MOD 3 - Pit 8 Extension

Melissa Barrass
71 Mathieson St
Carrington, NSW, 2294
21/10/25
Subject: Objection to Wilpinjong Coal Mine Mod 3 – Pit 8 Extension

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to express my strong objection to the proposed Mod 3 – Pit 8 Extension of the Wilpinjong Coal Mine. This project represents a significant threat to the environment, the community, and the future of our region. It is not merely a modification but a drastic expansion that will have irreversible consequences.
The proposed extension will release over 25 million tonnes of additional greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating the climate crisis at a time when we should be transitioning to renewable energy. Wollar is at the heart of the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone, a beacon of hope for a clean energy future. Expanding coal mining here directly undermines this vision and delays the urgent transition away from fossil fuels.
The social impacts of this project are devastating. The Wollar community has already suffered immensely due to the existing mine, with families forced to leave their homes and their way of life disrupted. The proposed expansion, which brings mining operations to the very boundary of Wollar Village, will only deepen this harm. The remaining residents, who are striving to rebuild their community, deserve certainty and support—not further stress, pollution, and displacement.
The destruction of Aboriginal cultural heritage is unconscionable. The Wiradjuri Nation has a deep spiritual connection to this land, with over 1,000 recorded sites in the area. Mod 3 will destroy an additional 15 sites, erasing irreplaceable cultural and spiritual landscapes. This is a profound loss not only for the Wiradjuri people but for all Australians.
The biodiversity impacts are equally alarming. The proposed extension will destroy critical habitats for endangered species, including the Large-eared Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Regent Honeyeater, and Koala. The removal of rocky hills, vital breeding sites for microbats, and the severing of landscape connectivity between conservation areas will have catastrophic consequences for these species.
The water impacts are another major concern. The project will cause a groundwater drawdown of over 20 meters and the loss of 21 million liters of groundwater per year to Wollar Creek. This will degrade vital ecosystems and water sources, with no adequate baseline monitoring or assessment of the impacts.
This project is not justified. The claimed $21 million net public benefit pales in comparison to the costs of climate change and the irreversible damage to the environment and community. Furthermore, there is no need for this expansion to provide jobs. The Central West is already facing a labor shortage, with workers urgently needed for renewable energy projects that promise a sustainable future.
The Wilpinjong Coal Mine Mod 3 – Pit 8 Extension is not substantially the same as the current mine approval. It falls outside the existing lease, encroaches on Wollar Creek, and destroys new areas of cultural and ecological significance. This proposal should be assessed as a new project, not a modification.
In conclusion, this project is a step backward. It threatens our environment, our communities, and our future. I urge you to reject the Mod 3 – Pit 8 Extension and prioritize the transition to renewable energy and the protection of our precious natural and cultural heritage.

Sincerely,
Melissa Barrass

I support the mines new extensions, knowing it will support the community and offer new jobs in the region.

I support this extension as a current employee at the company and to continue to lice in the Mudgee region.

I stand behind wilinjong mine extension and its benefits to our region.

I am a resident of Sydney and have had the opportunities to meet and learn about the lived experience of residents of Wollar, and to appreciate the beautiful natural landscape as well as the rich heritage in the surrounding area of the town, including the Drip and Aboriginal cultural heritage, the Wall of Hands. Decades ago, the community welcomed the mining industry with so much hope towards the job prospects and economic development the companies would bring to the community; however, now it is proven that the destruction of the environment, wildlife habitat, and cultural heritage has only led to the dwindling of the town and people's sense of community.

I object to the project for the community of Wollar for a few reasons.
1. Mining shouldn't be allowed to extend to village boundaries. The proposed expansion is in the vicinity of the Wollar Village and has environmental impacts, including visual, sound, biodiversity, and also climate change, which affects everyone well beyond Wollar and nearby towns.
2. Mod 3 will destroy 15 additional Aboriginal Heritage sites significant to the Wiradjuri Nation. We need to stop the expansion of the mine to stop further destruction of Aboriginal cultural heritage, which is absolutely unacceptable.
3. The project threatens endangered species, including the Large-eared Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Regent Honeyeater, and Koala. Approval of the project will destroy critical wildlife habitats. The mine will cause groundwater drawdown of over 20 metres and reduce creek flows, with the risk of damaging the natural landscape.
4. We need to prioritise the clean energy transition. Wollar is the gateway to the Central West Renewable Energy Zone (REZ). Coal expansion here does not have any advantage for job opportunities over the development of REZs. It slows NSW’s transition towards the strategic priority of renewable energy transition, as it competes for workers needed in renewables.

I support the wilpinjong mine extension as it provides jobs for the area and supports local buisnesses.

I work at the mine and am the provider for my family

I support the pit 8 extension for the economy of the region

I support this extension it provides me and my family and many other family’s with a great job and income and also provides a great income to support my daughters cancer treatment

I am writing to state my objection to the Mod 3 - Pit 8 Extension for the Peabody Energy Wilpinjong coal mine. I do not think we have the scientific or social license to be able to extend open cut coal operations into the next decade in the interest of our future under climate change.

I grew in the Upper Hunter Valley and have personal experience with the benefits and detractions of coal mine operations and how they affect a community. I have visited the Mudgee and Wollar region and see both the beautiful nature in the area and the staggering expanse of mines. I understand the importance of industry but this must be balanced in the best interests of the community and our environment.

As such, I strongly object to this project. I believe that the modification should be assessed as a new project, given its size and substantial differences to the current mine. Labelling this project as a modification is misleading at best and purposefully deceptive at worst. The proposal falls outside of the current mining lease, mines too close to the Wollar Creek boundary and causes additional biodiversity impacts under Federal environmental law.

I am in particular concerned for the Aboriginal heritage in the 155 hectare area, as part of the landscape for the Wiradjuri Nation. The proposed destruction to 15 cultural sites is untenable.

Additionally, I am gravely concerned about the destruction this proposal would cause to the local biodiversity. The CEECs in the area - including Box Gum Woodland - is of vital habitat importance to many species. This CEEC is groundwater dependent, and I do not believe the assessment has considered impacts to groundwater drawdown. I would like to especially point out the poor history of water management and modelling by the Wilpinjong Mine which has required more water than predicted. Can this company be trusted again? The NSW government website specifically mentions that box gum woodland is under threat from fragmentation and habitat loss, which would occur further under this proposal. I am also concerned about the risks to our fauna species - not least the endangered microbats and their critical breeding habitats, the regent honeyeater and koala.

I would like to outline my key points of objection:
1. Releasing over 25 MT of additional Greenhouse Gas emissions
2. First stage of a bigger mine expansion and should be assessed as a new project
3. Mining to the boundary of Wollar Village
4. Disturbing an additional 155 ha: • loss of Aboriginal cultural heritage and spiritual landscape for Wiradjuri Nation • destroying more important habitat for the nationally threatened Large-eared Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Regent Honeyeater and Koala
5. Permanently altering and degrading alluvial groundwater sources and surface flows in the Wollar Creek catchment.
6. Increasing pollution through poorly assessed noise, dust, blasting, onsite coal ignition (spontaneous combustion), lighting and water contamination
7. Increasing social impacts, loss of amenity and ongoing disturbance of rural way of life
8. Slowing the transition to clean energy future – competing with the Central West Renewable Energy Zone that starts at Wollar
9. This project is not needed to provide regional jobs – there is a huge workforce shortage for renewable energy projects in the Central West
10. There is no economic justification, the increased climate change impacts will cost more than public income generated through royalties and taxes.

The Wollar community is working hard to rebuilt and expand, and I praise them for their welcoming attitude for the Renewable Energy Zone in NSW. I have met many members of the community and am inspired by how they are committing to be the start of the transition to clean energy in NSW.

The reason I would like this project to go ahead is so that many more family call the Mudgee Region Home.

I support the project as it is good for the community and prkvide lots of jobs for the region.

I stand behind the Wilpinjong Mine extension and its huge benefits to our region.

I agree with the extension so I keep my job

I strongly support with the pit 8 extensions

It is important for the community for Wilpinjong to continue as it supports family’s and events and will halo the area to continue to thrive

I support the pit 8 extension

I am employed at Wilpinjong and Peabody supports alot of local business and community organisations

I support the pit 8 extension for wilpinjong coal mine.

I strongly support the submission of the pit 8 extension until 2033

I strongly support the modification to wilpinjong mine