Maules Creek Continuation Project

Keeping jobs local and boosting economy in surrounding local towns

It’s imperative that all our wildlife is safe from mining and agriculture and in particular we must save the Swifties Parrot.
Please do not extend the Maules Creek coal mine for any length of time. We can’t keep destroying these parrot’s habitat. You can’t expect these precious parrots to just move on, this is their habitat and without the correct foods being made available they will perish.

With less than 500 swift parrots left in the wild and 20 of these parrots found in the area of Maules Creek, it would be irresponsible of the government to accept the continuation of this mine. As more and more animals become extinct, it’s time for us to stop destroying this precious planet and start being more sustainable and a coal mine is not the appropriate.

Maules creek provides jobs for over 900 people and plays an important role to the economy in NSW north west

Whitehaven contributes over $1.5 billion in taxes and royalties. Whitehaven contributes millions to local communities. Whitehaven brings skilled workers to the region and economic value that benefits the whole community of multiple surrounding towns.

Save the Swifties. I'm not sure that I could make it any clearer. Madness seems to fly in the face of common sense.

Approving expansion of the coal risks the irrevesible loss of an endemic bird species for what is short term gain. The excelerating adoption of renewble by Australians energy consumers clearly demonstrates that domestic demand for coal will decline.
Unfortunately, demand for export coal will continue but must we feed this market with our native wildlife. PLEASE LOOK AT THE LONGER TERM ENERGY MARKET before obliterating what cannot ever be replaced.

I object to this mine expandingas it apparentlywill destroy the habitat of the Swift Parrots. Over the last century we have caused the decline of so many native animals and birds so it is time to save one species by not expanding this mine. I am not against coal mining .

I should not have to be writing a submission such as this: we are our time in our human history when we cannot but help know that continued damage of the environment plus the use of fossil fuels is detrimental to the future of the planet.
For a government to be giving approval a mining project that will not start until 2034 seems completely illogical; this approval would be locking in ongoing destruction until 2044.
We are at a tipping point in human history When environmental destruction combined with fossil fuel use will lead us to a tipping point from which we will not be able to return within our lifetimes the tipping point likely create a cascade of extinctions human beings birds animals insects fish all life.
The NSW Goverment, has a job, like all governments to care for the sacred, to step in and prevent such trigger points arising. While this behaviour is in reality non existent (the saving of the Franklin River an exception). I write in the hope that I could see it again in my lifetime and that it could arise in NSW.
The expansion of this mine will cause the clearing of 500 hectares of key foraging habitat for swift parrots, it will also cause the clearing of 428 hectares of Leard State Forest which undoubtedly is home to thousands of creatures. Swift parrots are an endangered species, but not but it should not matter whether a species is endangered or not, their homes should not be destroyed.
To clear over 46% of the Leard State Forest to allow for coal mines to extend is unfathomable, it is basically allowing nature to be destroyed to allow for ongoing profit.
To add to the risk of this proposal Whitehaven Coal has an appalling compliance record. They have been found guilty of numerous breaches on 35 occasions and they have been prosecuted numerous times. They cannot be trusted to care for the environment if in fact there are any restrictions put in place.
This project puts at risk the local community and its water supplies; Whitehaven has already been prosecuted for stealing water at the Maules Creek coal mine. And it is known that underground coal mines suck water from beneath local creeks and groundwater that is used to supply water to farmers and wildlife.
The impact on a changing climate from both the emissions from the mine itself, the extra coal that will be dug from the ground and burned for energy in tandem with the destruction of natural habitats ­—which are climate regulating systems— this proposal is a disaster.
Whitehaven Coal must be required to fully assess the impacts of downstream emissions from this project on the local environment and the community. Proper attribution science must be applied. None of this has been done in the current EIS.
Permission for this expansion should not be given.

Maules Creek Coal has been a key part of the community for over a decade, providing stable, long-term employment for local workers and making substantial financial contributions through taxes, royalties, procurement from local suppliers, and ongoing community support initiatives. The operation has consistently demonstrated a good track record of compliance with its regulatory obligations, while maintaining a commitment to safe and sustainable mining practices. Failing to approve the Maules Creek Continuation Project would represent a significant setback; not only for the workforce and their families, but also for the broader regional economy and the revenue streams that support both state and federal governments.

Maules creek mine has been my employer for 10 years.
I was born in Gunnedah and I am a 2nd generation coal miner. Without the employment opportunities this mine has provided both my partner and I, I have little doubt we would have had to relocate to a different town/city to support our young family.
We have made significant financial commitments to this town with the building of our home, and we have strong and warranted concerns for the value of our home should the level of employment the mine provides disappear.
Gunnedah has long been a mining town, and really is a shining light amongst many other country towns that have slowly drifted downwards due to people needing to move closer to the cities for gainful employment.
With the extension of the life of this mine, it would give us great comfort in knowing we have a job for the remainder of our working lives.


Regards,

Banking an approval that won’t start until 2034 when we have a committment to Net Zero by 2035, apart from the issues that might affect the habitat of the Swift Parrot, it would seem to be further confirmation, that this project is even being considered, that we will not avert dangerous climate change in the time we have left. Global emissions are rising and native habitat/vegetation clearing is the major threat to threatened species. It's becoming increasingly clear that it is also humans that may well become the threatened species of the near future.

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.
Swifties 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.

As a concerned citizen and a retired Science teacher, I would like to say I do not support the further expansion of the Maules Creek Continuation Project. 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. They are not a company to trust destroying State Forests and following the guidelines.
It is way too early to provide further extensions to this coal mine this far in advance. The decision should be left for at least another 5 years to see what the world will be doing then as the energy market is changing rapidly. This will help Whitehaven not to have a White Elephant of an asset.
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.
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.
We need to use our valuable land for farming not for mining company profits. The financial benefits for NSW from this coal mine are so small to be ludicris!
Please do not give the go ahead for this project at this time.
Respectfully,
Dennis Nickell

Dear Assessor,

We cannot afford to extend this mine for 10 more years. The emissions it will produce will make climate change more extreme. What is the point of the NSW and Federal Governments setting net zero targets and not honouring them?

We also can't afford loss of biodiversity such as the Swift Parrot, and other species and ecosystems that live within Leard State Forest.

I strongly oppose the Maule Creek Continuation Project.

I oppose the Maules Ck Coal Mine Continuation Project because
• in order to prevent catastrophic climate change, we must cease new coal mining and wind down the production of existing mining. Not expand production. The Maules Ck Coal Mine Continuation is estimated to create an extra 238 million tonnes of total greenhouse gas pollution.
• the project will clear almost 1000 hectares, including State Forest and habitat supporting the endangered Swifts Parrot.
• Whitehaven Coal has been prosecuted for breach of the law many times, including for water theft, and is not a reputable company. It should not be rewarded by an expansion which poses a threat to nature and the community.
• The expansion is a threat to local water levels.

I enjoy working here, good team good culture

I support the Maules Creek Continuation Project.
As an employee at Whitehaven Maules Creek and local community member of Narrabri, i support what this continuation project will bring to the local community.

Our planet is overheating. We have passed the 1.5 degree temperature increase that would keep us safe. We are now entering dangerous territory as communities all around the world are experiencing as a result of freak extreme weather events. But we have been told by scientists for decades that this would be the new normal.
This means that tens of thousands of Pacific and Torres Strait islanders will become homeless as a result of rising sea levels. Extreme droughts will wipe out crops and lead to devastating loss of wildlife and domestic animals.
Major aquatic marine life die outs, like we are seeing in South Australia will become regular, just as coral bleaching has become.

This is what continuing to dig up and export coal means. This proposal means another 117 million tonnes of coal for export.
This impact should be considered cumulatively with all the other fossil fuel projects that have been approved. It is absurd that they are considered individually and the cumulative impacts are not tallied up.
The Leard forest was an endangered ecological community. Less than 1% of the original extent of that forest community remained at the time the mine was approved. The offsets were a sham. Not like for like, not implemented.
Whitehaven Coal has shown itself to be a serial offended with disregard for the law and the requirements of its conditions of approval. Already this mine is to continue for 9 more years. It is totally premature to extend approval and agree to an expansion that will still see coal being dug up in 2044.
It makes the pledges made by NSW and Commonwealth governments to reduce emissions and take serious action on climate change, meaningless.
The mine will destroy Swift Parrot habitat, but hey, what's the extinction of a parrot worth when there's profits to be made for shareholders and damn the price.
The mine will also use significant amounts of water and damage groundwater resources. This will make agriculture in the surrounding lands unviable. Who will pay for that?
And then the mine is decommissioned, who will pay for that? Will it be like Chevron, where the news carried today that most of the money Chevron paid for its gas extraction royalties will now be spent on decommissioning the gas wells.
This state/country seems to be run by some two bit outfit incapable of operating in the long term interest of the people at great cost to the natural assets on which we all ultimately depend.

In support of the continuation of maules creek

Please save our resources for our children and their future children. This project is designed for profits, not communities and people’s wellbeing. It is short term gain for longer term catastrophes. It’s unstrategic for our future populations and farming.
As you know, 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. This
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 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. Itwill 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.
Thank you for considering alternatives that protect our environment for generations and your children’s future.