HVO North Open Cut Coal Continuation Project

This project will supply many jobs and support the surrounding communities

The mine has been a long-standing employer and provides stability for hundreds of families, both directly through employment and indirectly through local suppliers, contractors, and service providers. The extension will allow these benefits to continue rather than ending prematurely, which would have significant flow-on effects for the local economy.

This expansion will decide the future of mine my sons and my husbands lives. If this doesn’t go through we will have to sell our house and move out of our local area as will a lot of people which will destroy the small towns around the mine.

Please take this submission into your review process and note that I'm attempting feebly to represent unborn grand-children and generations to come. My fear is that further development of coal mining and its use will put their potential futures at risk. I have attached my submission here. It is my intention that this submission also apply to the HVO South Open Cut Coal Continuation Project.
Sincerely,
Steve Garthwin
18th September 2025

I find it amusing that most of the people who object to such projects either do not live in the area, are wealthy inheritors or owners of local property or are of retirement age. Horse studs can not support the communities that have been built to support coal mining. Horse studs only support gambling addiction and are otherwise a waste of good land. Horse studs and farming are the main supporters of land clearance which in reality is the main cause of rising carbon dioxide. Deforestation all over the world. Over population and deforestation is the cause of rising carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is plant food but when land holders continue to conduct land clearing, the natural carbon cycle is being disrupted. The coal industry accounts for 20% of Australia's export revenue. Australia got rich on the back of iron ore and coal. Coal pays for many of the necessities city folk have come to rely on. Hospitals, roads, tunnels, infrastructure. People migrated to regional centres developing coal mining communities as the nation relied on them for development. People in turn have come to rely on their jobs and industry to raise their families. With no current alternative to mining, what are the thousands of people who have dedicated their life to this industry supposed to do? Everyone can become a barrista? Work in retail outlets? Selling goods made in China from coal energy? Everyday Australians need coal mining to continue to raise families and pay their biĺls. Farmers and horse stud owners should surrender their properties and revegetate all cleared land to assist with carbon dioxide absorption if they are so opposed. Gambling on horses should be criminalised due to the major community effect being a negative one. Australian carbon dioxide emissions are negligible on a global scale. Australia's population is negligible on a global scale. Support our people and the communities we have established.

As someone that is employed at HVO, I support the extension of operations, as it secures jobs, enabling us to provide for our families with stability and confidence. It fosters economic growth in our community and reflects trust in our team’s expertise, ensuring we can continue delivering quality resources responsibly while supporting our loved ones.

I strongly believe that Hunter Valley Operations has a positive influence on the hunter valley through contributions to local businesses, schools, sports and hospitals, aswell as its employees.

I support the project due to the economic and environmental benefits

I support this project of the benefit of the community. HVO provides 1,500 + jobs, spends $1 billion+ annually and $250.000+ in coal royalties just to name a few. At this time I don't believe we have anything to replace these types of income to support the Hunter Community.

I support this project in line with my submission for the HVO North project

I am writing to express my strong support for the Amended Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) Continuation Project. This project represents a vital step in ensuring ongoing economic stability and community well-being in the Hunter Valley region and beyond. The continuation of HVO mining operations is critical for sustaining employment and supporting local businesses. HVO currently employs approximately 1,500 people directly, with many more engaged indirectly through local suppliers and service providers. Extending the life of the mine will ensure these jobs remain secure for decades, providing financial stability for families and contributing significantly to the regional economy. Moreover, the revenue generated through royalties and taxes helps fund essential public infrastructure, including schools, healthcare, and roads, benefiting the broader New South Wales community.

The proposed amendments to the project also show responsiveness to community concerns by reducing environmental impacts and improving safety infrastructure, such as the realignment of Lemington Road and the construction of a new bridge over the Hunter River.

Importantly, the amended project incorporates measures that will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in line with NSW emission reduction targets. HVO has made considerable effort to revise the mine plan to remove higher gas content areas, along with improved operational efficiencies, to minimize Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. By optimizing existing mining operations rather than expanding the footprint or increasing annual production, the project aligns with broader environmental goals, striking a balance between economic activity and climate responsibility. This proactive approach demonstrates HVO’s commitment to supporting a sustainable future for the Hunter Valley and New South Wales.

In conclusion, the Amended HVO Continuation Project demonstrates that the proponent has actively listened to feedback from the community and NSW government, resulting in a proposal that balances economic, environmental, and social outcomes. Project is essential for maintaining the economic vitality of the Hunter Valley region, supporting the thousands of community members whose livelihoods depend on it, and contributing to environmental sustainability through reduced greenhouse gas emissions. I strongly urge approval of this project to secure a prosperous and sustainable future for our community.

Thank you for considering this submission.

Benefits the local community through good paying jobs and support local government with grants. Also massive for trade/balance of payments through export income.

I object to this proposal for the following reasons.
Climate change costs have not properly been considered and a legal precedent has been ignored. The recent 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.
They found 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.
But 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.
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 placed back on public exhibition.
The scale of the proposed project is too great with massive greenhouse gas emissions, ignoring climate targets. This is the biggest coal mine project ever considered in NSW. In total it proposed to mine 429 million tonnes of coal and extend the operation of this huge mining complex to 2045.
Overall, 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.
Even the 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 - to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030 and 70% by 2035.
But this expansion does the exact opposite, resulting in massive increases in direct emissions by expanding the project. The expansion will actually double methane emissions compared to the existing mine (as at FY24) and then they will remain at elevated levels until 2042.
Impacts to land and water will affect human and environmental health. The proposed mine 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.
Mining for the Continuation Project will worsen groundwater drawdown already affecting the Hunter River’s alluvial aquifer by half a metre.
Cumulative drawdown of Wollombi Brook alluvium will be up to 2 metres and this impact will extend long after mining ceases.
Recent monitoring has identified that groundwater in the alluvium and other affected areas is exceeding water quality triggers in the HVO area. A large tailings storage dam adjacent to the river was found six years ago to be seeping into groundwater.
Instead of expanding the mine, Glencore and Yancoal should be cleaning up the huge HVO site and investing in long-term environmental remediation of it.

Mining is the back bone of our country

I support hvo continuation project

I support the hvo continuation project as it provides well over 1500 jobs to the surrounding community which also provides a huge financial support to business in the area.

Not only the above it provides my family an income to keep paying my house of and help support my kids

Land and Water: There will be devastating impacts on land and water in the Hunter. The mine complex straddles the Hunter River and the expansion will mine directly into quality agricultural land and the river’s alluvial aquifer. The expansion will worsen groundwater drawdown by 500mm. Cumulative drawdown of Wollombi Brook alluvium will be up to 2 metres. Water quality is already compromised around HVO. A large tailings storage dam adjacent to the river has been found seeping into groundwater. Instead of the expansion, the joint venture should be cleaning up the huge HVO mine and beginning long-term environmental remediation.

Emissions, scale of expansion, climate targets: It’s NSW’s biggest ever coal mine project, proposing to mine 429 mT coal and extend the operation to 2045. It would add 803 million tonnes of lifecycle greenhouse gases, or 7 times the total annual emissions of New South Wales. Even just the scope 1 & 2 emissions will make it much more difficult to meet NSW climate targets. Coal mines should be on the same emissions reduction trajectory as this state, reducing emissions by 70% by 2035. But this expansion will double methane emissions compared to the existing mine and they will remain elevated until 2042.

Climate change inadequately considered: The recent decision on the Mt Pleasant coal mine expansion found that the full Scope 3 contribution must be assessed; and that the full environmental, social and economic impacts of climate change on a locality must be considered. But the HVO revised assessment excludes Scope 3 emissions, so it hugely underestimates negative economic impacts. It should be withdrawn and the full assessment required by the Court of Appeal undertaken, then returned to public exhibition.

Climate change costs not properly considered, legal precedent ignored

The recent 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.
They found 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.
But 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.
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 placed back on public exhibition.

Scale of project, greenhouse gas emissions and climate targets

This is the biggest coal mine project ever considered in NSW. In total it proposed to mine 429 million tonnes of coal and extend the operation of this huge mining complex to 2045.
Overall, 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.
Even the 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 - to reduce emissions by 50% by 2030 and 70% by 2035.
But this expansion does the direct opposite - it will result in massive increases in direct emissions by expanding the project. The expansion will actually double methane emissions compared to the existing mine (as at FY24) and then they will remain at elevated levels until 2042.

Impacts to land and water

The proposed mine 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.
Mining for the Continuation Project will worsen groundwater drawdown already affecting the Hunter River’s alluvial aquifer by half a metre.
Cumulative drawdown of Wollombi Brook alluvium will be up to 2 metres and this impact will extend long after mining ceases.
Recent monitoring has identified that groundwater in the alluvium and other affected areas is exceeding water quality triggers in the HVO area. A large tailings storage dam adjacent to the river was found six years ago to be seeping into groundwater.
Instead of expanding the mine, Glencore and Yancoal should be cleaning up the huge HVO site and investing in long-term environmental remediation of it.

very important to give the local people good employment opportunities - especially young people moving into the workforce

the project will support many families and suppliers in the local area

I currently work at HVO and they provide me with a stable job in the home town I grew up in. I'm able to pay my morgage and spent my income at local business in the area. I hope this will continue until 2045