Maules Creek Continuation Project

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The continuation project of Maules Creek mine is important to support local jobs and small businesses in the surrounding residential areas. Closure of the mine would have significant implications on local residents, towns and small businesses.

I support Maules Creek continuation for numerous reasons.
1. Acknowledging that coal will remain in the energy mix for decades to come, High quality Australian coal such as produced at Maules Creek, need to be supported. If these coals are not produced, meeting the worlds energy demands means that much more lower quality, dirtier coals from other countries will be mined and sold in place of these high quality Australian coals.

2. Continued benefits to the regional economy. Almost 1,000 jobs maintained; Annual royalties in the $100's millions maintained; Annual spend with local businesses also in the $100's millions

Maules creek Project has provided many of jobs for friends and family local to the area. i Support it to continue as its also provided a decent job where i have been able to learn multiple new skills and advance in skills while being able to stay local to my home town. I can see how my local town of Boggabri has been able to benefit of having this in our area

Fantastic local employment opportunity and income for the community.

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. 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. 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 am a resident of NSW and am writing to express my opposition to the application to extend the Maules Creek coal mine beyond 2034.
My first and principal objection is that, at a time when coal mining and coal burning generates greenhouse gas emissions and threatens our survival as a species, the NSW Government should be seeking ways to accelerate the closing down of existing coal mines rather than extending them. To approve so far in advance the extension of a coal mine as from 2034, a date when the coal mining industry should be in decline, not only places coal mine company's profits above the public interest but is also a clear attempt to pre-empt the likely, and sorely needed, strengthening of our environmental legislation.
My second objection is that the proposed extension would involve the clearing of some 500 hectares of the Leard State Forest which is habitat for the endangered swift parrot.
Thirdly, I am alarmed that a coal mine owned and operated by a company, such as Whitehaven Coal, which has an appalling record of noncompliance, should be considered for an extension, especially so far in advance.
For these reasons, I express my opposition to the proposed extension.

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

It is difficult to comprehend that in 2025 it is still necessary to inform our elected representatives that we can't afford to continue mining coal, but here I am giving it a go.
Many of my relatives are NSW farmers, doing their best to produce food and wool for us and for overseas markets. They often tell me of their disgust at the reckless actions of mining companies with regard to theft of contamination of water resources and land degradation. Actions which have frequently been found liable to penalties (albeit inadequate) by our courts. Whitehaven is one of the worst offenders, with multiple proven breaches.
But even if Whitehaven were a model of a modern mining company (which it clearly is not), any approval allowing for it to continue coal mining in this climate (and I use the word in every possible sense) is indefensible.
1. The agricultural industry is critical to the people of Australia, and indeed people in many parts of the world. To add to its woes, which are already too numerous because of the impact of extreme weather, is foolhardy.
2. It seems madness that it is necessary to raise the issue of emissions - this project is estimated to produce an extra 238 million tonnes of greenhouse gases - but has the NSW government forgotten its target?
3. The proposal involves clearing more of the Leard State Forest, which is essential habitat to endangered species and has already suffered an unacceptable percentage of destruction at a time when we need more and more protection of native forest to offset the effects of climate change.
4. It appears that this government is actually attempting to "bank" this approval in order to avoid the strengthening of environmental laws that the community and experts have been calling for. What kind of moral bankruptcy is this?
I call on the NSW government to reject the Maules Creek Coal Mine Continuation Project for the reasons above and also because the strength of community opposition to it means the project clearly has no social licence to operate.
Sincerely
Laura Mooney

The destruction coal mining causes to Australia has gone on long enough. The endangered Swift Parrot's use of the Maules Creek area makes the expansion of this mine even more dire.

Please do not let this project go ahead.

I cannot agree that this could be acceptable when no-one can possibly guarantee that the future state of our environment could either withstand the proposed expansion nor would it be a necessity in our future, let alone the fact that guidelines signed to now could and hopefully will become even more stringent by the time this "new" agreement comes into play. This is giving an open ticket for a company with a despicable history of flagrantly disregarding our laws and acting solely for its own benefit. How many times are you going to allow Whitehaven coal to walk all over a system which is supposed to protect this land (the only one we have) and its population whose voices have a right to be heard and their intelligence not insulted. This area is a "State Forest", it is supposed to be land that is protected by the govt for the people of said state and that govt is supposed to follow the peoples wishes. We are all sick and tired of the hypocritical actions of a govt who on the one hand flouts statements professing their belief that our future which is undeniably intertwined with our lands and its environment is important and must be preserved, to the point of monetary grants to study and protect our endangered flora and fauna and then snatches away that same area and gives permission for deceitful and destructive companies to annihilate what should be protected. Do you honestly have such a low regard for us or is it that you just don't give a damn and it is all some stupid game?

I firmly believe that continued use of this site will cause loss of habitat to the endangered Swift Parrot.
I also believe that continued use of the site will greatly affect the viability of the fresh water supply to this region.
Mountains cannot be replaced once they have been blown away with explosives.
Forests cannot be regrown in the same speed it takes to destroy them...

The project is locking in an approval of a coal mine expansion that will not even start until 2034 which will turbo charge greenhouse gases at a time when we should be aiming for net zero emissions.
The Leard State Forest which houses the Swift parrot is at risk as well as local water resources which supply farming communities in the area
Whitehaven is a serial offender where the environment is concerned which gives more cause for concern. Please don't approve it!

It is ridiculous that this expansion is even being proposed, it doesn't bring anything to the community and it doesn't bring anything for Australia.
Whitehaven needs to start paying is proper tax and royalties to the Australian people. We are getting ripped off!.

Approving a Coal Mine 10 Years in Advance Makes No Sense
The NSW Government is considering approving a coal mine expansion that wouldn’t even begin until 2034. This locks in harmful carbon emissions for decades, right when we should be cutting them. It looks like the company is trying to rush this through now before climate laws get any tougher, even as we face more fires, floods and extreme weather. It is unreasonable to commit my grandchildren to a commitment that will impact the quality of their life and environment. I object to this

Threat to Swift Parrots and Leard State Forest
The project would destroy over 500 hectares of habitat critical to the Swift Parrot, a bird with only about 500 left in the wild. Pushing this species closer to extinction is unacceptable. The expansion would also clear another 428 hectares of Leard State Forest — meaning nearly half the forest will be gone after three coal mines. Our public lands should not be sacrificed for coal profits. The impact to this species is far too great, how can anybody think that destroying 500 hectares of any bush is OK a let alone this habitat. The impact is far too great.

Whitehaven’s Troubling Track Record
Whitehaven Coal has a long history of breaking the rules. Over the past decade, they’ve been investigated or found guilty of legal breaches 35 times, often involving multiple violations. They’ve been prosecuted repeatedly.

Risking Water, Farms and Communities
The expansion threatens local water supplies, including creeks and underground water that farmers rely on. Whitehaven has already been fined for taking water illegally during the last drought. This project would also hurt the local farming community, create dust and noise pollution, and drive families away from the area. It could worsen the local housing crisis and divide communities.

A Climate Disaster in the Making
NSW is already feeling the effects of climate change, but this project would add another 238 million tonnes of carbon pollution. Just the mining process alone would produce more than 3 million tonnes — enough to derail NSW’s efforts to meet climate targets.

# The NSW Government should not be approving a coal mine expansion for Whitehaven given their poor track record with respect adverse impacts on the local water supply. Whitehaven has already been prosecuted for stealing water at the Maule's Creek coal mine at the height of the last drought. 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.
# NSW Government needs to ensure the viability of numerous economic activities Coal Mining is given priority over diverse range of agricultural activities, tourism & the environment
# NSW communities are already experiencing devastating impacts from global warming 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.
# Expansion of the Mine will threaten the existence of various plants & animals including the rare Swift Parrott