Maules Creek Continuation Project

Objection to Maule’s Creek continuation project

I am an individual with mounting concern that the NSW State Government and Australian Federal Government are only giving lip-service to environmental protection and reducing carbon emissions to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Continuing to approve new coal mines and expansions of existing mines, are at odds with the global efforts towards decarbonisation and the Government’s own plan to become a ‘renewable energy superpower”.
Calling Maule’s Creek a ‘continuation’ is deceiving, in reality it is an expansion of mining operations.
This expansion will have disastrous consequences for the ecological communities in the Leard Forest. Box-Gum woodland is extremely rare and essential habitat for many rare and endangered species.
Whitehaven Coal has faced numerous legal actions in relation to environmental breaches at its NSW coal mines. It has demonstrated a pattern of disregard for environmental regulations and a failure to adequately address the impacts of its operations.
Continued destruction and fragmentation of Australia’s unique environment is irresponsible. Governments have a social responsibility to secure biodiversity for future generations.
The Maule’s Creek Coal Mine expansion should be rejected on the grounds of its significant and unnecessary climate change impacts and the threat of ecosystem collapse it imposes on the Leard State Forest.
Thank you for the opportunity to make a submission.
Regards
Lee Albert

I support the business and its decision to apply for an extension as Whitehaven provides hundreds of jobs for the local community and invest a lot of money into the local economy

I strongly support the continuation of the Maules Creek Coal Mine. It is a vital source of employment and economic activity for our region, directly supporting the livelihoods of people in Narrabri, Boggabri, and Gunnedah. Without the jobs and income it provides, these towns would face serious economic hardship and population decline. The mine underpins local businesses and services, and its continuation is essential to maintaining the strength and stability of our community.

I write in support of the Maules Creek Mine Continuation Project.
Extending operations to 2044 will safeguard hundreds of local jobs and increase the workforce to an average of 940 people, thus supporting families, businesses, and economic stability across North West NSW.
Whitehaven has a proven track record of investing in local communities, with millions contributed to education, health, environment, and regional development. Their FY24 contribution of over $1.5 billion in taxes and royalties underscores the importance of projects like this to the broader economy.
The project proposes no increase in rail volumes and makes use of existing infrastructure. The EIS outlines clear environmental protections, reflecting a responsible and low-impact approach to continuation.
This project delivers strong social, economic, and environmental outcomes. I fully support its approval.

This submission is made on behalf of the Sydney Knitting Nannas and Friends. We are a group of older community members who advocate to save the land, air and water for future generations. We are connected to other Knitting Nanna groups, both rural and urban. We have a deep commitment to supporting all measures to address the critical phenomenon effecting our own and future generations: climate change.
We object to the Maules Creek Continuation Project on climate change, biodiversity, water, food security and social disruption grounds.
We object to the fact that this Project is seeking approval for many years into the future. Whitehaven wants to ‘bank’ an approval now before climate laws are strengthened. Climate laws must be strengthened if NSW is not to succumb to the awful effects of drought, floods, cyclones & other extreme weather events that we are already experiencing. The greenhouse gas production associated with this project will be excessive.
Biodiversity, as exemplified by the delightful Swift Parrot, is key to the survival of the human species. Every extinction of a species tears a hole in the web of life that we depend on for our existence. This project threatens the existence of the Swift Parrot whose numbers are down to the low hundreds. The Leard Forest, which has been torn apart by Whitehaven mines for many years, is key to the survival of the Swift Parrot. The Maules Creek Mine should not be allowed to proceed with its plans to reduce a wildlife corridor within the forest to a mere 500 metres, subject to the noise, dust and blast vibrations of two massive nearby mines.
Water, as we know, is key to all life on Earth. Whitehaven is supposed to reduce its production of coal if water supplies in the district are threatened by drought. It does not do this. Instead, it competes with local farms for scarce water in drought times, and, having deeper pockets, wins. It has also been convicted of the horrible crime of water theft during times of drought.
The Knitting Nannas first started objecting to the Whitehaven mines 11 years ago when some of us came up to the area to try to protect the Leard forest and to combat climate change. At that time we became aware of the dreadfully disruptive effects of the mines on the social fabric of the area. The buy-out of farms by the mines depleted the area of population, causing collapse of businesses, schools, sporting clubs and other parts of the social fabric. Now, drying-up of bores, and dust, noise and light pollution mean families decide not to continue farming into the next generation. We are very worried about what this will mean for NSW’s food security.
We urge this Government to consider the long-term wellbeing of NSW and to refuse to approve this Project.

The members of Dubbo Environment Group Inc. have for 5 years been active in the advocacy for a future sustainable environment and the protection of our planet from Climate Change. We have held protests, visited local members, written submissions and posted Facebook evidence on gas fracking at Narrabri, floodplain harvesting and over-allocation of irrigation water affecting our MDB river health, Climate Change policies and clearing of our forests.
Our major project, the Dubbo Indian Myna Control Program has a membership of 3.6K on Facebook and is the only group trying to eradicate the pest bird from the CW of NSW. After 3.5 years we have taken 6500 mynas out of the environment, giving our native birds, severely affected by loss of habitat already, a fighting chance.
The Maules Creek Continuation Project, we view with great dismay. How, exactly, does Australia reduce its emissions if fossil fuels continue to be unearthed? 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 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.
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.
Dubbo Environment Group sincerely asks that this project not be accepted.

I write to express my strong support for the Maules Creek Coal Continuation Project (SSD-10378), as a local Gunnedah Resident, former Gunnedah Shire Councillor and as CEO of Stripes Group—a diversified group of businesses which has growth from the Gunnedah Coalfields to service clients right across regional Australia.

Local Jobs, Local Business, Local Future
The Maules Creek Mine is a cornerstone of the regional economy. It directly supports approximately 940 jobs—most of them filled by local people, all of them positively impacting the local economy —and drives over $160 million in annual wages and $200 million in procurement through regional businesses. At Stripes Group, we see this impact firsthand. The continuation of this mine supports stable demand for our industrial supplies, engineering services, and civil construction capability, helping us to invest, employ, and grow locally.

Beyond our own business, the mine sustains numerous supply chains, contractors, small businesses, and service providers across northwest NSW. In a region where meaningful, well-paid employment can be hard-won, Maules Creek delivers enduring opportunity for working families.

The currently vibrant and thriving economy and social fabric of the New England Northwest region would suffer significantly if the Maules Creek project does not extend.

Stable Operations, Strong Oversight
Importantly, the continuation proposal does not expand the mine’s footprint. It enables the mine to continue operating within its existing disturbance area until 2044 at its approved production rate. The proposal comes with robust environmental commitments including:
Over 2,300 hectares of native woodland restoration, aligned with biodiversity objectives.\
Progressive rehabilitation, with over 300 hectares already underway.
Water efficiency initiatives such as the inter-mine water pipeline, which will reduce external sourcing and improve environmental outcomes.

In short, this is a continuation of a well-regulated, carefully managed operation that already demonstrates high standards of environmental and community performance.

Energy and Strategic Supply
Australia plays an important role in supplying high-quality coal for critical industries overseas, especially steel production and transitional power generation. Maules Creek contributes to global supply chains in a way that is responsible, reliable, and essential. By supporting this continuation, we help to ensure Australia remains a trusted trade partner and avoid unintended consequences from supply disruption.

Community and Accountability
Whitehaven Coal continues to engage constructively with community stakeholders, including local landholders, First Nations groups, and regional businesses. The current public exhibition process, along with state and federal planning oversight, ensures transparency and rigour.

Stripes Group supports continued investment and development in this region—but only where it is done well, and with respect for community, country, and future generations. The Maules Creek Continuation Project meets that test.

Conclusion
This is a project that delivers clear, measurable, and sustained benefits to our regional economy. It supports secure employment, stimulates regional industry, and continues an operation that is well understood, well managed, and well integrated into the community fabric.

On behalf of Stripes Group, I strongly support the approval of the Maules Creek Coal Continuation Project.

Yours sincerely,
Murray O’Keefe
Chief Executive Officer
Stripes Group

The continuing of mining coal from the maules creek coal mine is a great thing for the community. The influx of dollars into the town from Whitehaven as well as the dollars spent by staff moving to the area is building Gunnedah up and up to become a town more people want to live in. Not just for Gunnedah but for all towns in the region they all feel the reaches of this mine as it is the biggest in the basin

Please accept this as my submission in opposition to the Maules Creek coal mine near Narrabri NSW.

In 2015 when this mine first started there was widespread opposition from people across NSW, also many objections from the local farming community and Gomeroi custodians. I stand in solidarity with this community, who are against this mine.

The mine has been approved to continue until December 2034, but is now seeking approval to expand and extend the approval for another 10 years until 2044. This expansion will mine another 117 million tonnes of coal for export. This will be disastrous for our climate and will destroy the Leard State Forest, further endangering the dwindling Swift Parrots, and a wide range of flora and fauna, draining precious water resources and putting the health and wellbeing of the local community at risk.

I don’t believe that the approval of this project is in the best interests of the local community, Australia or the planet. We must accelerate the move to renewable resources. I also question why the state government has approved this coal mine expansion nine years before the expansion will begin. This project will clear more than 428 hectares of the Leard State Forest, a total of 46% of the forest cleared plus 500 hectares of habitat for the Swift Parrot which is critically endangered. This public land belongs to all Australians and must not be cleared for coal mines. Whitehaven has shown that it cannot be trusted as they have been investigated and found guilty of breaching the law repeatedly.

I would also like to comment on the risk this mine poses to local water resources. As the driest inhabited continent on the planet protecting our water resources should be top priority for all governments, state and federal. Farmers and residents rely on this water for their existence, we need productive land. This may force much of the local community to consider moving elsewhere and that would be very detrimental to the local community. Surely we must support local communities and protect them from the negative impacts of industry? Mining is notorious for creating dust pollution, noise and many other problems for local residents. I worked in White Bay in the 1970s and the amount of coal dust ingress was alarming, and this was just from the coal loader not the actual mining process.

In closing I urge you to think about the communities in this area but also those throughout this great land who are suffering the impact of a warming climate. We do not need the projected 238 million tonnes of greenhouse gas pollution that will arise from this expansion. This will completely wipe out any chance of NSW achieving climate targets, this cannot be allowed to happen, we must think of the local communities and future Australians and the impact this will have on them.

Thank you for this opportunity to submit my objection to this expansion.

I urge you to reject this application. The reason I object to this application is I believe this company is unethical and has broken the law. It has been convicted of breaking their conditions of approval numerous times - 35 breaches. It puts profits ahead of community and the environment.

Furthermore this project has been responsible for the destruction of nearly 1000 hectares of native forest, which will impact on the survival of the swift parrot, and push it closer to extinction. (There are only 600 remaining in the wild). The "continuation" of this project will reduce the Leard State Forest by 428 hectares which will be 46% of the entire forest destroyed. This forest is vital for a number of other native animals, which include koalas, woodland birds (regent honeyeater, diamond fire tail and numerous others) the feather tail glider, micro bats (large eared pied bat, corbens long eared bat) and the spotted tailed quoll. Also reptiles and frogs. Surveys show this forest is home to 396 native species of plants and animals, including 34 threatened species. This forest is the largest native vegetation remnant left on the Liverpool Plains.
Finally, this project will not come into effect until 2034 - by then it will have destroyed farmland, and rural communities. It will also drain precious groundwater resources. Three million tonnes of green house gas will be produced by the mining process alone. This will undermine NSW achieving their climate targets.

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

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.

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’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.

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 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.

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.

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

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.

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.