HVO South Open Cut Coal Continuation Project

I object to the proposed HVO South Open Cut Coal Continuation Project. Even since they have been scaled down, this project and the HVO North Open Cut Coal Continuation Project are the biggest expansion of coal mining in NSW. When the coal is burnt, it would contribute 803 million tonnes CO2-e over its lifecycle. Coal campaigning organisation Lock the Gate has calculated this is seven times the total annual emissions from all sources in New South Wales.
This coal mine expansion is not compatible with NSW regulations as the Net Zero Future Act has set targets to reduce the state’s emission by 50% by 2040 and 70% by 2035 and the NSW Large Emitters Guide ensures that the coal mining industry is not exempt.
The expansion of HVO North and South will result in very significant emissions increases - methane emissions would actually double. As it is not until 2042 that the projects’ emissions are predicted to decrease from levels higher than they are now, this expansion is in direct violation of the targets set by the Net Zero Future Act.
To be extending a coal mine approval to operate until 2045 is totally inappropriate. It is in the particular interest of NSW to limit global warming and to be allowing further expansion of our export coal industry is ignoring climate change. The NSW Planning Department should be considering renewable projects which can have a positive impact on the community, on our environment and our future. Continuing to support a polluting industry is not in the interests of the local Hunter Valley community or other residents of NSW.

Recently, in the Denman case, the NSW Court of Appeal found in favour of local community group Denman, Aberdeen, Muswellbrook, Scone Healthy Environment Group (DAMSHEG) in its challenge to the expansion of Mt Pleasant coal mine in the Hunter. The Court found that the Independent Planning Commission should have considered the impact of the downstream emissions on climate change to the local community. The HVO revised assessment ignores these costs to the community. In fact, it specifically excludes considering the impact of Scope 3 emissions and thus underestimates the real, negative economic impacts of this massive carbon-producing project.

For these reasons, I object to the HVO South Open Cut Coal Continuation Project.

I support the project

The government benefits from royalties which help to provide schools, hospitals etc .
It also provides jobs for local people and industries

I am a local resident within the radius of the HVO extension and I believe it should progress.

It’s a valuable resource providing jobs and financial benefits to our town.

This project is important to the employment of many families immediately employed at the mine. A closure would be devastating for them and the community as a whole

I support the project

HVO south is a vital to the community, not only for its direct employees but for thousands of other businesses and individuals who work directly or indirectly for the mining company. In saying this the Hunter Valley relies heavily upon this extension approval.

Continuation of project is critical to local employment.

I support this project

I oppose the expansion of the hunter valley operation (HVO) coal mine both north and south operations, for the following reasons

HVO excludes the cost and level of downstream carbon emissions despite being legally required to consider this even if the fuel is burnt overseas. Rising insurance premiums and more drastic weather must be taken into account and this was not done.

The full assessment as directed by the court of appeal must be completed. I urge the NSW Government to reject this application.

Supporting lots of local jobs and companies and organisations 100% support

Firstly the Climate change costs were not properly considered, and legal precedent was 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.
Secondly, the scale of project is excessive, and the resulting greenhouse gas emissions will affect ability to reach 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.
Thirdly, there are 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.

I support the continuation

HVO is a responsible and inclusive workplace which allows me to provide a great quality of life for me and my family. I hope it can also do so for many more years. I support responsible mining and selling the highest quality coal to other countries which are still using coal to keep industry working and keeping people out of poverty. Please support our mine as the transition to clean energy is progressive role. If we do not supply the the high quality coal that is needed by industry, countries like China have in the past bought an inferior product from Indonesia- so how is that helping to reduce emissions ?

As per previous submission

I support this project.

The amended HVO Continuation Project must be rejected on the grounds of unacceptable carbon emissions

I write to strongly object to the proposed Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) coal expansion by Glencore and Yancoal.

Last year, this project was rightly sent back to the drawing board. It was an important recognition that the proposal was deeply flawed. Unfortunately, like a many-headed serpent, Glencore and Yancoal have returned with a revised plan that remains unacceptable. Despite some repackaging, it still poses unacceptable risks to our water, communities, and climate.

The new proposal extends coal mining until 2045 — locking in another 20 years of damage. It is, in fact, the largest coal project ever proposed in New South Wales. Worse, the revised assessment has ignored the NSW Court of Appeal’s landmark Mt Pleasant ruling, which made it clear that full, up-to-date assessment of climate impacts is mandatory, and that affected communities must be properly consulted. That has not been done here.

This failure is especially concerning in the context of the Federal Government’s first National Climate Risk Assessment, which highlights the escalating costs of climate damage — from rising insurance premiums to mounting infrastructure repair bills after floods, fires, and storms. To approve a project of this scale while disregarding binding legal precedent and climate science would be indefensible.

Climate change and legal precedent ignored
• The Court of Appeal found that downstream (Scope 3) emissions from coal burnt overseas must be fully assessed, and that the true economic, social, and environmental costs of climate change on local communities must be considered.
• The HVO expansion fails this test. Its economic assessment deliberately excludes Scope 3 emissions, resulting in a gross underestimate of climate costs.
• The revised assessment should be withdrawn, and the legally required full assessment undertaken and re-exhibited.

Scale of the project and emissions impact
• This expansion seeks approval to mine 429 million tonnes of coal, adding an estimated 803 million tonnes of greenhouse gas pollution to the atmosphere. That is equivalent to seven times NSW’s annual emissions.
• Direct emissions from the mine itself — methane leakage and diesel use — will significantly undermine NSW’s ability to meet its legislated emissions reduction targets. Instead of falling in line with the state’s trajectory of 50% reduction by 2030 and 70% by 2035, HVO would double methane emissions and keep them elevated until 2042.

Impacts on land and water
• The HVO mine straddles the Hunter River and directly threatens both strategic agricultural land and the river’s alluvial aquifer.
• The expansion would deepen existing groundwater drawdown, reduce river health, and cause up to two metres of cumulative drawdown in the Wollombi Brook alluvium — impacts that would persist long after mining stops.
• Groundwater quality in the area is already deteriorating, with monitoring showing exceedances of water quality triggers. The known seepage of tailings dams into groundwater highlights the risks of further expansion.

Instead of doubling down on coal, Glencore and Yancoal should be required to clean up and rehabilitate the vast footprint of the existing HVO site, protecting the Hunter Valley’s farmland, river systems, and communities for the future.

Conclusion
For all these reasons, I urge the Commission to reject the Hunter Valley Operations coal expansion. The project is inconsistent with legal precedent, incompatible with NSW climate targets, and damaging to water, land, and community wellbeing.

Thank you for considering my submission.

Yours sincerely,
Prof. Don White
Wallabadah, Laguna 2325

I support the project because it keeps a roof over our heads and food on the table. This project gives my son a future. My father is a former HVO miner, Dennis Dixon and my partner is a current HVO miner, Garrett Carr and I would not like to the mines to shutdown!