Mod 8 - Ulan West Continued Operations.

EPBCBill2025_Submission
I ask that the Senate consider these points and amend the proposed legislation according to
these recommendations:
1. Discretionary powers
The current EPBC Act is frequently criticised for giving almost unfettered discretion to the
Minister for the Environment of the day – resulting in subjective, politicised and unpredictable
decisions. Projects that will cause significant environmental harm are routinely approved by
the Minister for the Environment, and there are limited grounds to challenge the decision.
There is even a provision which allows the Minister to step in on any project and wave it
through without assessment, if it’s deemed to be in the “national interest”. The Samuel
review recommended tightening this discretion by adding standards – clear rules to guide
decisions.
The reform package does not address these issues, and in many cases expands ministerial
discretion:
• Rather than stating that actions inconsistent with national environmental standards cannot
be approved, the bills say projects can be approved if the Minister is “satisfied” they won’t be
inconsistent. This kind of vague language – identified as a key concern in the Samuel
Review – weakens accountability and undermines otherwise positive reforms such as
national standards and the definition of “net gain.”
• The bills also give the Minister and the CEO of the new National EPA (NEPA) the power to
make “rulings” on how the law is interpreted – a role that should sit with the courts. While
similar powers exist in other limited contexts, like tax rulings by the ATO, in environmental
law this creates a serious risk of political influence and inconsistency.
• The bills give the minister powers to create ‘protection statements’ which could be used to
switch off or undermine recovery plans or conservation advice, particularly in approval
decisions.
• The detail of national environmental standards for First Nations Engagement and
Community Engagement and Consultation are currently missing from the reform package.
Recommendations
• Set clear, objective tests to give certainty about how national environmental standards
apply.
• Remove excessive ministerial powers – including the rulings power and streamlined
assessment pathway – and tightly constrain any national interest exemptions or approval
powers to prevent future misuse.
• Conservation planning should be supported, not undermined, by any additional planning
documents. Protection statements must provide equal or greater protection than recovery
plans or conservation advice.
• Prioritise proper consultation on strong First Nations Engagement and Community
Engagement and Consultation national environmental standards so that these standards are
ready to go when the new laws commence.
2. Deforestation loopholes

Industries like native forest logging are frequently effectively exempt from our current nature
laws. Most clearing is not assessed under the EPBC Act due to "Regional Forest
Agreement” (RFA) loopholes that exclude logging and limited assessment and oversight of
agricultural clearing. Threatened species living in habitat covered by an RFA have no federal
protection from harm, despite being nationally listed as threatened. The “continuous use”
exemption means activities such as land clearing that were occurring before 2000 are still
exempt from environmental assessment. The Albanese government’s proposed reform
package keeps these old logging and land clearing loopholes. This means logging in forests
covered by Regional Forest Agreements will continue to avoid federal environmental
assessment. The government has also refused to remove the "continuous use” exemption,
which allows land clearing practices that were occurring before 2000 to continue without
assessment. The reforms will, in theory, apply National Environmental Standards to
deforestation and land clearing but we cannot see how this is the case. The current
proposed reforms do not clearly apply the standards to Regional Forest Agreements. The
reforms mean that the application of the Standards, once developed, will be highly
discretionary, weak, and too often, unenforceable. Under the proposed reforms, the Minister
for the Environment of the day would get to choose if and how to apply them to a project like
a logging coupe or industrial agricultural expansion – and with so much discretion, these
standards will not provide for uniform, reliable environmental protection for threatened
species and their habitat. While there are improvements in enforcement powers and
penalties in the reform package, it is unclear how these will apply to deforestation if existing
loopholes are not closed.
Recommendations
• Remove logging loopholes: Remove the Regional Forest Agreement (RFA) exemption so
forests covered by RFAs are fully subject to national protections and standards.
• Close the continuation of use exemption: Repeal or significantly narrow the s43B
“continuation of use” exemption, which allows outdated approvals to persist even when they
would not pass today’s standards.
3. Climate damage gap
The current EPBC Act is effectively silent on climate change. Coal and gas projects are
assessed for their local impacts on protected places and species, while their biggest threat –
the climate damage they unleash – isn’t even considered. This loophole means Environment
Ministers can approve fossil fuel projects without weighing their climate harm to species,
ecosystems or communities. The government points to the Safeguard Mechanism as a fix,
but it’s no substitute for genuine climate assessment. Some state laws and NOPSEMA (the
National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority) require
disclosure of scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, and some proponents voluntarily provide this data
for federal approvals – but under the EPBC Act, emissions are not a mandatory factor in
decision-making. The reform bills take only a small step forward. They would require projects
to disclose scope 1 and 2 emissions above a threshold and outline how they plan to
“manage” them – but there’s no requirement to reduce pollution, or to report scope 3
emissions from burning exported coal, oil or gas. Nor must the Minister consider any
emissions data when deciding whether to approve a project. In practice, this means only
direct and operational emissions are disclosed, while the far larger climate impacts are
ignored. None of this information must be weighed in assessing a project’s true
environmental footprint. The proposed reforms also allow the Minister for the Environment
and NOPSEMA to disregard key safeguards for offshore gas and petroleum projects,

weakening consultation with First Nations communities and undermining proper
environmental assessment.
Recommendations
• Make climate central. Add climate mitigation and adaptation to the purpose of the law, and
embed clear, enforceable climate tests in every decision.
• Require full emissions disclosure. Projects must report scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, be
assessed against future climate scenarios, and align with Australia’s international
obligations.
• Close loopholes for big polluters. Strengthen oversight of major emitters and offshore
projects to ensure proper environmental assessment, consultation and accountability.
4. National leadership
Under Australia’s current environment laws, the federal Environment Minister has a vital
responsibility: to protect nationally and internationally significant places, ecosystems, plants
and wildlife. This includes species at risk of extinction, as well as places of deep significance
for First Nations people, World Heritage sites, National Parks, the Great Barrier Reef,
internationally important wetlands and marine environments. The federal government is
responsible for protecting these matters of national environmental significance from activities
that could have a significant impact. However, state and federal environment systems often
overlap, conflict, or leave dangerous gaps. Accredited arrangements (like NOPSEMA and
Regional Forest Agreements) are failing to protect nature and are not held to consistent
standards. The result is a patchwork of weak and inconsistent protections that leave nature
exposed. Instead of strengthening national leadership, the proposed bills would further
weaken it – shifting key federal powers to state governments and even non-government
entities and creating new loopholes that could leave nationally significant plants, animals and
places without protection. The reforms also include new ways to fast-track approvals,
including for risky or high-impact developments, without robust and genuine assessment.
Specifically, the reforms:
• Include scope for the federal Environment Minister to hand more power to state and
territory governments, and non-government entities. The Minister can decide that certain
actions don’t need EPBC Act approval based on arrangements with States and Territories.
• Let state and territory governments approve unconventional gas and large coal mining
developments that may have a significant impact on a water resource.
• Include a concerning new loophole that would enable the Minister for the Environment to
switch off important safeguards for offshore gas and petroleum projects assessed by
NOPSEMA (the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management
Authority). This could have a significant impact on requirements for genuine consultation
with First Nations communities and limit proper environmental assessment.
• Create new streamlined assessment and bioregional planning processes which allow for
approvals, including for high-impact developments, to be fast-tracked with little
environmental assessment or oversight.
Recommendations
• Keep national leadership strong. The federal government must stay responsible for
protecting Matters of National Environmental Significance — not hand that power to states or

non-government entities. States and Territories should not

I oppose the project for the following reasons:
- the proposed mine expansion extends beyond the existing lease area and brings new, unexamined environmental consequences, therefore, it cannot reasonably be considered a modification. It represents a fundamentally different project and should be assessed as such to ensure proper independent scrutiny.
- the proposal would release over 105 million tonnes of additional greenhouse gas emissions, with inadequate methane monitoring.
- the proposal would disturb 1,743 hectares of land, affecting habitats for endangered species and Aboriginal cultural heritage, including 71 known sites.
- 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

I object to the project for the following reasons:
This project is not needed to provide regional jobs as there is a huge shortage of workers for renewable energy projects in the Central West;
Releasing over 105 Mt of additional Greenhouse Gas emissions, poor monitoring and reporting of methane emissions;
Extended water releases into the Goulburn River will increase salt load downstream to the Hunter River;
Destroying additional important habitat for the nationally threatened Large Eared Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Regent Honeyeater and Koala;
Undermining several 17 private properties directly impacting 4 houses and 6 private bores;
Increasing socials impacts, loss of farm water and ongoing disturbance of the rural way of life.

I am in full support of this project. The proposed mine expansion will continue to deliver substantial economic benefits to the Mudgee community and surrounding regions. The potential loss of hundreds of millions of dollars in employee wages, procurement from local suppliers, and community contributions made by GCAA would have a significant adverse impact. This impact extends beyond the company and its workforce - the broader community would experience considerable flow-on effects, including population decline as individuals relocate for employment opportunities and reduced revenue for local businesses.

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.

As an employee of Glencore, I strongly support MOD8 and the extension of Ulan West operations, as it will ensure long-term job security for myself and my colleagues. This extension not only provides stability for our workforce but also allows my family and me to continue living in and being an active part of the local community, contributing to its ongoing growth and well-being. I am confident that this project will have lasting positive impacts on both our employment and the local economy.

I strongly object to this extension of Ulan Coal Mine. I do not see this as a modification as it entirely falls outside the current mining lease, therefore there are unassessed environmental impacts. This is a new project.
I live on the Goulbourn River downstream from the 3 mines Ulan, Mollarben and Wilpinjong. We use the river water for stock and domestic purposes. With the 3 mines releasing megalitres of water into the river , the river which used to naturally stop flowing in summer , now has a constant flow and there have been increased salt levels , changed PH levels and European carp are now able to travel upstream, causing irreparable damage to the river bank. The flows are not monitored appropriately.
The proposed 132ha tailings dam which is right next to the head of the Goulbourn River if not monitored appropriately has the potential of leaking very toxic substances into the river , which of course is the head of the Hunter system.
The mines extension will have the potential to affect over 21 species of fauna, many of which are critically endangered. I do not believe the surveys done by the mines contractors were comprehensive and of little real value, considering the potential loss of habitat and well being. There will be direct impacts on listed threatened ecological species , including Box Gum Woodland.
With increasing and alarming effects of Climate Change it beggars belief that this project would even be considered. We have been affected by unprecedented weather , including a storm up in the Barrigan Valley that was so intense it completely washesd away the causeway that crosses Wollar Creek which is our access to Mogo Rd where we live. This event occurred in Oct. 2022 and due to the extreme weather in the Midwestern Regional Council area at the time , the causeway was only temporarily fixed, mind you with no pipes , so in fact it is an illegal blocking of the usual creek flow. The royalties eked from the mining industry can no longer match the cost of Climate Change.
The massive infrastructure being put into the Renewable Energy Zones requires a huge work force and I believe the miners should be transitioning to other industries , instead of relying on a dinosaur.
I urge you if you are human and reading this and have children and grandchildren , do not approve this extension.

Objection to Ulan Coal Mine Mod 8: Ulan West Continued Operations

To: NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
Re: Modification 8 – Ulan West Continued Operations Project
Date: [Insert Date]

I strongly object to the proposed Ulan Coal Mine Modification 8 (Mod 8) and request that the Department reject this modification application. The proposal is not substantially the same project as the existing approval, introduces major new environmental and social impacts, and must therefore be assessed as a new project under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.

⸻

1. The proposal is not a modification – it is a new project and must be assessed as such

Mod 8 is entirely outside the existing mining lease and introduces an extensive suite of new impacts and infrastructure, including:
• A new 132-hectare tailings storage area adjacent to the Goulburn River
• Disturbance of an additional 1,734 hectares of land
• Additional ventilation facilities, tracks and site infrastructure
• New subsidence risks under 17 private properties
• New impacts on groundwater, biodiversity, Aboriginal heritage and rural communities
• An additional 105 Mt CO₂-e in greenhouse emissions

These changes are not minor, not incremental, and not consistent with the currently approved project. They constitute a substantial expansion and require a new State Significant Development application with full merit assessment, public exhibition, and independent environmental evaluation.

⸻

2. Climate impacts: 105 Mt additional emissions with inadequate methane monitoring

The proposal would release over 105 Mt of greenhouse gas emissions, undermining NSW and national climate goals and contradicting the purpose of the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone, where this mine is located.

Serious concerns remain regarding:
• Failure to adequately monitor and report methane (Scope 1) emissions
• Previous unexplained changes to the site’s emissions baseline
• The lack of credible mitigation or offset planning

Given methane’s extremely high warming potential and Australia’s responsibility to reduce fossil fuel emissions, approving further expansion of thermal coal mining to 2041 is incompatible with maintaining a safe climate.

⸻

3. New 132-hectare tailings dam threatens the Goulburn River

The tailings proposal represents a new, unassessed environmental risk:
• The site is a revegetated former open cut pit filled with rejects and disturbed material
• The new tailings facility directly abuts the Goulburn River, yet no seepage monitoring points are proposed
• Risks to The Drip, to downstream users, and to the Goulburn River National Park are not addressed
• No clear management plan or contamination safeguards have been provided

This constitutes an unacceptable risk of long-term toxic pollution.

⸻

4. Major unassessed water impacts in the Murray–Darling Basin

The mine will remove critical water from a stressed system:
• An additional 26.5 million litres per year of lost baseflow to the Talbragar River, part of the Macquarie River system, which feeds the internationally significant Macquarie Marshes
• Additional loss of baseflow to the Goulburn River
• A further six years of saline mine-water discharge, totalling over 15,000 tonnes of salt, entering the Goulburn/Hunter system
• No credible cumulative impact assessment considering the three large coal mines already affecting the Goulburn River

These impacts pose unacceptable risks to river health, water users, and nationally and internationally important ecosystems.

⸻

5. Significant Aboriginal cultural heritage impacts

The Mod 8 proposal will disturb or destroy at least 71 known Aboriginal sites, including rock art and sites of deep cultural and spiritual significance to the Wiradjuri people.

Cumulative loss of Aboriginal heritage from decades of mining in the Ulan region has not been assessed. Any additional destruction of cultural heritage is unacceptable.

⸻

6. Severe impacts on endangered species and critical habitats

The proposal will damage irreplaceable ecosystems, including:
• 6.5 km of sandstone escarpment, caves and cliff lines that provide critical habitat for the Large-eared Pied Bat and Eastern Cave Bat — losses that cannot be offset
• Clearing and fragmentation of critically endangered Box Gum Woodland, vital for numerous threatened woodland species
• Loss of important habitat for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater, with recent breeding records in the district not acknowledged in the assessment
• Additional impacts on Koala habitat and habitat for Powerful Owl and Barking Owl

Cumulative biodiversity impacts across the three major coal mines in the area remain entirely unaddressed.

⸻

7. No final mine plan

The proponent has not supplied a final infrastructure layout due to unresolved negotiations with landholders. A proposal should not be accepted for exhibition without a complete mine plan. The lack of detail prevents proper public and scientific scrutiny and warrants refusal.

⸻

8. Unacceptable and ongoing social impacts

The project would:
• Directly undermine 4 homes
• Reduce or eliminate water supply in 6 private bores, with one to be completely dewatered
• Impact 17 private properties
• Continue patterns of property buy-outs and community dislocation seen across the Ulan district

Replacement water is not guaranteed after mine closure, leaving landholders exposed to long-term harm. Social impacts are significant, ongoing, and not justified.

⸻

9. Not justified – the region does not need further coal expansion

There is a well-documented labour shortage in the Central West, especially within renewable energy construction, housing, and infrastructure sectors.
The NSW Government has established the Central West Future Jobs and Investment Authority to transition the region away from coal, acknowledging the need for economic diversification.

Extending coal mining to 2041 contradicts regional planning priorities and undermines long-term economic resilience.

⸻

Conclusion

For the reasons above, I strongly oppose the Ulan Coal Mine Mod 8 proposal and request that the Department:

1. Reject Mod 8 in its current form; and

2. Require any future proposal to be lodged as a new project with a full, independent environmental and social impact assessment.

The proposal represents a major new coal expansion with unacceptable environmental, cultural, social and climate impacts. It is inconsistent with NSW planning law, environmental protection objectives, climate responsibility, and the region’s economic future.

I therefore request that Modification 8 be refused.

Mudgee Region resident
Olinda 2849

Please see attached my full submission
Thank you for the opportunity to lodge an objection to Ulan Coal Mine Mod 8 – Ulan West Continued Operations.
The proposed mine expansion should not be assessed as a modification; it falls outside the current mining lease causing new previously unassessed environmental impacts and differs substantially from the current approved mine. This project is an extension of the recently approved UWCO Mod 6, but on 14 November approval for Mod 6 was ruled invalid by the Land and Environment Court. Of these two new mining expansion proposals neither is in the public interest and Mod 8 similarly fails to properly consider effects of climate change

What concerns me most about this modification application is the additional fossil fuel emissions its approval would result in, the impacts on cultural heritage and the cumulative impacts on biodiversity including the impacts on threatened species and ecological communities.
I understand that as the impacts of a changing climate increase, efforts globally are aimed to reduce use of fossil fuels. Expanding a coal mine goes against that ambition. It is especially concerning that this project modification is proposed within a Renewable Energy Zone.
I also object to the possible impacts on sandstone overhangs of subsidence, caused by long wall mining which could result in the loss of Aboriginal cultural heritage and further erode the cultural landscape of the Wiradjuri people.
Due to the above concerns as well as the cumulative impacts on biodiversity including already threatened species and ecological communities, caused by multiple projects in the vicinity, additional projects or project extensions should only be approved if justified. I do not see how expanding a fossil fuel project in a renewable energy zone that imperils cultural heritage, and biodiversity is justified.

To Whom this may concern, Strata Worldwide supports extending the mine life of Ulan West Mine (Ulan West Mod8) till 2041, to provide ongoing employment of the workforce and valuable training for future industry leaders. The extension will also provide continued direct and indirect support for businesses and suppliers and contribute valuable taxes, royalties and other payments to help fund critical public services and infrastructure. Local charities, not-for-profit organisations and junior sporting clubs will also significantly benefit through the extension of this operation.
There would be a significant adverse reduction in employment, both locally and throughout the industry should this extension not be approved, as well as a significant reduction in local business investment.

I work at Ulan Coal Mines as an Electrical Superintendent. My now wife and I moved to the Mudgee region 10 years ago. In 2017 we bought a house and in 2019 we had our first child. My wife works in Mudgee, our son attends the local catholic school and our daughter attends a local day care. Our children are involved in local sport and music activities weekly. If Mod 8 is not approved, as much as we love this region and community and living here, the point will come sooner than we had hoped, that living here will not be sustainable for our family and we will need to go elsewhere to continue our careers and raise our children. We are not the only ones in this position; there are many many more families that rely on Mod 8 approval and continued employment in the region.

It is important to note that this is not a new mine. If approved, continuation will:
• Provide ongoing employment to our workforce;
• Support businesses and suppliers – Ulan Complex spends around $470 million annually with more than 920 suppliers many of them local;
• Pay taxes, royalties and other payments that help to fund vital public services such as infrastructure, teachers, nurses and police; and
• Support local charities, not-for-profit organisations, and junior sporting clubs, as well as major projects such as the Mudgee 4 Doctors initiative, Country Universities Centre in Mudgee, and the Mudgee High School LINK Program.
In 2024 Ulan Coal Complex delivered more than $846 million in direct socio-economic value.

We would like to pledge our support for this project due to the value this project adds to the community as a whole, not just employees of the mine but sub-contractors and the wider general community around the Mudgee region. The Ulan Mine is a responsible mining operator who are committed to the environmentally conciencious operation of an underground mine. We assist the mine with managing both their underground and surface water pumping infrastructure and are aware of the effort and emphasis the mine places on maintaining an evironmentally sustainable operation

I object to the project for the following reason.
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. 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. No details are provided on how this significant infrastructure will be managed or groundwater leakage monitored.

The cumulative loss of significant Aboriginal cultural heritage in the Ulan area is not assessed. I am a descendant of Mowgee people and 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. 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.

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 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.
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

My main objection to this extension is about the welfare of all species / biodiversity in this area and the all habitat loss it will create.

I feel it’s so important to voice this concern for those who can’t speak up for themselves like all the species and biodiversity out in and through that area.

It’s up to us to protect and preserve what needs protecting and preserving not just for the generations past or present but all the future generations to come.

What do the concerned citizens have to do to live without fear or concern for a healthy environment to live in. Coal mines take & are destructive & are out of place in 2025. NSW & Australia need to wake up & look at what we are known for...easy prey.

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

Thank you

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.

We are in a climate and biodiversity crisis. This region is in the CWO REZ - we need to build out renewable energy and decarbonise. The Ulan Coal Mine is a thermal coal mine for export - these scope 3 emissions are not captured in the Safeguard Mechanism, which is totally disingenuous! These emissions contribute to the atmosphere - no one owns it, it is shared. Continued degredation of the biosphere means a less stable climate for future generations. If there were a climate trigger, this project would be classified as irresponsible ecocide and a crime against humanity.
Why are wind farms up the road having to go through MUCH MORE rigorous assessment processes when their impacts don't even come close to the destruction Glencore is already doing and is now proposing to do more? The Goulburn River has all but been destroyed. Significant Aboriginal cultural heritage has been ignored, and destroyed. This is koala and glider habitat! When will this insanity end?
I OBJECT!!!! This is my atmosphere too. I have had enough of being poisoned by these selfish, destructive and greedy corporations.
I object for the following reasons, and I expect a clear response against each one:
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, rehabilitatedold 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 – Ulan Mod 8 will impact an additional 71 known sites, including rock art!!! 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.
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.
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.
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.

I object to the Mod 8 - Ulan West Continued Operations (New Project/Expansion).

Key concerns with Ulan Mod 8 mine expansion:
Extends Coal Mining:

Seeks to extend thermal coal mining for a further six years (to 2041), extracting an additional 43 million tonnes of coal.
Minimises cumulative impacts of coal mining that straddles the 
Great-Dividing-Range affecting two major catchments 
Murray-Darling Basin & Hunter River.

Climate Impact:
Would add 105 Mt CO2-e of Scope 3 emissions, an additional 45% on the currently approved operations (including Modification 6).

Water & Groundwater Damage:
Reduces base flows to Talbragar River, threatening Macquarie Marshes (Ramsar-listed wetland) and Goulburn-Hunter catchment.
Will export over 15,000 tonne salt loads to the Goulburn and Hunter River system by extending Mine water discharge six years.
Plan to significantly increase toxic tailings dam infrastructure to the river edge (132 ha area), risking seepage to river flow and downstream Goulburn River National Park and The Drip Gorge ecosystem.

Biodiversity Loss:
The project will impact 101.45ha of native vegetation, 
including 34ha of Box Gum Woodland.

Threatened Species:
It will affect habitats of endangered species, including the Large-Eared Pied Bat and Eastern Cave Bat.
Direct impacts on critically endangered Regent Honeyeater (habitat in Mudgee-Wollar Key Biodiversity Area).
Risks to Koala, Brush-tailed Rock Wallaby.

Cultural Heritage Risk:
Project is on Wiradjuri Country subject to a Native Title Claim and will impact 71 known Aboriginal sites
The area holds cultural significance for the Wiradjuri people.

This is a flawed approval process that should be assessed as a New Project – not a Modification, that removes scrutiny by the Independent Expert Panel for Mining.