Modification 4 Longwall 317 and 318 Modification

I am opposed to this extension. The reasons are detailed in my submission, but to summarise they are:
I worked entirely in coal mines for all of my career. I know what damage they cause.
Peabody have an appalling track record with environmental vandalism.
No mining should be under a major city's water catchment area.
We should be establishing renewable industries in these areas, not adding to the devastating effects of climate change by approving more coal.
Longwall mining causes major subsidence which effects the surface landscape, which includes several creeks, rivers, rock platforms and many species of wildlife.
This will increase the methane emissions.
This decision should be sent to the IPC.

No more coal mining - stop poisoning everything

This should have never been approved in the first place. It should never be extended. Our precious waterways are the life of our existence. History of pollution irreversible damage. The Royal National Park should not be put at risk. Our flora and fauna should be protected not sold out for coal mining. Stop this now!

We do not need to be opening new coal mines especially near our essential and limited water sources by a company that has been fined multiple times for pollution. The national park and waterways also are home to multiple threatened and endangered species this is a terrible idea and only harms Australians and our fragile ecosystems. This company cannot under any circumstances be trusted to operate near such an essential resource.

no mining should be aloud in the waterways, this is directly effecting the native wildlife and environment negatively

I can’t believe this is even being considered!! This is our water supply!!! Royal National Park at risk. They have a history of polluting the water we drink. And the damage this would cause is irreversible. Gluing sandstone together and for what Coal??!! Strongly object. Just say no.

Peabody, operates the Metropolitan Mine in the Illawarra and I support its bid to extend it's operation to at least 2031.

Supporting local jobs into the future

I am a constituent of the NSW Wollongong Electorate. I love this region and wish for my family (including 2 grandchildren) are just as blessed with an enjoyable environment and air quality. One to be preserved and improved for all families and citizens in this region. As such, I am extremely worried about the proposed expansion/extension/modification request by Peabody Australia Pty Ltd for the Metropolitan Mine for LONGWALLS 317 AND 318 MODIFICATION Application No. MP08_0149-Mod-4.
Most disturbing is that a successful application means more longwall mining under our water catchment. The water source for 5.3 million people and thousands more residents over the next 10 years. It also encroaches on the Woronora Special Area. The facts add up to a recipe for disaster.
I request the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces ensure this application is referred to the Independent Planning Commission so that we all get an opportunity to voice our very deep-seated concerns and in depth investigation.
This mine application should not be approved for the following reasons:
1. We are in a climate crisis as acknowledged by IPC and State of Climate Report (2024) and felt by our residents over the several years from floods.
2. Longwall mining by Peabody in this area has already caused fractures to rock base meaning that swamps are drained and biodiversity lost.
3. Loss of swamps to hold water and release gradually means less water in our catchment area and reservoir.
4. Loss of swamps also means the loss of biodiversity essential in filtering the water flow into our reservoir equalling more pollution.
5. Peabody Pty Ltd has:
been non-compliant with the environmental laws in past such as polluting the Hacking River
this mine extension will result in higher emissions further fuelling climate crisis
mines in the Illawarra area are known for high gas measures such as the dangerous methane emissions
6. It is very difficult to believe that NSW is only 4% off the 2030 target to reduce carbon emissions when coal mines continue to get approval to expand and belch out pollution into the atmosphere. A recent (2025) decision by the International Court of Justice states countries are responsible for stage 3 emissions as well as stage 1 and 2. This includes Australia. Further methane is notoriously difficult to measure and often under reported. Local coal mines are known to be particularly gaseous. In addition, Australia’s carbon emissions are increasing.
7. All this negatively (air pollution, environment destruction) affects our drinking water, health and quality of life here in the Wollongong Electorate. Time to change the paradigm!

Ken Henry waded in the other day saying that with our fixing the environmental laws, there will be no productivity gains.

I very strongly object to this modification application to Metropolitan Mine 317 and 318.
Therefore, as stated above I request that the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces ensure this application is referred to the Independent Planning Commission so that we all get an opportunity to voice our very deep-seated concerns.

We object to the proposed Modification on a number of grounds, including threats to water quality in the Sydney and Illawarra drinking water catchments.

I strongly object to the proposed Modification at the Metropolitan Colliery. Peabody Energy has a well-documented history of environmental damage in this area, including repeated pollution events where coal fines and sediment discharged into Camp Gully Creek and the Hacking River system, contaminating waterways that flow through the Royal National Park. In 2022 the company was prosecuted after waterways downstream of the mine filled with congealed black coal sludge. Yet despite this conviction and repeated EPA warnings, new discharges continued in 2023, leaving the riverbeds still contaminated years later. These fines are negligible compared to the company’s profits and have proven ineffective in preventing further pollution.

Beyond water contamination, the physical impacts of underground mining in this fragile landscape have been devastating. I worked in the Sydney water catchment area conducting environmental surveys, and I personally observed large cracks in the sandstone riverbed of the Waratah Rivulet, caused by subsidence from longwall mining in 2023, see image attached (Image GPS -34.1913455, 150.9395504). Some cracks stretched over 10 metres in length and up to 5 inches across. These fractures drained endangered upland swamps and streams, robbing them of water and destroying delicate ecosystems. This direct loss of surface water from the catchment has permanent consequences for both biodiversity and the long-term integrity of Sydney’s drinking water supply.

The Metropolitan Colliery has already demonstrated that it cannot operate without causing repeated, serious, and ongoing environmental harm. To allow an expansion of longwall mining in such a sensitive area, knowing the consequences for water quality, riverbed stability, and endangered ecosystems would be reckless. The government has a responsibility to protect the Royal National Park, one of Australia’s most precious natural assets, from further damage. This project should be rejected outright.

Modification 4 Longwall 317 and 318 Modification should NOT go ahead.
Metropolitan Collieries (Peabody) is NOT a good corporate citizen.
1/ It has been reported on multiple occasions for pollution.
2/Situated next to the oldest National Park - The Royal
and,
3/ underneath a reservoir supplying drinking water to my local area.

Firstly, see photographic attachments. The colliery regularly pollutes the Camp Gully Creek and Hacking Creek tributaries of the Port Hacking River - a water playground for locals and their families

This is also part of the Royal National Park. It is beyond time that this antiquated part of our history was closed down. It destroys the locality which is worth much more to New South Wales than this American owned company. It has shown that it cannot comply with hazardous waste exclusion. It has pretty well total disregard for it's locality. It should have been closed down years ago.

Finally, and most importantly, these longwall mines cut underneath the Woronora Reservoir, a key water supply for this part of Sutherland and Wollongong LGAs. Water is vastly more important than an American coal company. There has been subsidence and pollution that has been documented and is available to the NSW Government.
If the NSW Government cares about its constituents then it will say a FIRM NO to the request by a poor corporate And American company.

Metropolitan Collieries provides invaluable jobs for employees and vendors employees in the Illawarra and surrounding areas

I live in Thirroul NSW and very much appreciate the luxury of drinking high quality palatable drinking water available on my property.
I am of the view that the proposed longwall panels are too close to a major NSW Reservoir and longwall mining is capable of causing risks to existing water supply. I have seen images of already existing fracturing of rock layers involving damage to watercourses and upland swamps west of the Illawarra coastal plain which are believed to be a direct result of long-wall mining. And as I would like my grandchildren to be able to enjoy the same high quality drinking water amenity that I currently experience I believe the current application should be opposed.

See attachment. We object to the following potential outcomes if the proposal is approved. It will
1. produce emissions in excess of NSW targets
2. damage ecosystems
3. compromise our drinking water
4. risk a further upland swamp
5. produce limited economic and social benefit.
6. Furthermore it should be independently assessed.

I object to the Metropolitan Coal Mine Modification 4 Longwall 317 and 318 Modification (MP08_0149-Mod-4 ‘Modification’) - reasons attached. I request that the Planning Minister refer this Modification to the Independent Planning Commission for a public meeting and determination

The proposed modification is consistent with the existing operation which has been operating for well over 100 years.
The environmental impacts have been well considered and managed.
Strategically, this operation mining high-quality metallurgical coal, is an important local supplier to the nearby Bluescope steelworks.
Continuing this operation will provide great economic benefit to the community through direct and indirect employment, royalties and taxes.

I support the proposal made by Metropolitan Mine. I am a local in the area, along with my entire family and most of my extended family. Having grown up in the Illawarra, coal has always been a major part of the local economy and local jobs. I support the ongoing production of coal in the Illawarra and hope that the coal mines in the area can continue to operate and create jobs in the local community for generations to come.

I object to this proposal :
1. Threat to Sydney and Illawarra’s Water Catchment
This modification proposes continued coal mining within the Special Areas of the
Woronora Catchment — a critical drinking water source for over 5 million people,
including the Sutherland Shire, northern suburbs of Wollongong, and
communities such as Helensburgh, Engadine, and Lucas Heights.
The longwall panels are located alarmingly close to the Woronora Reservoir, which
is a crucial asset for regional water security. Longwall mining is known to cause
subsidence, fracturing of rock layers, and irreversible damage to watercourses,
reservoirs, and upland swamps(1).

The proposed modification places swamps including Swamp S106 at risk.
Swamps are vital to the health of the catchment: they absorb water during heavy
rainfall, store it, and gradually release it during dry periods. Their destruction
undermines long-term drought resilience and compromises clean water supply.

2. Biodiversity and Threatened Species at Risk
This modification threatens the habitat of several vulnerable and critically
endangered species, including:

Bynoe’s Wattle (Acacia bynoeana) – Vulnerable
Pilotbird (Pycnoptilus floccosus) – Vulnerable
Prickly Bush-pea (Pultenaea aristata) – Vulnerable
Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor) – Critically Endangered
Thick-leaf Star-hair (Astrotricha crassifolia) – Vulnerable
White-throated Needletail (Hirundapus caudacutus) – Vulnerable
Woronora Beard-heath (Leucopogon exolasius) – Vulnerable
This area is part of a fragile and unique ecological zone. Any additional disturbance
or habitat degradation caused by mining-induced subsidence or pollution will
accelerate the decline of these species and further erode the region’s biodiversity.
We are in a biodiversity crisis and this damage is unacceptable.

3. Economic Claims and Corporate Conduct
The proponent, Peabody Energy, is a U.S.-based multinational that pays no
corporate tax in Australia, despite earning substantial profits from its Australian
operations (2).
Peabody also has a record of poor treatment of workers:

In 2020, it unlawfully dismissed workers at the Metropolitan Mine — a case the High Court ruled was unfair dismissal (3).
More recently, it locked out its workforce following a one-hour protected industrial action (4).
We recognise the value of employment in the region. However, it is unjustifiable to
compromise a vital water catchment for limited short-term employment, especially
when workers could be supported to transition into sustainable industries.

4. Climate Impact of Ongoing Coal Extraction
While the Metropolitan Mine extracts metallurgical coal used in steel production, its
climate impact remains significant.

In FY2024, Metropolitan’s Scope 1 emissions (direct from mining operations) reached nearly 700,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent — its highest on record since the Safeguard Mechanism began in 2016.
Over 80% of these emissions were methane, a potent greenhouse gas with 86 times the warming potential of CO₂ over 20 years.
Metropolitan is now the fifth highest Scope 1 emitter among all coal mines in NSW.
NSW is not on track to meet its net zero targets. Continuing to approve
expansions of high-emission mines, regardless of coal type, undermines our climate
commitments.

5. Planning Integrity and Approval Process
The current mine footprint was originally approved in 2009 by then Labor NSW
Planning Minister, Kristina Keneally. At that time, the implications of climate
change, water security, population growth, and biodiversity collapse were far less
understood or prioritised.
The ongoing use of a modification pathway to prolong mining operations under an
outdated approval process is unacceptable. A proposal of this type — with serious
environmental and public interest concerns — must undergo a full Environmental
Impact Statement and fresh assessment under current laws and science.
Consistent with Labor government promises both before and after the most recent
election, Metropolitan Modification 4 must also be referred to the Independent
Planning Commission of NSW for an independent and transparent assessment.