Maules Creek Continuation Project

I support the Maules Creek Continuation Project and the extension of the mines operational life to 2044.
This project plays a vital role in sustaining local jobs, supporting regional businesses, and contributing to the broader economy. The Continuation of operations will provide long-term certainty for workers and their families, while maintaining strong environmental management practices. I encourage the Department of planning to approve this extension to ensure ongoing community and economic benefits.

As a long-term resident of the Gunnedah Shire and an employee at Maules Creek, I’m writing to express my support for the continuation of the Maules Creek Coal Mine operations through to 2044.
This project is more than just an extension—it’s a lifeline for many families in our region. It provides stable employment, supports local businesses, and contributes to the overall economic health of our community.

Employment & Economic Benefits
The proposed increase in workforce numbers—from 865 to approximately 940—is a welcome boost. With 75% of current employees already living locally, this project continues to prioritise regional employment and development.
For many of us, this job isn’t just a paycheck—it’s a career path, a source of pride, and a way to stay close to family while building a future in the bush.

Environmental Considerations
I appreciate the project's commitment to environmental stewardship, particularly the plan to revegetate 2,300 hectares of native woodland. It’s reassuring to see Whitehaven balancing operational needs with long-term sustainability.
The proposed water pipeline connecting Maules Creek, Tarrawonga, and Vickery mines is another smart move—reducing reliance on external water sources and improving resource efficiency.

Community Engagement
The public exhibition period is a great opportunity for locals to have their say, and I encourage others to get involved. Our voices matter, and it’s important that decisions reflect the needs and values of the people who live and work here.

Final Thoughts
I fully support the continuation of the Maules Creek Project. It represents a responsible and forward-thinking approach to mining in our region—one that supports jobs, respects the environment, and strengthens our community.
Thank you for considering this submission.

I support the Maules Creek Continuation Project as it will further support the economic growth of the Gunnedah Basin - of which I am a resident.

Maules Creek coal mine has been pivotal to local development and prosperity. It helped me stay local when the 2018 drought hit and all the farming jobs disappeared. Maules creek supports local businesses and continues to partner with local sporting groups within the communities that surround it.

Maules Creek mine injects major income into the local community and supports a large amount of local employment. It is a great benefit to the local area.

The Maules Creek Coal Mine plays a pivotal role in the socio-economic development of the local government area. The Maules Creek Coal Mine is a cornerstone of regional development. Its contributions to employment, infrastructure, education, and community wellbeing make it an essential asset for the long-term prosperity of the local government area.
The mine provides stable, long-term employment for residents, reducing reliance on transient or seasonal work. These permanent jobs offer competitive wages, career development, and training opportunities, contributing to workforce stability and improved living standards. y offering permanent employment and supporting community development, the mine helps retain population in the region and attracts new residents. This contributes to a more vibrant and sustainable community, reducing urban migration and strengthening regional identity. Maules Creek Coal Mine is committed to responsible mining practices, including environmental management and community engagement. Ongoing consultation with stakeholders ensures that operations align with local values and expectations, promoting transparency and trust.

Extending the life of Maules Creek Mine will provide ongoing employment for direct employees as well as for a large number of contractors and indirect support businesses in the region.

I am writing to express my support for the Maules Creek Continuation Project, which represents a vital opportunity for the economic growth, regional development and long-term prosperity for both our local community and the broader New South Wales economy. This project will deliver substantial and much needed employment opportunities, particularly for local residents. it will help retain skilled workers in the region and provide ongoing jobs that contribute to community stability and resilience. Beyond direct employment the project will stimulate local businesses, service providers and contractors helping bring people into the area and driving economic activity across the region. This kind of investment fosters long term sustainability and encourages population retention and growth in rural and regional towns.

Keeping the project going will support the spin off from local businesses & surrounding communities. It also provides the people the opportunity to have a good job in the mine & invest in other activities. This project supports our sports programs, local markets, multicultural activities, & takes pride in acknowledging the NAIDOC week & the owners of the land we are on.

I am a proud Whitehaven Coal employee. This project will allow operations at Maules Creek to continue until 2044, helping to:
• Secure the jobs of more than 900 local workers
• Provide ongoing economic benefits to businesses, families, and services across North West NSW
• Continue our investment in regional development, training, and community partnerships
I am proud of the role Maules Creek plays in supporting the Gunnedah region.

Maules Creek Mine has been a stable employer for myself and my family, who live locally. They are also a major contributor to numerous local projects helping to improve projects for local communities.

Banking an approval that won’t start until 2034
The NSW Government shouldn’t be approving a coal mine expansion now that will not even start until 2034 – it is locking in greenhouse gas emissions far into the future that we can’t afford.
This proposal is designed to ‘bank’ an approval now before climate laws are strengthened further in response to the rapidly escalating impacts of global warming in the form of more extreme weather events.

Swift Parrot and Leard State Forest
This project will clear over 500 hectares of key foraging habitat for the Swift Parrot, despite only 500 of them remaining in the wild, and will push the species closer to extinction. This is a key site for Swifties and must not be put at risk.
The project will also clear a further 428 hectares of the beautiful Leard State Forest, resulting in over 46% of the State Forest having been cleared in total for three coal mines. Our scarce and precious public lands should not be destroyed for coal mine profits.

Whitehaven is a serial offender
Whitehaven Coal has an appalling compliance record. In the last 10 years, Whitehaven has been found guilty or investigated for breaches of the law on 35 occasions, many of them including multiple offences. They have been prosecuted numerous times.

Water and communities at risk
This expansion poses a major risk to local water resources – it will suck down water beneath local creeks and the groundwater used by farmers to water their stock. Whitehaven has already been prosecuted for stealing water at the Maules Ck coal mine at the height of the last drought.
The expansion will harm the local farming community at Maules Ck and cause negative social impacts.
It will further empty the district of families through alienation of productive land, and create dangerous dust pollution and escalating noise for surrounding areas, whilst creating division and conflict. It will exacerbate the housing crisis in the region.

Turbocharging climate change
NSW communities are already experiencing devastating impacts from global warming but this project will produce an extra 238 million tonnes of total greenhouse gas pollution.
The direct emissions from the mining process itself, of over 3 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, will completely undermine NSW achieving climate targets.

I strenuously object to the future expansion of the Whitehaven Coal Maules Creek site. This project should be downsized in the interests of the local community and the world at large because it is contributing to both habitat destruction and global heating. Whitehaven Coal is not a good citizen; it has been found guilty of illegally taking a billion litres of water during the last drought to operate the Maules Ck coal mine. Mining in the region, which I know well, has taken a terrible toll on the environment and community. It needs to be stopped now.

While I am especially concerned about the damage this Whitehaven coal expansion will inflict on the very endangered Swift parrots in the vicinity, the benefits, including in the sense of economic choices for resource allocation elude me - there are other projects much more engaged with future developments and returns than staying with world wrecking coal.

Please do not extend the Whitehaven Mine. The area it is located is home to the Swift Parrot which needs the natural habitat for nesting, food and shelter. It is already endangered and further destruction of its habitat will lead to its extinction.
The mine is also extracting and using masses of ground water, to the detriment of farming and wildlife in the area. This should be carefully monitored currently and no further expansion of water extraction is required.
Please listen to and follow the wishes of those of us in the Australian community who care about preserving the environment and leaving thriving flora and fauna for future generations.
Thank you.

See attached document.

We can continue to receive economic and social benefits to Northwest NSW communities for decades to come.

This project is good for the community, it supplies jobs for locals and provides an opportunity for people to make above award wages

I do not support the extension to the mine until 2044. It is a crime. No Government should have the right to allow this 10 years ahead of when it might apply.
This mine has widespread opposition already over 10 years ago, so of course any extension now is totally unwanted and unwarranted.,
Whitehaven already has a number of breaches of the law and been found guilty. Dont open up more opportunities for this to happen.
Our environment is being destroyed at unacceptable rates by mining.
Our environment should not be destroyed to enable coal to be exported.
Our agricultural land is being taken forever for the wrong reasons. Farmers are losing their livelihoods and this is encouraging the IMPORT of FOOD to this country. We should be one of the LARGEST EXPORTERS of food. Growing as much of our own as we possibly can and not creating more pollution from flights coming into this country with food unnecessarily.
Our unique wildlife is being obliterated, destroyed and harmed by the continuous usurping of its territory, whether we are talking birds, insects, marsupials and the list can go on.
Governments need to encourage people back to the land to create communities, which is what FARMING did for years in this country. Coal mining will not do this in the future.
Quality and quantity of our best water will be compromised again. More good groundwater used for mining INSTEAD OF FOR FEEDING ANIMALS.
FINALLY - How can the Goverment reach its climate targets if they allow such a preposterous extension to proceed? they cant.
Global warming has created already so many negative impacts on us humans - do we need more? NO
PLEASE DO NOT PROCEED WITH THIS PROPOSAL.

I believe this proposal is designed to ‘bank’ an approval now before climate laws are strengthened further in response to the rapidly escalating impacts of global warming in the form of more extreme weather events. The NSW Government shouldn’t be approving a coal mine expansion now that will not even start until 2034 – it is locking in greenhouse gas emissions far into the future that we can’t afford.

I understand from the provided information that this project will clear over 500 hectares of key foraging habitat for the Swift Parrot, despite only around 500 of them remaining in the wild, and will push the species closer to extinction. This is a key site for Swifties and must not be put at risk.

I understand this proposed extension will also likely clear a further 428 hectares of the beautiful Leard State Forest, resulting in over 46% of the State Forest having been cleared in total for three coal mines. Our scarce and precious public lands should not be destroyed for coal mine profits.

I believe Whitehaven Coal has an appalling compliance record. I understand that in the last 10 years, Whitehaven has been found guilty or investigated for breaches of the law on 35 occasions, many of them including multiple offences.

I also believe this expansion poses a major risk to local water resources – it will suck down water beneath local creeks and the groundwater used by farmers to water their stock. I understand Whitehaven has already been prosecuted for stealing water at the Maules Ck coal mine at the height of the last drought.

I believe this expansion will harm the local farming community at Maules Ck and cause negative social impacts. These include further emptying the district of families through alienation of productive land, creating dangerous dust pollution and escalating noise for surrounding areas, whilst creating division and conflict. It will likely exacerbate the housing crisis in the region.

Lastly I believe NSW communities are already experiencing devastating impacts from global warming but this project will produce an extra 238 million tonnes of total greenhouse gas pollution. The direct emissions from the mining process itself, of over 3 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, will completely undermine NSW achieving its climate targets.

For all these reasons I object to the NSW Government approving this future continuation and expansion proposal.