Mod 8 - Ulan West Continued Operations.

The Ulan West Continued Operations Modification (Mod 8) is very well considered and very well designed. It seeks to responsibly extend the life of the Ulan Coal Complex, while continuing to provide jobs and investment in the local community and Hunter and Central West regions. The proposed plan makes the best use of existing infrastructure and has been designed to carefully manage and minimise environmental and social impacts. The related operation is very well managed. The proposal is, from experience, a "best in class" for future developments of the type, is fully considerate of all constraints, and is deserving of approval.

As a local resident of the Mudgee / Wollar region I strongly object to the proposed Modification 8 of the Ulan Coal Mine.
This is based on many grounds including:
- Climate change, where the current average global heating has already exceeded 1.5 degrees Celsius (compared with pre-industrial temperatures), which is resulting in major environmental and economic impacts (all many orders of magnitude larger than any proposed economic benefit of continuation of coal mining - with NSW Treasury expecting the economic cost of natural disasters in NSW to treble to $16-17 billion per year by 2061). NSW Government promotes the need to rapidly reduce its carbon emissions through emissions reduction targets of 50% reduction on 2005 levels by 2030,
a 70% reduction on 2005 levels by 2035 and being Net zero by 2050. Approving a so-called coal mine 'Modification' which extends operations until 2041 is directly in conflict and undermines these targets. The recent decision at COP30 for South Korea to join the Powering Past Coal Alliance demonstrates the need for Australia to rapidly move away from coal exports and the reliance on coal within the economy. This presents the perfect situation for NSW to champion this transition, especially from within the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone, where the region can be a state and national leader in a sustainable, equitable and community focused transition (with a great opportunity to avoid a local post mining employment slowdown). Importantly the recent overturning of Ulan Coal Modification 6 within the Land and Environment Court demonstrates the need to consider the local impacts of global climate change, of which this Modification has failed to complete sufficiently. Importantly, as the NSW Net Zero Commission stated, that scope 3 emissions are "an important factor in addressing climate change locally, globally, particularly for sectors like coal mining'.
There is no need for this mine Modification and expansion.
- The project should be assessed as a new project. The proposed expansion falls entirely outside of the current mining lease which will cause new previously unassessed environmental impacts.
- The construction of a new tailings dam within an old open cut pit next to the Goulburn River risks leakage of toxic contaminants.
- The destruction vital habitat for the nationally threatened Eastern Cave Bat, the Large-eared Pied bat, Regent Honeyeater and Koala. Importantly there is a cumulative impact across the region with 3 separate mines destroying habitat.
- The economic arguments for the project are void considering the need for additional skilled labour locally within the renewable energy sectors.
- the loss of Aboriginal cultural heritage, with the expansion proposed to impact 71 known sites including rock art. This cannot be replaced and is a national tragedy.
- The additional 6 years of operation will provide an additional 30,000 tonnes of salt into the Goulburn River.
- The ongoing and increasing social impact which include the loss of farm water and the disturbance of the rural way of life.
Again, there is no need for the continued expansion of this coal mine. It is time to act in the local, state, national and international interest instead of for the large mining corporations who continue to profiteer off of local communities, and both local and global environments.
Thank you,
Max Smiles-Schmidt

Ulan Coal Mines have operated in the Mudgee region for a considerable period. Glencore Coal Assets Australia as the owner of Ulan Coal is responsible for supporting a large proportion of the Mudgee community and beyond. I am proud to say that I am a Glencore employee, and the Ulan operations are integral to my day-to-day tasks. I see first hand the extent to which the Glencore and Ulan teams go to interact with the local community. Community feedback is taken seriously and acted upon. The only result of not approving Mod8 will be to invite significant harm upon the Mudgee region, not to mention the impact upon the budget of NSW.

Submission Opposing Glencore Ulan Coal Mine Modification 8
To Whom It May Concern,
As a science teacher committed to ensuring young people understand the realities of climate change and the importance of protecting Australia’s natural and cultural heritage, I strongly object to Glencore’s Ulan Coal Mine Modification 8. This proposal represents a major new expansion of coal mining, not a minor modification, and should be rejected in full.

1. This Is Not a Modification – It Is a New Project
Modification 8 must not be assessed as a modification because it
• Falls entirely outside the existing mining lease.
• disturbs 1,734 ha of new landscape.
• Introduces major new infrastructure including a 132 ha tailings dam.
• Results in 105 million tonnes of additional greenhouse gas emissions.
• Impacts new areas of Aboriginal cultural heritage.
• Increases water and groundwater impacts, and undermines private properties and bores.
The proposal differs substantially from existing approvals and must undergo a full, independent, merit-based assessment as a new project.

2. Climate Impacts and Methane Under-Reporting
The expansion would release over 105 Mt of additional GHG emissions, worsening climate change at a time when deep, rapid reductions are scientifically essential.
Of particular concern:
• Glencore has not properly reported methane emissions, a major contributor to Scope 1 emissions.
• In 2014, Glencore altered its baseline CO₂-e calculations to fall below the threshold requiring offsets under the Federal Safeguard Mechanism—without explanation or transparency.
Methane leakage from underground longwall mines is often underestimated, contributing significantly to climate forcing. Continuing to expand coal mining within the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone contradicts NSW and national climate policy.

3. Dangerous New 132 ha Tailings Dam
The proposal includes a new 132 ha tailings and reject dam in a previously rehabilitated open-cut pit adjacent to the Goulburn River. Critical concerns include:
• No monitoring points to detect seepage into the river
• High risk of contamination entering The Drip gorge, Goulburn River National Park, and downstream users
• Unknown long-term stability of a dam built on disturbed soils and coal reject fill
• Total lack of detail about dam design, seepage control, groundwater monitoring, or closure
This is the creation of a new toxic legacy in a sensitive landscape with inadequate assessment.

4. Serious Water Impacts Across the Murray–Darling Basin and Hunter Catchment
Subsidence from underground longwall mining fractures rock layers, drains groundwater systems, and reduces surface flows.
The proposal predicts:
• 26.5 million litres per year of lost flow to the Talbragar River (not including cumulative losses)
• Reduced baseflows to the Goulburn River
• Over 15,000 tonnes of additional salt discharged over six years into the Goulburn/Hunter system
The Talbragar flows directly into the Macquarie River downstream of Burrendong Dam and ultimately support the internationally significant Macquarie Marshes. These losses have not been properly evaluated.
The cumulative impacts of Ulan, Moolarben and Wilpinjong Mines on the Goulburn River have never been fully assessed.

5. Loss of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
There is extensive evidence of continuous Wiradjuri occupation and deep spiritual connection to Country. Ulan Mod 8 will impact:
• 71 known Aboriginal cultural sites, including rock art, artefact scatters and culturally important landforms
• Additional unrecorded sites likely to occur across the 1,734 ha extension area
• Cultural landscapes integral to Wiradjuri identity
These impacts have not been adequately assessed cumulatively or respectfully. The cultural loss is permanent and irreplaceable.

6. Severe Biodiversity Impacts
The proposal threatens an ecologically rich region containing sandstone escarpments, caves and overhangs that are habitat for many threatened species.
Key impacts include:
• Loss of 6.5 km of sandstone escarpment, critical habitat for the endangered Large-eared Pied Bat and Eastern Cave Bat. These losses cannot be offset.
• Ongoing clearing of the Box Gum Woodland CEEC, with cumulative regional loss unassessed.
• Destruction of habitat for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater, including areas with recent breeding activity ignored in the assessment.
• Continued fragmentation of Koala habitat, not properly assessed.
• Impacts on Barking Owl and Powerful Owl habitat.
The cumulative effects of three adjacent mines on these species are significant, but not assessed.

7. Social Impacts and Loss of Rural Amenity
The proposal will:
• Undermine 17 private properties
• Cause subsidence under four homes
• Lower water availability in six private bores, including the complete dewatering of one
• Permanently reduce community resilience in an already stressed rural region
Glencore’s proposed mitigation—temporary replacement water—will not continue after mining ends, leaving landholders with long-term damage and no support.
The company has already purchased numerous properties due to subsidence, noise and other impacts. Continued expansion worsens community fragmentation and mental health impacts.

8. Unfinalised Mine Plan and Uncertain Impacts
The mine’s final layout has not been determined due to unresolved negotiations with landholders. Critical infrastructure locations are unknown.
This means:
• Environmental assessments have been conducted without certainty of final disturbance
• Key risks cannot be fully evaluated
• The Department should not have accepted the application without a final mine plan
A project of this scale must not proceed on speculation

9. Not Justified – No Economic Need and Workforce Shortages Elsewhere
There is no economic justification for this expansion:
• The region faces a major labour shortage in renewable energy, housing and construction
• Ulan Mod 8 competes directly with workforce needs for the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone
• The NSW Government has already established the Future Jobs and Investment Authority to support transition away from coal
Continuing to expand coal undermines the region’s long-term economic future and delays the necessary shift to clean energy.

10. Conclusion
On scientific, cultural, ecological and social grounds, Modification 8 is unacceptable. It is a major new coal expansion that threatens climate stability, water security, biodiversity, Aboriginal heritage, rural communities and the integrity of the Murray–Darling and Hunter catchments.

I urge you to reject Modification 8 and instead support a future built on clean energy, healthy ecosystems, and thriving communities.

Sincerely,
Felicity Briggs
Science Teacher

I am in support of this project and the continued operations of Ulan West coal. This project continues to supply support of community projects, hundreds of direct and indirect employment opportunities, sustained positive economic support for the region and state. In lieu of any other significant long term employment opportunities in the mid western council area, Projects like this are critical to the lives and livelihoods of the community and supporting the standards of living.

I have been involved with the Ulan Mining Complex from a supplier position for more than 30 years. During this time I have seen the region flourish and sustainable mining activities maintained in the region. During this time I have also seen the state of NSW sustained with the help of mining income and royalties. If mining activities in NSW were to decline or end at any time in the future, the impact on the sustainability of the state of NSW would be seriously changed. Australia is blessed with high quality natural resources and over the last 170 years the country has been built on the back of Mining in Australia . Mining practices in Australia are the most stringent and safest of any country in the world. Mining sustains many thousands of families and many many regional and metropolitan regions. I fully support the continuation of Mining at Ulan West.

Majority of young familiys in the area depend on having the 3 mines as a steady source of income including myself. Without these mines mudgee will turn into kandos with everybody having to leave to chase work. Not only does the expansion of ulan west sercue ulan wests employees jobs but also those at ulan surface operations, not to mention the hundreds of contractors, shutdown workers, specilised trades, suppliers, cranes, pest control and so on that is all sourced locally

NLT Digital Solutions provides Australian made aand certified Explosion Protected cap lamps and equipment for Coal Mines in Australia. We have had a long term relationship with Ulan operations including Ulan West. We supply parts and equipment to the mine to maintain communications through out the mine.

With 3 personnnel employed in NSW out of Newcastle, if this extension was not to go ahead it will impact the viability of the NSW business and would have a flow on effect to our QLD manufcaturing business.
Our Engineering and Service personnel stay locally in town and are spending money 3-4 weeks a month in Mudgee, which help support local businesses.

This project should not be considered as a "modification" and should rather be referred to as a new project since it falls outside the current mining lease and will impact an additional 1,734 ha landscape. This will destroy irreplaceable endangered species habitats and cause additional biodiversity loss under the current Federal environmental law, not to mention the destruction of an area of Aboriginal cultural heritage significance. This sends the complete wrong message to what we should stand for as a nation and especially as we should be turning to a greener future, no new "modifications" or projects should be accepted as this will only further damage the world we're trying to save

The Glencore Ulan Coal Mine has approval to mine 20 Mt/year thermal coal to August 2035. It is
a wholly underground longwall mining operation disturbing over 120 km2of farmland and
bushland with high biodiversity values. Ulan Mine crosses under the Great Dividing Range
intercepting water from the Murray-Darling Basin and the Hunter catchment.
The proposed mine expansion should not be assessed as a modification because it falls entirely
outside the current mining lease causing new previously unassessed environmental impacts
and therefore differs substantially from the current approved mine. This ‘modification’ proposal
should be assessed as a new project so that it receives full independent merit assessment.
The project is an extension of the recently approved Ulan Mod 6 that is under legal appeal.
The Mod 8 application is to mine a further 43 Mt up to 2041. Ulan Coal Mine falls within the
Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (CWOREZ). There must be no more expansion of
coal mining to maintain a safe climate.
1. Methane monitoring – Scope 1 emissions
Glencore does not report methane emissions and altered the baseline calculation for annual
CO2 -e emissions in 2014 to below requirement for offsets under the Federal Safeguard
Mechanism, with no explanation.
2. New Tailings Dam
A 132 ha new tailings dam area (and associated stockpile) is additional to the current approved
mining impacts. The proposed area for storage of coal waste from the washery abuts the
Goulburn River with no monitoring points to measure seepage into the river. This is a threat to
The Drip gorge and downstream water users including Goulburn River National Park. The chosen
site is an old revegetated open cut mine, backfilled with coal rejects and disturbed soils. This is
a new toxic legacy in the landscape further risking river health. No details are provided on how
this significant infrastructure will be managed or groundwater leakage monitored.
3. Water Impacts
Subsidence or land collapse caused by underground mining damages groundwater systems
that store water in the landscape.
Groundwater provides base flows to rivers and creeks. This mine expansion will cause a
predicted additional loss of 26.5 million litres per year of flow to Talbragar River – does not
report cumulative loss of flows from current approvals. The Talbragar River is a major tributary of
the Macquarie River in the Murray Darling Basin that flows in below Burrendong Dam. These
flows are directly connected to the internationally significant Macquarie Marshes.
The Goulburn River will also be impacted by additional loss of base flow.
Most importantly, it will add another six years of mine water discharge carrying over 15,000
tonnes of salt (7 tonnes per day) into the Goulburn /Hunter River ecosystem. The cumulative
impact of the three large coal mines on the Goulburn River has never been fully assessed.
4. Aboriginal cultural heritage impacts
The cumulative loss of significant Aboriginal cultural heritage in the Ulan area is not assessed.
There is ample evidence of continuous Wiradjuri occupation of the region with spiritual
connection to country. Ulan Mod 8 will impact an additional 71 recorded sites.
5. Biodiversity impacts
The proposed extension of mine disturbance will impact areas of fragile sandstone landscape
including 6.5 kms of escarpment with rocky outcrops and cliff lines higher than 10m. These
provide important habitat for the endangered Large-eared Pied Bat and Eastern Cave Bat. This
habitat loss cannot be offset. The cumulative loss of irreplaceable microbat habitat across the
three adjacent mines is not assessed.
The cumulative loss of mature, healthy Box Gum Woodland CEEC in the region through mine
clearing has not been assessed. This ecosystem provides important habitat for a range of
threatened woodland animal species.
3
Regent Honeyeater: The ongoing loss of important habitat for the critically endangered Regent
Honeyeater is not recognised or assessed. There are current records of breeding activity in the
district that are not identified in the assessment report.
Koala: ongoing disturbance of Koala habitat from mining is not assessed
The area of impact provides habitat for the threatened Barking Owl and Powerful Owl
6. Final Mine Plan
The final placement of infrastructure in the landscape has not yet been provided because of
ongoing negotiations with private landholders. This issue should have been resolved before the
proposal was lodged and accepted by the Department of Planning. A final mine plan should be
submitted for consideration.
7. Social impacts
The proposal will impact 17 private properties, directly under-mining 4 houses and lowering
water availability in 6 private bores including total dewatering of one. The mitigation measure of
providing replacement water will not continue after mining is finished. The Ulan Mine has
bought out a large number of properties over time because of severe impacts of subsidence and
noise from ventilator fans. This diminishes the local community and removes neighbourhood
support in a remote rural area.
8. Not substantially the same project
The proposed extension should not be assessed as a modification because it is not
substantially the same as the current Mine approval:
• Falls entirely outside the current mining lease
• Introduces new infrastructure eg new 132 ha tailings disposal area, additional
ventilators, tracks
• Impacts an additional 1,734 ha landscape
• Increases impacts on groundwater, creeks and rivers
• Destroys irreplaceable endangered species habitat
• Causes additional biodiversity impacts under Federal environmental law
• Destroys a new area of Aboriginal cultural heritage significance
• Directly impacts 17 private properties, threatens built structures and private bores
• Releases 105 Mt additional greenhouse gas emissions
9. Not Justified
There is no need for extended coal mining in the region to provide local jobs. Mining is
competing for skilled labour urgently required in the construction, housing and renewable
energy industries. There is a major labour shortage in the Central West with local workers
needed for the CWO REZ construction.
The NSW Government has prioritised the Central West Future Jobs and Investment Authority to
manage the transition away from coal mining. The Mudgee region has many opportunities to
diversify the economy.

The reasons I object are as follows:

1. Releasing over 105 Mt of additional Greenhouse Gas emissions, poor monitoring and
reporting of methane emissions.
2. Outside existing mine boundary with additional infrastructure disturbance - should be
assessed as a new project
3. Constructing a large new tailings dam area of 132 ha within a revegetated, rehabilitated
old open cut pit next to Goulburn River risking leakage of toxic contaminants
4. Wholly west of Great Dividing Range within the Murray Darling Basin - loss of flows to
Talbragar River, tributary of Macquarie River feeding into significant Macquarie Marshes
5. Extended water releases into Goulburn River increasing salt load downstream to Hunter
6. Loss of Aboriginal cultural heritage and spiritual landscape for Wiradjuri Nation –
impacting 71 known sites, including rock art
7. Disturbing an additional 1743 ha with sandstone escarpment, caves and overhangs:
Destroying additional important habitat for the nationally threatened Large-eared Pied
Bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Regent Honeyeater and Koala, critically endangered Box Gum
Woodland. Cumulative impact on these species across 3 mines in region.
8. Final layout of surface infrastructure not yet determined – mine plan not finalised
9. Undermining 17 private properties directly impacting 4 houses and 6 private bores
10. Increasing social impacts, loss of farm water and ongoing disturbance of rural way of life
11. This project is not needed to provide regional jobs – there is a huge workforce shortage
for renewable energy projects and other industries in the Central West

There is a huge impact to the water quality as outlined below:
Subsidence or land collapse caused by underground mining damages groundwater systems
that store water in the landscape.
Groundwater provides base flows to rivers and creeks. This mine expansion will cause a
predicted additional loss of 26.5 million litres per year of flow to Talbragar River – does not
report cumulative loss of flows from current approvals. The Talbragar River is a major tributary of
the Macquarie River in the Murray Darling Basin that flows in below Burrendong Dam. These
f
lows are directly connected to the internationally significant Macquarie Marshes.
The Goulburn River will also be impacted by additional loss of base flow.
Most importantly, it will add another six years of mine water discharge carrying over 15,000
tonnes of salt (7 tonnes per day) into the Goulburn /Hunter River ecosystem. The cumulative
impact of the three large coal mines on the Goulburn River has never been fully assessed.

Also the loss of Aborigine cultural sites hasn't been taken into account.
The cumulative loss of significant Aboriginal cultural heritage in the Ulan area is not assessed.
There is ample evidence of continuous Wiradjuri occupation of the region with spirit
There will be significant damage and loss to the region which is abhorrent.

I strongly object to this proposal ,as a property owner less than 30 kilometres downstream of the project direct impacts and risk to water supply and property access are real concerns.
The proposal of a tailings dam at the headwaters of the Goulburn River with inadequate monitoring and no down stream monitoring is unacceptable.
This proposal will add significantly more salt load and other contaminants to the river with no consideration of the cumulative impact from the other 2 mines.
There is significant lack of assessment on the cumulative impacts of a large range of issues.
The water table draw down affecting both west and easterly water sheds .
The disturbance of aboriginal cultural sites.
The impact on unique sandstone escarpments habitat to endangered and threatened species including the Large Eared Pied Bat and Eastern Cave Bat. This habitat cannot be offset .
The area is also habitat for the endangered Regent Honey eater, Barking owl ,Powerful Owl and Koala.
The project will negatively affect surrounding farm land ,further reducing the local population and impacting the social fabric of this rural area.
There is no consideration of the climate change impacts with increased extreme weather events due to increases in Green House Gases, be it fires or floods stretching the budget of the Local Govt Area; repairing roads causeways bridges etc ( recognised in the recent Draft Regional Strategic Integrated Transport Plan)increasing insurance and maintenance for private land holders.
The project is so significantly different to the current mine approval that it should be assessed as a new project . It sits outside the existing mine boundary in a different exploration licence area.
I see no justification for an approval. We need to reduce the use and production of fossil fuels. There is no shortage of employment in the area ,in fact the Renewable Energy projects are having difficulty getting a workforce and some of that problem is because of expanding coal mines.
The government seems to be going in 2 directions at once if it supports this proposal as it has also recently recognised the importance of transitioning away from coal with the creation of the Future Jobs and Investment Authority.
I hope that when assessing this proposal that it can be seen as unnecessary ,unneeded and that the cons far out way any benefits.

I am currently employed at Ulan Coal Mine and fully support the proposed Mod 8 expansion. The project will secure ongoing jobs for local workers, strengthen the regional economy, and make the most of existing mine infrastructure.

Coal mining remains a vital industry for our community, providing reliable employment and contributing significantly to Australia’s energy needs and exports. Ulan has a strong record of safe and responsible operations, and I believe the proposed extension will continue that standard while ensuring long-term stability for local families and businesses.

I strongly support the approval of this modification.

I strongly object to Ulan Coal Mine Mod 8. This expansion is a major new project that should not be assessed as a modification. It will cause severe environmental, social, cultural, and climate impacts.

Climate: The project will release over 105 Mt CO₂-e, and methane emissions are poorly monitored. Expanding coal mining is inconsistent with NSW’s climate targets and the Paris Agreement.

Water: Mining will cause subsidence, damaging groundwater and reducing flows to the Talbragar River, Macquarie Marshes, and Goulburn River, adding over 15,000 tonnes of salt over six years. Cumulative impacts from Ulan, Wilpinjong, and Moolarben mines are not fully assessed.

Biodiversity: The project will destroy 1,734 ha of habitat, including for Regent Honeyeater, Large-eared Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Koala, Barking Owl, Powerful Owl, and Box Gum Woodland CEEC. The cumulative impact across three mines is not assessed.

Aboriginal Heritage: Ulan Mod 8 will impact 71 additional sites, including areas of spiritual significance to the Wiradjuri Nation.

Community: 17 private properties are affected, including 4 houses and 6 bores. Subsidence, noise, and water impacts will continue to harm rural livelihoods.

Assessment & Planning: The final mine plan is not determined, and new infrastructure (tailings dam, ventilators, tracks) lies outside the current lease. This is not substantially the same project and requires a full independent assessment.

Economic Justification: There is no need for expanded coal jobs. Local workers are needed for renewable energy and other industries. The region has opportunities to diversify away from coal.

For these reasons, I urge the Department to reject Ulan Coal Mine Mod 8. Approval would cause irreversible environmental and social harm and undermine climate, community, and biodiversity protection.

It is outside the existing mine boundary with additional infrastructure disturbance and should be assessed as a new project. Construction of a large new tailings dam over an area of 132 ha within a revegetated, rehabilitated old open cut pit next to the Goulburn River risks leakage of toxic contaminants. It would destroy additional important habitat for the nationally threatened Large-eared Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Regent Honeyeater and Koala, critically endangered Box Gum Woodland. This project is not needed to provide regional jobs, as there is a significant workforce shortage for renewable energy projects and other industries in the Central West.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Ulan 8 proposal.
I can't believe that in a climate emergency we are still considering new or expanded coal mines. I lost my house and all possessions in the Currowan wildfire of 2019/20. This is just a taste of where our stage 3 emissions end up. Australian coal is fueling the climate disasters worldwide. It's not rocket science ...all we have to do is join the dots of the climate change disasters in this country alone and quickly remove ourselves from any fossil fuel projects and certainly not open new ones or expand existing ones.
I have attached 2 photos - one is my house in October 2019 and the other is the same shot location in January 2020. I lay the blame for the ferocity and speed of this mega fire on climate change fueled in part by coal that used to lay under the ground in NSW and was exported through the busiest coal port in the world, Newcastle.
The following is not an exhaustive list of why the proposal and others like it should be rejected. However it is a good start. I reject the proposal because of these reasons:
1. Releasing over 105 Mt of additional Greenhouse Gas emissions, poor monitoring and
reporting of methane emissions.
2. Outside existing mine boundary with additional infrastructure disturbance - should be
assessed as a new project
3. Constructing a large new tailings dam area of 132 ha within a revegetated, rehabilitated
old open cut pit next to Goulburn River risking leakage of toxic contaminants
4. Wholly west of Great Dividing Range within the Murray Darling Basin - loss of flows to
Talbragar River, tributary of Macquarie River feeding into significant Macquarie Marshes
5. Extended water releases into Goulburn River increasing salt load downstream to Hunter
6. Loss of Aboriginal cultural heritage and spiritual landscape for Wiradjuri Nation –
impacting 71 known sites, including rock art
7. Disturbing an additional 1743 ha with sandstone escarpment, caves and overhangs:
Destroying additional important habitat for the nationally threatened Large-eared Pied
Bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Regent Honeyeater and Koala, critically endangered Box Gum
Woodland. Cumulative impact on these species across 3 mines in region.
8. Final layout of surface infrastructure not yet determined – mine plan not finalised
9. Undermining 17 private properties directly impacting 4 houses and 6 private bores
10. Increasing social impacts, loss of farm water and ongoing disturbance of rural way of life
11. This project is not needed to provide regional jobs – there is a huge workforce shortage
for renewable energy projects and other industries in the Central West

The proposed expansion of the Ulan Coal Mine Mod 8 should not be assessed as a modification because the proposal extends outside the current mining lease and will likely cause environmental impacts that differ from the current mine and should instead be a assessed as a new project.

The reasons for opposing this project include the impacts it will have on the climate, water, animal habitat and the need to instead transition to renewable energy projects.

Firstly, if allowed to go ahead this expansion will release an additional 105 Mt of greenhouse gas emissions from the Ulan mine. In reporting greenhouse gas emissions, Glencore, in 2014, altered their baseline calculation for annual CO2 -e emissions to be below the requirement for offsets under the Federal Safeguard Mechanism. There shouldn't be any more expansions of coal mines amidst a climate crisis.
For the expansion, a new tailings dam would needed to be built and would threaten nearby rivers, and the mine itself would risk groundwater. The tailings dam borders the Goulburn River and risks seepage into the waterways. Downstream it poses a threat to The Drip gorge and Goulburn National Park. Additionally the site for the dam, an old open cut mine, has a toxic legacy that poses as a further risk the river's health. There are no details that have been provided that show how the dam will be managed or leakage monitored.
On groundwater, the expansion will cause an additional loss of 26.5 million liters per year of water that flowed into the Talbragar River. This river is a major tributary of the Macquarie River in the Murray Darling Basin that flows in below Burrendong Dam which flows into the internationally significant Macquarie Marshes.
The mine will also add an additional six years of mine water discharge into the Goulburn and Hunter River ecosystems which will carry over 15,000 tones of salt.

The expansion poses a threat to endangered animals such as the Large-eared Pied Bat and Eastern Cave Bat. Mine disturbance will impact sandstone landscapes such as 6.5kms of escarpments, rocky outcrops and large cliffs that provide habitat for the aforementioned bats. There is no replacing fragile areas such as this, and the loss of such habitat has not been assessed.
The clearing of Box Gum Woodland CEEC has also not been assessed despite being the habitat for threatened animals such as the Regent Honeyeater, Koala, Barking Owl and Powerful Owl. This habitat is irreplaceable.

Finally, as this mine falls within the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone, it is unjustified to expand coal mining when the NSW Government has prioritized the Central West Future Jobs and Investment Authority to manage the transition away from coal mining. As there is a shortage of labor in area needed for industries such as housing, construction and renewable energy, mining is taking away the vital skilled labor needed to help transition the community to a clean energy future and to help Mudgee diversify its economy.

I am a local resident, who works in the local area and strongly support the project and the continuation of coal mining. The project has comprehensively assessed all environmental and social impacts and has comprehensively demonstrated it can proceed with minimal impact with the management and mitigation measures Ulan Coal Mine has committed to. The project has significant benefits to the local community through providing ongoing employment for hundreds of people, providing ongoing support for the local community, including local organisations, charities and sporting groups to mention a few. Without Coal mines, hundreds of local people would need to seek re-employment, possibly needing to relocate out of the region to find suitable employment. The project will allow Ulan Coal Mine to continue supporting local businesses and the local and State Economy.

I am a full-time worker at Ulan West and strongly support the project. I have worked at Ulan for almost 6 years and has provided me a wage allowing me to live comfortably. I believe surrounding towns such as Gulgong, Mudgee and Ulan thrive on the mining industry (especially Ulan). Providing numerous amounts of jobs, strengthening the regional economy, giving back to the community via sponsorships, volunteering etc.

Furthermore, Ulan provides a very safe and reliable operation and is conveyed through our reputation for safety standards.

I strongly support this proposal for Mod 8 expansion.

The Ulan Coal Mine Complex provides a significant financial contribution to the Mudgee region, both in terms of direct employment, as well as supporting local suppliers. Mudgee is a vibrant community for a rural town, thanks largely to the financial benefit that mining provides, and the Mod 8 approval will allow that benefit to continue into the future. More so, being an underground mine, and the general location of the operations, the environmental impact is greatly reduced. As an employee of Ulan West, I am in support of the Ulan West mine extension (Mod 8) both for personal employment reasons, as well as the benefit the operation provides for the broader community.