I am writing to urge that Whitehaven Coal’s application to extend the life of its Maules Creek coal mine for 10 years and to expand the mine into Leard State Forest be rejected.

I am a bird lover and I’m very concerned about the threat that Whitehaven’s application poses to the critically endangered Swift Parrot. There are only 500 of this remarkable species left in the wild. In the last few years at least 20 Swift Parrots have been recorded feeding on White Box blossoms in Leard State Forest having flown all the way from Tasmania. It would be an act of environmental vandalism to destroy more habitat in this forest, taking the proportion destroyed to almost half the original amount. It would push the Swift Parrot closer to extinction.

Public lands such as state forests must not be destroyed for private profit. This has been allowed to happen on too many occasions in the past, and it must stop.

Whitehaven’s extended and expanded mine would produce an extra 238 million tonnes of total greenhouse gas emissions. This is unconscionable given the devastating impacts of climate change that NSW, Australia and indeed numerous places around the globe are already experiencing. And the 3 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions that will result directly from the mining process itself will undermine NSW’s climate targets.

I have a 20-month-old granddaughter and I am terrified of the kind of world she will live in by the end of this century if we continue to enable increasing amounts of greenhouse gas emissions.

It is ludicrous that Whitehaven is applying for an extension of the coal mine which would not apply until 2034. The company is undoubtedly aiming to lock in the extension while our national environment laws ignore the climate impacts of projects. They know that if they wait until say 2030 to apply for an extension, it will be much more difficult if not impossible to get approval because by then national environment laws will almost certainly have been strengthened. What Whitehaven is seeking to do is to gain the equivalent of a ‘Zombie DA’.

Whitehaven’s application to expand their mine poses a major risk to local water resources. It will suck down water beneath local creeks and also the groundwater used by farmers to water their stock.

Whitehaven Coal is a very poor corporate citizen. It has an appalling compliance record. In the last 10 years, it has been found guilty or has been investigated for breaches of the law on 35 occasions, many of them including multiple offences. They have been prosecuted numerous times including for stealing water at the Maules Creek coal mine at the height of the last drought.

A corporation like Whitehaven should not be given the opportunity to continue to cause damage to the climate, animal and plant species, farmland, water supplies, and the local community. Its application to extend and expand its Maules Creek coal mine must be rejected.

The Maules Creek Continuation Project approval means a lot to the Narrabri Shire.
Importantly, it adds to building and retaining our region in a diverse economy which includes agriculture - cotton, wheat (grain), fresh food, cattle, sheep etc., engineering and supplies, retail and small businesses, housing and schools, increased medical and hospital facilities and most importantly employment and careers. "We need to be flexible, but to do it the correct and sustainable way".

Dear NSW Government
I am strongly opposed to the Maules Creek Continuation Project. The project is applying for a continuance that will not become effective until 2034 and plans to operate to 2044. With global demand for coal projected to decrease, approving a project this far into the future is unjustified. Moreover, as this will increase carbon emissions, the approval will be harmful for the planet. The negative impacts on the community, the erosion of environmental values, the risk to local water resources, the destruction of Leard State Forest, along with further struggles for critically endangered birds like the Regent Honeyeater, Superb Parrot and Swift Parrot are all important considerations. Please find ATTACHED my formal submission to substantiate my objection.
Martin Derby

Local working at maules Creek coal

It should not go ahead

Save the swift parrots

Dear NSW Government
Please find ATTACHED my formal submission that outlines my objection to the Maules Creek Continuation Project. This project if approved, will operate to 2044 and will cause further climate change risks with increased emissions, destroy species habitat, negatively impact Leard State Forest, effect critically endangered wildlife and their ability to survive, and contaminate water. I will address the real future of more coal mines in the state and question the ethics of Whitehaven a company that has a track record of numerous breaches in their operations.
Thank you
Janice Haviland

I’m strongly opposed to the proposed extension of Maules Creek mine. It’s inconceivable to me that in the midst of our anthropogenic climate crisis extending a coal mine for a further 10 years is even a possibility. The International Energy Agency has made it perfectly clear - no new coal and gas! Badging this phishing scheme an extension is a weasely back-door action.

In addition, the critically endangered Swift Parrot- relies on the Leard State Forest for feeding. The parrot - the arrow of the forest - is down to around 600 from its already endangered numbers of 8000 40 years ago. Are we seriously contemplating starving this incredible species to extinction for the sake of a potential profit in an industry that’s running itself - and our planet - into the ground?

Please reject this act of dangerous act of prospecting.