Maules Creek Continuation Project

I view the project to keep the Maules Creek Coal Mine open as an important opportunity to support regional communities, maintain energy security, and ensure a stable economic transition. The mine provides hundreds of local jobs and contributes significantly to the economy, particularly in north-western New South Wales. By extending its operations within the existing footprint, the project can continue to deliver reliable, high-quality coal for essential uses like steelmaking and energy, while supporting local businesses and infrastructure.

Additionally, the proposal includes commitments to land rehabilitation, water management, and biodiversity offsets—showing a willingness to operate responsibly while meeting strict environmental standards. As long as these commitments are monitored and enforced, the project can continue to be a key part of the region’s economic stability during Australia’s broader shift toward a lower-emissions future.

In this context, keeping Maules Creek open represents a practical and balanced path forward—supporting jobs and industry today, while planning thoughtfully for tomorrow.

Maules Creek Mine employs a lot of people in my area. Its is the lifeblood of the North West.

My Family and many others rely on this project to survive. Especially in this current cost of living crisis. Things are hard and we need this employer in the area.

I object to the project. Please see the attached document.

I do not want this continuation to go ahead
The pollution from the existing mine is already worse than was planned
The company Whitehaven steal water from the creeks when in drought and take more than plan approved at other times
Whitehaven have destroyed too much habitat already
Endangered wildlife that rely on this once biodiverse hotspot now have very limited areas to nest roost and feed.
There is so much more written about the affects this mine has already had on the surrounding areas.
Please don't let this continuation be approved.

Ben Hennessy – Hennessy Real Estate, Gunnedah & Narrabri
As a local business owner and employer in the Gunnedah and Narrabri region, I’m writing in support of Whitehaven Coal’s application to continue operations at Maules Creek through to 2044.
Whitehaven is one of the major employers in our area. Their operations not only provide hundreds of direct jobs, but also support a wide network of local businesses and contractors, including many in industries like real estate, trades, and services. I see firsthand the positive flow-on effect it has across the community.
Beyond employment, Whitehaven continues to contribute meaningfully to the local economy through procurement and community support. Their investment in local schools, sporting groups, Indigenous engagement, and regional infrastructure hasn’t gone unnoticed.
I’ve also taken the time to read the Environmental Impact Statement and acknowledge the commitments being made around biodiversity, air and water quality, and cultural heritage. It’s important that these projects are managed responsibly—and from what I’ve seen, Whitehaven is committed to doing that.
Approving this continuation isn’t just about a mine, it’s about economic stability, regional resilience, and giving local families and businesses confidence in the future.
I support the MCCP and what it means for our region.

I frequently visit this Leard State Forest. I love its authenticity as the nature of Australia. I am devastated that the government may destroy the habitat of a species and lead to its extinction. That is a crime against nature.

To the people with the power to make changes that will benefit the next generation: 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. 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 profit. 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.
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. 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. Following the NSW Court of Appeal decision last week on the Mt Pleasant coal mine, Whitehaven Coal should be required to fully assess the impacts of the downstream emissions from the project on the local environment and community. This requires proper attribution science to be conducted. None of this has been done in the current EIS. The direct emissions from the mining process itself, of over 3 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, will completely undermine NSW achieving climate targets.

This submission should certainly not be approved as it wont even commence til 2034 locking in green house emissions when we cant even achieve a reduction currently. It is obvious that Whitehaven understands that as the climate becomes less predictable and catastrophic events such as fires and floods more common, climate laws will be a response and this approval may not be granted in the future. They will have legal right to compensation however so can continue to plan for future mining .
I believe that a further 500 hectares of forest habitat will be sacrificed. Presently one of the species that rely on Leard state forest are the critically endangered swift parrots. It is feared that further clearing will push this iconic and much loved species further to extinction. I do not believe it is worth destroying our precious remaining public lands for coal mining profits.
We know that Whitehaven Coal has an appalling compliance record. In the past 10 years they have been found guilty or investigated for multiple breaches of the law. They should not be trusted to protect our interests short or long termed.
The precious water resources in the area have already been compromised by the mine as evidenced in the last drought. Perhaps this is why Whitehaven have bought up numerous farms in the area further alienating the lands custodians at the same time compounding damage to the area through habitat destruction, pollution and water disruption. These ecological and social disruptions will have long lasting consequences for the local area and the emissions and pollution for Australia and the planet generally.
This project will produce and 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 ask you as someone who cares deeply about our country, its reputation , its health and thereby our health including that of all living species NOT to approve this mine extension.

Emssions need to be urgently and deeply cut so no new coal mining approvals should be issued and partlcularly not for projects that won't commence for a decade by which time we may well have hit 2C+ of global average warming. Key foraging habitat for the Swift parrot would be lost, a species that only has 500 birds left in the wild as well as bringing the total loss of Leard SF to nearly 50% due to mining. That's an absolutely unacceptable impact. Whitehaven has a track record of breaches of the law including stealing water for the existing Maules Ck mine during the last drought. Bad practice should not be rewarded. The proposed extension would blow NSW emissions targets out of the water and that's before considering end use emissions. This proposal should be refused in the interests of the local community, environment and our future.

I have been a local resident of the Gunnedah bason for over 50 years. Mining has had a deep history in the roots of the local area, and has brought jobs and funding to the communities within.
Whitehaven in particular has shown strong support for local communities, investing millions of dollars in local sponsorships and community projects.
This project will not only benefit local communities but the state as a whole through significant taxes and royalties.
I fully support the project and the continued operations which will support local jobs and procurement, and ongoing contribution to he economic resilience of the Northwest NSW.

This big coal mine is a disaster for the local eco system, and will contribute to the extinction of the Swift parrot. This calculation in favour of big profits for a few at the expense of our shared planet and the demise of nature is an immoral disgrace.

Whitehaven coal and coal mining in general have not been kind to our region and community and if we really want to act against climate change we need to at least stop these continuations.

I strongly object to the expansion of the Maules Creek coal mine. Already, the project has created massive environmental impacts not only to local ecosystems from its creation and associated disturbance but to local communities via the spread of mine dust. Expanding this mine and extending its lifespan only serves to benefit Whitehaven and its shareholders whilst exacerbating these impacts longer-term. Our family work in the Narrabri area including around the mine, for the sake of the local community who oppose it, do not allow this to proceed.

Submission: Opposition to the Whitehaven Coal Mine Expansion

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to express my deep and unequivocal opposition to the proposed expansion of the Whitehaven coal mine—a project that would not commence until 2034, yet is seeking approval now. This proposal is not just short-sighted—it is dangerously irresponsible.

We are living in a time when the climate crisis is no longer a distant threat. It is here. It is real. And it is devastating lives and ecosystems across New South Wales and the globe. Bushfires, floods, droughts—our communities are enduring the rising cost of inaction. And yet, this project proposes to lock in hundreds of millions of tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions for decades to come. How can we, in good conscience, allow such a decision to be made in 2025?

Approving this expansion now is not just about coal—it is about choosing profit over people. It is about banking approval before laws catch up to science and morality. That is not governance. That is evasion.

This mine will destroy over 500 hectares of critical habitat for the endangered Swift Parrot. With only around 500 of these remarkable birds left in the wild, every tree matters. Every hectare matters. What does it say about us, about our values, if we knowingly accelerate the extinction of a species so rare, so vulnerable, and so beautiful?

And what of the Leard State Forest—public land that belongs to us all? Already scarred by mining, this forest will be pushed past its tipping point if this expansion proceeds. Over 46% of it gone—for coal. For emissions. For destruction that cannot be undone.

Whitehaven Coal has repeatedly shown that it cannot be trusted to operate responsibly. With over 35 breaches or investigations in the past decade, including theft of water during a crippling drought, why should we expect anything different now?

The expansion also threatens vital water resources that local farmers depend on. It will harm communities, degrade farmland, increase dust and noise pollution, and push more families from the land. It will deepen the housing crisis and pit neighbour against neighbour.

And above all, this project turbocharges climate change. An extra 238 million tonnes of emissions. Over 3 million tonnes from the mining process alone. This is a direct assault on NSW’s climate targets, on our credibility, and on our children's future.

We cannot eat coal. We cannot drink coal. We cannot breathe it.

This is not just a policy decision—it is a moral one. Our children will ask us what we did when we had the chance to act. Please, let us be able to say: we chose the forest over the furnace. We chose the parrot over profit. We chose to act, not delay.

Reject this expansion. Protect our forests, our climate, our communities, and our future.

Sincerely,
Tam Morris

I’m writing to support the extension of the Maules Creek Mine. The mine has been a major contributor to jobs and economic stability in our region, and continuing operations will ensure long-term employment for hundreds of local workers and contractors.

Beyond just jobs, the mine plays a vital role in supporting local businesses, training opportunities, and infrastructure development. Communities like Narrabri, Boggabri and Gunnedah rely on this kind of investment to keep growing and to maintain services and facilities that benefit everyone.

Whitehaven has consistently shown a strong commitment to working with the local community, and this project gives us a chance to continue that partnership well into the future.

I strongly support the continuation project and the benefits it brings to our region.

I oppose this project for many reasons. The first is because of the effect of coal on global warming. If we are to meet our target according to the Paris agreement, we cannot approve any "continuation", or expansion of coal mining or any new mines. Secondly is the issue of water. This company has completely ignored its original approval conditions and instead of limiting production to the amount of water it was allocated has increased its water licences (often outbidding local farmers) and increased production exponentially. The final issue is the land clearing in the area - which is important habitat for several endangered species including the swift parrot (of which there may be only 600 left). We cannot let this happen to this beautiful species. Coal is on its way out - let's not let it take our precious bush and native species with it......

I object to the expansion of Whitehaven Coal's Maules Creek mine, citing concerns about environmental damage and community impact. I highlight issues like the mine's proximity to Maules Creek village and the Leard State Forest, potential water pollution, and the mine's contribution to climate change. You might notice that Whitehaven's track record demonstrates a disregard for environmental regulations and community well-being.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
Expansion Plans:
Whitehaven is seeking to expand the Maules Creek mine, potentially extending its operational life until 2043 and bringing it closer to the village and the Leard State Forest.
Environmental Concerns:
The mine's impact on the Leard State Forest, potential water pollution, and its contribution to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions. The area is home and habatit to many threatened, endangered and critically endangered species including migratory habatit and food source for the Swift Parrot.
Community Impact:
Community concern about the mine's proximity to Maules Creek village, particularly a local school, and the potential disruption to the community.
Whitehaven's Track Record:
Agian I wish to highlight what is a repeated pattern of environmental violations by Whitehaven at Maules Creek, including alleged water theft and breaches of noise and water management conditions.
Legal Action:
The Environmental Defenders Office (EDO), on behalf of Lock the Gate, has been involved in legal action against Whitehaven regarding water management practices at the mine.
Call for Action:
I call for a halt to the mine's expansion and for a review of the approvals process, arguing that the mine's impacts are not adequately considered.

- This is a Project that won't start for upwards of 10yrs, so approval should not be given now.
- The project will clear over 500 hectares of key foraging habitat for the Swift Parrot, despite only 500 of them remaining in the wild.
- The project risks polluting ground water
- The immpacts on climate change must be considered.

Dear NSW Govt
I am objecting to this Continuation Project.

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 Swift Parrot and must not be put at risk.

The NSW Government should NOT 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.

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 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.

The expansion presents 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.

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.

For these many reasons I ask the NSW Govt to not approve the continuation of Maules Creek.

sincerely