Modification 6 - underground mining extension

If approved, Modification 6 will be able to continue to:
• Provide ongoing employment;
• Support businesses and suppliers
• Pay taxes, royalties and other payments that help to fund vital public services;
• Support local charities, not-for-profit organisations and junior sporting clubs, as well as major community partnerships such as the Mudgee 4 Doctors initiative, Country Universities Centre and the Mudgee High School LINK Program.

I support Modification 6

This expansion will deliver more jobs and longer employment opportunities for many locals in my community.
I’ve lived in the area my entire life and I truely believe coal mining offers so much to the local community.

The proposed Ulan Coal Mine Modification 6 will deliver significant economic benefits to both the local community and the state by securing ongoing employment for hundreds of workers and sustaining vital regional businesses. This extension ensures that people living in the region can access meaningful, long-term job opportunities without being forced to relocate to metropolitan areas, allowing families to stay together and maintain their way of life. Beyond direct employment, the mine creates substantial flow-on jobs that are often overlooked—such as builders, café staff, coffee shop operators, and local tradespeople—who rely on a strong regional economy. Continued operations also drive economic prosperity through increased population stability and family investment in housing, which supports mum-and-dad property investors and strengthens the local real estate market. Importantly, the project provides generation employment opportunities, enabling young people to enter the workforce locally and build careers without leaving their communities. Combined with Ulan Coal’s established community donation programs—providing over $1 million in recent years to schools, charities, sporting clubs, and health initiatives—this modification fosters a positive cycle of growth that benefits the entire region while contributing significantly to state revenue through royalties and taxes.

Project will help the continuing support for local workers jobs and investment to surrounding towns facilities, schools etc.

I am originally from Wiradjuri Country, and have an ongoing interest in the climate and environment of the central west of NSW. Coal mining has an end date already, because of its impacts on climate broadly, and its impact on water locally. The majority of supportive submissions are concerned about employment, but extending the mine will only delay the inevitable - the faster we get a just transition for all those jobs the better.

Specifically my concerns are as follows:
1. Must be assessed together with the Ulan Mod 8 proposal as a new project to provide robust cumulative impact information.
2. The amendment report still fails to fully identify the impacts of the increased greenhouse gas emissions on the local environment, community and economy, as required under NSW planning law.
3. The proposal will produce an additional 18.8 million tonnes of coal and when combined with Mod 8 (additional 43 MT) there will be over a 45% increase in total emissions above current approved operations at Ulan Mine.
4. There is no assessment of cumulative impacts from existing mine approvals or expansion proposals across the three Mudgee Mines: Ulan, Moolarben, Wilpinjong.
5. The cumulative loss of threatened species habitat, significant Aboriginal cultural heritage values, water from the landscape and flows to creeks and rivers, and threats to amenity and livelihoods of neighbours has not been assessed.
6. The proposal is within the CWOREZ and is competing for regional workforce urgently needed for new industries in the Central West.
7. The proposal will place further pressure on already stressed surface and ground water sources within the Murray Darling Basin.

Thankyou for considering these issues.

I support the mod 6 extension of the Ulan complex. This extension will provide Job security for the workers and contribute to the local economy.

Project Context
Location: Ulan Coal Mine, Mudgee Region, NSW
Current approval: Up to 20 Mt/year via underground mining until 2033.
Amended Mod 6: Extends mine life to August 2035 and enables a larger expansion (Modification 8).

Mod 8: Proposes mining to 2041; together Mod 6 + Mod 8 would disturb 2,368 ha of new land.

Status: Original Mod 6 approval overturned by the NSW Land and Environment Court (Nov 2025); amended proposal re-exhibited over the Christmas period.

Key Objections (Summary)

Cumulative assessment required: Mod 6 and Mod 8 should be assessed together as a new project.

Greenhouse gas impacts inadequately assessed: Fails to meet NSW planning law, including Scope 3 emissions.

Emissions increase:

Mod 6: +18.8 Mt coal

Mod 8: +43 Mt coal

Combined: >45% increase in total emissions over current approvals.

Regional cumulative impacts ignored: No assessment across Ulan, Moolarben, and Wilpinjong mines.

Environmental losses not assessed cumulatively: Threatened species habitat, Aboriginal cultural heritage, water resources, and community amenity.

Conflict with energy transition: Mine lies within the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (CWOREZ) and competes for scarce regional workforce.

Water stress: Increased pressure on already stressed surface and groundwater in the Murray–Darling Basin.

Detailed Issues
1. Amended Proposal Deficiencies

Finalized mine plan identifies vegetation impacts, but assessment is narrow.

Subsidence and surface infrastructure (roads, pipelines, bores, shafts) have significant landscape impacts.

Mod 8 depends on Mod 6, yet they are not jointly assessed.

Modification pathway limits scrutiny and removes community merit appeal rights.

2. Greenhouse Gas Assessment

Methane emissions not publicly reported; no feasible mitigation proposed.

Does not comply with NSW EP&A Act requirements or the Mt Pleasant (Denman) High Court ruling.

3. Environmental Impacts

Affects threatened species including Large-eared Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Powerful Owl, Barking Owl, Southern Myotis.

No cumulative Serious and Irreversible Impact (SAII) assessment for microbats.

Cumulative loss of Box Gum Woodland (critically endangered) not assessed.

4. Water Impacts

Subsidence damages groundwater systems and baseflows.

Significant additional flow losses to the Talbragar River, with downstream impacts to the Macquarie River and Macquarie Marshes.

Cumulative water losses from existing approvals not reported.

5. Aboriginal Cultural Heritage

Cumulative impacts on Wiradjuri cultural heritage not assessed.

Significant heritage values at risk, especially when combined with Mod 8.

6. Economic and Workforce Considerations

No demonstrated need for extended coal mining for jobs.

Competes with labour needed for housing, construction, and renewable energy projects.

NSW policy prioritizes transition away from coal via the Central West Future Jobs and Investment Authority.

I object to this proposal.
Recent court rulings have confirmed that climate impacts must be considered in planning decisions, and the NSW Net Zero Commission has warned that continued coal mine extensions are incompatible with NSW climate targets.
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 worker 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 already has many opportunities to diversify the economy.
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. A significant number of cultural heritage values will be impacted, particularly when combined with Ulan Mod 8 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 when combined with Mod 8 will cause a significant additional loss 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. Subsidence or land collapse caused by underground mining damages groundwater systems that store water in the landscape.
The proposal will impact on threatened species habitat particularly Large-eared Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Powerful Owl, Barking Owl, Southern Myotis. The Large-eared Pied Bat and Eastern Cave Bat have ongoing cumulative loss of habitat across the three Mudgee coal mine operations, including in the proposed Moolarben Open Cut 3 extension. These cumulative impacts have not been assessed for Serious and Irreversible Impact (SAII) on these threatened microbats. The cumulative loss of Box Gum Woodland critically endangered ecological community across the region as an SAII entity is not assessed.
Glencore does not publicly report methane emissions and maintains that Ulan Mine is a low emitter, therefore there are no feasible means to reduce fugitive methane emissions. The assessment does not meet the requirement of the NSW EP&A Act to assess the
environmental, social and environmental impacts of all GHG emissions, including Scope 3, as ruled by the High Court under the Mt Pleasant Mine (Denman) decision.
This amended Mod 6 proposal has finalized the mine plan and identified exactly where the surface infrastructure will impact native vegetation. The previous approval overturned in the Land and Environment Court had nine different options for surface infrastructure – demonstrating that a mine plan had not been completed. Subsidence from underground mining, as well as clearing for infrastructure development (roads, pipelines, bores, ventilator shafts) has a significant impact on the landscape.
The amended proposal fails to fully assess the impacts and focusses on a very narrow update of new information.
There is no recognition that the Mod 8 proposal is dependent on Mod 6 before it can proceed. It is essential that both proposals are assessed together as a new project. Modifications remove independent scrutiny of the quality of impact assessment and remove community merit appeal rights in the Land and Environment Court.
In summary:
1. This proposal must be assessed together with the Ulan Mod 8 proposal as a new project to provide robust cumulative impact information.
2. The amendment report fails to fully identify the impacts of the increased greenhouse gas emissions on the local environment, community and economy, as required under NSW planning law.
3. The proposal will produce an additional 18.8 million tonnes of coal and when combined with Mod 8 (additional 43 MT) there will be over a 45% increase in total emissions above current approved operations at Ulan Mine.
4. There is no assessment of cumulative impacts from existing mine approvals or expansion proposals across the three Mudgee Mines: Ulan, Moolarben, Wilpinjong
5. The cumulative loss of threatened species habitat, significant Aboriginal cultural heritage values, water from the landscape and flows to creeks and rivers, and threats to amenity and livelihoods of neighbours has not been assessed
6. The proposal is within the CWOREZ and is competing for regional workforce urgently needed for new industries in the Central West
7. The proposal will place further pressure on already stressed surface and ground water sources within the Murray Darling Basin
In conclusion:
for many reasons including those outlined above I object to this proposal

Supports local jobs,
Supports local economy.
Without the local coal mines Mudgee wouldn’t be the town it is today. The town would more than likely dwindle without the coal mines.

As a business, Rotech Australia Pty Ltd would like to show its support for the Ulan Coal Modification 6 project due to the benefits this would have on many critical suppliers such as ourselves, the economy, community and public sector.

See attached submission

I am in support of this project. Coal mining is an established industry in the Mid-West Regional Council area and brings many benefits to the region and our local economy. An extension of the Ulan Complex will continue to support the local communities.

Mining in the Central Western Region, creates jobs and is good for the local economy and township.

Ulan Coal mod 6 will provide excellent employment opportunities and economic benefits to the central west region of NSW.

I am currently employed at Ulan Coal Mine and fully support the proposed Mod 6 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.

Dear Planning Commission,

I OBJECT to the proposed mining extension on the following grounds:
This amended Mod 6 proposal has finalized the mine plan and identified exactly where the surface infrastructure will impact native vegetation. The previous approval overturned in the Land and Environment Court had nine different options for surface infrastructure – demonstrating that a mine plan had not been completed. Subsidence from underground mining, as well as clearing for infrastructure development (roads, pipelines, bores, ventilator shafts) has a significant impact on the landscape.

1. No joint/cumulative assessment
The amended proposal fails to fully assess the impacts and focusses on a very narrow update of new information. There is no recognition that the Mod 8 proposal is dependent on Mod 6 before it can proceed. It is essential that both proposals are assessed together as a new project. Modifications remove independent scrutiny of the quality of impact assessment and remove community merit appeal rights in the Land and Environment Court.

2. Greenhouse Gas Assessment
Glencore does not publicly report methane emissions and maintains that Ulan Mine is a low emitter, therefore there are no feasible means to reduce fugitive methane emissions. The assessment does not meet the requirement of the NSW EP&A Act to assess the environmental, social and environmental impacts of all GHG emissions, including Scope 3, as ruled by the High Court under the Mt Pleasant Mine (Denman) decision.

3. Environmental impacts
The proposal will impact on threatened species habitat particularly Large-eared Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Powerful Owl, Barking Owl, Southern Myotis. The Large-eared Pied Bat and Eastern Cave Bat have ongoing cumulative loss of habitat across the three Mudgee coal mine operations, including in the proposed Moolarben Open Cut 3 extension. These cumulative impacts have not been assessed for Serious and Irreversible Impact (SAII) on these threatened microbats. The cumulative loss of Box Gum Woodland critically endangered ecological community across the region as an SAII entity is not assessed

4. 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 when combined with Mod 8 will cause a significant additional loss 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.

5. 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. A significant number of cultural heritage values will be impacted, particularly when combined with Ulan Mod 8 impacts.

6. No economic justification
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

Thank you for your consideration.
- Thomas Wiedmann, Kanimbla NSW -

The proposed Modification 6 underground mining extension will help secure ongoing employment, investment, and community benefits in the region. The continuation of this operation supports not only the local economy but also contributes to Australia’s broader economic and energy security objectives. At a time when the future of mining is transitioning but remains essential, particularly during the shift to reliable and scalable alternative energy sources, it is important to support projects that demonstrate responsible resource development. This underground extension represents a continuation of existing operations and is considered to have a comparatively lower environmental impact than new or expanded surface mining projects, while maintaining strict regulatory oversight and environmental management. The extension will provide certainty for workers and their families, supporting long-term employment in the region and helping sustain local businesses that rely on the mine’s ongoing operation. For these reasons, I support the approval of Glencore’s Modification 6 underground mining extension and consider it to be in the broader public interest.

I support the Ulan Coal Modification 6 project because I think that this project is of important economic benefit to both the Mudgee region but also to NSW more broadly. I am not an employee of Ulan Coal. I work at a competing coal mine in the region, however as a resident of Mudgee over several years I can see the direct benefits that Ulan Coal has provided to several community organisations and initiatives. Furthermore, I can also see that the high level of employment opportunities with above average incomes that it provides to this region is of great importance to this region. Additionally, its engagement with mining service suppliers that are drawn from both this region and from neighbouring areas like the Lithgow and the Hunter Valley areas are of economic importance more broadly. All of these workers being employed is of importance to NSW's payroll tax revenues. The annual output of Ulan Coal is also significant and is an important source of royalty revenue for NSW. Overall, I see the approval of this modification as important for continuing these economic benefits to the region and to NSW.

This extension will support the region and contribute to the overall economic development.