Maules Creek Continuation Project

I support this project as it provides over 900 well paid local jobs, including indigenous workers, so the money stays in the community ($160m per annum). Plus, it invests substantial amounts of money into local businesses (over $200m), and ongoing community investment. Then the government receives good royalties ($168m last year).
These are jobs that can't be replaced by AI, so it will be ongoing jobs, so, greater employment rates.
Also, Whitehaven have a good reputation with things like increased water efficiency; a revegetation program, on top of offset and rehabilitation... and more,
It is important on so many levels to keep this mine producing good quality clean coal.

The Maules Creek Continuation Project presents a material and foreseeable climate risk with
insufficient mitigation, poor methodological integrity, and questionable public benefit. This
assessment will seek to review the climate impacts of the project, relevant regulatory standards
that may impact the project, and a review of the potential cost-benefit impact on the state. This
has been conducted through a reconstruction of emissions profile of the Project as outlined in
the Greenhouse Gas Assessment, as well as an in-depth review of cost benefit assumptions
outlined in the proponent’s Economic Assessment. The continuation proposal is also placed into
the context of several relevant policy recommendations and instruments such as the EPA’s 2025
Large Emitters Guide, NSW Net Zero Future Act, or the 2025 NSW Productivity Commission
recommendations.

According to the proponent’s own estimates, the project will result in 5.7 million tonnes of CO2-e
(Scope 1) between 2028 and 2044. Of this, 3.3 million tonnes CO2-e are additional compared to
the existing base-case. However, this project relies on fugitive methane estimates using NGER
Method 2, which has come under increasing scrutiny from the NSW EPA, CSIRO, and Climate
Change Authority due to its sparse sampling, lack of transparency, and high uncertainty
potential. By contrast, similar projects such as HVO have been required to undertake
domain-based gas profiling, pre-drainage pilot trials, and independent verification. Maules
Creek’s estimated methane emissions are not only well below peer benchmarks, but are
unsupported by any publicly disclosed sampling data or error bounds in their existing
Greenhouse Gas Assessment.

The proposal’s economic case is also undermined by inflated thermal coal price assumptions,
inconsistent with current forecasts from the Department of Industry and IEA. A corrected
scenario applying benchmark pricing suggests the fiscal benefit is significantly overstated and
vulnerable to downside risk. Through an integration of the NSW Treasury’s carbon pricing
framework (TPG24‑34), we estimate that this expansion is projected to cost the state
approximately $420 million in carbon liabilities (Net Present Value, AU$ 2024). This represents
more than half of the proponent’s projected royalty returns of the project.
However, through a revision of the potential coal price that would likely be achieved within
current market dynamics, we estimate that the project may only provide $668 million in
additional royalty income throughout the project’s life, a significant decrease compared to the
proponent’s current estimates. As such, this submission indicates that close to 60% of projected
state royalty revenue may be offset by an updated assessment of the project's domestic carbon
costs alone. This is before accounting for the 238 million tonnes of additional downstream
CO2-e emissions (Scope 3).

Australia requires coal for low cost base load electricity generation.
Maules Creek Coal is a significant local employer.

I write in strong support of the Mauled Creek Coal Mine project and its importance to the continued prosperity of our local communities and the wider region.

The approval and development of this mine represent a critical opportunity to deliver long-term employment, financial stability, and economic security—not only for the current workforce but also for future generations. In towns like ours, projects like this are not just about coal—they are about people, families, and futures.

Local Jobs and Economic Stability

The Mauled Creek Coal Mine promises to generate hundreds of direct jobs during construction and operation, and thousands of indirect jobs through support industries including maintenance, transport, equipment, hospitality, and retail. These jobs are vital in regional areas where opportunities can be limited. The mine offers a chance for locals—young and old—to stay in their communities, work close to home, and support their families.

Support for Future Generations

The next generation deserves the right to earn a living without having to leave the region. This project offers a clear path forward for school leavers, apprentices, trainees, and professionals. It can anchor future training partnerships, local education programs, and skill development that will last long after the mine has started operations.

Economic Growth and Community Benefit

The mine will inject millions of dollars into the local economy, supporting small businesses, councils, and essential services. Increased local spending means better infrastructure, stronger towns, and better outcomes for health, education, and social services. With proper planning, this mine will fund community facilities, local roads, and future development for decades.

Balanced, Responsible Development

Modern mining is regulated, rehabilitated, and responsible. With environmental safeguards in place, this project can coexist with agriculture, biodiversity, and conservation values. A blanket rejection of mining developments ignores the economic needs of rural communities and overlooks how mining and environment can be managed side by side with best-practice frameworks.

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In conclusion, the Mauled Creek Coal Mine is more than just a project—it is a lifeline for families, a foundation for towns, and an investment in future prosperity. I urge decision-makers to listen to the voices of those who live and work in the area and support the project for the benefit of our people and our region.

They provide many local jobs and support and donate to many local initiatives and charities.

Statement of Support – Maules Creek Continuation Project

I am writing to express my support for the Maules Creek Continuation Project. In considering the proposal, I believe the project offers significant economic, social, and environmental benefits to regional New South Wales and the broader community. My support is based on the following key reasons:

Sustaining Local Employment
The project is expected to support between 800 and 900 jobs, with approximately 75% of the workforce based locally. These are stable, skilled positions that contribute directly to the economic and social fabric of the region. In a time of increasing uncertainty in rural employment, continued operation of the mine offers critical support for families and communities.

Economic Contribution to Regional NSW
The Maules Creek mine is a vital contributor to the local and regional economy. It helps to diversify the economic base of north-western NSW by complementing traditional sectors such as agriculture. By doing so, it builds greater resilience in the region while delivering significant investment and employment.

Support for Local Businesses
The mine spends approximately $200 million each year with local suppliers and businesses. This spending supports a broad range of industries in the region—from transport and logistics to maintenance, engineering, and professional services—creating economic flow-on effects that benefit hundreds of local operators.

Royalties to the NSW Government
In FY24 alone, the Maules Creek mine contributed $168 million in royalties to the NSW Government. These funds are essential for supporting public infrastructure, services, and programs across the state, including in health, education, and transport.

Responsible Use of Existing Tenement
Whitehaven Coal has not proposed to expand mining beyond its current approved tenement. This demonstrates a responsible and measured approach to resource development, ensuring that the continuation of operations remains within previously designated and regulated areas.

Environmental Stewardship through Revegetation
The project includes a commitment to establish approximately 2,300 hectares of native woodland as part of its Landscape Revegetation Zones. This program will enhance local biodiversity, contribute to long-term environmental sustainability, and support landscape-scale ecological outcomes near the mine.

Contribution to Global Energy Security
Finally, the Maules Creek project plays a role in supporting global energy security and economic development by providing a reliable energy source to key international markets. Until the global transition to alternative energy sources is complete, high-quality Australian coal continues to have an important role in meeting global demand.

In summary, the continuation of the Maules Creek project aligns with the economic, environmental, and social interests of regional NSW, while contributing responsibly to global needs. For these reasons, I fully support the proposal.

I object for the following reasons:

Swifties 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

I support the continuation of the Maules Creek Project for the following reasons:
1.) Continuation of employment for direct employees, contractors and service providers in rural NSW
2.) Continuation of the royalty revenue stream to support state government infrastructure and services in NSW
3.) The Maules Creek product is lower in ash and sulfur and less harmful to the environment than inferior coal from other countries including Indonesia
4.) Continuation of Whitehaven Coal's Community contribution and support which is vital to the ongoing prosperity of the Gunnedah and Narrabri regions.

Loss of jobs and revenue

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to express my strong support for the Maules Creek Continuation Project currently under consideration by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.

As a mining engineer with 20-years professional experience in the resources sector, I understand the importance of balancing economic development with environmental responsibility. From a technical and operational standpoint, the Maules Creek Continuation Project demonstrates sound planning, a commitment to best-practice mining methods, and a clear strategy for long-term sustainability.

The proposal’s inclusion of over 2,300 hectares of Landscape Revegetation Zones is a commendable step toward ecological restoration and biodiversity enhancement. Additionally, the planned water pipeline connecting Whitehaven’s operations reflects a forward-thinking approach to resource efficiency and inter-site collaboration.

Beyond its technical merits, the project offers substantial economic and social benefits. Continued operations will support hundreds of local jobs, sustain regional supply chains, and provide ongoing opportunities for apprenticeships and Indigenous employment. With 75% of the current workforce drawn from nearby communities, the project is deeply embedded in the local economy and social fabric.

In my professional opinion, the Maules Creek Continuation Project represents a responsible and necessary extension of an existing operation that has proven its value to the region, our state and without wishing to overstate it, the nation. I urge the NSW Government to approve the project and allow it to proceed in a way that supports both people and the environment.

Thank you for considering my submission.

Sincerely,
Sam Ervin
Mining Engineer
AusIMM Member - #335108

Whitehaven has not proposed to mine land outside its existing tenement.
The expanded mine would support 800-900 jobs, with three quarters of the workforce based locally.
The mine helps to diversify the regional NSW economy, sustain local communities, provide skilled jobs, and support global energy security and economic development.
The mines spends $200m annually with local businesses and suppliers.
The mine added $168m in royalties to the NSW government in FY24.
The mine will include a revegetation program to establish approximately 2,300 ha of native woodland Landscape Revegetation Zones in the vicinity of the mine.

Here's all the reasons needed to approve this project.
• Approximately 940 ongoing jobs
• Approximately 70% of employees are locally-based
• Approximately $160m paid to the Maules Creek Mine workforce in FY 24
• $200m+ spent with local businesses and suppliers in FY24
• Maules Creek Mine contributed $168 million in royalties to the NSW Government in FY24
• Approximately 14% of Maules Creek Mine employees identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
And even if this project is stopped, mining of coal, these exports will continue. All of the above will go to Indonesia or China or India or Bazil. I find it morally reprehensive that once we build our wealth on coal to then deny a third or second world country the same right to build their wealth on coal. Want to do more for climate change, do it via other means e.g. build nuclear.

This project supports
Approximately 940 ongoing jobs
Approximately 70% of employees are locally-based
Approximately $160m paid to the Maules Creek Mine workforce in FY 24
$200m+ spent with local businesses and suppliers in FY24
Maules Creek Mine contributed $168 million in royalties to the NSW Government in FY24
Approximately 14% of Maules Creek Mine employees identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

The Maules Creek Mine helps to diversify the regional economy, sustain local communities, provide skilled jobs, and support global energy security and economic development. As a member of the mining community via our business being a supplier to the industry, we support the Maules Creek Continuation Project for the following reasons:
• Approximately 940 ongoing jobs
• Approximately 70% of employees are locally-based
• Approximately $160m paid to the Maules Creek Mine workforce in FY 24
• $200m+ spent with local businesses and suppliers in FY24
• Maules Creek Mine contributed $168 million in royalties to the NSW Government in FY24
• Approximately 14% of Maules Creek Mine employees identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander

I live in Tasmania, and I cannot stand by while the critically endangered Swift Parrot loses more of its habitat to destruction. This is a national disgrace. How can a species listed as critically endangered — protected under both state and federal law — have its habitat planned for destruction for a mine expansion that won’t even begin for another 10 years?
Clearing another 428 hectares of the beautiful Leard State Forest, which contains vital foraging habitat for the Swift Parrot. These parrots have been returning winter after winter to the flowering White Box trees of Leard Forest. With only around 500 Swift Parrots left in the wild, every tree matters. Every hectare lost pushes this iconic species closer to extinction. This is simply unacceptable.
If approved, this project would result in over 46% of Leard State Forest being cleared, just to feed three coal mines. Our scarce and precious public lands must not be handed over for short-term coal profits. They belong to all of us — and to future generations. We have a duty to protect nature, not destroy it.
Whitehaven Coal has a long and disgraceful record of non-compliance. In the past decade, it has been found guilty or investigated for 35 separate environmental and legal breaches — with many involving multiple offences. These repeated violations show a clear and consistent disregard for the law, the environment, and local communities.
I have friends who live near the Maules Creek mine, and I’ve seen first hand the devastating toll it has taken on the community. This expansion will place even more pressure on local water resources — draining groundwater from beneath local creeks and affecting the water relied on by farmers and wildlife alike. Let’s not forget: Whitehaven was prosecuted for stealing water from the Maules Creek mine during the height of the last drought. This project is wrong — environmentally, morally, and socially.
It must be stopped. Let’s make our legacy one of protection, not destruction.

I write poetry about Endangered Species at www.theonemillionpoetry.com
I have written a poem about the Critically Endangered Swift Parrot highlighting the critical need to preserve its mainland and Tasmanian habitat. They are one of only two migratory Parrot species in the world.
The Maules Creek Coal Mine expansion will destroy more of the dwindling Swift Parrot habitat which is incompatible with the Federal Government's commitment to 'no more extinctions'. I attach a copy of the poem to back my submission. It can also be found on my website as above.
On top of the loss of habitat there is of course the contribution of fossil fuels to climate change and global warming which is a blanket threat to all species including humans. It is not compatible with the current science and reason to expand this coal mine or any other.
Thank you
Anthony E. Lovell

The Maules Creek Continuation Project is necessary not only for local community, local economy, but also for sustainable economy of NSW, Australia and even Asian neighbours. This project surely brings a lot more benefits and prosperities to people and future generations than disadvantages that this project might bring.

I strongly object to the Maules Creek Continuation Project for the following reasons:
1. There has been inadequate assessment of the social impacts of climate change on the local community
2. This mine should finish up, as currently approved, in 2034 with emphasis on future jobs and investment in the region, which is current NSW Govt policy.
3. An additional extraction of 117 million tonnes of coal until 2044 with direct scope 1 emissions of 3 million tonnes of GHG will cause a failure of NSW to meet Net Zero targets.
4. The required clearing of critically endangered habitat that is a key site for the endangered Swift Parrot will hasten the extinction of another Australian iconic native species.
5. Any perceived public benefit will not outweigh the significant costs to the environment, community, future food production and the economy through increased climate change costs.
6. The costs benefits analysis for this project must factor in the current costs of increasing extreme weather events on the NSW budget.

This project is essential for the local community to maintain their way of life and to ensure a stable electricity supply for New South Wales. Most people are unaware that coal-fired power stations continue to play a vital role in supporting our economy.

I object to the Maules Creek Continuation Project on the grounds that:

- the expansion won't begin until 2034, and Whitehaven Coal is likely seeking approval to lock this in prior to governmental restrictions being tightened as our climate crisis worsens over the intervening years;
- the project will result in clearing of over 500 hectares of foraging habitat for the Swift Parrot, despite only 500 of them remaining in the wild. This cannot be offset by preserving forest elsewhere;
- the project will also 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;
- over the last 10 years, Whitehaven has been found guilty or investigated for breaches of the law on 35 occasions, and have been prosecuted numerous times;
- the project poses a major risk to groundwater being used by farmers for stock in the area;
- the direct emissions from the mine will be over 3 million tonnes, undermining NSW's ability to achieve its climate targets.