HVO South Open Cut Coal Continuation Project

The financial support that HVO provides to the local economy is substantial and would impact/harm should the project close

Project is beneficial to the community and wider Australia and individuals employed by the organisation!

Project protects thousands of jobs

I support the continuation project to secure my future

Support the project for jobs and money into the area

I support the project

The Hunter valley rely on coal mining. Both industry & families rely on HVO. Australia relies on both the resources & income provided by HVO. Please approve this project

100% support!

We are trying to reduce emissions to reach our climate target. We DO NOT need any more coal. We need to close down coal mines.

I support the continuation of this project as it provides a stable income for many local families - my partner being one of those employees. With increasing economic pressures we don’t need more people out of work.

The HVO Amendment Report (AR) has been prepared to address comments regarding large amounts of fugitive emissions release when mining seams within Gas Domains 1 and 3, and no longer proposes to mine these areas. The Amended HVO continuation project still represents a major emissions heavy fossil fuels development in a time when we need to be seriously ratcheting down our emissions.
The AR does not appropriately consider the recent policy developments and findings of a number of inquiries by both state and federal governments including:
• The Climate change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023
• Strategic statement for coal mining and exploration in NSW 2020 currently under review
• CCA 2035 Emissions Reduction Targets Report
• National Climate Risk Assessment 2025
• Denman Aberdeen Muswellbrook Scone Healthy Environment Group Inc v MACH Energy Australia Pty Ltd [2025] NSWCA 163
• NSW EPA Climate Change Action Plan 2023–26
The resounding theme from these from these above legislation, policies and judgements is that our economy and planning authorities is falling well short of its emissions reductions and obligations.
The amendment report provides minimal other than tokenistic mitigation measures for fugitive emissions and diesel fuel emissions, while expert agencies like the Independent Expert Advisory Panel for Mining state:
• “The only fugitive emissions avoidance measure available is mine planning that restricts the areal extent of mining and/or the depth of mining.”
• “There is little that can be done to mitigate diesel GHG emissions. They are a product of combustion for which no viable technology is available or emerging to mitigate the emissions prior to their release directly to atmosphere.” (IEAPM, 2024)
This project, while heavily amended to remove the gassiest seams in domain 1 and domain 3, still represents a huge increase in NSW emissions when its clear we need to be working in the opposite direction.
Correspondence from the EPA states should this project be approved; other parts of the NSW economy will bear the brunt of having to reduce emissions faster. (NSW EPA, 2024). Particularly if inflationary powers work together to raise the cost of carbon offsets that this project will rely on heavily.

The AR also does not adequately address the direct request by the DPHI to further explain how the project aligns with Glencore 2024-26 Climate Action Transition Plan. Reading between the lines it appears glencore intends to approve extensions to sell its coal mines for the maximum possible value. This does not assist NSW with its emissions reduction targets.

The AR justifies its strategic context with a heavily reliance on currently under review Strategic Statement for Coal mining in NSW. this is following recommendations by the NSW Net Zero Commission to the DRNSW. The AR also references the now invalid IPC development consent for the Mt Pleasant Optimisation project that was successfully overturned in the NSW Court of Appeal (see Denman Aberdeen Muswellbrook Scone Healthy Environment Group Inc v MACH Energy Australia Pty Ltd [2025] NSWCA 163).

The reliance on offsets to bring their carbon emissions in compliance with the safeguard mechanism and EPA requirements may have inflationary pressures on the carbon offsets market (IEAPM, 2024). This may have wide reaching ramifications throughout the economy which may disproportionately impact small businesses that lack he deep pockets to pay for offsets like HVO does.

References:
IEAPM. (2024). Inderpendant Expert Advisory Panel For Mining Advice re: Hunter Valley Operation Continuation Project (SSD-11826681 and 11826621). Sydney: IEAPM.
NSW DCCEEW. (2025). NSW Government Response to Net Zero Commission 2024 Annual Report and the Parliamentary inquiry report by the Joint Standing Committee on Net Zero Future. Parramatta: NSW Government.
NSW EPA. (2024). Second Submission - HVO North and South Open Cut Coal Continuation Projects (SSD-11826681 and SSD-11826621) - EPA Comments to Response to Submissions . Parramatta: NSW Government.

I support the continuation project to keep myself and many others employed within the mining industry.

The project is necessary for the surrounding area

My brother has worked there for over 10 years and loves his career. I understand the number jobs there supports many families is financially important to the local and wider communities.

I am in strong support of the HVO continuation project, keeping jobs secure in the hunter & providing much needed & appreciated financial support to the local community.

Having lived in Singleton for 5+ years, I know the positive impact that the coal industry has on the town and HVO has the opportunity to continue that support for years to come. HVO not only supports the local town & industry but supports regional and national interests too.

Australia needs this project.

Myself as well as the overall population of the region support HVO’s continuation as it supports the local work force as well as the community. Many hard working men and women rely on HVO in the local area ,but more than that millions across the world in developing nations rely on coal to provide a better standard of living for them and there family’s.

The region needs the Jobs. The mine has sustainably mined a necessary resource for many years and will continue to sustainably mine for years to come

I would like to support this project due to the maintained jobs it supports for this area. The footprint is mainly already mined land with deeper seams being mined. It makes sense to continue the operation with already affected land.
The need of electricity continues with infrastructure to renewable option not going to be ready in time. The Australians emissions is nothing to what the world produces and it's about time the government started looking after the future of their people rather then the radical minority.

Sincerely
Paul Murray.

The south project is important for the long term employment of many people within the Hunter Valley. Directly and indirectly. It also provides great amount of money to the government. I also believe HVO is minimising environmental impact.