Court of Appeal must be undertaken for the project and it should then be put on public exhibition again.

There is no level of public benefit from expanded coal mining operations that can offset the trauma, dislocation and loss being experienced by communities all over the globe from increasing extreme weather crises. The cost of repairing damaged infrastructure and disruption to many industries has a crippling impact on the economy. This must be factored into consideration of the merit of the proposed project.

This is a huge project and the biggest ever coal mine considered in New South Wales. This coal mine expansion would add 803 million tonnes of lifecycle greenhouse gas pollution to the atmosphere between now and 2045.  That equates to 7 times the total annual emissions from all sources in New South Wales. Considering just direct emissions from the project, caused by releasing methane from the coal seam and from diesel used in operating the mine, will make a huge contribution to NSW emissions and make it even more difficult for NSW to meet climate targets.  

The NSW Large Emitters Guide states that coal mines should be on the same emissions reduction trajectory as NSW which is to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030 and 70% by 2035.
However this expansion does the opposite and will result in huge increases in direct emissions. The expansion will double methane emissions compared to the existing mine (as at FY24) and then remain at elevated levels until 2042. 

This proposed expansion will have devastating impacts on land and water in the Hunter Valley. The HVO mine complex straddles the Hunter River and the expansion intends to mine directly into strategic agricultural land and the River’s alluvial aquifer. This poses great risks to groundwater levels which is already affecting the Hunter River’s alluvial aquifer by half a metre. However it is not only the Hunter River but also Wollombi Brook alluvium will be up to 2 metres lower and this effect will remain long after mining ceases. We must also take into consideration water quality for residents in the Hunter region and farmers. Glencore and Yancoal should be cleaning up the huge HVO site and investing in long-term environmental remediation.

There is no justification for the NSW Government to continue to approve coal mine expansion and extension. The way forward is to encourage investment in a range of different scale renewable energy projects. Climate change is a threat to all communities and all industries and cannot be ignored.

The project be rejected on the grounds of no clear justification, no clear evidence of public benefit and the requirement for responsible government decision-making under ESD principles.

I ask for the decision to be made in the public interest rather than for short term private corporate gain.

The HVO Continuation Project is vitally important to the Upper Hunter. Not just for the economic contribution it makes to the state’s coffers but locally at businesses, wages for local families, contributions to local community projects and organisations and many more.

Furthermore the project isn’t “new”, it is not breaking new ground, it’ll be mining previously mined areas and creating a lot of new jobs and investment in the process.

Coal mines in Hunter Valley provide reliable fuel for power stations and job security

HVO to continue long term employment for many families and contributes billions of dollars to the economy

Good place to work. Long term work for myself. Boost economy

Submission Objecting to the Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) North and South Open Cut Coal Continuation Projects

I am writing to strongly object to the HVO North and South Open Cut Coal Continuation Projects. The proposed expansion represents one of the most environmentally and socially damaging coal projects ever considered in New South Wales. It is inconsistent with legal precedent, climate science, and the urgent need to protect land, water, and communities in the Hunter Valley.

Below I outline my objections under three key areas: (1) failure to properly consider climate change costs and legal precedent, (2) scale of greenhouse gas emissions and incompatibility with NSW climate targets, and (3) devastating impacts on land and water resources.

1. Failure to Consider Climate Change Costs and Legal Precedent

The revised economic assessment for the HVO Continuation Projects excludes downstream (Scope 3) greenhouse gas emissions. This approach is inconsistent with established legal precedent in New South Wales.

In the recent NSW Court of Appeal decision on the Mt Pleasant coal mine expansion, the Court made it clear that:

The full contribution of downstream emissions to climate change must be assessed, even when combustion occurs overseas.

The full environmental, social, and economic impacts of climate change on a locality must be considered when deciding whether to approve a project.

This includes real costs such as:

Rising insurance premiums as extreme weather becomes more frequent and destructive.

Increased expenditure on repairing roads, bridges, and other infrastructure damaged by floods, bushfires, and storms.

Ongoing health and productivity losses caused by heatwaves, smoke events, and climate-related stress.

By deliberately excluding Scope 3 emissions, the HVO Continuation assessment drastically underestimates the true economic and environmental costs of the project. This makes the document fundamentally flawed.

I therefore submit that the revised assessment must be withdrawn, and a new assessment undertaken that complies fully with the Court of Appeal’s ruling. This new assessment must be placed back on public exhibition to allow the public to properly evaluate its findings.

2. Scale of Project, Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and Climate Targets

The HVO Continuation is the largest coal project ever proposed in New South Wales, with plans to:

Mine 429 million tonnes of coal,

Continue operations until 2045, and

Add 803 million tonnes of lifecycle greenhouse gas pollution to the atmosphere.

To put this in perspective:

The project’s emissions are seven times greater than the annual emissions of the entire state of New South Wales.

Its direct methane and diesel emissions will significantly increase NSW’s baseline emissions at a time when all sectors must be rapidly reducing them.

The NSW Government’s Large Emitters Guide makes it clear that major emitters, including coal mines, must align with the state’s emissions reduction pathway:

A 50% cut by 2030, and

A 70% cut by 2035.

The HVO Continuation directly contradicts this requirement. Instead of reducing emissions, the project would:

Double methane emissions compared to the current mine (FY24 levels),

Keep emissions at elevated levels until at least 2042, and

Lock NSW into higher long-term emissions, undermining our state’s ability to meet its legislated targets.

Approving this project would not only jeopardize NSW’s climate commitments, it would also undermine Australia’s international credibility and global climate efforts. The scale of greenhouse pollution from HVO is fundamentally incompatible with the urgent task of limiting global warming to safe levels.

3. Impacts on Land and Water in the Hunter Valley

Beyond climate concerns, the HVO Continuation would have severe and lasting impacts on the Hunter Valley’s land and water resources.

Key impacts include:

Strategic agricultural land destruction: The expansion intends to mine directly into land critical for food production, undermining the region’s long-term agricultural viability.

Damage to the Hunter River alluvial aquifer: Mining will worsen existing groundwater drawdown, lowering the aquifer by an additional 0.5 metres.

Cumulative drawdown of Wollombi Brook alluvium: Up to 2 metres of drawdown, with impacts persisting long after mining has ceased.

Water contamination: Monitoring has already found groundwater in the HVO area exceeding water quality triggers. A major tailings dam adjacent to the Hunter River was found to be seeping into groundwater six years ago, posing a serious and ongoing risk.

These impacts threaten the integrity of the Hunter River system, which supports farming, ecosystems, and communities throughout the region. They also raise serious intergenerational equity issues: once groundwater systems are degraded and farmland is lost, they cannot simply be restored.

Rather than expanding the mine and compounding the damage, Glencore and Yancoal should be required to invest in long-term remediation of the existing HVO site. The scale of land disturbance and water risk already created by this operation demands cleanup and rehabilitation, not further expansion.

Conclusion

The HVO North and South Open Cut Coal Continuation Projects represent a massive step backward for New South Wales at a time when we urgently need to be moving forward toward sustainable energy, healthy ecosystems, and climate resilience.

The projects:

Fail to meet the legal and moral requirement to fully assess downstream emissions and climate costs,

Pose an enormous greenhouse burden fundamentally inconsistent with NSW’s climate targets, and

Threaten the long-term health of the Hunter Valley’s land and water.

For these reasons, I respectfully but firmly request that the HVO Continuation Projects be rejected.

Instead of locking NSW into decades more of high-pollution coal mining, Glencore and Yancoal should focus on cleaning up their existing sites, supporting workers and communities in the transition, and investing in industries that secure a safe and prosperous future.

Sincerely,
Michael Niemira-Dowjat.

HVO provides employment to thousands of local people directly or via contractors, subcontractors and suppliers. That supports families, apprentices, small businesses, and regional services securing the future.

HVO contributes billions to the economy with taxes, royalties, and the operational activities.

This is about balance — supporting a strong local economy, caring for our environment, and ensuring our communities aren’t left behind.

I would like to express my support for the proposed extension of Hunter Valley Operations. Coal remains an important part of Australia’s economy, both as a major export and as a reliable energy source during the ongoing transition to renewables. HVO contributes significantly to national prosperity while also playing a vital role in supporting the local Hunter Valley economy.

The continuation of HVO will help secure thousands of jobs — directly on site and indirectly through suppliers, contractors, and local businesses that depend on the mining industry. For regional communities, this stability means stronger local services, schools, and businesses, all of which benefit from the flow-on effects of mining.

As a student who recently undertook an internship at HVO as a undergraduate mining engineer, I also saw how operations like this provide valuable opportunities for the next generation of engineers and professionals. Extending the life of HVO ensures that young people can continue to gain hands-on experience, develop their skills, and build long-term careers in the resources sector — helping Australia maintain a skilled workforce for the future and taking advantage of aresources that Australia have.

For these reasons, I strongly support the extension of Hunter Valley Operations, as it is essential not only for jobs and economic growth in the Hunter, but also for Australia’s broader prosperity and energy security.

I’m in full support of the project.
The contributions to the community both directly and indirectly generated by mining in the hunter valley should continue.
Without mines like HVO, a significant portion of the hunter valley will collapse from direct job losses in the mines and the businesses that service these workers.
Coal and mining in general needs to be sustained as we gradually transition to alternative energy sources.

I am writing in support of keeping the mine open. The operation provides vital employment for local families, helping to sustain our community and reduce unemployment. Beyond wages, the mine supports small businesses, contractors, and service providers who depend on its continued operation.

The mine’s contributions extend further, with royalties and taxes funding schools, hospitals, and infrastructure across the state. It also invests in training and apprenticeships, building skills that benefit the region well into the future.

Importantly, the mine operates under strict safety and environmental regulations, with clear commitments to rehabilitation and responsible resource management. Modern practices ensure the balance between economic growth and environmental care is maintained.

Closing the mine would not only place hundreds of jobs at risk but also weaken the broader community. By keeping it open, we protect livelihoods, strengthen our region, and secure a more stable future.

To Whom It May Concern,
I am writing in support of keeping the mine open. The operation provides vital employment for local families, helping to sustain our community and reduce unemployment. Beyond wages, the mine supports small businesses, contractors, and service providers who depend on its continued operation.

The mine’s contributions extend further, with royalties and taxes funding schools, hospitals, and infrastructure across the state. It also invests in training and apprenticeships, building skills that benefit the region well into the future.

Importantly, the mine operates under strict safety and environmental regulations, with clear commitments to rehabilitation and responsible resource management. Modern practices ensure the balance between economic growth and environmental care is maintained.
Closing the mine would not only place hundreds of jobs at risk but also weaken the broader community. By keeping it open, we protect livelihoods, strengthen our region, and secure a more stable future.

Huge employer of so many people in the hunter direct and indirect, they support so much of our local industry and infrastructure. It would be a huge waste to not continue development of this project.

Fully support this project as per comments on HVO south project. HVO is good corporate company who supports many local groups and businesses. HVO supports the local communities through the wages of their employees and local suppliers. They also give grants to many local groups and are very generous in there time and financial support.

I give my full approval for the proposed extension of HVO North Mine to 2045 and HVO South Mine to 2042, as this directly impacts me and provides ongoing support. The continuation of operations is vital to my livelihood and community, and I fully endorse moving forward with this plan.