Modification 6 - underground mining extension

Please don't allow an additional 18.8 million tonnes of thermal coal to be housed near Mudgee, or extend the mine by a further six years or add an estimated 105 million tonnes of Scope 3 emissions (a combined 45% increase in emissions above current operations). Court rulings confirm that climate impacts must be considered in planning decisions, and the NSW Net Zero Commission warns that continued coal mine extensions are incompatible with climate targets. The development would place further pressure on already stressed surface and ground water sources within the Murray Darling Basin, and add cumulative loss of threatened species habitat, significant Aboriginal cultural heritage values, water from the landscape, flows to creeks and rivers, and additionally, threats to the livelihoods of human neighbours has not been assessed.

The proposal must be assessed on the following key points:
1. It 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 nvironment, 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.

I strongly object to this Mod.
This expansion extends the life of Ulan Coal Mine to August 2035 and facilitates a much larger expansion called Modification 8 (Mod 8). Together disturbing more than 2,368 ha of remnant vegetation, critical habitat and culturally significant country. They will disturb a large new area of bushland and farmland, causing further impacts on water sources - already at critical lows. The two expansions must be assessed together as a new project to fully understand the cumulative impacts on climate, endangered species, cultural heritage and water.
Key points in my objection:
1. Mod 6 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, which has just been officially listed as a Critically Endangered Threatened Ecological Community under Australia's national environment law on January 15, 2026.
8. There has been no proactive community engagement on these mods.

I object on the following grounds:
1. The extension 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

Glencore Ulan Coal Mine is within the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (CWOREZ). Any further expansion of coal will slow the transition to ensure a safe climate. I urge the following
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

I support the extension of coal mining in the mudgee region and the whole of Australia. It is integral to the well-being of everybody in this nation but most of to me and my family. I am a career coal miner. It's all I have done and all I have ever wanted to do. Saying no to this extension is saying no to the prosperity of hundreds of families within the mudgee region and abroad. Anybody opposing coal has got their head in the sand. Climate change drongos said in 1999 the oceans should have risen 7m by 2025. Nothing has changed. It's rubbish

Submission of Objection
Ulan Coal Mine – Amended Modification 6 (Underground Mining Extension)
I am writing to lodge a formal objection to the amended Modification 6 proposal for the Ulan Coal Mine.
While presented as a revised and narrower amendment, this proposal cannot be reasonably assessed in isolation. Modification 6 is clearly a foundational step toward a much larger expansion (Modification 8), and together they represent a substantial new project with far-reaching cumulative impacts that have not been properly assessed.
1. Failure to assess cumulative impacts as a single project
The amended Mod 6 proposal must be assessed together with the proposed Ulan Mod 8 expansion as a new project. Assessing these proposals separately obscures the true scale and intensity of impacts and undermines the intent of NSW planning law.
Combined, Mod 6 and Mod 8 would:
Disturb approximately 2,368 hectares of new land
Enable extraction of over 60 million tonnes of additional coal
Result in an estimated 45% increase in total greenhouse gas emissions above currently approved operations
Despite this, the amendment report continues to avoid a genuine cumulative impact assessment. There is no comprehensive analysis of combined impacts on:
Climate and greenhouse gas emissions
Threatened species and endangered ecological communities
Aboriginal cultural heritage
Surface and groundwater systems
Neighbouring landholders and regional amenity
This fragmented assessment approach prevents informed decision-making and denies the community proper scrutiny of the proposal’s full consequences.
2. Inadequate greenhouse gas assessment
The amended proposal fails to meet the requirements of the NSW Environmental Planning and Assessment Act to assess the environmental, social and economic impacts of all greenhouse gas emissions, including Scope 3 emissions.
Glencore does not publicly report methane emissions from the Ulan Mine and continues to assert that the mine is a “low emitter,” thereby claiming there are no feasible mitigation measures. This position is inconsistent with contemporary climate science and legal precedent, including the Mt Pleasant Mine decision.
Without transparent reporting and assessment of fugitive methane and downstream emissions, the proposal does not provide a credible or lawful climate impact assessment.
3. Environmental impacts and threatened species
The proposal would further impact threatened species habitat, including:
Large-eared Pied Bat
Eastern Cave Bat
Powerful Owl
Barking Owl
Southern Myotis
Across the Ulan, Moolarben and Wilpinjong mining operations, there has already been substantial cumulative habitat loss. The amended proposal does not adequately assess whether ongoing losses—particularly for the Large-eared Pied Bat and Eastern Cave Bat—constitute a Serious and Irreversible Impact.
In addition, the cumulative loss of Box Gum Woodland, a critically endangered ecological community, has not been assessed at a regional scale, despite ongoing clearing pressure across multiple mine sites.
4. Water impacts and subsidence risks
Underground mining causes subsidence that permanently alters groundwater systems that store and transmit water across the landscape. These systems are critical to maintaining base flows to creeks and rivers.
When combined with Mod 8, the proposal will cause additional losses to flows in the Talbragar River, a major tributary of the Macquarie River within the Murray–Darling Basin. The proposal does not report cumulative flow losses from existing approvals, nor does it adequately address downstream impacts on:
Burrendong Dam inflows
The Macquarie River system
The internationally significant Macquarie Marshes
In a climate-stressed basin, further reductions to surface and groundwater flows are unacceptable.
5. Aboriginal cultural heritage
The amended proposal fails to assess the cumulative loss of Aboriginal cultural heritage values across the Ulan area. There is extensive evidence of long-standing Wiradjuri occupation and ongoing spiritual connection to Country.
When considered together with Mod 8, the proposal would result in significant and irreversible impacts to cultural landscapes and heritage values. Treating each modification separately diminishes the visibility and seriousness of these losses.
6. Inconsistent with regional transition and workforce needs
The Ulan Mine is located within the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (CWOREZ). Further coal expansion in this region directly conflicts with the urgent need to transition to clean energy and diversify the local economy.
The proposal assumes coal expansion is necessary for jobs, yet the Central West is experiencing significant labour shortages in:
Construction
Housing
Renewable energy infrastructure
Mining expansion competes for the same skilled workforce required to deliver the CWOREZ and support long-term regional resilience. The NSW Government has already identified the need for transition planning through the Central West Future Jobs and Investment Authority. This proposal runs counter to those objectives.
7. Modifications pathway is inappropriate
The use of a modification pathway for a project of this scale removes essential safeguards, including:
Independent scrutiny of environmental assessment quality
Community merit appeal rights in the Land and Environment Court
Given the scale, duration and cumulative impacts involved, Mod 6 and Mod 8 should be assessed together as a new project, not progressed incrementally through modifications.
Conclusion
The amended Modification 6 proposal remains fundamentally flawed. It fails to adequately assess cumulative impacts, understates climate and water risks, and is inconsistent with regional transition priorities.
For these reasons, I respectfully request that:
The amended Mod 6 proposal not be approved
Any further consideration of expansion at Ulan Mine require a full, integrated assessment of Mod 6 and Mod 8 as a new project, with appropriate community rights and independent scrutiny restored
Thank you for considering this submission.

I submit the following
1. The proposed project 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.
Thanks for your consideration.
Mic Julien

I support all mining in the Mudgee region.
Without mining in the region, Mudgee will lose investment, people of Mudgee and surrounds will lose jobs and the towns in the region will suffer.

The town won’t be able to survive on the other industries in the region without mining.

We don't want, need or could tolerate a mine extension in these Climate change wars. The disasters are mounting, with cyclones, floods, bushfires, loss of life, livelihoods, homes, flora and fauna. Our protection of the environment is paramount, and we should serve nobody but Nature.

I am a NSW resident of Gloucester NSW. Whilst I am generally against coal mining expansion in NSW due to the need to address Greenhouse Gas Emissions globally, I am informed of the following issues with the proposed Modification:

1. The cumulative impact on Greenhouse Gas Emissions of the Ulan Mod 6, the Ulan Mod 8 and from existing mine approvals or expansion proposals across the three Mudgee Mines: Ulan, Moolarben, Wilpinjong has not been addressed.
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.

2. 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.

3. The proposal is within the CWOREZ and is competing for regional workforce urgently needed for new industries in the Central West.

4. The proposal will place further pressure on already stressed surface and ground water sources within the Murray Darling Basin.

I support the project proceeding to continue the support of the local economy

I write in strong support of Glencore’s Modification 6 proposal for the Ulan Underground Mine and respectfully urge the NSW Government to carefully reconsider the previous decision in light of the significant economic, social, and regional impacts associated with this project.

The Ulan Mine has been a cornerstone of the Mid-Western Region for decades, providing stable, well-paid employment and supporting countless local families, businesses, and service providers. Approval of Modification 6 is critical to extending the operational life of the mine and ensuring the continuation of hundreds of direct and indirect jobs. Without this modification, the premature closure of the mine would have serious and lasting consequences for the regional economy, workforce retention, and community wellbeing.

Importantly, the proposal relates to an extension of an existing underground mining operation, not the establishment of a new mine. The environmental impacts are well understood, have been extensively assessed, and can be effectively managed through existing and proposed mitigation measures. Glencore has a long operating history at Ulan and has demonstrated its ability to comply with regulatory requirements while continually improving environmental and operational performance.

At a time when regional NSW communities are facing economic uncertainty, workforce challenges, and cost-of-living pressures, it is vital that decisions balance environmental considerations with social and economic realities. The continuation of the Ulan Mine provides certainty for workers and their families, sustains local businesses, and contributes significantly to state and regional revenue.

I respectfully encourage the NSW Government to give substantial weight to the demonstrated benefits of Modification 6, the manageable nature of the impacts, and the overwhelming importance of job security and regional stability. Reconsidering and overturning the previous decision would represent a balanced and pragmatic outcome that supports both responsible resource development and the long-term viability of the local community.

Thank you for the opportunity to make this submission and for considering the broader implications of this decision for regional NSW.

As a mudgee local I cannot speak highly enough of glencore and they're mining operations. This is an absolutely essential project to the longevity and economy of the mudgee region. The jobs is creates the environmental management and monitoring it brings absolutely positive for the region

I support the project. Ulan is a big part of Mudgee, providing work and income for It's people and the town.

I am writing in objection to the proposed Ulan Coal Mine Amended Modification 6 due to the impacts it will have on the environment and local communities.

My reasons for objecting include:
⦁ This amended proposal fails to fully assess the impacts subsidence from underground mining and clearing for infrastructure development will have on the landscape. There is also a lack of recognition that Mod 8 proposal is dependent on Mod 6 to proceed. Therefore these two projects should be assessed together and be treated as a new project as modifications remove independent scrutiny and communities right to appeal in the Land and Environment Court.
⦁ This proposal will impact the habitat of animals such as the Large-eared Pied Bat and Eastern Cave Bat. Their home is facing ongoing losses from three coal mine operations in the Mudgee area and these impacts haven't been assessed for Serious and Irreversible Impact (SAII).
⦁ Underground mining poses a risk groundwater systems through subsidence or land collapse. With Mod 8, this expansion will reduce flow to the Talbragar River which is a major tributary of the Macqaurie River and is connected to the internationally significant Macquarie Marshes.
⦁ There hasn't been an assessment of the impact this expansion will have on Aboriginal cultural heritage. There is evidence of continuous Wiradjuri occupation in the area.
⦁ The mine is competing for skilled labor needed for the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone. This has been prioritized by the NSW government and is to help transition away from coal and help diversify the Mudgee economy.

Climate impacts must be considered in planning decisions. Continued coal mine extensions are incompatible with NSW climate targets.

Do better.

Modification 6 is unnecessary, polluting and destroys our fossil fuel free future. End the environmental destruction now.
Thanks Joanne

See attached submission

As a local I support this project for Ulan Coal Group