Maules Creek 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 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 Coal cannot be trusted to show respect for the natural environment, and 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 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. Don't le this extension be a future zombie development tat we will all regret. 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. 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 Creek coal mine at the height of the last drought. Please reject this proposal for a future extension of this dinosaur of a coal mine and show leadership in our State towards a coal-free future with renewable energy sources. This Labor voter will judge you on your choices.

The NSW Government shouldn’t be approving a coal mine expansion now that will not even start until 2034, which would lock in greenhouse gas emissions far into the future . 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. 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. 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 time has long passed for the NSW Government to stop putting vested interests above community good.

I oppose the project for a number of reasons including but not limited to:
1. This looks like an attempt to bank an approval ahead of any possible environmental law changes as the project start date is 2034. All as we are trying to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stop digging up fossil fuels.
2. The Swift Parrot which is close to extinction with only around 500 left in the wild will suffer with about 500 hectares of forest 20 or so of the Parrots use to forage for native blossoms in the area slated for clearing. This is a key area for the Swift Parrot and its survival depends on preserving the area.
3. Also slated for clearing almosdt another 500 hectares of Leard State Forest resulting in about 46% of this forest being cleared for 3 coal mines in the area. We should be protecting and preserving State Forests in Public Ownership and not turning them over to Mining Companies to profit from.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. The expansion will harm the local farming community at Maules Ck and cause negative social impacts.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. The direct emissions from the mining process itself, of over 3 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, will completely undermine NSW in achieving its climate targets.
I implore you to consider these factors very carefully and refuse this project outright.
Rod McKellar
2.

I wish to make an objection to the proposed expansion and extension of the Whitehaven Coal mine until 2044, from its existing period until 2034.
At stake is the integrity of the Leard State Forest, home to the magnificent Swift Parrot.
My concerns are these:
• The NSW Government shouldn’t be approving a coal mine expansion now that will not even start until 2034. This is enabling greenhouse gas emissions far into the future that we can’t afford.
• This proposal is designed to put aside 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.
• With relation to the Swift Parrot and the 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.
• As well 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 does not have a clean record. It has an atrocious compliance record. Just in respect to 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.
• With respect to local water resources, this mine expansion poses a major risk to local water resources. It will draw 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 Creek coal mine at the height of the last drought.
• The expansion will harm the local farming community at Maules Creek and cause negative social impacts.
• It will further empty the district of families through the removal of productive land, and create dangerous dust pollution and escalating noise for surrounding areas, whilst creating division and conflict. It will add to 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, thereby exacerbating climate change.
• The direct emissions from the mining process itself, of over 3 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, will completely undermine NSW achieving climate targets.

If the extraction of this coal is vital for the safety and security of Australia then the argument for the coal supersedes the environmental argument.
BUT if it is only being dug up to export , which is the case here I believe, then the environmental considerations should significantly outweigh the short term financial gain.

✘This project shames Australia internationally.✘

1). It will clear a further 428 hectares of the Leard State Forest, resulting in over 46% of the State Forest having been cleared in total for three coal mines. Coal profits, and the subsidies coal mines receive, are one issue. But the shameful reputation of Australia as the only rich country that allows the continual rape and destruction of it's forest is a bigger issue. AUSTRALIA IS TOP OF THE LIST FOR DEFORESTATION IN RICH COUNTRIES.

2) I have just returned from Europe where the servo stations are increasingly clean electric sites. I have seen the change myself as they transition to clean energy. Puts Australia, with all its sunshine, to shame.
We are all 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 ( 3 million tonnes ) , will completely undermine Australia achieving climate targets.

3) Australia already has a terrible reputation internationally as having the worst record on earth for small mammal extinctions. Our birds are suffering just as much. This project will clear another 428 hectares of key foraging habitat for the endangered Swift Parrot.

✘Domestically✘

This shameful mine will destroy water resouces, disperse communities , damage agriculture.
And all this damage for whom? For a company called Whitehaven Coal that 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.

Who are the NSW and Australian governments working for here? I'd love to know!
Apparently not Australia, her people, her land, her forests, her wildlife or her future.

BUT If the extraction of this coal is vital for the safety and security of Australia then that argument supersedes the environmental argument.
But if it is only being dug up to export then the environmental considerations should significantly outweigh the short term financial gain.
THE NATURAL WORLD IS THE FOUNDATION OF ALL LIFE ON EARTH....

I live in Bulga NSW and live with the consequences of government forcing through the expansion of the Mount Thorley Warkworth open-cut coalmine. The people of Bulga appealed this expansion and won in two Courts only for government "change the rules" in order to override those decisions.
Our formerly harmonious and close-knit community has been gutted leaving only a few "old-timers" and changing the community.
We have experienced the Climate Change-driven more frequent catastrophic adverse weather events including both floods and fire.
I have grandchildren and great grandchildren and I fear for their future welfare and way of life.
I see firsthand, the diminution of the wonderful variety and numbers of birdlife outside my house.
The mining of fossil-fuels in Australia must be allowed to cease not to expand.
To do anything to encourage more mining (both coal and gas) is the height of folly and an obscene disregard for the welfare of all people gobally.

I object to approval of this project firstly as it is effectively banking an approval that won’t start until 2034. The NSW Government shouldn’t be approving a coal mine expansion now that will not even start until 2034 as 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.

Secondly, 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 the Swift Parrot and must not be put at risk. The project will also clear a further 428 hectares of the unique 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.

Thirdly, Whitehaven is a serial offender when it comes to ignoring environmental protection laws. 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.

Forthly, 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.

Fifthly, this 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.

And finally, I object to approval of this project as NSW communities are already experiencing devastating impacts from global warming and 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.

Extending of the mine will impact negatively on the natural water supply and will contribute to the demise of a critically endangered species being the Swift parrot. The area surrounding is critical habitat for this bird and many other species of bird and mammal. The area should be put aside for conservation not mining, once this habitat is removed it can’t be replanted and grow to preserve these animals. Once it is taken it will be lost.

I believe 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 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.

I understand from the provided information that this project will clear over 500 hectares of key foraging habitat for the Swift Parrot, despite only around 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.

I understand this proposed extension will also likely 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.

I believe Whitehaven Coal has an appalling compliance record. I understand that 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.

I also believe 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. I understand Whitehaven has already been prosecuted for stealing water at the Maules Ck coal mine at the height of the last drought.

I believe this expansion will harm the local farming community at Maules Ck and cause negative social impacts. These include further emptying the district of families through alienation of productive land, creating dangerous dust pollution and escalating noise for surrounding areas, whilst creating division and conflict. It will likely exacerbate the housing crisis in the region.

Lastly I believe 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 its climate targets.

For all these reasons I object to the NSW Government approving this future continuation and expansion proposal.

I do not support the extension to the mine until 2044. It is a crime. No Government should have the right to allow this 10 years ahead of when it might apply.
This mine has widespread opposition already over 10 years ago, so of course any extension now is totally unwanted and unwarranted.,
Whitehaven already has a number of breaches of the law and been found guilty. Dont open up more opportunities for this to happen.
Our environment is being destroyed at unacceptable rates by mining.
Our environment should not be destroyed to enable coal to be exported.
Our agricultural land is being taken forever for the wrong reasons. Farmers are losing their livelihoods and this is encouraging the IMPORT of FOOD to this country. We should be one of the LARGEST EXPORTERS of food. Growing as much of our own as we possibly can and not creating more pollution from flights coming into this country with food unnecessarily.
Our unique wildlife is being obliterated, destroyed and harmed by the continuous usurping of its territory, whether we are talking birds, insects, marsupials and the list can go on.
Governments need to encourage people back to the land to create communities, which is what FARMING did for years in this country. Coal mining will not do this in the future.
Quality and quantity of our best water will be compromised again. More good groundwater used for mining INSTEAD OF FOR FEEDING ANIMALS.
FINALLY - How can the Goverment reach its climate targets if they allow such a preposterous extension to proceed? they cant.
Global warming has created already so many negative impacts on us humans - do we need more? NO
PLEASE DO NOT PROCEED WITH THIS PROPOSAL.

See attached document.

Please do not extend the Whitehaven Mine. The area it is located is home to the Swift Parrot which needs the natural habitat for nesting, food and shelter. It is already endangered and further destruction of its habitat will lead to its extinction.
The mine is also extracting and using masses of ground water, to the detriment of farming and wildlife in the area. This should be carefully monitored currently and no further expansion of water extraction is required.
Please listen to and follow the wishes of those of us in the Australian community who care about preserving the environment and leaving thriving flora and fauna for future generations.
Thank you.

While I am especially concerned about the damage this Whitehaven coal expansion will inflict on the very endangered Swift parrots in the vicinity, the benefits, including in the sense of economic choices for resource allocation elude me - there are other projects much more engaged with future developments and returns than staying with world wrecking coal.

I strenuously object to the future expansion of the Whitehaven Coal Maules Creek site. This project should be downsized in the interests of the local community and the world at large because it is contributing to both habitat destruction and global heating. Whitehaven Coal is not a good citizen; it has been found guilty of illegally taking a billion litres of water during the last drought to operate the Maules Ck coal mine. Mining in the region, which I know well, has taken a terrible toll on the environment and community. It needs to be stopped now.

Banking an approval that won’t start until 2034
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.

Swift Parrot 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.

Maules Creek Mine has been a stable employer for myself and my family, who live locally. They are also a major contributor to numerous local projects helping to improve projects for local communities.

I support the Maules Creek Continuation Project and the extension of the mines operational life to 2044.
This project plays a vital role in sustaining local jobs, supporting regional businesses, and contributing to the broader economy. The Continuation of operations will provide long-term certainty for workers and their families, while maintaining strong environmental management practices. I encourage the Department of planning to approve this extension to ensure ongoing community and economic benefits.

I 100% support Maules Creek to extend its life by another 10years.
This will help support the community and keep jobs secure for another 19year!

The Maules Creek Mine is on land donated to the public for conservation by the Leard family. It is the largest remnant box gum woodland in Australia and habitat for over 300 native species. In particular the trees in the white box gum area of the proposed extension contain hollows and food essential for the survival of bird and bat species native to the area. The planned mine extension not only destroys habitat but will also fragment left over areas of the forest. To allow the extension of this mine is to disrespect the wishes of the Leard family and endanger the survival of native plants and animals.
The mine already creates dust, noise and water use which is affecting local farms and communities as well as disrupting the feeding and breeding cycles of native animals (see attachment 1). Whitehaven have also tried to obstruct local farmers and community members from accessing information about the large number of environmental breaches from the existing mine (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-08-04/whitehaven-coal-environment-licence-breaches-raise-concerns/8771156). The extension will add to these problems as well as ultimately contributing to climate change and extreme weather events affecting the whole of Australia. This is a burden we must not inflict on future generations. I ask that the application to extend the Maules Creek Coal Mine be rejected.

Extending the life of Maules Creek Mine will provide ongoing employment for direct employees as well as for a large number of contractors and indirect support businesses in the region.