My key points of objection include the following:
1. In this era of allegedly seeking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, this 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.

2. 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.

As a wildlife rescuer in the Hunter Valley, during the Summer of 2025/26 we experienced an unusually dry late Spring (October/November) which resulted in less feed available for native wildlife, as well as 3-4 extreme heat events, characterised by Temperatures > 40oC for periods of > 2 days. This resulted in a "heat stress" event for native flying foxes in the region. This included black flying foxes which are native to Queensland but over the past few years have been moving south into NSW due to extreme heat. Adults were already starving or severely compromised due to lack of food and the extreme heat events caused them to drop their young. We recovered around 70 flying foxes across several flying fox camps in the Hunter Valley and are raising them to release. This number keeps increasing every year. This is just one real-time example of the impacts of climate change we are experiencing locally NOW. We must not add to this situation.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. The scope of 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.

To the NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI),

Reject MACH Energy’s proposed Mount Pleasant Modification 8 (DA92/97-Mod-8)

I write urging you to reject MACH Energy’s proposed Mount Pleasant Modification 8. The proposal is flawed in several ways, as follows.

First, and fundamentally, the proposed mine expansion is massive, and would generate unacceptable levels of greenhouse gas pollution. This includes the creation in NSW of an estimated 1.5 million tonnes of local greenhouse gases in next ten years. More significantly, the proposed mine expansion is estimated to generate over 100 million tonnes in downstream emissions (i.e., scope 3 emissions – emissions resulting from burning coal from the proposed mine expansion). The people of NSW, including in the Hunter region, are already suffering the impacts of climate change: adding further greenhouse pollution will do unacceptable harm to the public interest. The people of NSW are already facing the consequences of climate change-fuelled extreme weather, and the proposal would ensure increased socio-economic costs for people in NSW.

Second, the requirement for planning authorities to consider the climate impact of proposals’ downstream (scope 3) greenhouse gas emissions was established only last year. This was through a determination by the NSW Court of Appeal’s regarding MACH Energy’s previously proposed expansion of the Mount Pleasant mine. MACH Energy has since sought to appeal that decision by taking the matter to the High Court, and the High Court has yet to issue a ruling. Given that process is yet to play out, the proposal is premature, and will likely cause legal and practical confusion, with material environmental and social consequences for the local area and the wider region: the Hunter Region is in the process of an energy transition, and jobs and livelihoods are stake.
Third, the proposed expansion of the Mount Pleasant Mine is being made even as our state is not on track to meet its legislated 2030 or 2035 emissions reductions targets. The proposal 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.

Lastly, the proposed expansion is new, at scale, and not reasonably described as a modification. However, one effect of describing the proposal as a “modification” is that the proposal might avoid necessary and appropriate independent review. On any measure this is a significant proposal, and as such, surely the proposal must go to the Independent Planning Commission for proper assessment.

Yours sincerely,
[submitted electronically]
Associate Professor Liam Phelan
School of Science
University of Newcastle

There is never enough time to review thoroughly all the technical reports - when the company has months/years and the community have a few weeks and it is not their core day job.

It is a mis representation that this is a minor modification and business as usual.

This Modification is NOT business as usual and it is NOT substantially the same as the current approval and it will will have significant social and environmental impacts based on initial technical advice. This includes:
o air quality
o greenhouse gas emissions
 1.5 million tonnes of local greenhouse gas pollution over the next 10years in NSW
 over 100 million tonnes of downstream emissions
 all at a time when NSW is NOT on track to meet its legislated 2030 or 2050 emissions reductions targets.
o noise and blasting
o unacceptable risks to our water quality and quantity - the lifeblood of our industry and community
o landscape and visual amenity - not a soft issue for any community.

• The community has not been given procedural fairness to provide informed comment on this Modification
o Neither 14 nor 21 days are considered fair to digest and assess over 3,400 pages of highly complex, technical reports affecting our livelihoods, our future and future generations.

• This modification is NOT in the public interest - because:
o it does not meet the Government’s ecologically sustainable development principles - particularly inter-generational equity
o it does not meet the Government’s legislated Net Zero Emissions targets
o It is in direct opposition to the NSW Net Zero Commission’s advice (December 2025) that “continued extensions or expansions to coal mining in NSW are not consistent” with NSW climate law.

• The speed with which this Modification is being rushed through the planning process does not engender trust in our community.
o It is contrary to the Department’s community participation plan and the principles of respect, collaboration, communication and trust included therein.

it is not fair to the community that this is being rushed through and it is inappropriate and not transparent that this Modification 8 is being rushed through at this time.
o Mt Pleasant had lodged a similar modification (Mod 7) some years ago but chose to withdraw it.
o Why is the Department rushing this application through when MACH Energy is before the High Court on its Optimisation Project?
o Rushing this proposal through the planning system before the High Court’s judgment is risky, confusing, environmentally damaging and diminishing trust in the public planning process.

• This Modification is not substantially the same as the current approval. It is environmentally harmful, has no social license. It is not in the public interest and should be refused.

Please accept this as my objection to this extension of Mount Pleasant Coal Mine until 2032.

We are in a climate crisis and we need to be transitioning to renewable power and storage, moving away from burning critical non-renewable resources. This mine was supposed to close in 2026 but is aggressively advocating to continue mining and generating greenhouse accelerants into the next decades.

This massive mine expansion, not a claimed “extension”, 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. NSW is 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. There are the typical job creation claims, but but no acknowledgement of job destruction and degradation as the many types of pollution from mining further damage tourism, viticulture, agriculture, dairy, horse breeding, and even real estate that actually generate jobs and income for locals, the state and taxes.

With the Denman Decision the NSW Court of Appeal’s 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. Now this decision is in the High Court, acceptance of this application will cause legal and practical confusion with severe environmental and social consequences for the area.

The Net Zero Commission delivered a spotlight report in December 2025 the key findings were:

* In order for NSW emissions targets to remain achievable, on-site abatement at existing mines is essential, particularly to reduce fugitive emissions. Additional regulatory measures will be required to achieve measurable on-site abatement.
* The Commonwealth and NSW Governments are working to improve the accuracy of fugitive emissions reporting at open cut coal mines. Collaboration across these efforts could accelerate and strengthen outcomes.
* Consistent with the objectives of the Climate Change Act, NSW consent authorities need to meaningfully consider greenhouse gas emissions and their impacts in all planning decisions, including those for additional coal mining.
* Continued extensions or expansions to coal mining in NSW are not consistent with the emissions reduction targets in the Climate Change Act or the Paris Agreement temperature goals it gives effect to.
* NSW Government will need to prioritise its consideration of policies that systematically prepare for the decline of coal extraction and provide for a just and orderly transition for coal-producing communities and impacted regional economies.
 
Approval would inflict harm on the our community and our economy. The people of NSW are already dealing with increasing bills and escalating dangers from climate change fuelled extreme weather. Australians are doing a mighty job of installing roof top solar and batteries throughout the country, this is a sign that this is what the majority of Australians want, green power not fossil fuels. South Australia is a leader in generating the most economical and least destructive power, while the fossil fuel lobby is whining about “strains on the grid” as power generation continues to decentralise. The strains they are no doubt referring to are power, control and profit.

This expansion is being described as a “modification”, attempting to avoid the necessity for independent review. It is patently not “substantially the same development” as the one previously approved (DA 92/97). This project must go to the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) for proper assessment.

Thank you for this opportunity to object to this mining extension.

As a proud employee of MACH, I am supporting MOD 8 to ensure my peers and I have secure employment into the future, along with local jobs in the Newcastle and Hunter that are provided by the MACH Mount Pleasant operations.
MACH not only supports the local community through employment, but its Community Sponsorship and Aboriginal Cultural Development Funds.
MACH also provides a significant portion of NSW's domestic energy supply, which keeps our lights on and EV's charged!

Green house emissions are having a direct and dire impact on every day lives.
It's getting hotter, drier, windier and the UV index is almost off the radar.
We are forced to take refuge inside homes, schools, work places , libraries and large shopping centers in air conditioning to avoid being out in the elements.
This is not in the publics interest! an extension to mine Mt Pleasant is not on.
This must be sent to the Independent Planning Commission for a fair and just determination as the modification is not the same development.

I am a current resident of Scone, NSW. I recently relocated from the Gold Coast for a long-term employment opportunity after working in a similar role for nearly seven years prior. I have since purchased a residential property in Scone as part of my commitment to living and working in the area long-term.

I am writing to object to this Modification.

This Modification is NOT business as usual and it is NOT substantially the same as the current approval.

This Modification will have significant social and environmental impacts, including impacts to air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, noise and blasting, water quality and quantity, and landscape and visual amenity. The proposal would contribute approximately 1.5 million tonnes of local greenhouse gas pollution over the next 10 years in NSW, as well as over 100 million tonnes of downstream emissions, all at a time when NSW is not on track to meet its legislated 2030 or 2050 emissions reduction targets.

Noise and blasting impacts are also a concern for local communities. The proposal further presents unacceptable risks to water quality and quantity, which is the lifeblood of our regional industries and communities. Landscape and visual amenity should also not be dismissed as a minor issue; it is an important part of the character, liveability and identity of rural communities such as the Upper Hunter.

NSW has legislated emissions reduction targets of 50% below 2005 levels by 2030, 70% by 2035, and net zero by 2050. This proposal should be assessed in the context of those targets and the State’s climate obligations.

The Upper Hunter region already carries a significant burden of industrial activity and associated environmental impacts. Proposals that increase emissions and extend these impacts must be carefully scrutinised, particularly when they occur during a period where governments and industries are expected to be working towards emissions reductions and a responsible transition.

The Upper Hunter is also internationally recognised for its thoroughbred breeding industry and broader agricultural production, both of which rely on a healthy natural environment, clean air and sustainable land use. These industries form an important part of the region’s long-term economic future and identity, and decisions that increase environmental pressures on the region should carefully consider their potential impacts on these sectors.

The community has also not been given procedural fairness to provide informed comment on this Modification. Neither 14 nor 21 days is a reasonable timeframe for the community to digest and assess over 3,400 pages of highly complex technical reports, particularly when the issues involved affect local livelihoods, the regional economy and future generations.
The speed with which this Modification is being progressed through the planning process undermines trust within the community. It appears inconsistent with the Department’s Community Participation Plan and the principles of respect, collaboration, communication and trust outlined within it.

In addition, this Modification does not appear to be in the public interest. It does not meet the Government’s ecologically sustainable development principles, particularly the principle of inter-generational equity, and it does not align with the Government’s legislated Net Zero emissions targets.

It is also in direct opposition to the NSW Net Zero Commission’s advice (December 2025) that “continued extensions or expansions to coal mining in NSW are not consistent” with NSW climate law.

It is also concerning that this Modification is being progressed while MACH Energy is before the High Court of Australia in relation to its Optimisation Project. Rushing this proposal through the planning system before the Court’s judgment creates confusion, undermines trust in the planning process and risks further environmental harm.

This Modification is not substantially the same as the current approval. It is environmentally harmful, does not appear to have social licence within the community, and is not in the public interest.

For these reasons, I object to this Modification and request that it be refused.

MACH Energy have provided 1000's of jobs both directly and indirectly since mining has commenced at Mt Pleasant. MACH have provided and continue to provide business opportunities for local and regional businesses and by default employment opportunities for people not employed directly at the mine. As a person new to the area I see the benefits of the financial support that local mining companies provide the local communities and sporting organizations in the region. To my knowledge MACH are a responsible organization who endeavor to comply with best practice throughout their mining operation. The benefits of mining royalties, taxes, regional growth, benefit not only the local communities but all of NSW. The approval of the Mt Pleasant MOD 8 submission is the correct decision for the state.

I object to this Mod 8. It is not a modification, it must be rejected as it is a new mine. It is a new development and must go through the correct process submitting an EIS and being assessed by the Independent Planning Commission.
The emissions from this mine will accelerate climate change. Australia is already suffering, with hotter fires, increased droughts, floods and storms. Approving am mine that will will produce 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 is madness. Please reject this "mod 8"

Bathurst Community Climate Action Network (BCCAN) is a network of organisations and individuals working together to promote action on climate change and sustainable and equitable development. BCCAN has about 45 members and an additional mailing list of about 250. BCCAN is an active participant in public discussions about environmental policy in the Central West of NSW, addressing environmental issues both locally and in the wider area.
We are greatly concerned about MACH Energy’s Modification 8 - Extension on many grounds, and call for the application to be refused. Please consider:
• At the moment, an appeal by MACH Energy, which is on this same mine, is in the High Court contesting the NSW Court of Appeal’s Denman decision. To proceed with this Mod 8 application would be inappropriate.

• To approve this application is directly against the NSW Net Zero Commission’s advice in December 2025, 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.’

• This application asks for an increase in the approved ROM coal extraction rate to 12.5 Mtpa. Despite being of relatively low emission intensity (page 152, chart in the Modification Report), nevertheless the mining of the coal would release 1.5 Mt of local greenhouse gas pollution in the next 10 years, and over 100 Mt wherever it is burnt. This fuels global warming.

• Although it would be a big change, workers involved in the mining sector can re-train or be employed elsewhere. Historically, workers have moved away from numerous sites on the Bathurst goldfields, Burraga, Newnes, Tuena and Glen Davis when mining ceased, to give local examples. Currently the labour market around Bathurst/Orange is very tight, with businesses unable to find employees. The approved and yet-to-start Regis gold mine near Bathurst will require a large workforce. We only have one earth, one biosphere; the absolute urgency of addressing climate change requires the imperative of no more fossil fuel extensions or new projects.


Because our earth is a globe and effects travel around it, the downstream emissions of the coal will certainly affect us here – to the detriment of our weather, environment and health. Whenever we allow more GHG emissions, here or overseas, we are exacerbating - and making more difficult to reverse - what our communities throughout NSW are already experiencing.
As the Modification application notes: ‘Climate projections suggest that many changes in the climate system are likely to become larger in direct relation to increasing incremental global warming, with a warmer climate likely to intensify very wet and very dry weather and climatic events and seasons…’.
The main threats of climate change stem from the rising temperature of Earth’s atmosphere include rising sea levels (noting that a huge percentage of Australia’s population lives along the coast), ecosystem collapse (which Australian scientists have already noted in some of our ecosystems), and more frequent and severe weather.
This is now playing out. The Great Barrier Reef has suffered bleaching that caused the loss of about one-third of shallow-water coral. Fruit growers near Orange are experiencing a change in seasons in their lifetime that makes growing fruit much more difficult, as the cool minimum temperatures are much rarer. Some home owners have difficulty in paying rising house insurance premiums, and in some cases difficulty in simply finding an insurer. Costs of more severe natural disasters are increasing along with their increased frequency and severity. The Insurance Council of Australia has revealed that extreme weather events in 2025 cost almost $3.5 billion in insured losses from 264,000 claims. Climate pollution is already costing us - dearly.
Climate change is happening right now. Every part of a degree of warming we avoid means a more liveable planet for us, our children and our grandchildren. We need to reject fossil fuel projects. It is definitely in the public’s interest to reject this application.
BCCAN urges that this application be refused.