Continuation is not consistent with local or international climate laws. We need to do everything possible to reduce greenhouse gas pollution.

This huge mine expansion will create 1.5 million tonnes of local greenhouse gas pollution in the next ten years in NSW and over a 100 million tonnes in downstream emissions at a time when our state is not on track to meet its legislated 2030 or 2035 emissions reductions targets. The people of NSW are already suffering the impacts of climate change, including in the Hunter region and adding further greenhouse pollution will do unacceptable harm to the public interest.

● The NSW Court of Appeal’s Denman Decision made it clear that the local impacts of climate change caused by the downstream greenhouse pollution from NSW coal have to be considered by planning authorities. As this decision is now in the High Court, acceptance of this application will cause legal and practical confusion with environmental and social consequences for the area.

● The expansion of this mine is in direct contradiction to the Government's own advice from the NSW Net Zero Commission in December of last year that “[c]ontinued extensions or expansions to coal mining in NSW are not consistent” with NSW climate law nor with the Paris Agreement temperature goals.

● Approval would inflict harm on our people and our economy. The people of NSW are already dealing with increasing bills and escalating dangers from climate change fuelled extreme weather.

● This expansion is not a modification. It is not “substantially the same development” as the one previously approved (DA 92/97) and calling it a “modification” avoids independent review. This project must go to the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) for proper assessment.

This proposed mine extension would generate over 100 million tonnes of subsequent greenhouse gas emissions, at a time when the New South Wales (NSW) Government's own Net Zero Commission has stated that continued extensions to coal mining within NSW are inconsistent with the state's climate legislation and the Paris Agreement. The residents of NSW are already experiencing the effects of worsening climate-related events, including severe floods, wildfires, and heatwaves across the Hunter region and throughout the state. An additional 100 million tonnes of climate pollution would exacerbate these issues.

Additionally, there are legal concerns. In the previous year, the NSW Court of Appeal's significant Denman Decision clarified that the local impacts of climate change, driven by the mining and combustion of NSW coal, must be considered by planning authorities. This ruling is currently under challenge before the High Court. It is our view that proceeding with the mine expansion while this case is pending would constitute an inappropriate process.

Furthermore, characterizing this as a "modification" is misleading. It does not constitute "substantially the same development" as the original approval. This matter should be referred to the Independent Planning Commission for comprehensive and impartial evaluation, rather than being approved as a minor alteration.

Approval of this project would cause detrimental effects on the community and the economy. The residents of NSW are already facing rising utility costs and increasing dangers from weather events intensified by climate change.

This expansion does not qualify as a mere modification. It is not “substantially the same development” as the previously authorized project (DA 92/97). Labeling it as a modification bypasses the necessity for independent review. The project must be submitted to the Independent Planning Commission for proper assessment.

We are only just beginning to feel the effects of climate change; and already, we've seen so many natural disasters. The large-scale data tell us this, and so do the anecdotes and case studies: my own parents' Manning Valley area home, previously considered well above any predictable flood, was inundated in the floods last year, and still has not been restored and rendered liveable due to the sheer number of properties affected in that one region / incident alone.
With this in mind, the last thing we need is to be digging more coal out of the ground and allowing it to be burned. Whether it's burned here or abroad is immaterial: the fact is that this carbon pollution will contribute further to climate change. NSW Government's own Net Zero Commission has said that continued extensions to coal mining in NSW are not consistent with our state's climate laws or the Paris Agreement.
Even the financial case doesn't stack up. The costs of dealing with the impacts - of which my parnets' home is just a tiny example - far outweigh any benefits in tax income or job creation.
I strongly oppose this extension.

I support MOD 8 it is an important project, for me my family and my local community.
I have worked at Mount Pleasant for over two years now and have allows me to support my wife and children.

We need to be able to face the future with confidence around the future operations of Mount Pleasant. MOD 8 also secures my future job security, most importantly financial stability for my family.

This huge mine expansion will create 1.5 million tonnes of local greenhouse gas pollution in the next ten years in NSW and over a 100 million tonnes in downstream emissions at a time when our state is not on track to meet its legislated 2030 or 2035 emissions reductions targets. The people of NSW are already suffering the impacts of climate change, including in the Hunter region and adding further greenhouse pollution will do unacceptable harm to the public interest. The NSW Court of Appeal’s Denman Decision made it clear that the local impacts of climate change caused by the downstream greenhouse pollution from NSW coal have to be considered by planning authorities. As this decision is now in the High Court, acceptance of this application will cause legal and practical confusion with environmental and social consequences for the area. The expansion of this mine is in direct contradiction to the Government's own advice from the NSW Net Zero Commission in December of last year that “[c]ontinued extensions or expansions to coal mining in NSW are not consistent” with NSW climate law nor with the Paris Agreement temperature goals. Approval would inflict harm on our people and our economy. The people of NSW are dealing with increasing bills and escalating dangers from climate change fuelled extreme weather. This expansion is not a modification. It is not “substantially the same development” as the one previously approved (DA 92/97) and calling it a “modification” avoids independent review. This project must go to the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) for proper assessment. Please consider this and do not approve this. Thank you.

● This huge mine expansion will create 1.5 million tonnes of local greenhouse gas pollution in the next ten years in NSW and over a 100 million tonnes in downstream emissions at a time when our state is not on track to meet its legislated 2030 or 2035 emissions reductions targets. The people of NSW are already suffering the impacts of climate change, including in the Hunter region and adding further greenhouse pollution will do unacceptable harm to the public interest.

● The NSW Court of Appeal’s Denman Decision made it clear that the local impacts of climate change caused by the downstream greenhouse pollution from NSW coal have to be considered by planning authorities. As this decision is now in the High Court, acceptance of this application will cause legal and practical confusion with environmental and social consequences for the area.

● The expansion of this mine is in direct contradiction to the Government's own advice from the NSW Net Zero Commission in December of last year that “[c]ontinued extensions or expansions to coal mining in NSW are not consistent” with NSW climate law nor with the Paris Agreement temperature goals.

● Approval would inflict harm on our people and our economy. The people of NSW are already dealing with increasing bills and escalating dangers from climate change fuelled extreme weather.

● This expansion is not a modification. It is not “substantially the same development” as the one previously approved (DA 92/97) and calling it a “modification” avoids independent review. This project must go to the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) for proper assessment.

Even while the brave folk from Denman Aberdeen Muswellbrook Scone Healthy Environment Group (DAMS HEG) prepare to defend their landmark win against Mt Pleasant’s expansion in the High Court of Australia, Mach Energy has slipped in a new expansion proposal so they can keep making the mine bigger, regardless of the High Court outcome.
This single mine extension would generate over 100 million tonnes of downstream greenhouse pollution, at a time when the NSW Government's own Net Zero Commission has said that continued extensions to coal mining in NSW are not consistent with our state's climate laws or the Paris Agreement.
The people of NSW are already living with the consequences of worsening climate damage with extreme floods, fires, and heatwaves in the Hunter and across the state. Adding 100 million tonnes of climate pollution would pour fuel on the fire.
There's also a legal problem. Last year, the NSW Court of Appeal's landmark Denman Decision made clear that the local impacts of climate change that are fuelled by mining and burning NSW coal must be considered by planning authorities. That decision is now being challenged before the High Court. We think that deciding the mine expansion, at a time when this case is before the courts, is not good process.
In fact, calling this a "modification" is itself misleading. This is not "substantially the same development" as the original approval. It should go to the Independent Planning Commission for full and independent assessment, not be waved through as a minor change.

This project is extremely important to the Muswellbrook, greater Hunter Valley region, NSW and even QLD. With other mine closures happening in the area, the future for this region is glim with many jobs to be lost and not easily placed elsewhere. Mount Pleasant have already spent hundreds of millions of dollars on this project which has had flow on effects to employment, government revenue, suppliers, small family companies being kept in business and even people and companies in other states that support this site and region as well.
The local business community have had to live with uncertainty for far too long. We need to be able to plan and invest with confidence around the future operations of Mount Pleasant.
MOD 8 will deliver much needed continuity for a major project that benefits a broad range of local businesses.

As Per Attached