Mod 8 - Ulan West Continued Operations.

Key concerns with impacts of the Ulan Mod 8 expansion:
Extends Mining: Six-year extension to mine an additional 43 million tonnes of coal.

Massive Emissions: Adds 105 million tonnes of CO2-e, a 45% increase.

Spans Major Catchments: Operations impact both the Hunter and Murray-Darling basins, threatening water security.

Risky Tailings Dam: Expands toxic waste storage near a river, risking seepage downstream into a national park.

Habitat & Species Loss: Clears 100+ hectares of native vegetation, including 34ha of Box Gum Woodland, impacting threatened species like the Regent Honeyeater and Koala.

Cultural Heritage Risk: Impacts 71 Aboriginal sites on Wiradjuri Country under a Native Title claim.

Flawed Process: Assessed as a "modification" to avoid community scrutiny.

There must be no more expansion of coal mining to maintain a safe climate and environment. This proposal:
Will release over 105 Mt of additional Greenhouse Gas emissions,
Already has poor monitoring and reporting of methane emissions.
Is outside existing mine boundary with additional infrastructure disturbance - should be assessed as a new project
Involves constructing a large new tailings dam area of 132 ha within a revegetated, rehabilitated old open cut pit next to Goulburn Risks leakage of toxic contaminants into the river
Is wholly west of Great Dividing Range within the Murray Darling Basin - meaning there will be loss of flows to Talbragar River, a tributary of Macquarie River that feeds into significant Macquarie Marshes
Will result in extended water releases into Goulburn River, increasing salt load downstream to the Hunter
Will result in loss of Aboriginal cultural heritage and spiritual landscape for Wiradjuri Nation – impacting 71 known sites, including rock art
Will disturb an additional 1743 ha with sandstone escarpment, caves and overhangs:
Will destroy additional important habitat for the nationally threatened Large-eared Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Regent Honeyeater and Koala, critically endangered Box Gum Woodland, leading to cumulative impact on these species across 3 mines in region.
The final layout of surface infrastructure is not yet finalised and will likely undermine 17 private properties directly impacting 4 houses and 6 private bores
There will be increased social impacts, loss of farm water and ongoing disturbance of rural way of life
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

Good afternoon,

I strongly object to the Ulan Coal Mine for the following reasons -

Key points of objection:
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 for your time and consideration.

Sincerely

The Reid Family

My concerns with impacts of the Ulan Mod 8 expansion:
• Extends Mining: Six-year extension to mine an additional 43 million tonnes of coal.
• Massive Emissions: Adds 105 million tonnes of CO2-e, a 45% increase.
• Spans Major Catchments: Operations impact both the Hunter and Murray-Darling basins, threatening water security.
• Risky Tailings Dam: Expands toxic waste storage near a river, risking seepage downstream into a national park.
• Habitat & Species Loss: Clears 100+ hectares of native vegetation, including 34ha of Box Gum Woodland, impacting threatened species like the Regent Honeyeater and Koala.
• Cultural Heritage Risk: Impacts 71 Aboriginal sites on Wiradjuri Country under a Native Title claim.
• Flawed Process: Assessed as a "modification" to avoid community scrutiny.

I support the people of Mudgee and object to this project as it:
Extends Coal Mining:
Seeks to extend thermal coal mining for a further six years (to 2041), extracting an additional 43 million tonnes of coal and
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 and 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*

Dear Sir/Madam,
I am writing to formally object to the proposed Ulan Coal Mine Modification 8. Despite being presented as a mere “modification,” this proposal represents a major expansion of mining operations, with significant and long-term consequences for our community, environment, and cultural heritage.
1. Misleading Classification and Lack of Proper Scrutiny
The Ulan Mod 8 proposal seeks to extend mining until 2041 and extract an additional 43 million tonnes of coal. This scale of activity cannot reasonably be considered a “modification.” It constitutes a major new project that should be subject to independent assessment and full public scrutiny. The current approach undermines public confidence in the planning process and fails to meet the standards of transparency expected for projects of this magnitude.
2. Climate and Emissions Impact
The proposal would result in an additional 105 million tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions—a 45% increase in the mine’s total contribution to greenhouse gases. At a time when Australia has committed to reducing emissions and transitioning away from fossil fuels, approving such an expansion is inconsistent with both state and national climate goals.
3. Water Security and Catchment Impacts
The mine’s operations straddle both the Hunter and Murray–Darling Basin catchments, placing critical water resources at risk. Expansion of the tailings dam poses an ongoing threat of seepage or contamination into adjacent waterways, with potential downstream impacts extending into a national park. Our regional water supplies are already under stress from prolonged droughts and climate change; further mining-related extraction and contamination are unacceptable.
4. Biodiversity and Habitat Loss
The project proposes to clear over 100 hectares of native vegetation, including 34 hectares of critically endangered Box Gum Woodland. This destruction would directly harm threatened species such as the Regent Honeyeater and Koala, further fragmenting an already vulnerable ecosystem. Once these habitats are lost, they cannot be restored within our lifetime.
5. Cultural Heritage Impacts
The expansion would disturb or destroy 71 Aboriginal heritage sites on Wiradjuri Country, which is currently subject to a Native Title claim. These places hold deep cultural and spiritual significance, and their protection should be a non-negotiable priority. Proceeding with this modification would constitute a serious failure to respect Indigenous rights and heritage.
6. Community Fairness and Consultation
Our community previously requested that exhibition periods for major mining proposals be staggered to ensure fair participation. Yet, the concurrent exhibition of multiple controversial projects effectively excludes many residents from engaging meaningfully. This undermines the principle of fair and transparent community consultation.
Conclusion
The Ulan Mod 8 proposal is not a minor administrative change—it is a major new coal mining project disguised as a modification. It carries unacceptable risks to our climate, water, wildlife, and cultural heritage, and it circumvents the democratic and environmental safeguards designed to protect them.
I strongly urge the Department to reject Ulan Mod 8 and require any such proposal to undergo a full, independent environmental and social impact assessment under the proper development pathway.
Thank you for considering this objection.

I strongly object to the approval of Modification 8 (Ulan West Continued Operations) by Glencore.

1. This proposal is not a modification – it is a new project
The proposal extends well beyond the approved mining lease, introducing new infrastructure (including a 132 ha tailings dam, new ventilation fans, and new access roads) and disturbing an additional 1,743 ha of land. It should therefore be assessed as a new State Significant Development, not as a modification.
Allowing it to proceed as a “mod” would avoid proper environmental scrutiny and community consultation, setting a dangerous precedent.

2. Unacceptable greenhouse gas emissions
The project would release an estimated 105 million tonnes of additional CO₂-e, undermining NSW and national climate goals and the intent of the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone. Glencore’s record on methane reporting is inadequate, with altered baseline calculations and poor transparency. Continuing to expand coal mining in the middle of a climate crisis is indefensible.

3. Threats to water systems and river health
Ulan West lies west of the Great Dividing Range, intersecting the Murray–Darling Basin. Predicted losses of groundwater flow (26.5 million litres per year) to the Talbragar River will have cascading impacts on the Macquarie Marshes, one of Australia’s most significant wetlands.
Additionally, the continued discharge of saline mine water—over 15,000 tonnes of salt over six years—into the Goulburn River threatens downstream users, ecosystems and the Goulburn River National Park. Cumulative water impacts across the three Ulan coal mines have never been adequately assessed.

4. Risks from the new tailings dam
The proposed 132 ha tailings dam is located in a revegetated former open-cut pit adjacent to the Goulburn River. This location risks toxic leakage and contamination of groundwater and river systems. There are no clear details or monitoring mechanisms proposed, creating another long-term toxic legacy in the landscape.

5. Loss of Aboriginal cultural heritage
The project will damage or destroy at least 71 known Wiradjuri heritage sites, including rock art and culturally significant landscapes. The cumulative destruction of Aboriginal cultural heritage in the Ulan area has not been properly assessed or respected. This loss is irreversible and incompatible with commitments to truth-telling and cultural preservation.

6. Biodiversity destruction and habitat loss
The expansion would clear fthe ragile sandstone escarpment and Box-Gum Woodland habitat critical to numerous threatened species, including:
- Large-eared Pied Bat (Endangered)
- Eastern Cave Bat (Endangered)
- Regent Honeyeater (Critically Endangered)
- Koala (Endangered)

These habitats cannot be offset. Cumulative impacts across the three Ulan mines have never been assessed, and this proposal will push already vulnerable species closer to extinction.

7. Social and economic impacts
The mine will undermine 17 private properties, directly impacting four homes and six private bores. Compensation for water loss is temporary and does not address long-term dewatering.
The continued expansion of coal mining is not justified on employment grounds. The Central West region faces critical workforce shortages in renewable energy, construction and housing, which offer far greater long-term benefits and stability for local communities.

8. Lack of final mine plan
It is unacceptable that the final mine layout and infrastructure placement have not been determined before public exhibition. This makes it impossible for the community or regulators to assess impacts meaningfully. The Department should reject the proposal as incomplete.

Conclusion
Mod 8 represents a substantial new project, not a modification. It will cause unacceptable harm to the climate, water systems, Aboriginal heritage, and biodiversity. It undermines the transition to clean energy and the integrity of the NSW planning process.

I urge the Department to reject Ulan Coal Mine Modification 8 and require Glencore to submit any future proposals as new projects subject to full independent merit assessment and community consultation. It's time the NSW State Government ended putting corporate interests and short-term gains over the long-term prosperity of the natural environment.

Sincerely,
Melissa Barrass
Carrington, NSW

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 km 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.
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 anand 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.

For every tonne of coal burned, around 3 1/2 tonnes of carbon dioxide is produced. When extreme weather events around the world occur, the burning of fossil fuels BUT COAL IN PARTICULAR, adds to the severity....the deaths, destruction and misery of people and animals. Those who mine it and those who are responsible for it going ahead therefore bear responsibility for the suffering brought by it. The ethical choice is to follow the science and cease all new coal and gas production and get on with renewable energy. (And cop the inconvenience for a short time!)
There is considerable impact on farmland and native forests.
This looks like a repeat of the circumstances that lead to algal blooms in South Australia, with water release into the Goulburn River with an increase in salt contamination of the Hunter River.

Good for the town

.

I object to this proposal because approval of Mod 6 of Ulan West has been overturned by the courts. It is now not feasible for Mod 8 to proceed. Mod 8 relys on Mod 6's extension the mine’s life from 2033 to 2035, considering that Mod 8 it covers 2035 to 2041. Now that Mod 6 has been overturned, Mod 8 has no basis to proceed.
Mod 8’s proposed infrastructure is also directly attached to Mod 6’s underground longwall panels. Without Mod 6, that infrastructure cannot exist — meaning Mod 8 is fundamentally unworkable.

Further more this project must not be approved due to urgent action needed to intensively reduce carbon emissions to reduce catastrophic climate change. This coal mining project will create gigatonnes of carbon dioxide with the coal that is mined from it.

This is a huge planned extension/modification, and I consider it is so big it needs to be assessed as a new application, and in particular the environmental implications need to be explicitly assessed as for an initial application.
I live in Sydney but my family is in Mudgee and I know and love this area.
I am against the expansion of the mine for environmental and economic reasons. The proposed mine would produce massive greenhouse emissions, it potentially messes with the water quality in the Macquarie marshes and the Darling river and potentially adversely affects and area of great biodiversity. The mine plan is indeed not precisely given in the application but it certainly adversely affects precious aboriginal sites. The proposed tailings dam is a huge environmental risk. The potential environmental damage is huge and widespread.
Furthermore the project does not make economic sense. The area has a big workforce shortage. We don't need new or extended mines we need the workforce engaged in tourism and in sustainable renewable energy projects.
Please do not approve this expansion as in the application. Please require a proper assessment as a new project.
Thankyou.

The time for new coal extraction projects has passed. To approve this extension would be an affront to every thinking human at a time when Australians know that more coal burning is an act of self harm for both us and our fellow species. Australia's trading partners have also recognised increasingly that coal burning for energy production must end very soon.

Sadly we do not practice triple bottom line accounting in this state. Were the impact on the environment and overall society properly accounted for, this proposal would not have seen the light of day. Single bottom line accounting is 'business as usual' and amounts to a business of death and disruption, wreaking havoc socially and throughout the biosphere.

I ask that we rule a line through this proposal so that we do not cross a line from which there is no return.

Ulan Coal is one of the key contributors to increasing the local areas economy and population, which would be largely negatively affected without the extension of the mines. The mine has encouraged skilled works to move to an otherwise small rural town. With mod 8, it brings more years of stability and time to plan for life after mines. It creates jobs and revenue for not only people from outside the area but local businesses due to using many as suppliers and contractors. Ulan also over the course of its existence has spent money directly in the local community helping out with community grants that can massively improve things relating to the schools and junior groups.

Overall I’m supportive of Mod 8 as I’m supportive of Ulan Coal and all they have done for the local community and the local area as a whole.

.

If approved, the Ulan Coal Complex will be able to continue to:
• Provide ongoing employment to our workforce, many families in the Mid-Western LGA rely on the Ulan Complex for employment;
• Support businesses and suppliers – Ulan Complex spends around $470 million annually with more than 920 suppliers many of them local, locally many contractors and suppliers also rely on Ulan Complex in order to provide ongoing employment to their staff;
• 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.

Testing

Very happy for the expansion of Ulan West coal mine as it provides stability for my career and my family. It creates hundreds of local jobs and provides a multitude of opportunities for thousands of people within the mid western council area.