Maules Creek Continuation Project

It should not go ahead

Local working at maules Creek coal

Dear NSW Government
I am strongly opposed to the Maules Creek Continuation Project. The project is applying for a continuance that will not become effective until 2034 and plans to operate to 2044. With global demand for coal projected to decrease, approving a project this far into the future is unjustified. Moreover, as this will increase carbon emissions, the approval will be harmful for the planet. The negative impacts on the community, the erosion of environmental values, the risk to local water resources, the destruction of Leard State Forest, along with further struggles for critically endangered birds like the Regent Honeyeater, Superb Parrot and Swift Parrot are all important considerations. Please find ATTACHED my formal submission to substantiate my objection.
Martin Derby

The Maules Creek Continuation Project approval means a lot to the Narrabri Shire.
Importantly, it adds to building and retaining our region in a diverse economy which includes agriculture - cotton, wheat (grain), fresh food, cattle, sheep etc., engineering and supplies, retail and small businesses, housing and schools, increased medical and hospital facilities and most importantly employment and careers. "We need to be flexible, but to do it the correct and sustainable way".

I am writing to urge that Whitehaven Coal’s application to extend the life of its Maules Creek coal mine for 10 years and to expand the mine into Leard State Forest be rejected.

I am a bird lover and I’m very concerned about the threat that Whitehaven’s application poses to the critically endangered Swift Parrot. There are only 500 of this remarkable species left in the wild. In the last few years at least 20 Swift Parrots have been recorded feeding on White Box blossoms in Leard State Forest having flown all the way from Tasmania. It would be an act of environmental vandalism to destroy more habitat in this forest, taking the proportion destroyed to almost half the original amount. It would push the Swift Parrot closer to extinction.

Public lands such as state forests must not be destroyed for private profit. This has been allowed to happen on too many occasions in the past, and it must stop.

Whitehaven’s extended and expanded mine would produce an extra 238 million tonnes of total greenhouse gas emissions. This is unconscionable given the devastating impacts of climate change that NSW, Australia and indeed numerous places around the globe are already experiencing. And the 3 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions that will result directly from the mining process itself will undermine NSW’s climate targets.

I have a 20-month-old granddaughter and I am terrified of the kind of world she will live in by the end of this century if we continue to enable increasing amounts of greenhouse gas emissions.

It is ludicrous that Whitehaven is applying for an extension of the coal mine which would not apply until 2034. The company is undoubtedly aiming to lock in the extension while our national environment laws ignore the climate impacts of projects. They know that if they wait until say 2030 to apply for an extension, it will be much more difficult if not impossible to get approval because by then national environment laws will almost certainly have been strengthened. What Whitehaven is seeking to do is to gain the equivalent of a ‘Zombie DA’.

Whitehaven’s application to expand their mine poses a major risk to local water resources. It will suck down water beneath local creeks and also the groundwater used by farmers to water their stock.

Whitehaven Coal is a very poor corporate citizen. It has an appalling compliance record. In the last 10 years, it has been found guilty or has been investigated for breaches of the law on 35 occasions, many of them including multiple offences. They have been prosecuted numerous times including for stealing water at the Maules Creek coal mine at the height of the last drought.

A corporation like Whitehaven should not be given the opportunity to continue to cause damage to the climate, animal and plant species, farmland, water supplies, and the local community. Its application to extend and expand its Maules Creek coal mine must be rejected.

As an ecologist who was engaged to conduct surveys for Swift Parrots in the Leard in 2024, I can confirm that the majority of the area proposed for clearing to expand the Maules Creek Coal mine (MCCM) is excellent White Box foraging habitat for Swift Parrots and numerous other federally listed woodland birds. The National Recovery Plan for the Swift Parrot (Australian Government 2024) defines foraging habitat critical to the survival for the Swift Parrot on the Australian mainland as "All preferred foraging species within known and likely foraging habitat on the mainland including… White Box (E. albens)" (Australian Government 2024, pg. 15) before outlining that "Whenever possible, habitat critical to the survival of the Swift Parrot should not be destroyed" (Australian Government 2024, pg. 15). Given the Leard State Forest contains extensive stands dominated by large White Box that are known foraging habitat for Swift Parrots, the Leard must be considered habitat critical to the survival for the Swift Parrot. Protecting areas deemed habitat critical to survival from developments (e.g. mining activity) is identified in the National Recovery Plan for the Swift Parrot (Australian Government 2024) as a Priority One (highest priority) action to ensure the conservation of the species. Expanding the Maules Creek Coal Mine would be completely inconsistent with the aims and objectives of the species National Recovery Plan.

Whitehaven Coal's (2015) Maules Creek Coal Mine Threatened Fauna Implementation Plan recognises that a key threat to rehabilitation actions or biodiversity offsets for Swift Parrots is the "time lapse required to reach appropriate successional stage in restoration and/or rehabilitation" (Whitehaven Coal 2015, pg. 24). Under the National Recovery Plan for the Swift Parrot (Australian Government 2024) "if avoidance or mitigation [for a project] has been found to be impossible, any developments that proceeded in areas of ‘habitat critical to survival’ [must] have provided offsets compliant with the approved offset regulations and calculators and provided measurable benefits to the Swift Parrot population in line with strategies outlined in this recovery plan" (Australian Government 2024, pg. 25). Given the rapid population decline of Swift Parrots, it appears unlikely Whitehaven Coal will be able to provide suitable offsets for clearing known Swift Parrot habitat that will have measurable benefits to Swift Parrots within the extremely short time frame required to reverse the extinction trajectory of this critically endangered species.
Furthermore, given Australia's commitment under the Paris Agreement in 2015 to substantially reduce global greenhouse gas emissions to hold global temperature increase to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to limit it to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, it is increasingly difficult to argue that in 2025 (ten years later) avoiding the expansion of a thermal coal mine such as MCCM is impossible (UN 2024).

REFERENCES
Australian Government (2024) National Recovery Plan for the Swift Parrot Lathamus discolor.

Whitehaven Coal (2015) Maules Creek Coal Mine - Threatened Fauna Implementation Plan, Available from: https://whitehavencoal.com.au/Documentations/Maules%20Creek%20Mine/Environmental%20Management,%20Monitoring%20&%20Compliance/Environmental%20Management%20Plans,%20Strategies%20and%20Programs/MCC-Threatened%20Fauna%20Implementation%20Plan.pdf?v=1695726604.

UN (2024) The Paris Agreement, Available from: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/paris-agreement.

I am old now and have worked across a number of areas and seen much in my life. As an aging person, I am more vulnerable to things like rising heat waves and with less strength to deal with disasters and recovery. I have grandchildren for whom I wish the natural world, experiences and opportunities, peace and plenty that have been available in my lifetime.

My early life was spent in regional communities in the Central West of NSW where weather, available water resources and the quality of land were a subject of daily relevance and not merely polite conversation. Now we are experiencing climate change and extreme weather events that disrupt all expectations and planning.

Other submissions raising objections will have provided more detail on the issues set out below.

This application should not be allowed. To continue mining coal long into the future for the profit of a company that has been found to have so little respect for our communities that it used water, to which it had no right, during a drought, is not acceptable. License conditions and regulation will not be enough as the same company has a long list of non-compliance with requirements. Meanwhile coal extraction and use will continue to fuel climate change and other adverse consequences.

The argument is always that such an industry will bring prosperity and opportunity to a region. That benefit may be of short duration and may end suddenly leaving the community hollowed out, other more sustainable businesses having moved away because of the mining. Meanwhile local people might find themselves priced out of the community where they have family.

Meanwhile that coal mining, in production and use, will emit greenhouse gases that will only increase climate change and its associated severe climate events. The costs and damage from extreme weather events, however, are left to individuals and governments to bear, rebuild, and adapt to, not the mining company.

Coal mining also requires considerable amounts of water in an area where above ground water is already over allocated and aquifers are vulnerable to overuse and contamination.

A search of google maps for the Leard Forest shows there has obviously been significant intrusion by mining already into that reserve. Reserves provide a home to increasingly endangered and vulnerable species. To further put pressure on the reserve and its edges is not acceptable in the circumstances.

Restoration of the site does not mean that it will be what it was. Identified features are not replaced as such, only a manufactured topography. If mining voids are left to fill with water, that water will likely not reach above ground flows. It may seep into aquifers but in in doing so, might contaminate those aquifers.

There are unacceptable risks to farming land, water resources, cultural relationships for First Nations people, biodiversity including endangered species, directly from the mining. On top of that it are the risks from climate change, risks that are very real and which we see already occurring, in the amount of social, human, environment and economic damage resulting from extreme weather events and shifting climate patterns.

The continuation of the Whitehaven Maules Creek Coal Mine is essential for the ongoing growth and prosperity of the Gunnedah, Boggabri and Narrabri regions in the North West of NSW and for the continued job security of the approximate 950 people that are directly employed at this important project that live up and down the Eastern Seaboard of Australia. The financial benefit to the Government, the businesses that are contracted to the operation, and the businesses that the 950 employees patronise is almost immeasurable over the next fifteen years if the extension is granted by the Government.

I support the Maules Creek Continuation Project because it brings significant benefits to our community, including:
* Job creation: The project will generate employment opportunities for local residents, supporting families and boosting the regional economy.
* Support for local suppliers: Local contractors and suppliers will benefit from increased demand, strengthening the broader business ecosystem.
* Economic growth: Increased activity in the mining sector will stimulate local businesses and services, contributing to the town’s financial stability.
*Skills development: The project offers opportunities for training and upskilling, helping locals build careers in mining and related fields.
* Opportunity for diversity and women to gain employment in the mining industry
* Population retention and growth: Employment opportunities help retain residents and attract new families to the area, supporting schools, healthcare, and other essential services.

I support the maules creek continuation project

Yes, hi, I notice that my groups submission is labelled my name. I would like that redacted please. I didn't see any tick-box where I could opt in- or out of disclosure. Does every group have a personal name attached to it nowdays ? Obviously I have to submit now but would like this resolved before any publication.

As a licensed Wildlife carer in the North West NSW, I am absolutely opposed to the expansion of Maules Creek Coal Mine giving them another 10 years of habitat destruction for our Critically Endangered Swift Parrot species, along with the many species of Microbats that call the Pilliga their home. The NSW government is failing in their duty in protecting these Native Critically Endangered species along with the vital areas they call their home range.
Do not give Maules Creek Coal Mines another 10 year license to expand, this will be detrimental to everything we hold dear.
In the past Whitehaven have been found guilty of taking a billion litres of illegal water, in a drought mind you. This company can not be trusted to not do this again. This valley deserves a break from Coal mines & their destructive ways on our now fractured forests & water ways.
This is an abomination that the government is even considering this in our NOW present & Extreme Weather Events.

This development will continue to provide essential jobs to local people.

I believe the continuation of MCC will provide future job opportunities for locals.

To whom it may concern
I am the Manager of Namoi Valley Bricks. We manufacture bricks and paver in Gunnedah and use Whitehaven coal to fire these products. For us a strong coal producer in the Gunnedah is extremely important to our operation and the people we employ. Whitehaven has become a very important part of our business community, the income that is generated from the coal industry is very important to our local economy. Having the approval successful will give confidence within our community to continue to invest into our community. Whitehaven contributed $1.5 Billion in royalties in 2024; this revenue is vital to the NSW state revenue and supports the major infrastructure projects that the community requires to function as a modern economy. For these reasons I give my full support to this extension request so we all can enjoy the wealth of the rescores industry.
Regards Michael Broekman General Manager Namoi Valley Bricks.

I support the continuation of the Maules Creek mining project.

This project will secure jobs and provide coal to power the region and beyond.

I support the project as it will provide 900+ jobs for the region.

Morgan Engineering, along with many other local businesses, will benefit greatly from the continuation of operations at Maules Creek.

We currently employ over 130 people across the Hunter and Gunnedah regions. Many of these employees have joined us since we established our Gunnedah branch, where opportunities such as those provided by Maules Creek have been a key driver of growth and employment.

Since expanding into the Gunnedah area, we have been able to invest locally by renting two duplexes, two houses, as well as an industrial office and shed. This growth has contributed directly to the local economy. In addition, we proudly support local initiatives such as primary schools and the Gunnedah Times and are now expanding our support to include local sporting clubs and charities. None of this would have been possible without the opportunities created by Maules Creek and their ongoing commitment to the region.

We are passionate about continuing to grow our company and creating a positive flow-on effect that benefits Gunnedah and surrounding areas.

Both personally and on behalf of Morgan Engineering, I would like to express our strong support for Maules Creek and acknowledge the significant, positive impact they have on the community. Their success benefits everyone, and we wish them every success in their application.

Thank you.

OPPOSE