This submission is made on behalf of the Sydney Knitting Nannas and Friends. We are a group of older community members who advocate to save the land, air and water for future generations. We are connected to other Knitting Nanna groups, both rural and urban. We have a deep commitment to supporting all measures to address the critical phenomenon effecting our own and future generations: climate change.
We object to the Maules Creek Continuation Project on climate change, biodiversity, water, food security and social disruption grounds.
We object to the fact that this Project is seeking approval for many years into the future. Whitehaven wants to ‘bank’ an approval now before climate laws are strengthened. Climate laws must be strengthened if NSW is not to succumb to the awful effects of drought, floods, cyclones & other extreme weather events that we are already experiencing. The greenhouse gas production associated with this project will be excessive.
Biodiversity, as exemplified by the delightful Swift Parrot, is key to the survival of the human species. Every extinction of a species tears a hole in the web of life that we depend on for our existence. This project threatens the existence of the Swift Parrot whose numbers are down to the low hundreds. The Leard Forest, which has been torn apart by Whitehaven mines for many years, is key to the survival of the Swift Parrot. The Maules Creek Mine should not be allowed to proceed with its plans to reduce a wildlife corridor within the forest to a mere 500 metres, subject to the noise, dust and blast vibrations of two massive nearby mines.
Water, as we know, is key to all life on Earth. Whitehaven is supposed to reduce its production of coal if water supplies in the district are threatened by drought. It does not do this. Instead, it competes with local farms for scarce water in drought times, and, having deeper pockets, wins. It has also been convicted of the horrible crime of water theft during times of drought.
The Knitting Nannas first started objecting to the Whitehaven mines 11 years ago when some of us came up to the area to try to protect the Leard forest and to combat climate change. At that time we became aware of the dreadfully disruptive effects of the mines on the social fabric of the area. The buy-out of farms by the mines depleted the area of population, causing collapse of businesses, schools, sporting clubs and other parts of the social fabric. Now, drying-up of bores, and dust, noise and light pollution mean families decide not to continue farming into the next generation. We are very worried about what this will mean for NSW’s food security.
We urge this Government to consider the long-term wellbeing of NSW and to refuse to approve this Project.

The members of Dubbo Environment Group Inc. have for 5 years been active in the advocacy for a future sustainable environment and the protection of our planet from Climate Change. We have held protests, visited local members, written submissions and posted Facebook evidence on gas fracking at Narrabri, floodplain harvesting and over-allocation of irrigation water affecting our MDB river health, Climate Change policies and clearing of our forests.
Our major project, the Dubbo Indian Myna Control Program has a membership of 3.6K on Facebook and is the only group trying to eradicate the pest bird from the CW of NSW. After 3.5 years we have taken 6500 mynas out of the environment, giving our native birds, severely affected by loss of habitat already, a fighting chance.
The Maules Creek Continuation Project, we view with great dismay. How, exactly, does Australia reduce its emissions if fossil fuels continue to be unearthed? The NSW Government shouldn’t be approving a coal mine expansion now that will not even start until 2034 – it is locking in greenhouse gas emissions far into the future that we can’t afford.
This project will clear over 500 hectares of key foraging habitat for the Swift Parrot, despite only 500 of them remaining in the wild, and will push the species closer to extinction. This is a key site for Swifties and must not be put at risk.
The project will also clear a further 428 hectares of the beautiful Leard State Forest, resulting in over 46% of the State Forest having been cleared in total for three coal mines.
Whitehaven Coal has an appalling compliance record. In the last 10 years, Whitehaven has been found guilty or investigated for breaches of the law on 35 occasions, many of them including multiple offences. They have been prosecuted numerous times.
Dubbo Environment Group sincerely asks that this project not be accepted.

Maules Creek Coal provides job security for young members of the Maules Creek community and provides opportunities that are not readily available with out the mine operating.

I am writing the oppose Whitehaven Coal’s new approval to expand and extend mining at its massive Maules Creek coal mine for another decade, from 2034 to 2044. This expanded area includes the Leard State Forest, home to the critically endangered Swift Parrot, only 500 of which are left in the wild.
Leard State Forest has been home to at least 20 of the remaining Swift Parrots in the last few years. It is one of the few special places left where they have been officially recorded feasting on the native blossoms. In addition, Whitehaven’s project would clear a further 428 hectares of the Leard State Forest, resulting in over 46% of the State Forest having been cleared in total for three coal mines. NSW has one of the highest a deforestation rates on the planet. Our scarce and precious public lands should not be destroyed for coal mine profits.
Whitehaven cannot be trusted with Australia’s natural resources. They were found guilty of illegally taking a billion litres of water during the last drought to operate the Maules Ck coal mine. This expansion poses a major risk to local water resources – it will suck down water beneath local creeks and the groundwater used by farmers to water their stock. Whitehaven has already been prosecuted for stealing water at the Maules Ck coal mine at the height of the last drought.
The expansion will harm the local farming community at Maules Ck and cause negative social impacts. It will further empty the district of families through alienation of productive land, and create dangerous dust pollution and escalating noise for surrounding areas, whilst creating division and conflict. It will exacerbate the housing crisis in the region.
In short, the NSW Government must not approve a coal mine expansion now that will not even start until 2034 – it is locking in greenhouse gas emissions far into the future that we can’t afford. Whitehaven’s proposal is designed to ‘bank’ an approval now before climate laws are strengthened further in response to the rapidly escalating impacts of global warming in the form of more extreme weather events.
The planet cannot take any more destruction for the profit of a few.

Because Whitehaven supports the community

I came to the area to work at Maules Creek Mine. My family followed, moving to a rural property near the Maules Creek Operation. We have found that on top of employment, Whitehaven Coal and Maules Creek have a massive positive impact on the local community. My three young children enrolled at a local school, and engaged in local sporting activities. The move of schools for my kids was made so much easier through their engagement in local sporting activities, in particular involvement in Gunnedah Swimming Club. This is a fantastic organisation that provides life skills to local kids at an affordable cost, largely due to the support we receive from companies like Whitehaven Coal and the many companies who provide services to their Operations. With the continued operation of Maules Creek, Whitehaven Coal will be in a position to continue the support to the many community organisations they help, if Maules Creek does not continue, obviously this would cease. In summary, I and my family strongly support the continuation project for Maules Creek Coal Mine.

Maules Creek Coal is very important supply to Japan for its energy security.

I want to work there for long term

Maules Creek project continuation will play a vital role in supporting the economic growth and development of our regionand it will generate substantial local employment opportunities, both directly and indirectly, by creating well-paying jobs and supporting local businesses through supply chain partnerships.

In addition to fostering workforce development, the project will significantly contribute to public revenue through taxes and royalties, helping to fund essential services such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure improvements. Maules Creek is committed to continue operating responsibly, sustainably, and in close collaboration with local communities

Please see attached. I believe the proposal should not be considered now because the Maules Creek Mine already has approval out to 2034. To consider extending it at this stage is premature because over time it is less and less likely to be considered in the interests of NSW. I discuss the following points:
Coal mining expansions are the weak spot in NSW reaching its climate targets
Granting approval to mine until 2044 makes NSW vulnerable to future liabilities
Coal is on the way out
Ten-year extension to 2044 will likely be a final blow for the Swift Parrot
Whitehaven can't be trusted with water.