Submission Mt Pleasant Coal Mine Mod 8 - Extension of Mine Life. 6 March 2026
Thank you for the opportunity to comment as a resident of the Hunter Valley directly affected by Coal Mining. This expansion is not a modification but an attempt to avoid detailed scrutiny, a comprehensive assessment and full review. This ‘modification’ differs substantially from the previously approved (DA 92/97) it must, at the very least, be assessed as a new project and go before the Independent Planning Commission (IPC).

The application to extend the life of Mt Pleasant Coal Mine by six years, to 2032 by MACH energy should not be approved. 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. This decision is currently under appeal in the High Court. This current application causes legal uncertainty and further confusion around the full environmental and social effects that need to be considered.

The NSW Net Zero Commission found that further coal mine extensions are incompatible with the state’s emissions reduction targets. However, government agencies are still relying on outdated policies such as the Environment Protection Authority’s 2025 Guide which excludes emissions from exported coal. The International Court of Justice also ruled that States must prevent significant climate harm AND the approval of new fossil fuel projects directly causes such harm. 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 increasing incidence and risk of destructive wild fire, earlier commencement and longer periods of high fire risk is one local example.

We ignore at our peril the increasing ‘extreme’ weather events in the Australian environment. Climate change is now well under way and this means that we can expect ‘unprecedented’ weather events to occur with increasing frequency.

A recently released report from the Climate Accountability Project and Hon John Basten KC finds that NSW’s current approval processes put the state in breach of both NSW and international law. Government agencies are obliged to comply with the Net Zero Act and international law.

Concerned citizens and local environmental groups should not be the ones having to prepare expensive and time-consuming impact and risk assessments necessary to adequately scrutinise these mine ‘modifications’ and expansions, nor be the main ‘watch dogs’ holding these multinational fossil fuel corporations to account, including reporting on non-compliance.

The proposed expansion cannot be justified on employment grounds or benefits to the local community, and will hinder the essential transition to renewable energy, permanently destroy biodiversity, degrade irreplaceable water resources and accelerate climate change impacts.

We urgently need binding and effective mine closure plans and a just transition from coal for the Hunter – not more coal mine expansions.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Julia Mullins Imrie BSc.Grad Dip Water Res. Dip Ed.

Submission Objecting to the Proposed Expansion of the Mount Pleasant Mine

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to lodge a formal objection to the proposed expansion of the Mount Pleasant coal mine put forward by Mach Energy.

This proposal would enable the continued expansion of an already very large coal operation and would generate more than 100 million tonnes of downstream greenhouse gas emissions. At a time when New South Wales has legislated climate targets and has committed to reducing emissions, approving further coal mine expansion is clearly inconsistent with those commitments.

The NSW Government’s own Net Zero Commission has stated that continued extensions or expansions of coal mining in NSW are not consistent with the emissions reduction targets set under the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023, nor with the temperature goals of the Paris Agreement. Proceeding with this expansion would therefore undermine the state’s climate framework and weaken public confidence in the Government’s commitment to meeting its legislated targets.

Communities across NSW are already experiencing the impacts of climate change through worsening floods, bushfires, and heatwaves, including in the Hunter region where this mine operates. Approving a development that would contribute an additional 100 million tonnes of greenhouse pollution would further exacerbate these impacts and impose additional risks and costs on communities now and into the future.

This proposal also raises profound intergenerational equity concerns. Expanding coal production today shifts the burden of climate damage onto future generations who will bear the consequences of decisions made now. Children growing up in NSW today will face a hotter, more dangerous and less stable climate if governments continue approving projects that significantly increase greenhouse emissions. Approving this expansion would knowingly deepen those risks. It is difficult to reconcile such a decision with any reasonable obligation to protect the wellbeing, safety and opportunities of future generations.

There is also an ethical dimension that cannot be ignored. Continuing to expand thermal coal production despite clear scientific warnings and legislated climate commitments raises serious moral questions. When the harms are well known and the consequences will fall disproportionately on young people and those yet to be born, it is not responsible or justifiable to continue approving developments that worsen the problem.

There are also significant legal and procedural concerns with progressing this proposal at this time. The NSW Court of Appeal’s landmark “Denman decision” clarified that the local impacts of climate change resulting from the mining and burning of coal must be considered in planning decisions. This ruling is currently being challenged in the High Court of Australia. Determining an expansion of this scale while that matter is still before the courts would be premature and risks pre-empting important legal clarification regarding the assessment of climate impacts.

Furthermore, it is misleading to describe this proposal as a “modification.” An expansion that enables the production of coal resulting in over 100 million tonnes of downstream emissions cannot reasonably be characterised as “substantially the same development” as the original approval. This proposal represents a significant change in scale and impact and therefore warrants full, independent assessment by the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) rather than being considered as a minor amendment.

Given the scale of the climate impacts, the intergenerational consequences, the current legal uncertainty, and the need for proper public scrutiny, this proposal should not be assessed as a modification and should not be approved.

For these reasons, I respectfully request that the NSW Government refuse this proposed expansion. At a minimum, the proposal should be referred to the Independent Planning Commission for a full and transparent assessment, including a thorough consideration of downstream climate impacts consistent with recent court findings.

New South Wales must begin aligning its planning decisions with its climate laws and with the realities facing communities across the state. Continuing to expand thermal coal production is incompatible with those obligations and unfairly burdens those who will inherit the consequences of today’s decisions.

Thank you for considering this submission.

Mt Pleasant project is one of the biggest employers of locals in muswellbrook. They are very people focused as they look after their employees and community. Mt Pleasant invest in all aspects of the community and support local businesses . Continuing the life of the mine will ensure community health and wellbeing through job security , local businesses support and continued sponsorship of important community events. Mt pleasant operation is integral to the ongoing prosperity of Muswellbrook and the upper hunter region

I totally support the continued operation of Mt Pleasant Operations. I am an employee who has lived in Singleton all my life and have worked in coal mining for many years. The future of all employees relies on the continuation of this operation. The local community benefits in many ways from this operation. Multiple contractors are also employed at this Mine. Suppliers rely on our business. Community investment and Indigenous support is very important and this operation is heavily committed in this area. Mach Energy has paid more than half a billion dollars in royalties to NSW as well as supplying a significant portion of NSW's expected domestic coal demand beyond 2026. It would be catastrophic for the local community if this operation closes.

I support MOD 8, it is important for me and my family as well as the community. I have worked at Mount pleasant for 3 years. It has helped me support my partner and two kids and the continuation of jobs and job security is huge for me and my family and jobs for friends that work there. The uncertainty around job security for me and others working here needs to end so it can put plenty of minds at ease and know we have a solid future ahead and allows me to and other to be able to work and stay in the community that we have here.

I am writing in support of the proposed Modification 8 (MOD 8) for Mount Pleasant Operation.

As a local resident and someone connected to the Mount Pleasant Operation, I understand the important role the mine plays in supporting employment and the broader community across the Hunter region. Mount Pleasant provides significant local jobs and opportunities, with many employees and contractors living in nearby towns and contributing directly to the local economy.

The operation also supports many local businesses, community groups, and organisations through partnerships, sponsorships, and ongoing engagement. These contributions make a real difference to community wellbeing and help ensure our region continues to grow and thrive.

Without this extension, there is a real risk that Mount Pleasant Operation could close in December 2026, which would have a significant impact on local jobs and the broader regional economy.

For these reasons, I strongly support the approval of Modification 8.

This project is important because it’s a way to support my family and to be part of an industry that keeps communities running. Working in open-cut mining takes skill, responsibility, and teamwork to operate the equipment safely and efficiently every day. I take pride in the work we do because the coal we produce helps power homes, support local economies, and provide stable jobs for many families like mine. Being part of the industry means being part of a hardworking community that looks out for each other and takes pride in what we do.

I take great pride in being a part of my organization, Thiess Australia Pty Ltd. We are a mining services provider who have a rich 90 year legacy of delivering mining and large-scale infrastructure projects in Australia and globally in a responsible and environmentally sustainable manner. We have been an integral part of the Hunter Valley community in NSW, employing over 700 employees in our Mt Pleasant project. NSW and Australia in general need resources to be self-sufficient and navigate the macro-economic uncertainties prevailing in the world today. I support the  MACH Energy Mod 8 application.

This expansion purports to be but 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.
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.

We contend that the climate impact of the proposal should be viewed in the wider context of all proposed further extraction of thermal coal in NSW. We estimate that if carried through this would eventually cost Australia around $2.5bn.
We also challenge several statements made in the proponent’s Greenhouse Gas Assessment and Mitigation Plan and the contention that the proposal does not need to be referred to the Independent Planning Commission.
Details are in the attached file.