HVO North Open Cut Coal Continuation Project

We Support the project

HVO is a great supporter of Hunter towns and I believe this continuation is essential for the Hunter area to continue to thrive.

HVO employee, we need the extension to be approved to be able to give my family and the whole community a better future

Brings employment and support to the local communities

HVO supports the local community with employment not only in mine operations but also local business, contractors and suppliers. Local communities will suffer if this Continuation project is not approved.

HVO is home to thousands of families and jobs. Mining is the future of Australia.

HVO provides hundreds of jobs to community members and extensive support to the community.

I strongly support the continuation of the HVO North Open Cut Coal Project.

The Hunter Valley has a long and proud history of mining that has provided significant economic, social, and community benefits for decades. The continuation of this project is essential to sustaining jobs, supporting local communities, and maintaining the Hunter’s position as a key contributor to New South Wales’ economy and energy security.

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Employment and Skills

The project directly supports thousands of highly skilled, stable jobs for local workers and contractors. In addition to on-site operators, maintainers, and technical professionals, the flow-on benefits extend to supply chains, transport, equipment providers, local small businesses, and regional service industries. For many families in the Hunter Valley, mining is the cornerstone of their livelihood.

Continuation of HVO North ensures this highly skilled workforce remains engaged, and that younger generations continue to have opportunities to pursue trades, technical careers, and professional development in mining and heavy industry.

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Regional Economic Contribution

Mining underpins the economic stability of the Upper Hunter and surrounding regions. The continuation of HVO North ensures that royalty payments, local council rates, and community investment programs remain strong, contributing to schools, infrastructure, and essential services.

Every dollar earned and spent through HVO circulates through the community many times, strengthening towns and supporting the vibrancy of local businesses. Without the project, this regional multiplier effect would collapse, with devastating consequences for small and medium enterprises in the area.

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Responsible Operations

HVO has an established track record of safe, responsible, and compliant mining operations. The continuation proposal comes with a commitment to environmental management, progressive rehabilitation, and adherence to strict state and federal regulatory frameworks.

Mining companies today operate under world-class standards, with monitoring, dust suppression, water management, and rehabilitation plans designed to minimise impact while maximising safe and efficient resource recovery.

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Balanced Energy Transition

While Australia is working toward a long-term energy transition, coal from the Hunter Valley remains an essential part of the global energy mix. The high-quality thermal coal produced here is sought after internationally for its energy efficiency and lower emissions intensity compared with other sources.

The continuation of HVO North helps provide stability for domestic supply and exports while allowing time for new technologies and renewable projects to mature and scale. Abruptly halting projects like HVO would risk economic disruption, job losses, and strain on the energy sector without delivering meaningful environmental benefit.

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Detrimental Effects if the Project Is Not Approved

If this project is not approved, the impacts would be severe and wide-ranging:
• Mass Job Losses: Thousands of direct employees and contractors would be displaced, creating hardship for families and forcing many to leave the region in search of work. This would also affect apprentices and trainees who would lose vital career pathways.
• Collapse of Local Businesses: Service providers, suppliers, equipment hire firms, transport operators, fuel companies, and hospitality venues all depend on the custom generated by HVO. Many small businesses simply would not survive without the project’s continuation.
• Loss of Royalties and Community Funding: NSW would lose hundreds of millions of dollars in royalties and local rate contributions that fund hospitals, schools, infrastructure, and essential services. The Hunter Valley would face a sharp decline in public and private investment.
• Reduced Energy Security: Coal from the Hunter is integral to the energy market and export contracts. A sudden shortfall would place pressure on both domestic energy supply and international trade relationships.
• Damage to Community Cohesion: The Hunter Valley is built around mining. Denying approval would fracture communities, weaken social programs, and undermine the trust of families who have contributed to the state’s economy for generations.
• Skills Drain from the Region: Highly skilled operators, maintainers, and engineers would be forced to relocate interstate or overseas. Once this expertise is lost, it is very difficult to rebuild.

In short, refusing approval would cause unnecessary economic hardship, weaken NSW’s energy resilience, and undermine the Hunter Valley’s stability and future.

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Community Support and Social License

Mining companies in the Hunter Valley have consistently invested in local projects, sporting clubs, schools, health facilities, and Indigenous partnerships. Continuation of HVO North ensures that this social investment continues.

The Hunter is a mining region, and the project has strong support from workers, families, and businesses who rely on its continued success.

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Long-Term Rehabilitation and Land Use

The HVO North continuation includes clear plans for rehabilitation and responsible end land use once mining is complete. These plans provide confidence that future generations will inherit land that has been stabilised, reshaped, and returned to productive post-mining uses, including grazing, biodiversity corridors, and community benefit projects.

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Conclusion
The HVO North Open Cut Coal Continuation Project is critical to sustaining jobs, families, and communities in the Hunter Valley. It represents responsible, world-class mining operations that balance environmental obligations with economic and social benefits.

If the project is not approved, the consequences for workers, families, local businesses, and NSW as a whole will be devastating. For the sake of the region’s economy, workforce, and future stability, I strongly urge approval of this project.

To whom it may concern,
My name is Mitchell Edmunds and I am a cessnock local to the hunter valley.
I’m new to mining, I work at ravensworth, my wife is employed at HVO, and we are proud to be part of our larger community that support and rely on mining in this area to keep food on the table and our mortgage payed.

The Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) mining project deserves government approval due to its significant economic benefits, job creation, and support from the local Hunter community. Mining operations like HVO are vital for regional economies, providing jobs and stimulating growth through direct and indirect economic activities. Approving the HVO project ensures the continuation of these benefits, fostering stability and prosperity in the region.

Furthermore, the HVO mining project has garnered substantial support from the local Hunter community. Many residents recognize the importance of mining for their livelihoods and the overall economic health of the region. This support reflects a deep understanding of the industry's role in sustaining local families and businesses. Government approval would acknowledge and respect the community's voice, demonstrating a commitment to local interests.

In conclusion, the HVO mining project should receive government approval because of its considerable economic advantages and strong community backing. Approving this project would not only sustain jobs and stimulate economic growth but also affirm the government's dedication to supporting the Hunter region's well-being and respecting the wishes of its community.
Reality is, without mining there is no hunter valley it is the back bone of this great area and surrounds, it’s not for everyone, 12.5 hour days, thousands of family’s rely on what our great coal mines provide and we get up every morning and do the work, I fully support our mining and this industry and it can be done in a way to keep the emissions at a minimum, the reality at this time and for the foreseeable future is the world needs coal, and we here in the hunter provide that need for coal to Australia and the world, weather it be for energy or for steel production, without coal there is no wind turbines, or solar panels, so please on behalf of tens of thousands of workers and family’s direct and indirect please let common sense prevail and allow our great country to continue to sustain economic growth and jobs that matter, kind regards Mitchell Edmunds.

HVO has a long and proud history within the Hunter Valley coal industry. With 70years of sustainable operation supporting local communities and providing the global coal market with high quality coal, not only has the local region and state and federal governments benefitted through taxes, the impact of such an operation reaches the global trade market providing jobs, economic stability and vital resources that sustain and advance everyday life.
I am a beneficiary of the approval having just started as an employee of HVO this month, however I recognise the potential impact to 2,500 workers, the Hunter Valley region and economic impacts at state and federal
Levels should the project not proceed.
I full support the submission and commit to leading my teams to deliver safe and sustainable, quality coal for many years to come.

I fully support the project, as it supports so many jobs and livelihoods in the hunter valley. NSW and Australia need high value companies, royalties and taxes that come from this project. Mining is so import to the Hunter Valley and its people.

Fully support continuation project. Supporting local community and providing continued employment for many

I am writing to strongly support the continuation of Hunter Valley Operations as an operational mine site. This site is not only integral to the Hunter region but also plays a vital role in supporting the livelihoods of countless families, businesses, and communities across New South Wales and beyond.

For decades, Hunter Valley Operations has provided stable employment for local residents, allowing families to thrive and regional towns to remain strong. The mine sustains thousands of direct and indirect jobs, ensuring local schools, small businesses, community organisations, and essential services remain viable. Without the mine’s presence, the ripple effect on these communities would be devastating, leading to loss of income, reduced services, and the decline of vibrant towns that have grown around the industry.

Beyond the local impact, Hunter Valley Operations contributes significantly to the wider Australian economy. From export earnings to the royalties and taxes reinvested into public services, the mine helps fund critical infrastructure, healthcare, and education that benefit all Australians. Its contribution cannot be understated in a time when our economy needs resilience, security, and sustainable growth.

Importantly, the mining industry in the Hunter has a proud history of adapting to modern expectations. Hunter Valley Operations has shown its commitment to balancing productivity with environmental responsibility, innovation, and safety. Shutting down such a significant operation would not only risk jobs and economic stability but also undermine the potential to continue developing cleaner, more sustainable practices within an industry that is vital to our national energy and export mix.

At its heart, this submission is not just about an operation, it is about people. It is about the families who rely on the stability of Hunter Valley Operations to put food on the table, the small businesses whose doors remain open because of local spending, and the generations of workers whose skills and dedication have helped build this region into what it is today.

For these reasons, I urge the government to ensure Hunter Valley Operations remains an operational mine site. To close it would be to jeopardise not only the Hunter Valley’s prosperity but also a significant part of Australia’s economic strength.

My husband and I are residents of Muswellbrook who both work in the coal mining industry and we support the HVO continuation project. Mining is the heart of our town and provides the area and its families with many opportunities. Mining also supports local charities and sporting groups and is vital to our town and it’s families.

Supportive of the project, controls in place to manage environmental impacts and sustainability for the Hunter Valley Region supporting the local people and state/national governments

Keep our local jobs alive

HVO supports local families and businesses keep food on tables and the lights on for upwards of 1000 families

We need the coal industry in Australia.

HVO supplies jobs to over 1,500 to the local community as well as support for local businesses.

I support the project & the local jobs that hvo offer