Will have vastly damaging effects on the environment

As someone who moved to Australia from overseas to find work, I support projects that create and maintain jobs. The Mount Pleasant Operation provides opportunities not just for people living locally, but also for many companies and workers across Australia who are involved in the design, construction, and ongoing work that supports the project. I will continue to support projects like this, which continue to create employment and opportunities for people.

My name is Martin Mansfield. I am passionate about ensuring that my 2-year-old granddaughter, and all other people of her generation and future generations have a liveable planet in which to grow up and prosper. I therefore believe that much stronger action needs to be taken to combat climate change.

I am writing to express my strong objection to MACH Energy’s application to extend the life of Mt Pleasant Coal Mine by six years to 2032.

The scientific evidence is clear that climate change is primarily caused by the burning of fossil fuels and that we need to reduce, at the very least stop adding to, the amount of greenhouse gases that we are producing. If MACH Energy’s application is successful, it will lead to the creation of 1.5 million tonnes of local greenhouse gas emissions and over 100 million tonnes in downstream ‘Scope 3’ emissions.

This would contradict the NSW Net Zero Commission conclusion in their recent Coal Mine Emissions Spotlight Report that any further coal mine expansions are inconsistent with achieving NSW climate targets and the Paris Agreement temperature goals. NSW is already off track to meet its 2030 and 2035 targets and an extension of the Mt Pleasant mine would make the situation worse.

I do not want my granddaughter to grow up in a world which is experiencing more bushfires, floods, droughts and extreme heat, and in which there is likely to be environmental collapse and social dislocation, all of which are inevitable if climate change continues to worsen.

I strongly urge that MACH Energy’s application to extend the life of Mt Pleasant Coal Mine to 2032 be rejected.

Thank you for the opportunity to make this submission.

Objection in attached file

The Hunter Thoroughbred Breeders' Association objects to the Mount Pleasant Modification 8 proposal

I object to the proposed Modification 8 to extend the life of the Mt Pleasant Coal Mine to 2032.

This proposal would significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions at a time when NSW and Australia are already experiencing the escalating impacts of climate change. Communities across NSW have recently experienced severe bushfires, flooding, extreme heat events and coastal impacts that have caused substantial damage to homes, infrastructure, agriculture and natural ecosystems. Further expansion of coal mining that contributes to global emissions is contrary to the public interest and inconsistent with efforts to reduce climate risk.

The NSW Court of Appeal has already recognised that downstream greenhouse emissions must be considered in decision-making for coal mine approvals. Proceeding with an expansion while this principle is under consideration by the High Court creates legal uncertainty and undermines public confidence in the planning system.

The proposal would generate substantial additional greenhouse gas pollution over its life, including both local operational emissions and far larger downstream emissions when the coal is burned overseas. At a time when NSW is struggling to meet its legislated emissions reduction targets, approval of additional coal production sends a contradictory policy signal and undermines the objectives of the State’s climate legislation and international commitments.

The proposal should also not be treated merely as a “modification”. Extending the life of a large open-cut coal mine by six years and increasing production capacity represents a significant change to the development and warrants independent scrutiny. It should therefore be referred to the Independent Planning Commission for a full and transparent assessment.

For these reasons, I respectfully request that the NSW Department of Planning refuse Modification 8 or, at minimum, refer the project to the Independent Planning Commission for independent determination.

Like many NSW residents, I have witnessed the increasing impacts of climate change through recent bushfires, flooding and extreme weather events affecting communities across the state.

I object to this project.

Last week, the Australian Climate Accountability Project at the UNSW Australian Human Rights Institute released a report a report by the Hon. John Basten KC into assessment by NSW government agencies of impacts of greenhouse gas emissions in applications to approve new or expanded coal mines. The report is available here: https://www.humanrights.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/documents/FINAL%20-%20Legal%20obligations%20for%20environmental%20impact%20assessments%20in%20coal%20mining%20approvals%20in%20New%20South%20Wales%20.pdf

The NSW Net Zero Commission has already found that further coal mine extensions are incompatible with the state’s emissions reduction targets. Yet key agencies are still relying on outdated policies: the Environment Protection Authority’s 2025 Guide excludes emissions from exported coal, and the Independent Planning Commission gives only cursory attention to the harmful effects of burning exported NSW coal.

Scientific evidence now clearly links every tonne of CO₂ to rising temperatures and increasing climate risks, including those identified in Australia’s 2025 National Climate Risk Assessment. The International Court of Justice has also ruled that States must prevent significant climate harm; approval of new fossil fuel projects directly causes such harm.

The report finds that NSW’s current approval processes put the state in breach of both NSW and international law.

See attached submission