MOD 3 - Pit 8 Extension

I stand behind the Wilpinjong Mine extension and its benefits to our region. The mine also supports around 700 jobs. That’s 700 families relying on this operation - an enormous impact for a regional community like Mudgee.
Over 500 suppliers benefit from Wilpinjong, supporting many indirect jobs and contributing approximately $400 million annually to the local and regional economy. I have visited the Mudgee region and can see the positive impact the Wilpinjong Mine has had on the community and small businesses. If this modification is approved that economic activity will continue and protect not just the 700 direct jobs but thousands more indirect jobs.

I back Wilpinjong Mine because of its economic and community contributions. NSW coal is of exceptionally high quality compared to international standards. The mine adheres to the strict environmental regulations set by the NSW Government and it is far better to mine coal here - under rigorous oversight - than to mine it from countries with less stringent environmental standards. In addition, Wilpinjong provides coal to AGL, critical to powering our homes across Australia.

I strongly recommend the Wilpinjong mine modification is approved. This mine supports over 700 jobs which equates to 700 families relying on this extension being approved. On top of this, Wilpinjong supports more than 160 communities through 1.2m dollars in targeted funding. this mine is not only Australia's most productive mine it is also one of the country's lowest omitting coal mines. The type of coal we have in Australia is of very high quality compared to coal from other part of the world. I recommend this mine continue

In my opinion, the rationale for allowing the project is that it provides jobs both to the region and to others coming into the region for the project that would not otherwise have this employment. As well, there is additional government revenues paid by the company that would not otherwise be paid, which would indirectly benefit New South Wales. I believe also that the disturbance land, given Peabody's large land ownership around the Wilpinjong mine, won't have significant negative impact on surrounding residential areas.

I submit this formal objection to the proposed Wilpinjong Coal Mine Extension, on behalf of local residents / landholders / the Wollar community / affected stakeholders.

The community has lived with the impacts of the Wilpinjong Mine for over a decade and has witnessed firsthand the profound environmental, social, and economic changes it has caused. This extension proposal, if approved, would further entrench those impacts, undermine local community recovery, and contradict NSW and national commitments to sustainable development and emissions reduction.

I respectfully request that the Department and the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) refuse the proposed extension, or at minimum require a full new Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and not treat it as a mere “modification.”

2. Key Objection Points
2.1 Water and Groundwater Impacts
The proposed extension will expand the disturbance footprint into areas influencing the Wollar and Wilpinjong Creek catchments, increasing risks of groundwater drawdown and baseflow reduction.

Local bores, stock water, and smallholder supplies depend on these systems; any drop in groundwater levels directly harms community viability.

The proponent’s modelling assumes minimal drawdown (<2 m) but does not adequately consider cumulative impacts from surrounding mines.

Under the NSW Aquifer Interference Policy, the mine should demonstrate that no unacceptable drawdown or water quality degradation will occur — this has not been convincingly demonstrated.

Requested action: Independent peer review of hydrogeological modelling; enforceable groundwater impact limits; transparent monitoring accessible to the community.

2.2 Biodiversity and Habitat Loss
The extension will clear further remnant vegetation and habitat for threatened species and endangered ecological communities.

Biodiversity offset proposals are inadequate in area, quality, and timeliness. Offsets cannot replicate mature, connected habitats near Wollar.

Cumulative habitat fragmentation from multiple mines in the region (Ulan, Moolarben, Wilpinjong) is pushing several species toward local extinction.

Requested action: Reject the project until a regional biodiversity impact assessment is completed; apply higher offset ratios; ensure offsets are local and established prior to further clearing.

2.3 Community, Amenity and Social Impacts
The mine’s proximity to Wollar village and surrounding rural residents has already caused noise, dust, blasting vibration, light pollution, and social disruption.

Continuing and expanding the mine will perpetuate community decline, property devaluation, and population loss.

The Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) previously found that the mine had contributed to the “depopulation and loss of cohesion” of Wollar and recommended a broader regional strategy — yet these recommendations remain unaddressed.

Treating each expansion as a “modification” denies the community the right to a full and transparent merits review.

Requested action: A full independent social impact assessment; cumulative regional study; enforceable noise, dust and blasting limits; review of the mine’s social licence to operate.

2.4 Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Approving further coal extraction conflicts with NSW and Commonwealth commitments to net-zero emissions by 2050.

Scope 3 emissions (from burning the coal overseas) are real and significant. Continuing approvals undermine Australia’s international credibility and climate goals.

The extension locks in fossil fuel dependence and diverts investment from renewable energy and regional diversification.

Requested action: Include full life-cycle GHG emissions in the assessment; require a climate impact statement; reject projects inconsistent with net-zero policy.

2.5 Cumulative and Regional Impacts
The Wilpinjong extension cannot be considered in isolation. The Ulan, Moolarben, and other regional mines collectively create cumulative impacts on air quality, water systems, traffic, and community wellbeing.

The PAC’s previous reviews explicitly called for a strategic regional plan to define “where mining can and cannot occur.” This has not been implemented.

Incremental “modifications” enable piecemeal approvals that avoid comprehensive environmental and social evaluation.

Requested action: Pause the approval process until a regional cumulative impact assessment and strategic land-use plan are completed.

2.6 Rehabilitation, Final Voids, and Financial Risk
The project leaves behind large final voids that will permanently alter local hydrology and landscape aesthetics.

Long-term rehabilitation success is uncertain and contingent on the financial stability of Peabody Energy, whose global financial record raises concerns.

There is insufficient assurance that rehabilitation bonds or financial guarantees cover the full cost of long-term remediation.

Requested action: Require full-cost bonding for rehabilitation; independent verification of Peabody’s capacity; detailed post-closure water and landform modelling.

2.7 Economic and Community Viability
Claimed employment and economic benefits are limited — largely maintaining existing operations rather than generating new jobs.

The extension perpetuates a boom-bust economic model, while undermining long-term opportunities in agriculture, tourism, and renewable energy.

Economic assessment should include social and environmental costs (water loss, property devaluation, loss of ecosystem services).

Requested action: Commission an independent cost–benefit analysis including externalities and long-term opportunity costs.

3. Procedural and Governance Concerns
This proposal should not proceed as a “modification”; the scale and new environmental footprint warrant a full new development application and EIS process.

Community consultation has been limited and ineffective.

Assessment documentation has been complex and not readily accessible for non-technical stakeholders.

Requested action: Require a new EIS and public exhibition; provide meaningful engagement with affected residents; ensure the IPC holds public hearings in Wollar.

4. Conclusion
The Wilpinjong Coal Mine Extension represents an unjustifiable intensification of environmental and social harm to the Wollar district.
It conflicts with state and national climate objectives, threatens groundwater systems and biodiversity, and further erodes what remains of the local community.

I therefore object in the strongest possible terms to the proposed extension and request that the Department and the Independent Planning Commission:

Refuse approval of the Wilpinjong Coal Mine Extension; or

Require a full Environmental Impact Statement and independent cumulative regional assessment before any further consideration; and

Ensure that community voices from Wollar and surrounding districts are meaningfully included in all stages of decision-making.

We would like to show our support for the Wilpinjong Mine and the proposed Pit 8 Extension.
Our business has supplied goods and services to Wilpinjong for a number of years, and the mine’s ongoing operation is an important part of keeping local people and local suppliers in work.
• The mine provides steady work for a wide range of local contractors and businesses like ours.
• The Pit 8 Extension will help keep those jobs and opportunities going for the next few years.
• Spending from mine workers and contractors also supports other small businesses in the Mudgee and Gulgong area.
• Wilpinjong has always made an effort to use local suppliers where possible, which keeps money in the community.
• We appreciate the mine’s focus on doing things responsibly and safely.

We support the approval of MOD 3 and the continued operation of Wilpinjong Mine. It is an important part of our local economy.

I object to the proposed modification by Peabody Energy's Wilpinjong Coal Mine.
My reasons are for my objections are that the proposed mine workings would come up to the edge of Wollar Village, severely impacting the lives of the residents there. There would be excessive noise, dust, and light pollution as mining operations are a 24 hour process.
I also object to the proposal as the use of coal from this project would add another 25 million tonnes of Greenhouse gases into Earth's atmosphere.
I am a resident of the Mid Western Council area and feel that this proposed will severely impact the quality of life currently enjoyed here.

I object to this extension of Peabody’s Wilpinjong Mine because it will
• Disturb an additional 155 ha of important biodiversity habitat values and farming land, decimating a biodiversity hotspot for threatened microbats and critically endangered Regent Honeyeaters. The extension will enclose the nature reserve on three sides making it impossible for wildlife to survive the mine disturbance.
• Bring open cut mining operations right up to the edge of Wollar Village causing more social distress for the community, which has suffered enormously over the past 15 years. I have personally witnessed their distress and the deliberate and heartless destruction of their community.
• Generate an additional 25 million tonnes of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere at a time when the world is already overheating and impacted by increasingly violent extreme weather events. How will we achieve Net Zero within a decade or two if this goes ahead
• Permanently alter flows to Wollar Creek and destroy groundwater systems and adding to the destruction of life in the Goulburn River. The Hunter River is already a dead river due to coal mine and past farming. The Goulburn River is not far behind.
• Continue to disturb Aboriginal cultural heritage and the connection to country. Mudgee Land Council has recently been granted Native Title close to the proposed extension.
• Be the first stage of a much larger expansion of Pit 9 & Pit 10 and should be assessed as a new project.
• Increase pollution through poorly assessed noise, dust, blasting, onsite coal ignition (spontaneous combustion), lighting and water contamination
• Slow the transition to clean energy future – competing with the Central West
Renewable Energy Zone which starts at Wollar

This project is not needed for regional jobs as there is a huge workforce shortage
for renewable energy projects in the Central West. Also, past experience shows that profits from this expansion will not flow to the Australian community via taxes or royalties.

Submission Objection: Wilpinjong Coal Mine Modification 3 – Pit 8 Extension

I strongly object to the proposed Modification 3 (Pit 8 Extension) for the Wilpinjong Coal Mine for the following reasons.

1. The Proposal is Not a Modification and Requires a New Project Application

This is not a minor modification but a substantial expansion that differs fundamentally from the originally approved project. Key factors demonstrating this include:

It falls outside the current mining lease.

It is the first stage of a larger, future expansion that will surround Wollar village.

It encroaches on a new area of the Wollar Creek catchment.

It will destroy a previously untouched area of high Aboriginal cultural significance and a known hotspot for endangered bats, creating new and significant impacts that were not part of the original approval’s environmental assessment.

Assessing this as a modification is inappropriate and fails to provide the rigorous, standalone assessment a project of this scale and impact warrants under the law.

2. Unacceptable and Poorly Assessed Biodiversity Impacts

The proposal will cause significant and irreversible damage to threatened species and ecological communities.

Endangered Microbats: The expansion area is a regional hotspot for the nationally threatened Large-eared Pied Bat and Eastern Cave Bat. The removal of two rocky hills, which are critical breeding and maternity sites, constitutes a Significant and Irreversible Impact (SAII). This impact alone should render the project unacceptable.

Regent Honeyeater and Koala: The proposal will directly remove mapped habitat for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater and destroy crucial landscape connectivity for the endangered Koala, creating a hostile barrier between the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve and Goulburn River National Park.

Box Gum Woodland: The assessment fails to adequately consider the impacts of groundwater drawdown on this Critically Endangered Ecological Community, which is known to be groundwater-dependent.

3. Inadequate Assessment and Protection of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage

The mine area is of profound significance to the Wiradjuri Nation, with evidence of continuous occupation and spiritual connection. This modification will cause the destruction of an additional 15 recorded Aboriginal cultural heritage sites. The protection of the Rocky Hill site in the current approval does not offset the new destruction proposed here. The cumulative loss of cultural heritage is unacceptable.

4. Significant and Permanent Water Impacts

The project will cause a groundwater drawdown of over 20 metres, resulting in the loss of over 21 million litres of baseflow to Wollar Creek each year.

Terrestrial Groundwater Dependent Ecosystems, including those within Wollar Village, have not been adequately assessed.

No baseline water monitoring has been conducted in the expansion area, making it impossible to accurately predict or manage impacts.

Given the mine’s poor history of water management and modelling, there is a high risk of increased salinity (up to 3.5 tonnes of salt per day in discharge) and other water quality impacts downstream.

5. Escalated Social Impacts on a Recovering Community

The proposal will bring open-cut mining to the boundary of Wollar Village, exacerbating pollution, noise, and dust. The existing Social Impact Management Plan for the approved mine indicated that mining would ramp down from 2025, allowing the remaining community to rebuild and rejuvenate. This expansion creates renewed uncertainty and stress, further threatening the mental health and wellbeing of residents and directly undermining plans for community revitalisation and the return of Aboriginal people through successful land claims.

6. Contradiction with State Priorities and Economic Justification

Transition to Clean Energy: Wollar is the starting point for the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (CWOREZ), NSW's first approved REZ. Expanding coal mining here directly competes with and slows this critical transition to a clean energy future.

Employment: There is a major workforce shortage for renewable energy and construction projects in the Central West. This mine extension is not needed for regional jobs and instead competes for the skilled labour urgently required for the renewable energy transition, a priority managed by the NSW Government's Central West Future Jobs and Investment Authority.

Economic Cost: The claimed net public benefit of $21 million is vastly outweighed by the public costs of the project’s additional 25 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions and the escalating costs of climate change-driven extreme weather events. The project is not economically justified.

Conclusion

For the reasons outlined above, this proposal is not in the public interest. It represents a significant expansion that should be assessed as a new project, it will cause irreversible environmental damage, it harms a community in recovery, and it is fundamentally at odds with NSW's energy and economic future. I urge the Department to reject this modification.

Yours sincerely,

A. Imrie

I support Wilpinjongs Pit 8 extension for many reasons.
1. They are a major employer in the local area, providing jobs for my family and friends, and keeping local contractors and businesses prospering.
2. They regularly support community events and charities including the Gulgong Show.
3. Wilpinjong have done the environment impact studies prior to submitting this application. I trust their judgement.
Without their continued operation in the region our lifestyle would be dramatically impacted for the worse.

We write to register our objection to the proposed project.
The proposed mine expansion should be assessed as a new project, not as a modification. The proposed project is substantially different from the currently approved mine and would facilitate a much larger expansion which would impact substantially on Wollar village as well as Aboriginal cultural heritage, agricultural land, and high value biodiversity habitat. The proposed project would fall outside the current mining lease, disturb an additional 155 ha including important habitat, impact on alluvial groundwater sources and surface flows of the Wollar Creek catchment, and abut the Wollar Village boundary. In the Wollar Village area, the project would increase local pollution, noise, dust and water contamination, disturbing the amenity and rural way of life.
However, whether as a modification or a new project, its negative impacts outweigh any potential benefits to the local communities or the people of NSW as a whole.
The mine expansion is not needed to support the local economy, and its negative impacts would outweigh its proposed public benefit. The NSW Government has prioritised the Central West Future Jobs and Investment Authority to support communities transitioning away from the coal industry and the Mudgee region is an ideal site for economic diversification. Wollar village is a community in the process of attempting to rebuild and rejuvenate. It is the starting point for the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (CWOREZ), the first approved REZ in NSW, and a beneficiary of the transition to clean energy - this is where the economic future of the region lies. This means there is no local economic or employment justification for this mine - in fact, there is already a workforce shortage in the Central West due to the economic benefits of the renewable energy projects as well as workers needed in the construction and housing industries. Indeed, expanded coal mining would actively impede the urgently needed construction of the CWOREZ by competing for skilled workers.
The additional 25 MT of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the proposed mine expansion would contribute excessively to climate change at a time when all actors urgently need to reduce emissions as strongly as possible. The proposed project is inconsistent with the Purpose and Guiding principles of the Net Zero Future Act and incompatible with the IEA’s Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario. The importance of reducing climate pollution is underscored by the recent National Climate Risk Assessment, which found among many other risks, that sea level rise and increased coastal hazards will significantly impact coastal communities and cities, particularly in New South Wales and northern Queensland; and by 2050, more than 1.5 million Australians will be living in areas that will experience risk from sea level rise. In addition, the Assessment finds that “Dangerous fire weather days are projected to become more frequent in southern and eastern areas with a longer fire season and the potential for more megafires (high confidence)”. This is especially alarming to people like our members, who have already been impacted by bushfires; and also particularly concerning in the context of NSW’s housing crisis.
The most recent NSW budget states, “…expenditure on natural disasters has increased more than 1,000 per cent in the six years since the 2019-20 bushfires compared to the six years prior”. The Insurance Council of Australia found that extreme weather events in 2022 cost every Australian household an average of $1,532. And healthcare costs alone from the Black summer bushfires were found to amount to $1.95 billion, while a recent analysis found that extreme fire years like this are 88-152 percent more likely due to climate change. When the project’s contribution to these risks and costs - and its competition with the CWOREZ - are subtracted from its projected $21 million net public benefit, it rapidly begins to look not very beneficial at all.
Further, the NSW Net Zero Commission in its 2024 Annual Report found that while NSW has made progress in emissions reductions, achieving its 2030 and 2035 targets is only possible under the most optimistic scenarios, but not certain; and more effort is needed across all sectors of the economy to have a good chance of reaching them. The Commission also expressed concerns that the resources sector specifically could put the state’s targets in jeopardy by increasing emissions associated with new, extended and expanded coal mining projects, considering the “sizeable pipeline” of projects in the planning system. This would unfairly put pressure on other sectors of the NSW economy to reduce emissions even more sharply to compensate for the excess pollution from the resources sector.

Conclusion
BSCA’s members deeply understand the seriousness and urgency of climate change. We object to this proposal, because our mission is to help keep Australian communities safe.
Thank you for your consideration of our comment.
Yours sincerely,

Angela Frimberger, Government Relations Advisor Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action | Birpai Country
[email protected]

I believe the proposed extension of the Wilpinjong mine reflects confidence in the ongoing role of coal in supporting affordable and reliable energy in today’s economy. Wilpinjong is currently one of the lowest-emitting coal mines in Australia, and Peabody is committed to producing coal responsibly, meeting strict environmental standards. The company actively develops and implements strategies to reduce environmental impact, including comprehensive rehabilitation efforts once mining is complete. The continued operation of Wilpinjong will contribute to local economic growth and provide ongoing support to the Mudgee region, making this extension application vital to the community’s future.

I like moneys

I support the project due to the employment opportunities to the people. As someone who is in childcare, I've seen a lot of parents working in the mines. Because I've also been employed before in a mine overseas doing community development work, I can see the difference here in Mudgee and that must be a reflection of responsible mining wherein the community also prospers. My friend, who is battling breast cancer, said she was very grateful for Peabody's donation in Pink-up Mudgee as she is one of the recipients of financial support.

I work there

I work here

I object to the Wilpinjong Mod 3- Pit 8 extension because it will further impact on the Wollar community and surrounding environment. I am a past resident of Wollar and regular visitor for 40 years. The current open cut mining operations create a lot of pollution that is hard to live with. The current approval allows the Wollar community to begin rebuilding. This proposal is a starting point for a much larger mine expansion around Wollar Village that cannot be countenanced. Wollar is at the start of the Central West Renewable Energy Zone. This is the right direction for jobs in the region. More coal means more climate change which is already costing society a fortune. The public benefit of $21m for this proposal is a joke and entirely unacceptable as a justification for approving this destructive new open cut destruction.

Wilpinjong Coal Mine has been a cornerstone of the Mid-Western Region since 2006, not only driving economic growth but also deeply embedding itself in the fabric of our local community. Its continued operation is vital — not just for the region, but for families like mine.
As a resident and Mine Monitoring & Control Coordinator, I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact Wilpinjong has had. Three out of six members of my family are employed locally by the mines, and Wilpinjong's presence has provided us with stable employment, financial security, and the opportunity to remain in the region we call home. This is a story shared by hundreds of families in our community.
Beyond individual households, Wilpinjong’s contributions are extensive:
Economic and Community Benefits

Employment: Supports a 605-strong local workforce, with an additional 100 contractor roles.
Economic Impact: Injected $569 million into the NSW economy last year and contributes $400 million annually across 1,260+ suppliers.
Wages: Pays $96 million in wages annually.
Community Investment: Over $1.2 million invested in 160 community organisations through grants and partnerships.
Skills Development: Supported 30 apprenticeships and trainees last year.
Healthcare Support: Co-funded the Doctors 4 Mudgee Region program and restored GP services to Gulgong.
Government Contributions: Paid $90 million in royalties last year.

Environmental Responsibility
Wilpinjong Coal Mine operates under a comprehensive Environmental Management Strategy that reflects its commitment to sustainable mining practices:

Progressive Rehabilitation: Since 2008, the mine has rehabilitated landforms with native woodland and grassland vegetation. Rehabilitation is conducted progressively as mining advances, ensuring disturbed areas are restored promptly.
Final Landform Planning: The mine has developed a Revised Final Landform Plan to ensure landform stability, ecological function, and hydrological integrity post-mining.
Biodiversity Management: Wilpinjong maintains a Biodiversity Offset Strategy that includes enhancement, conservation, and regeneration areas to protect native flora and fauna. It also monitors and manages impacts on threatened ecological communities.
Water Management: The mine implements strict water quality monitoring and modelling to protect surface and groundwater systems, including void water modelling and hydrological reviews.
Environmental Certification: Wilpinjong is certified to ISO 14001, an international standard for environmental management systems.

In dollar terms, mining’s economic contribution to the Mid-Western Region is more than double that of the next largest sector. Wilpinjong is not just a mine — it’s a lifeline for our community, a source of pride, and a foundation for future growth.
For my family and many others, Wilpinjong represents opportunity, stability, and community. Its continued operation is essential to maintaining the vibrancy and resilience of our region — economically, socially, and environmentally.

I have been working in the Mining industry for 15 years. And have worked in the Wilpingjong/ Ulan and Moolarben area for 10 of these 15 years. I am now working for Premier conveyors. We have a 19-year relationship with Wilpinjong and continue to service the mines conveyor belts. The coal mining district of Mudgee/Gulgong and Ulan have given me the chance to provide my family with a comfortable life that I am very proud of. I bring my family to Mudgee and Gulgong for holidays and try my best to give back to their communities. I cannot thank Peabody enough for the work they allow my company to do at their mine site. And I strongly support this project.

Enough is enough.
I am sick of writing submissions objecting to coal mine extensions in the Mudgee ,Wollar area.
Are we not trying to move away from coal, to a more sustainable form of power generation.
Exporting coal is only shifting the pollution elsewhere. But it is still contributing to Global warming which affects us all.
I drove through this very area two weeks ago. I literally followed coal mines all the way from Ulan to the Broke road in the Hunter Valley. It was a clear day, and all I could see on the horizon was a black/brown line of pollution (dust) coming from the mines.
Regards, David Platt.