This huge mine expansion will create 1.5 million tons of local greenhouse gas pollution in the next ten years in NSW and over a 100 million tons 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 “continued 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 fueled 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.

Mt Pleasant supports over 1000 local jobs in the Hunter Valley and plays a significant role in the continuity of a healthy economy in the Valley by supporting a large range of local businesses and suppliers.

I support the Mach Energy Mt Pleasant extension project. My wife and I were born and raised in Singleton with strong family engagement in direct mining employment through out history and have built a career supporting the Upper Hunter Mines for the past 29 years. I have been apart in directly supporting Mach Energy mining since its inception in 2017 and along with most of the other regions major mine sites. I have 1 son and Daughter also living, working and studying in Singleton. My Son is now a 3rd year apprentice at a mine supporting company in the Upper Hunter region and my Daughter is in her Senior High School years. Both of my children play sports locally most notably Rugby League for Singleton and I have been a Singleton Rugby League coach for the past 16 years supporting and engaging with the youth of our region. Mach Energy supports my family's involvement in the community and also enables the profitability to local business (Of which we are employed) be able to sponsor local teams and school of which we benefit. For the 1st time in history our region is starting to feel uncertainty around job security, long term viability and housing value anxiety due to recent mine closure, closure announcements and uncertainty of mine lives with project announcement delays etc. Mt Pleasant mine is one of very few that brings hope for the longer term certainty of our region. Without this extension approval and lack of visible industry shift/training, skills transfer we are all fearful of having to leave the region in seek of short and long term employment and what will become of our region if we leave gaps in the regions industries.

The continued existence of the project provides valuable financing for the Hillside mine project in SA. The Hillside project is an opportunity for regional individuals to seek employment within the region. Mount Pleasant is a functioning mining organisation which provides MACH Energy an operational base of people, governance, HSE systems, procurement discipline which is critical to the development of the Hillside operations.

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.

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 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.

- Mount Pleasant will continue to deliver jobs including over 70% of local employment from the area
- Mount Pleasant plays a significant role and contribution to the local economy and wider community
- Numerous contractors, suppliers and local business depend on operations like Mount Pleasant to continue
- Contributions to local indigenous community through direct employment at Mount Pleasant 5% indigenous employment and engagement and solid funding to the Aboriginal community development fund +8M YTD
- over +2M funding and investment in local community groups including sporting clubs, schools and community groups
- over 650M in royalty contributions since Mach energy commenced
- Mach will supply apx 20% of the expected NSW domestic coal demand beyond 2026 which helps deliver reliable power to households in NSW
- If Mod 8 is not successful and the SSD continues to be held in courts, Mount Pleasant may close in Dec 26

I strongly object to this project for the following reasons:
● The Mod 8 – Expansion of mine application aims for a huge expansion of the Mt Pleasant mine at Muswellbrook for a further six years to 2032. This application should be dismissed out of hand because of its impact on the environment and people’s lives. It will result in 1.5 million tonnes of local greenhouse gas pollution during the next ten years in NSW as well as over a 100 million tonnes in downstream emissions. These emissions will happen at a time when NSW will not meet its legislated 2030 or 2035 emissions reductions targets. The people of NSW are already bearing the impacts of climate change, especially in the Hunter region. Adding further greenhouse pollution will create unacceptable harm to the public interest. As increased energy is provided from renewables, NSW should be reducing not expanding its reliance on fossil fuels.
● According to the NSW Court of Appeal’s Denman Decision it was made clear that the local impacts of climate change caused by the downstream greenhouse pollution from NSW coal must be considered by planning authorities. It is not appropriate for MACH Energy and the NSW Planning Department to apply for another expansion project at the Mt Pleasant mine while the NSW Court of Appeal ruling on the previous application to expand the mine is now before the High Court. If this new application is accepted legal and practical confusion with environmental and social consequences for Muswellbrook and surrounds will arise.
● The expansion of this mine is in direct contradiction to the Government's own advice from the NSW Net Zero Commission’s Spotlight Report of December 2025. The report identified that continued expansions of coal mining was incompatible with NSW climate law and the Paris Agreement on temperature goals.
● Approval would inflict further harm on the people of Muswellbrook and surrounds and the local economy.
● The proposed expansion is not a modification because it is substantially different from the previously approved application (DA 92/97). By calling it a “modification” MACH Energy and the NSW Planning Department are trying to circumvent an independent review by the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) and be properly assessed. This should not be allowed to happen under any circumstances.

● 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.

Cummins Muswellbrook supplies ongoing 24hr engine support keeping machinery working at all times. If approval was not approved current staff levels would need to be reviewed. Our other branch at Newcastle supply parts on a daily basis to Mt Pleasant. Project is viable to keep local jobs and Mac Energy support community services.