Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project

12056

New South Wales 2850

27/01/2026

Support

Website

I am writing to express my strong support for the Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project. The Moolarben Mine has been an important part of our local region for many years and continues to provide stable employment and economic security for families like mine. The proposed extension will allow ongoing operations, which is critical in maintaining jobs, supporting local businesses, and ensuring the long-term economic health of our community. For my family, the continuation of the Moolarben Mine provides certainty and stability. Secure employment means we can continue to live locally, support our children’s education, and contribute positively to the community. It allows families to plan for the future, remain in the region, and avoid the need to relocate for work. This stability is invaluable, particularly in regional areas where employment opportunities can be limited. The mine also delivers broader community benefits. Local businesses rely on the mine and its workforce, from shops and services to contractors and suppliers. Continued operations help keep these businesses viable, strengthen the local economy, and support community facilities, sporting clubs, and events. These contributions help maintain a strong and connected community. Importantly, mining in this region has demonstrated that mining and community can coexist responsibly. With appropriate management and oversight, the extension can continue to deliver economic and social benefits whilst minimising impacts on the surrounding environment and community. I believe Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project is essential to ensuring the ongoing prosperity of our region. It supports local jobs, strengthens families, and helps sustain the community we are proud to be part of. For these reasons, I strongly support the approval of the Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project. Thank you for considering my submission.

11396

New South Wales 2780

23/01/2026

Support

Website

I work at moolarben open cut as a contractor on rehabilitation projects and pit maintenance. Gaining my role at moolarben open cut has allowed my family and I to relocate to Mudgee for a much better lifestyle, aside from the obvious amount of employment and economic benefits to the community Moolarben is a very professional operator with fantastic safety, quality and environmental procedures with a team culture that actually promotes exceeding those standards through every stage of mining. Having worked on rehabilitation projects at Moolarben I have witnessed the progression from initial rehab works to previously completed works already thriving with native flora and fauna in the restored habitat.

10706

New South Wales 2850

17/01/2026

Support

Website

After review of the Assessment Report, I support the approval of the Moolarben Coal Complex Extension Project. I believe that the conditions that have been recommended will appropriately meet the considerations required in order to balance the competing needs of the environment and the community. The mining industry is integral to not only those that are employed, but to ensure that our community is offered the opportunity to prosper. The town has not yet been supported by the NSW government to make the appropriate transition away from the mining industry. If approvals are not made to extend the life of mining, many locals will be left unemployed and potentially forced to leave the region. As many of our miners and their families are integral members of our communities, we will not only be loosing miners, we would potentially be facing the lose of many essential workers that are vital to our towns. I encourage the IPC to consider the immediate humans who are impacted.

10306

New South Wales 2750

14/01/2026

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I’m fully supportive of the mine extension . Job and community will benefit.

10256

New South Wales 2850

13/01/2026

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Submission in Support of the Moolarben Mine Extension My husband and I moved to Mudgee in 2019 to start a family and pursue careers in the mining industry. Having grown up in regional areas before spending time in the city, Mudgee gave us the opportunity to return to country living while maintaining secure employment and make it possible for families like ours to live and thrive in regional areas. My husband has worked at Moolarben Mine for the past five years, and during this time we have become well established members of the local community. I also work within the mining industry, and we are both proud to be part of a sector that provides stable employment and long-term opportunities for families in the region. Mining plays a vital role in supporting Mudgee and surrounding communities. Beyond direct employment, operations like Moolarben contribute significantly to local businesses, community groups, charities and sporting organisations. These contributions help keep the town strong, vibrant and sustainable for current and future generations. We also recognise and value the high level of regulation, safety standards and environmental protocols that are in place within the mining industry. Moolarben operates under strict requirements to manage environmental impacts and prioritise the safety of its workforce and the surrounding community. For these reasons, we strongly support the proposed Moolarben Mine extension. Continued operation will help provide job security, economic stability and ongoing community support, allowing families like ours to continue living, working and contributing positively to the Mudgee region.

10261

New South Wales 2850

13/01/2026

Support

Website

Submission in Support of the Moolarben Mine Extension My wife and I relocated to Mudgee in 2019 to build our lives in a regional community supported by secure local employment in the mining industry. I have worked at Moolarben Mine for the past five years, during which time my family has become well established in the area. My wife also works in the mining sector, and we value the stable, long-term employment opportunities it provides for regional families. Mining plays a critical role in supporting Mudgee and surrounding communities. In addition to direct employment, operations such as Moolarben underpin local businesses, services, community groups and sporting organisations, contributing to the ongoing social and economic sustainability of the region. I recognise and support the strict environmental, safety and regulatory frameworks governing mining operations. Moolarben operates under comprehensive approval conditions with strong oversight to ensure responsible environmental management and the safety of workers and the community. These controls enable mining to coexist with other regional land uses. Should mining cease, there are limited alternative employment opportunities in the region that align with my skills and experience, which would significantly affect my family’s ability to continue living and working in Mudgee. The mine’s continued operation supports workforce stability and allows families like mine to remain active contributors to the local community. For these reasons, I strongly support the proposed Moolarben Mine extension and its role in sustaining employment and regional communities.

10276

New South Wales 2850

13/01/2026

Support

Website

I strongly support the coal mine extension. The project is vital for preserving existing jobs and creating ongoing employment opportunities in our community. Mining remains a key contributor to local businesses, infrastructure funding, and regional development. Extending the mine ensures continuity for workers and their families while supporting Australia’s energy and export sectors.

12061

New South Wales 2778

27/01/2026

Object

Website

Please see my submission in the attached file below

Moolarben OC3 Expansion submission .docx (DOCX, 15 KB)

12066

New South Wales 2778

27/01/2026

Object

Website

Please see attached file below

PH Moolarben OC3 Expansion submission .docx (DOCX, 14.98 KB)

12006

New South Wales 2107

26/01/2026

Object

Website

I object to this proposal. It would significantly extend one of NSW’s biggest thermal coal operations, increasing climate pollution and causing serious harm to threatened species, water sources and cultural heritage. If approved, Yancoal will clear 113 hectares of koala habitat, destroy Regent Honeyeater and microbat habitat and bring mining within 100 metres of the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve. It would also add an estimated 64 million tonnes of climate pollution.

11871

New South Wales 2795

25/01/2026

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I am a retiree with a degree in Biological Sciences, I have had a lifelong interest in nature, and in particular, I care greatly about the conservation of wildlife. I am Secretary of the Boundary Road Reserve Landcare group in Bathurst, and I have 3 sons and 6 grandchildren. My main objections to this proposal are as follows: Firstly, the evidence for climate change is now irrefutable, and one of the greatest factors contributing to it is the mining and burning of fossil fuels. Both Federal and State governments have said they want to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, yet by approving a mine such as this would fly in the face of what they claim they wish to achieve. My children, and especially my grandchildren, will be faced with a very different and frightening future if we continue to act irresponsibly and allow coal mining to continue. With renewable energy now achieving over 50% of our total energy usage, the only ones to benefit from the expansion of this mine will be the multinational owners who contribute virtually nothing to our country and lifestyle. My second main concern is the impact the mine will likely have on nearby wildlife, in particular the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater. As someone who has contributed both time and money to projects which are helping to save this beautiful bird, I would be disgusted to see habitat needlessly destroyed for the financial benefit of the few, while yet another Australian species faces extinction. I strongly believe that the approval of the proposed expansion would have widespread and irreversible impacts which simply cannot be justified.

11876

New South Wales 2320

25/01/2026

Object

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Climate science is confirmed and scientists are telling us to STOP new fossil fuel projects. We must not expand this mine for the sake of future generations. We need a safe climate future.

11881

New South Wales 2251

25/01/2026

Object

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As a retired health professional (doctor) I am completely opposed to any development which will increase global greenhouse gas emissions. The risk of health impacts on the surrounding communities is also unacceptable.

11941

New South Wales 2034

25/01/2026

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I submit to you that this beautiful valley should be managed jointly as part of a whole conservation landscape with the magnificent Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, not turned into an open cut coal mine. It will be an environmental disaster that the mine is set to clear 480 hectares of native vegetation and mine right up to 100m from the boundary of Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve. Environmental and climate change experts have outlined time and again that expansion of existing coal mines should not be given approval and must be stopped before irreversible damage is done. Their reasoning in the case of this project is the following: The area has incredible importance for biodiversity and there have been 23 threatened wildlife species recorded in and around the site, including habitat that is critical to the survival of the Koala in a uniquely resilient population. Furthermore, the mine will also destroy habitat of and is likely to cause serious and irreversible impact to threatened wildlife like the Large-eared Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat and Regent Honeyeater, and will also clear endangered Box Gum Woodland. It will also lead to water drawdown of up to 5m in the alluvium of Moolarben Ck, which runs into the Goulburn River, and represents a risk to deep-rooted vegetation that uses that water. The mine will cause serious harm to cultural heritage - there are 55 Aboriginal heritage sites within the mine footprint that will be directly impacted and a further 12 that may be indirectly impacted. The mine will also harm NSW by contributing to runaway climate change, with the NSW Net Zero Commission stating clearly in their recent Coal Mine Emissions Spotlight Report that any further coal mine expansions are inconsistent with achieving NSW climate targets or with a safe climate. Incredibly, the assessment of the project has not quantified the economic costs of the downstream greenhouse gas emissions, even though it is now effectively legally required following the Court of Appeal decision on the Mt Pleasant coal mine. This project should not be approved. The Biodiversity, Conservation and Science Group (BCS) at NSW DCCEEW has highlighted the threat the project poses to the Koala, nothing that the Koala habitat present is ‘critical to the survival of the species’ and that it is a climate-robust population which “has survived recent and historical temperature increases, drought and bushfires successfully”*. The mine will clear habitat for multiple threatened wildlife species and also clear 401 hectares of the nationally endangered Box Gum Woodland ecosystem. The project has not avoided or minimised impacts on biodiversity and is likely to cause serious and irreversible impacts to a number of entities, including the Koala, Large-eared Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Regent Honeyeater, Broad-headed Snake, Squirrel Glider and Box Gum Woodland. There are vital sandstone cliffs and rocky habitat right along the edge of Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, which are key habitats for the bat species especially. Blasting and noise represent a major threat to those species. The department agency said there should be at least a 500m buffer from Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve to better protect those species, but the mining company refused to accept that. Biodiversity offsets are deeply flawed and simply justify habitat destruction when in fact, impacts on native vegetation must be avoided if we are to avoid further species extinctions. Water impacts: The project will cause drawdown of the alluvium by up to 5m along Moolarben Ck, and put at risk deep-rooted trees that use that water. The company has not done proper baseline monitoring of water, and it has a very poor history elsewhere in the mine complex, by failing badly to do ongoing water monitoring required. Climate change: DPHI in their assessment report has ignored a key finding of the Net Zero Commission in its Coal Mine Emissions Spotlight Report released in December - that any further coal mine expansions are inconsistent with the NSW Climate Change Act. They do not make any reference to Finding 4, which states that “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”. The project will produce an estimated 64.6Mt of total lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions - which is equivalent to 58% of total annual emissions from all sources in NSW. As the NZC has stated, any such emissions are not consistent with NSW climate change targets or the Paris temperature goals. The assessment report also fails to mention that the NSW Government is not on track to achieve either the 2030 or 2035 emissions reduction targets. The proponent has also failed to apply the Court of Appeal decision in the Denman case, which found that the local environmental, social and economic impacts of climate change, including downstream greenhouse gas emissions, need to be considered by decision makers. It’s impossible for the decision maker to consider those matters for the Moolarben expansion, because there has been no attempt to quantify the full economic costs of downstream emissions to NSW and the locality, even though they make up 99% of all emissions from the project. Cultural heritage: The project will destroy 55 cultural artefacts, including two shelters, one of which contains grinding grooves. The CHCP recommended protection of that site, but the mining company refused. Cumulative impacts: The cumulative impacts of this proposal in terms of other current and proposed coal mines in the Mudgee region has not been assessed. Both the Ulan and Wilpinjong coal mines also have major expansions proposed, and collectively the three existing coal mines and all their proposed expansions have enormous impacts on biodiversity, water, cultural heritage and our climate. Regional impacts and jobs: There are numerous alternative job opportunities available in the region because Mudgee is part of the Central West Renewable Energy Zone and there is a boom in jobs available in renewable projects, with close to 2,000 new jobs predicted over the next decade. Furthermore, the existing Moolarben coal complex will continue to operate until 2038 regardless of whether this expansion goes ahead or not. In conclusion: Based on the reasons outlined above, I am objecting to the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mine Extension Project, Project Number SSD-33083358.

11946

New South Wales 2044

25/01/2026

Object

Website

I am writing to you as a concerned citizen who cares deeply about environmental impacts. My particular focus is threatened species – the idea of humans causing animals and flora communities to become extinct frankly appals me. I have discovered that Yancoal is seeking approval from the IPC to expand its Moolarben Coal Mine (OC3) near Mudgee, which would significantly extend one of NSW’s biggest thermal coal operations. It would consequently lock in more climate pollution as well as causing serious harm to threatened species, water sources and Indigenous cultural heritage. I am requesting you, the IPC, to recommend that this destructive coal expansion does not go ahead. The mine operation itself would add to climate pollution, as would transporting the coal. Then there is the on-cost for climate change of the burning of that coal. On top of all that is the impact on the local environment. The NSW government has promised to protect koala habitat but this mine extension would involve clearing of their habitat, where there is even evidence of them breeding there. The same argument applies to the already threatened regent honeyeaters that are also nesting there. All mines require the use of water for various processes. In this case, the project could cause groundwater drawdown up to and exceeding 2–6m for up to 25 years post mining. This puts Moolarben Creek at risk, a vital drought refuge for wildlife. In summary, I find the nature and biodiversity impacts of the proposed expansion to be unacceptable. The expansion is likely to result in serious and irreversible impacts (SAII) on threatened fauna and ecological communities, including regent honeyeater, broad-headed snake, microbats (eastern cave and large-eared pied bats), and White box-yellow box-Blakely’s red gum grassy box woodland and Derived native grassland. I hope the Commission will see its way to rejecting the whole proposal.

11956

New South Wales 2049

25/01/2026

Object

Website

To the Independent Planning Commission, I am a veterinarian working in wildlife health. I am writing to strongly object to the proposed expansion of Yancoal’s Moolarben OC3 coal mine on Wiradjuri Country near Mudgee. I am deeply concerned about the extreme environmental and climate impacts due to the expansion of coal mining in Australia, along the potential damage to First Nations cultural heritage. From a climate perspective, an additional 64 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over the life of the mine extension is catastrophic. The impact on biodiversity is unconscionable, with clearing of critical habitat for our native wildlife including the Critically Endangered regent honeyeater, koalas and microbats. The expansion brings the mine too close to Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve. The impact on water is also concerning, putting Moolarben creek at risk, with significant impacts on native wildlife and the local ecosystem. The mine expansion will also risk damage to Wiradjuri cultural heritage, including sacred sites. I am horrified that the NSW Government would approve new and expanded coal projects during a climate and biodiversity crisis. I therefore call on the Independent Planning Commission to recommend refusal of Moolarben Coal Mining Extension Project. Thank you for considering my submission.

11406

Redacted

24/01/2026

Object

Website

I am writing to formally object to the Moolarben Coal Mine OC3 Extension Project. Climate change is an urgent and growing threat, and projects like this, which are estimated to produce an additional 64 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over their lifespan, will worsen its impacts for communities across New South Wales. Approving this expansion would further undermine efforts to meet legislated climate targets under the NSW Climate Change Net Zero Future Act 2023 and the Paris Agreement. As a resident of Western Sydney, I am particularly concerned about the impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities already facing housing, energy, and financial stress. One in three households in Western Sydney experience energy stress, and rising temperatures and extreme heatwaves disproportionately affect multicultural families, older adults, and essential workers who cannot work from home. Approving further coal expansion risks widening existing social inequalities by contributing to health risks, rising energy costs, and reduced liveability for families who are already struggling to make ends meet. The proposed expansion will also cause serious and irreversible environmental harm. Approximately 480 hectares of native vegetation will be cleared, including habitat for threatened species such as koalas, regent honeyeaters, microbats, and Broad-headed snakes. Groundwater drawdown of 2 to 6 metres is expected, which could last up to 25 years after mining ends, threatening local waterways and critical ecosystems. In addition, the mining activities will damage Wiradjuri cultural landscapes, including sacred sites, reducing the opportunity for future generations to connect with this heritage. Communities in New South Wales are already feeling the consequences of climate change, from record heatwaves to bushfires, drought, and flooding. Expanding coal operations at Moolarben is inconsistent with the urgent action required to protect people, particularly those in low-income and multicultural communities who are most affected by climate impacts. Globally and locally, the trend is clear: the transition to clean energy creates sustainable jobs, improves public health, and strengthens communities, while continued investment in coal locks us into harmful emissions. For these reasons, I strongly urge decision-makers to refuse approval for the Moolarben OC3 Extension Project. Protecting biodiversity, cultural heritage, groundwater, and the health and equity of communities must take priority over further coal expansion. Our collective future depends on bold action to reduce emissions, promote sustainable energy, and ensure that all Australians, particularly those in Western Sydney, can live in safe, healthy, and resilient communities. Thank you for considering my submission.

11591

Western Australia 6112

24/01/2026

Object

Website

I strongly object to this proposal going ahead. We have already damaged the Earth's environment to the point where we are in a climate crisis. ANY new fossil fuel developments will accelerate this. This science is indisputable. People have already died, livelihoods lost, ecosystems decimated. Personally I believe we've passed the tipping point as each disaster leaves us with less of a chance of survival and these disasters, fuelled by climate change, are becoming increasingly prevalent as well as violent with devastating and lasting consequences. We have run out of time to recover. Specific to this project it will impact 993.2 hectares of land, including 9.5 ha of Critically Endangered White Box – Yellow Box – Blakely’s Red Gum Woodland. Endangered species that will be negatively impacted by habitat destruction include the Regent Honeyeater, Swift Parrot, Koala, and Long-eared Pied Bat. The proposal affects the Goulburn River ("The Drip") which includes 48 sites with First Nations cultural values. It is predicted that groundwater drawdown will affect the Goulburn and Talbragar rivers for up to 3,000 years. No company or government has the right to destroy our future this way. This proposal MUST be rejected as must ALL future fossil fuels proposals. There are so many feasible alternatives to the continued use of fossil fuels that support a sustainable future. It is imperative for our survival that these be developed.

11736

New South Wales 2784

24/01/2026

Object

Website

Submission on the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mine Expansion. My name is Karen. As a 69 year old Age Pensioner with multiple health problems, I am already suffering the consequences of climate change. I am a resident of NSW living in the fire prone Blue Mountains. Hence, I am very aware of the escalating risks to my home and life by climate change as well as the risks to the homes and lives of our unique fauna and flora. I regularly visit Wiradjuri country and have a personal commitment to this beautiful and culturally important area. I am writing to object to Yancoal’s proposed Moolarben OC3 coal mine expansion near Mudgee on Wiradjuri Country. I am concerned that this project would cause serious and irreversible harm to the environment, climate and community, and should not be approved. In particular, I am concerned about: • Threatened species and habitat loss, including the clearing of over 113 hectares of koala habitat where koalas and breeding have been recorded, as well as Regent Honeyeater and microbat habitat. No biodiversity offsets can replace habitat that is already supporting threatened species. • Impacts on Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, with mining proposed within 100 metres of the reserve and inadequate assessment of noise, blasting and vibration impacts. • Water and groundwater risks, including long-term groundwater drawdown that could harm Moolarben Creek and groundwater-dependent ecosystems that are critical drought refuges for wildlife. • Climate impacts, with the project producing an estimated 64 million tonnes of additional greenhouse gas emissions at a time when NSW is not on track to meet its legislated emissions reduction targets. • Lack of public benefit, with no clear jobs justification for expanding coal mining in a region where renewable energy development is being prioritised. The NSW Government cannot afford to approve new or expanded coal projects during a climate and biodiversity crisis. This proposal is inconsistent with the NSW Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023 and the goals of the Paris Agreement. For these reasons, I urge the Independent Planning Commission to recommend that the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mining Extension Project be refused. Thank you for considering my submission. Yours faithfully, Karen Taylor Bullaburra, NSW, 2784

11346

New South Wales 2849

23/01/2026

Object

Website

I object to the expansion project… The amended proposal fails to fully assess the impacts and focusses on a very narrow update of new information. Subsidence from underground mining, as well as clearing for infrastructure development (roads, pipelines, bores, ventilator shafts) has a significant impact on the landscape. The proposal will impact on threatened species habitat particularly Large-eared Pied Bat Eastern Cave Bat, Powerful Owl, Barking Owl, Southern Myotis. Subsidence or land collapse caused by underground mining damages groundwater systems that store water in the landscape. Groundwater provides base flows to rivers and creeks. This mine expansion when combined with Mod 8 will cause a significant additional loss of flow to Talbragar River

11351

New South Wales 2049

23/01/2026

Object

Website

I write to express my concern and strong opposition to the proposed expansion of Moolarben coal mine, and the potential impact this will have on local biodiversity, including in Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve. This expansion proposes to clear 480 hectares native vegetation, including 401 hectares of endangered Box Gum Woodland. 23 threatened species will also be impacted by habitat loss, including the local population of koalas, endangered in NSW, the Large-eared Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat and Regent Honeyeater. NSW DCCEEW has itself noted that this koala habitat is "critical to the survival of the species". Additionally, the impact on local waterways presents a risk to vegetation, farming and communities, which have expressed strong opposition to the project. Cultural heritage is also at risk with an astonishing 55 Aboriginal heritage sites located within the proposed footprint. The destruction of this precious corner of biodiversity and cultural heritage for corporate profit is against the interests of native wildlife, local communities, and everyone in NSW. The project is also expected to produce 65.6Mt of greenhouse gas emissions over its lifecycle - equivalent to a staggering 58% of total annual emissions in NSW. There is no good reason to expand coal mining in NSW and contribute to further carbon emissions and biodiversity loss at a time when our planet is on the brink of climate collapse. The NSW Net Zero Commission has clearly stated that any further expansion or extensions of coal mining are inconsistent with NSW climate targets and with a safe climate. Instead, we should be swiftly and purposefully ending all fossil fuel projects, ceasing fossil fuel exports, and meeting our own energy demand with clean renewable energy. This is fully within the realm of what is possible, and the NSW government must immediately commit to no further coal or gas mining in NSW. The proposed Moolarben OC3 coal mine extension project will have disastrous impacts on local communities and nature, and must not go ahead.

11371

Healthy Rivers Dubbo

New South Wales 2830

23/01/2026

Object

Website

see attached

260131_HRD_SUB_Moorlarben.pdf (PDF, 258.58 KB)

11381

New South Wales 2041

23/01/2026

Object

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I am objecting to this extension of the largest coal mine in NSW. This extension Would add 46 Million Tonnes to our Greenhouse Gas emissions, by the burning of the 25 million tonnes of coal, until 2038, Faking a mockery of our Net Zero future Act 2023, and the aims of the Paris Agreement. The mine would destroy almost 700 hectares of land due to the clearing and mining process over the life of the mine, which includes habitat of endangered Regent Honeyeaters, and habitat of breeding koalas. After the mine was inflicted on us, the ground water would drop over 2-6 meters for up to 25 years, & the Moolarben Creek would be adversely impacted. Fiftyfive sacred sites of the Wiradjuri people would have been trashed. The noise and pollution of the blasting would have impacted he nearby Munghorn Nature Reserve. Please do not inflict more harm on our communities, we are already facing extreme weather events now, and more disastrous things to come, such as water shortages worldwide. Thanks for this opportunity to be heard. Janet Thompson

11226

New South Wales 2850

22/01/2026

Object

Website

You know the destruction this will cause to flora and fauna. Thousands have informed you of this. So I won't waste time telling you what you know but I will add, to approve this you certainly must devoid of humanity. Without possessing humanity you are nothing more than a humanoid doing the work of the devil and striving for nothing more than the satisfy the greed of the wicked. Should humanoids be making decisions that affect anothers planet? Absolutely not! Go back to where you came from, in Jesus name, Amen! Do better!

11256

New South Wales 2508

22/01/2026

Object

Website

Koalas have been recorded in and around the proposed mine site, including a record of a mother and her joey recorded by Lock the Gate with a thermal drone just over a year ago. The Biodiversity, Conservation and Science Group (BCS) at NSW DCCEEW has highlighted the threat the project poses to the Koala, nothing that: The Koala habitat present is ‘critical to the survival of the species’ and that It is a climate-robust population which “has survived recent and historical temperature increases, drought and bushfires successfully”*. Threatened wildlife and vegetation The mine will clear habitat for multiple threatened wildlife species and also clear 401 hectares of the nationally endangered Box Gum Woodland ecosystem. The project has not avoided or minimised impacts on biodiversity and is likely to cause serious and irreversible impacts to a number of animals, plants and habitats, including the Koala, Large-eared Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Regent Honeyeater, Broad-headed Snake, Squirrel Glider and Box Gum Woodland. There are vital sandstone cliffs and rocky habitat right along the edge of Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, which are key habitats for the bat species especially. Blasting and noise represent a major threat to those species. The department agency said there should be at least a 500m buffer from Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve to better protect those species, but the mining company refused to accept that. Biodiversity offsets are deeply flawed and simply justify habitat destruction when in fact, impacts on native vegetation must be avoided if we are to avoid further species extinctions. The project will cause drawdown of the alluvium by up to 5m along Moolarben Ck, and put at risk deep-rooted trees that use that water. The company has not done proper baseline monitoring of water, and it has a very poor history elsewhere in the mine complex, by failing badly to do ongoing water monitoring required. DPHI in their assessment report has ignored a key finding of the Net Zero Commission in its Coal Mine Emissions Spotlight Report released in December - that any further coal mine expansions are inconsistent with the NSW Climate Change Act. They do not make any reference to Finding 4, which states that “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”. The project will produce an estimated 64.6Mt of total lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions - which is equivalent to 58% of total annual emissions from all sources in NSW. As the NZC has stated, any such emissions are not consistent with NSW climate change targets or the Paris temperature goals. The assessment report also fails to mention that the NSW Government is not on track to achieve either the 2030 or 2035 emissions reduction targets. The proponent has also failed to apply the Court of Appeal decision in the Denman case, which found that the local environmental, social and economic impacts of climate change, including downstream greenhouse gas emissions, need to be considered by decision makers. It’s impossible for the decision maker to consider those matters for the Moolarben expansion, because there has been no attempt to quantify the full economic costs of downstream emissions to NSW and the locality, even though they make up 99% of all emissions from the project. The project will destroy 55 cultural artefacts, including two shelters, one of which contains grinding grooves. The CHCP recommended protection of that site, but the mining company refused. The cumulative impacts of this proposal in terms of other current and proposed coal mines in the Mudgee region has not been assessed. Both the Ulan and Wilpinjong coal mines also have major expansions proposed, and collectively the three existing coal mines and all their proposed expansions have enormous impacts on biodiversity, water, cultural heritage and our climate. There are numerous alternative job opportunities available in the region because Mudgee is part of the Central West Renewable Energy Zone and there is a boom in jobs available in renewable projects, with close to 2,000 new jobs predicted over the next decade. Further, the existing Moolarben coal complex will continue to operate until 2038 regardless of whether this expansion goes ahead or not. In summary, this project should be rejected outright.

11261

New South Wales 2440

22/01/2026

Object

Website

Dear Commissioner(s), Very few people have the time to write submissions to processes like this. Their time is limited and the window for making an informed submission is extremely tight. I only raise this aspect as it should focus your mind(s) to how many other similar submissions might have been made under better circumstances for the general population. Having said that allow me to be succinct. Ideally Australia should stop mining and exporting coal today (21 January 2026). The science is clear. To meet global emmissions targets Australia alone can do nothing more impactful than force other nations to effectively pay more for their energy but taking our fossil derived products off the market. Openning new coal mines is ridiculous. By the time this one starts producing the circumstances will be measurably worse and the case for ending coal exports will only be getting stronger. It could be argued that by preventing this development you are protecting the companies investors from making a financial misstep. It will effect a huge area of our nation because the coal will have to be transported by rail (via diesel locomotives) to an export port. This also places financial stress on the mines viability moving forward as these transport costs are also only likely to increase. In short it is a bad idea being proposed in a bad location for dubious and possibly unrealisable gains. There is no rational aguement that can be mounted in it's favour. Thank You for your time.

11266

New South Wales 2068

22/01/2026

Object

Website

I do not believe that Yancoal's proposed Moolarben OC3 Mine Extension should be approved. My overarching objection relates to the medium term and long term climate impacts of such a project. It is well accepted that the extraction of coal and its subsequent use as a fuel (whether in Australia or in export markets) are significant contributors to increased greenhouse gas levels and the resulting global adverse climate impacts. Closer to home is that the project is inconsistent with the desired goal of the NSW State Government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Achievement of legislated targets for 2030 and 2035 depend on a coherent approach across all sectors. Approval of the Moolarben project would be against the public interest, namely to bring about the desired targets put in place by our State legislature.  My immediate concerns are the negative environmental and wildlife impacts which would be felt in the short term if the proposed work were to proceed. Loss of habitat for wildlife will decrease the biodiversity upon which the life cycles of all creatures depend. Particular note has been made of the large area of koala habitat which will be destroyed. Approval of a project which requires the certain destruction of such habitat is unacceptable. Likewise there exist significant and irreversible adverse effects on water and groundwater if this project were to be approved. Large volumes of groundwater drawdown are required for an operation of this sort, yet the mapping of groundwater and the effect on ecosystems that depend on it, can never be understood or carried out with any accuracy.  I urge the Independent Planning Commission to consider all my points above and to recommend that the proposed OC3 Extension Project be refused. Yours sincerely.

11281

New South Wales 2043

22/01/2026

Object

Website

I am writing as a resident of New South Wales who cares deeply about the future of this state, its people, and its natural world, to strongly and unequivocally oppose the proposed Moolarben Open Cut 3 Coal Mining Extension Project near Mudgee, on Wiradjuri Country. My concern is not abstract or ideological. For much of my adult life, my work and personal commitments have been centred on responding to the climate crisis and supporting communities and organisations working to protect nature, reduce emissions and build a safer future. I live on Gadigal Country in Sydney and feel a deep connection to this land and its waters. Like many Australians, I draw renewal and meaning from healthy landscapes and intact ecosystems, and I feel a growing sense of responsibility to ensure they endure. I am not opposed to this project because of who proposes it, but because of what it represents. At a time when the climate crisis is accelerating, when biodiversity loss is reaching irreversible thresholds, and when governments have committed in law to emissions reduction targets, approving a new coal mine expansion is profoundly out of step with both the science and the values many people in NSW hold. The valley proposed for destruction is a beautiful and ecologically rich landscape, surrounded on three sides by Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, one of the oldest conservation reserves in NSW. This area should be managed as a connected conservation landscape, not sacrificed for short-term coal extraction. Allowing open cut mining to push to within 100 metres of a protected reserve is reckless and undermines the very purpose of conservation areas. The biodiversity impacts alone should be reason enough to reject this project. At least 23 threatened species have been recorded in and around the site. Of particular concern is the Koala. Koalas have been confirmed in the project area, including a recorded sighting of a mother and joey just over a year ago. Government biodiversity experts have stated clearly that the Koala habitat here is critical to the survival of the species and that this population is unusually climate-resilient, having survived drought, bushfires and rising temperatures. Destroying habitat that has proven resilient in a changing climate is not just short-sighted, it is indefensible. The proposal would clear around 480 hectares of native vegetation, including more than 400 hectares of nationally endangered Box Gum Woodland. It threatens serious and irreversible harm to species such as the Large-eared Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Regent Honeyeater, Broad-headed Snake and Squirrel Glider. The sandstone cliffs and rocky habitats along the boundary of Munghorn Gap are essential to bat species in particular. Blasting, vibration and noise so close to these habitats pose obvious and unacceptable risks. I am alarmed that expert advice recommending a 500 metre buffer was ignored by the proponent. The reliance on biodiversity offsets in this proposal is deeply troubling. Offsets do not replace ancient ecosystems or restore lost species. They function primarily to justify destruction that should never occur in the first place. At a time when Australia is experiencing accelerating extinctions, approving further avoidable habitat loss sends exactly the wrong message. Water impacts are another serious concern. The predicted drawdown of up to five metres in the alluvium of Moolarben Creek risks deep-rooted vegetation and downstream ecosystems connected to the Goulburn River. The lack of adequate baseline monitoring and the proponent’s poor compliance history elsewhere in the mine complex undermine any confidence in the modelling presented. Water systems in this region are already under stress and should not be treated as expendable. The cultural heritage impacts are devastating. Fifty-five Aboriginal heritage sites will be directly destroyed, with further sites potentially indirectly impacted. This includes shelters and grinding grooves that should be protected, not obliterated. The fact that protection was recommended and then rejected by the mining company is deeply disrespectful to Wiradjuri culture and Country. Once destroyed, these places cannot be recovered. From a climate perspective, this project should be plainly unacceptable. Independent state authorities have made it clear that any further coal mine expansions are inconsistent with NSW climate targets and with a safe climate. This project alone would generate an estimated 64.6 million tonnes of lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to more than half of NSW’s total annual emissions. At a time when we are already off track to meet our legislated targets, approving an expansion of this scale would make a mockery of the Climate Change Act. My opposition to this expansion also comes from years of seeing the human cost of inaction on climate change. I work as a grants manager in the environmental philanthropy space and work closely with people and organisations on the frontlines of climate impacts, from extreme heat and drought to ecological collapse and community stress. I see the emotional toll, the burnout, and the growing fear about what kind of future lies ahead. Approving projects that knowingly worsen these risks sends a devastating signal that short-term profit still outweighs long-term wellbeing. I am also deeply concerned that the assessment has failed to properly consider or quantify the economic and social costs of downstream emissions, despite clear legal guidance requiring this. It is impossible for decision-makers to weigh the true public interest when the overwhelming majority of emissions and their costs are effectively ignored. The cumulative impacts of coal mining in the Mudgee region have not been adequately assessed. With major expansions proposed at multiple mines, the combined effects on biodiversity, water, cultural heritage and climate are enormous. These impacts do not occur in isolation and should not be assessed as though they do. Finally, claims that this project is necessary for regional jobs do not stand up to scrutiny. The existing mine will continue operating until at least 2038 regardless of this expansion. At the same time, the Central West Renewable Energy Zone is creating significant new employment opportunities, with thousands of jobs expected in clean energy over the coming decade. There is a real and positive alternative future for the region that does not involve sacrificing irreplaceable landscapes. This project represents an outdated way of thinking that no longer aligns with the laws, responsibilities or long-term interests of New South Wales. It would lock in further climate harm, accelerate biodiversity loss, damage irreplaceable cultural heritage and undermine public trust in decision-making. For all of these reasons, grounded both in evidence and in lived commitment, I urge the Independent Planning Commission to reject the Moolarben Open Cut 3 Coal Mining Extension Project. Our responsibility is not just to the present, but to future generations who will live with the consequences of the decisions made today. Thank you for considering my submission.

11286

Climate Action Sydney Eastern Suburbs (CASES)

New South Wales 2031

22/01/2026

Object

Website

Although I am concerned about the direct impacts on the local MNES, I am more concerned about the indirect impacts from global heating and even more on the impacts to the rest of NSW, Australia, the oceans and the world. My objections are in the form of comments on relevant paragraphs in the State Significant Development Assessment Report (SSD-33083358) (first attachment). Two of these comments refer to letters on this subject sent by me to State and Commonwealth environment ministers in the past, one on changes required to the NSW BC Act and Commonwealth EPBC Act and the other on the Safeguard Mechanism. Thankyou for your consideration.

Jonathan Milford combined.pdf (PDF, 325.09 KB)

11321

New South Wales 2567

22/01/2026

Object

Website

Dear Commissioners Thank you for giving me the opportunity to object to this proposal. My reasons are simple. The worlds oceans and atmosphere simply cannot absorb greenhouse gas emissions for decades to come. Tipping points are already at risk or might have been reached. Our expert scientists, the UN, IPCC, every national respected meterological department, universities, oil and gas companies own scientists, government researchers and just about any reputable scientific institution in the world have been telling us and governments for decades now that new mines must not be opened. Why then is this and similar projects even being considered? There is no rational argument for them. Relentless lobbying by powerful vested interests must be resisted by governments whose primary obligation is to their citizens health and that of the environment we are all part of. To say we need the coal is not a reason when the damage it will cause is impossible to calculate, but will be significant. Coal, oil and gas must be substituted with alternatives. Many are already available and necessity will ensure more will be developed. I implore you to refuse this application. I live in hope but fear despair. Kind regards Steve Bruce

11326

New South Wales 2278

22/01/2026

Object

Website

It’s absolute madness to be mining new coal in this day and age with what we know about climate. And it will destroy precious koala habitat.

11116

New South Wales 2048

21/01/2026

Object

Website

I WISH TO WITHDRAW MY EARLIER SUBMISSION AND REPLACE IT WITH THE ATTACHED I discovered the version of my submission I uploaded previously contained errors with respect to the citing of some elements of legislation. I have also expanded and clarified some points. Please replace my earlier submission with the one attached.

Moolarben OC3 Expansion (SSD) - Submission - Revised.pdf (PDF, 225.24 KB)

11131

Redacted

21/01/2026

Object

Website

To the Independent Planning Commission, I am an office worker in the [redacted] and deeply concerned about the expansion of coal mining in Australia. Each year we experience more extreme weather driven by climate change, more weather related disasters on a growing scale and are now some of the least insurable communities in the world. This proposal would significantly extend one of NSW’s biggest thermal coal operations, locking in more climate pollution and causing serious harm to threatened species, water sources and cultural heritage. If approved, Yancoal plans to clear 113 hectares of koala habitat, destroy Regent Honeyeater and microbat habitat and bring mining within 100 metres of the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve. It would also add an estimated 64 million tonnes of climate pollution. I object to Yancoal’s proposed Moolarben OC3 coal mine expansion (Mudgee/Wiradjuri Country). This project stands to cause serious harm to the community and irreversible harm to environment and climate such as but not limited to: . Species and habitat loss including the clearing of over 113 hectares of koala habitat where koalas and breeding have been recorded, as well as Regent Honeyeater and microbat habitat. No biodiversity offsets can replace habitat that is already supporting threatened species. . Impacts on Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, with mining proposed within 100 metres of the reserve and inadequate assessment of noise, blasting and vibration impacts. . Water and groundwater risks, including long-term groundwater drawdown that could harm Moolarben Creek and groundwater-dependent ecosystems that are critical drought refugees for wildlife. . climate impacts with an estimated 64 million tonnes of additional greenhouse gas emissions at a time when NSW is not on track to meet its legislated emissions reduction targets. . Lack of public benefit with no clear jobs justification for expanding coal mining in a region where renewable energy development is being prioritised. On a larger scale coal mine expansion increases physical climate risk to governments, corporates and the finance sector around the world and physical risk to individual property owners. The NSW Government needs to act in the best interests of us and our children, economy and environment. This proposal is inconsistent with the NSW Climate Change Act 2023 and the goals of the Paris Agreement. For these reasons I urge the IPC to recommend that the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mining Extension Project be refused. Sincerely, Kirsty Fuller [redacted]

11136

Western Australia 6156

21/01/2026

Object

Website

I object to Moolarben’s coal expansion and protect Mudgee's precious koalas.

11141

Redacted

21/01/2026

Object

Website

I object to the expansion of the Moorlaben coal mine,Extension Project Number SSD-33083358 *Because it has 3 National Parks on its borders that will be harmed. *The world, including Australia is transitioning away from fossil fuels. *Climate change is caused by fossil fuels and its costing too much in lives and homes lost. *Loss of habitat is causing the extinction crisis in Australia. *Australians want National Parks protected.

11176

New South Wales 2830

21/01/2026

Object

Website

Melissa Gray Dubbo NSW 21 January 2026 Submission to the Independent Planning Commission Re: Objection to Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project (SSD-33083358) To the Independent Planning Commission, I am writing as a resident of Dubbo to express my strong opposition to the proposed Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project. My objection is grounded in a fundamental contradiction that I believe the Commission must address: the NSW Government cannot credibly pursue a renewable energy transition whilst simultaneously approving the expansion of coal mining in the very region designated for renewable energy development. A Strategic Contradiction The Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), centred on Dubbo and Dunedoo, represents the NSW Government's flagship commitment to clean energy. This 20,000 square kilometre zone is designed to unlock 4.5 gigawatts of new network capacity by 2028, connecting 7.7 gigawatts of wind and solar projects, enough to power over 2 million homes annually [1]. The REZ is expected to attract up to $25 billion in private investment and create approximately 1,850 direct jobs during construction, with 930 ongoing operational jobs from 2034 [1]. Yet the Moolarben coal mine expansion sits squarely within this same region, proposed to extract an additional 30 million tonnes of coal over the life of the mine, generating approximately 64 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. This is not merely a coexistence of two industries; it is a fundamental contradiction in policy. The NSW Government cannot claim to be serious about renewable energy transition whilst approving new coal extraction in the designated renewable energy zone. The Message This Sends Approving the Moolarben extension would send a deeply troubling message to investors, communities, and the renewable energy sector: that NSW is not genuinely committed to the energy transition. Renewable energy companies are investing billions in the Central-West Orana REZ based on the Government's stated commitment to clean energy development. Simultaneously approving a major coal expansion undermines that commitment and raises questions about the Government's long-term vision for the region. From a business perspective, this is counterintuitive. Why would the NSW Government invest in renewable energy infrastructure and transmission upgrades whilst simultaneously supporting new coal mining that directly contradicts the stated objectives of those investments? The renewable energy transition is not a distant future scenario it is happening now, with construction of the Central-West Orana transmission project already underway. Economic Opportunity Cost The jobs argument for coal expansion is particularly weak in this context. The Central-West Orana REZ is projected to create 1,850 direct jobs during construction and 930 ongoing jobs—far exceeding the employment that would be generated by coal mining expansion [1]. Moreover, the renewable energy sector offers long-term, sustainable employment that will not be rendered obsolete by global energy market shifts, unlike thermal coal which faces declining international demand. There have been long-standing vacancies at the three existing coal mines in the Mudgee region, suggesting that employment is not the genuine constraint. The real opportunity for the region lies in renewable energy development, not in doubling down on a declining fossil fuel industry. Climate Imperatives The NSW Government has legislated climate targets under the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023, committing to 50% emissions reductions by 2030 and 70% by 2035. Yet the Government is currently not on track to meet these targets, with projections showing only 44% reduction by 2030 and 65% by 2035. Approving an expansion that will generate 64 million tonnes of additional greenhouse gas emissions is directly inconsistent with these legislated commitments and Australia's obligations under the Paris Agreement. Conclusion The Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project represents a policy contradiction that the Independent Planning Commission should not endorse. The NSW Government has invested heavily in the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone as the centrepiece of its clean energy strategy. Approving a major coal expansion within that same zone would undermine that strategy, confuse investors, and signal that the Government is not genuinely committed to the energy transition. The region's future lies in renewable energy, not coal. I urge the Independent Planning Commission to refuse the Moolarben OC3 Extension Project and to send a clear signal that NSW is serious about its renewable energy transition. Yours sincerely, Melissa Gray Dubbo NSW References [1] EnergyCo. Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone. https://www.energyco.nsw.gov.au/our-projects/central-west-orana-renewable-energy-zone

11186

New South Wales 2028

21/01/2026

Object

Website

Dear Commission I am a passionate defender of the natural environment and it appalls me that expansion is being considered for the Moolarben Coal Complex. With a further 675 ha of natural habitat at risk from clearing and mining activities: • Coal extraction: this project will add approximately 30Mt ROM (run-ofmine) coal, resulting in around 25Mt product coal produced over the life of the mine to 31 December 2038. • Climate cost: Over the life of the OC3 mine extension an additional 64million tonnes of GHG emissions will be produced. This project is clearly inconsistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement and the NSW Government’s Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023. • Native species impact: Yancoal is proposing to clear 113ha of Koala habitat with breeding Koala’s on site, as well as 80ha of Regent Honeyeater habitat, also with breeding females recorded on site. • Water impacts: This project could cause groundwater drawdown up to and exceeding 2–6m for up to 25 years post mining. This puts Moolarben Creek at risk, a vital drought refuge for wildlife. • Cultural significance: Mining would damage Wiradjuri cultural landscapes, including sacred sites. • Economics: There is no justification for this expansion to provide regional jobs. There have been vacancies at the three Mudgee region coal mines for many years. When will we call a halt to such madness? Please say ‘no’ to allowing this expansion to proceed.

11051

New South Wales 2096

20/01/2026

Object

Website

To the Independent Planning Commission, My name is [redacted], I am a 59 year old retiree from the Northern Beaches, Sydney. I am deeply concerned about the expansion of coal mining in our states, due to the destruction of forest leading to species extinction. I am writing to object to Yancoal’s proposed Moolarben OC3 coal mine expansion near Mudgee on Wiradjuri Country. I am concerned that this project would cause serious and irreversible harm to the environment and should not be approved. In particular, I am concerned about: • Threatened species and habitat loss, including the clearing of over 113 hectares of koala habitat where koalas and breeding have been recorded, as well as Regent Honeyeater and microbat habitat. No biodiversity offsets can replace habitat that is already supporting threatened species. • Impacts on Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, with mining proposed within 100 metres of the reserve and inadequate assessment of noise, blasting and vibration impacts. For these reasons, I urge the Independent Planning Commission to recommend that the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mining Extension Project be refused. Thank you for considering my submission. Sincerely, [redacted] Queenscliff NSW 2096

11056

New South Wales 2487

20/01/2026

Object

Website

Submission Opposing the Moolarben OC3 Coal Expansion To the NSW Independent Planning Commission, I live in regional New South Wales and have a background in environmental science, which I studied as part of my biotechnology degree. I remain deeply engaged with environmental issues because I have seen the impacts of climate change unfold in real time across the communities I know and love. What troubles me most is that, despite the mounting evidence, very few political leaders appear willing to confront the scale of the crisis or act with the urgency required. I have spent more than twenty years in the Northern Rivers, returning annually and living here and witnessing dramatic changes that were once unimaginable. Floods that never used to occur now inundate the area regularly. The Tweed River has reached its highest levels on record. Murwillumbah’s levees are being raised. Tumbulgum went 2.5 to 3 metres underwater during the last major floods. Every time there's heavy rain, there are flash flood and flood warnings along the Tweed River. These are not abstract climate projections. I have worked directly with older residents in flood affected caravan parks, helping them apply for government assistance and repair their homes. I have seen the exhaustion, the financial strain, and the emotional toll on people who have already endured more than enough. And against this backdrop, Australia was the hottest country in the world last week (first week of January 2026). So I have to ask — what on earth do you think you’re doing by even considering another coal expansion. You know the evidence. You know this will worsen already accelerating climate change. You know that countries around the world are transitioning to renewables because they generate far more jobs than coal ever will. Yet here we are, trashing the environment for a short-term gain that doesn’t even make economic sense. This expansion would damage fertile agricultural land and threaten water aquifers at a time when food security is becoming more precarious due to the warming climate. It risks destroying 60,000 years of cultural history for something that will make our lives harder, not easier. And for what benefit. Does the money even flow back into NSW coffers in any meaningful way. I genuinely do not understand how the Hunter, NSW, or Australia stands to gain from this expansion. The Tweed Shire Council’s flood mapping to 2100 makes the future even clearer: without decisive action, large parts of Murwillumbah, Tweed Heads, Banora Point and Kingscliff will be permanently inundated. Continuing to approve new coal expansions affects the whole of Australia and in this context is not only environmentally reckless — it is economically irrational when NSW could instead be accelerating the transition to renewable energy and the jobs that come with it. 1. Unacceptable destruction of critical habitat The proposal would clear 113 hectares of koala habitat, including areas where breeding has been recorded. Koalas in NSW are already listed as endangered, and continued habitat loss is one of the primary drivers of their decline. Approving a project that knowingly destroys core habitat contradicts NSW’s own conservation strategies. The expansion would also destroy habitat for the Regent Honeyeater, one of Australia’s most critically endangered birds, as well as important microbat habitat. These species cannot withstand further fragmentation or disturbance. Bringing mining operations to within 100 metres of the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve — a protected area valued for its biodiversity and cultural significance — is an unacceptable risk to the integrity of the reserve. 2. Significant climate impacts at a time of escalating risk The project is expected to add 64 million tonnes of climate pollution. NSW is already failing to meet its legislated emissions reduction targets, and approving new or expanded coal projects directly undermines the state’s ability to meet those obligations. Communities across NSW are living with the consequences of climate change: catastrophic bushfires, extreme heat, flooding, and prolonged drought. Approving a project that worsens these risks is not in the public interest. 3. Social and community impacts Local communities, including those in Wollar and the broader Mudgee region, have already endured decades of cumulative mining impacts — noise, dust, water stress, and the erosion of rural community life. Many residents have spoken clearly and consistently about the toll this has taken. The public engagement over the past year — from packed town halls to community screenings and listening tours — demonstrates widespread concern and opposition. The IPC has a responsibility to weigh this community voice seriously. 4. Inconsistency with NSW planning principles The expansion fails key public interest tests: • It does not protect biodiversity. • It does not safeguard climate stability. • It does not minimise cumulative impacts on regional communities. • It does not align with NSW’s transition toward cleaner, more resilient energy systems. Approving this project would lock in decades of additional emissions and environmental harm at a time when NSW should be accelerating the shift away from coal. Conclusion For the sake of endangered species, climate stability, community wellbeing, and the integrity of NSW’s planning framework, I urge the Commission to reject the Moolarben OC3 expansion. NSW deserves a future built on sustainable industries, thriving ecosystems, and resilient communities — not further expansion of the state’s largest coal mine. Thank you for considering my submission.

11081

Redacted

20/01/2026

Object

Website

I am writing to object to the proposed development of the OC3 Extension Project. I am gravely concerned about the impacts to our climate, particularly the surrounding areas around the mining operations. I have visited the Mudgee region recently and the serious environmental harm of the proposed extension including serious and irreversible impacts (SAII) on threatened fauna and ecological communities need to be given the proper weight and consideration. Despite the proposed reliance on biodiversity offsets, such a proposal will not be able to sufficiently replace habitat that is already supporting threatened species. I am also concerned about the project's broader impacts including producing an additional 64 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. At a time when NSW is not on track to meet its legislated climate targets, approving this project further undermines climate commitments made under the NSW Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023. There is also a limited argument in relation to an economic justification. The Moolarben Mine is within the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone where government investment is focused on clean energy jobs. Approving this project goes against this governmental scheme. Further, with vacancies remaining open at Mudgee regional coal mines and declining global demand for thermal coal, there is no justification for this expansion to provide regional jobs. Overall, I object to this project based on the varying negative impacts it will have on biodiversity and to the community.

11101

New South Wales 2075

20/01/2026

Object

Website

I would like to offer my objection to the above proposal to expand the Moolarben Coal Mine. I am familiar with the Mudgee area and an active and long-term wildlife rescuer and carer and a person who cares about the impact that people and companies are having on our environment. There are many reasons why this should not go ahead which include impacts on the local groundwater, on the koala populations and the regent honeyeaters that are already an endangered species and struggling to find breeding and feeding sites. The continuation of coal extraction and the use of coal to produce energy for Australia’s growing populations is well documented as damaging to our environment and atmosphere. The damage to the Wiradjuri land and cultural sites is disrespectful to the local First People. It is time that Yancoal listened to the local community who want an end to this expansion. Carolyn Martin [redacted]

Carolyn Martin submission_Redacted.pdf (PDF, 81.29 KB)

11171

New South Wales 2849

19/01/2026

Object

Email

Please find my letter of objection to the approval of the proposed Moolarben Mine expansion attached. Regards, Richard Smith OAKWOOD (REDACTED)

Moolarben objection _Redacted.pdf (PDF, 103.48 KB)

10986

New South Wales 2753

19/01/2026

Object

Website

To the Independent Planning Commission My name is Maree, I’m 64 and a retired Registered Nurse in the Hawkesbury. I am extremely concerned about the ongoing coal mining projects in our states due to climate change impacts such as flood and heatwaves that are occurring more frequently. Electricity and Insurance costs are increasing due to events being caused by climate change. I object to Yancoals proposed Moolarben OC3 coal mine expansion near Mudgee on Wiradjuri Country. More coal production means more serious and irreversible harm to the environment, climate and community. No approval should be given as this coal expansion project will cause threatened species and habitat loss due to clearing of large amounts of land where koalas live and are breeding as well as the Regent Honey eater and micro at habitat. There will also be impacts on the Munghorn Gap Nature reserve due to noise, blast and vibration impacts. Groundwater will be affected due to pollution and this is critical drought refuges for wildlife. Further coal mining projects will contribute to more greenhouse gases in the environment which NSW is trying to decrease as renewable energy is now being prioritised not coal and this proposal is inconsistent with NSW climate change policy and goals of the Paris Agreement. We want a Net Zero future and for these reasons the Moolarben OC3 Coal mining project is to be refused and I urge the Independent planning commission NOT to support this project.

10991

New South Wales 2303

19/01/2026

Object

Website

Storms, floods, droughts and fires are escalating beyond Australia's ability to adapt. We cannot take any more, yet further coal and gas expansion is fuelling these climate change-driven unnatural disasters. Similarly our water resources and our biodiversity provide ecosystem services to our communities, our society and economy that we cannot survie without. We are on the brink. Fossil fuel expansion in 2026 is madness and suicidal. We need investment in the industries of the future, we need sustainable jobs. We need to fiercely protect our natural world because we all suffer and burn if we don't.

11001

Redacted

19/01/2026

Object

Website

Extensions to coal projects are incompatible with the action we need to see to avoid the worst consequences of the climate crisis. Objecting to this development is consistent with the broad scientific consensus on climate change, and recent statements of the governments own Net Zero Commission. The mine extension will impact native koala habitat and burden local water resources, both of which are already projected to suffer serious adverse impacts due to the climate crisis. Extending this mine will condemn our future generations to untold suffering, in return for propping up corporate profits of an industry forecast to collapse within a generation.

11006

Redacted

19/01/2026

Object

Website

We can't afford more new coal projects in Australia. The globe is getting too hot and is becoming too dangerous for life

11011

New South Wales 2303

19/01/2026

Object

Website

I can not understand how any extention could be considered considering the Climate Crisis we are in. Surely the recent events of bush fires, heat waves floods and flash floods all over the nation tells you to reject this expansion proposal. What will you tell your grandchildren in the future when they have no viable planet?

11026

Redacted

19/01/2026

Object

Website

This expansion will be devastating for local biodiversity and waterway health, along with contributing to global heating.

11031

New South Wales 2304

19/01/2026

Object

Website

We have enough intelligence to understand that more mining, more coal is damaging our planet and all the species here, including humans. Why not use wind or solar? I object to any extensions to mining in Australia, especially when they involve direct damage to flora and fauna

11041

Dark side masks

New South Wales 2292

19/01/2026

Object

Website

It's time to stop digging coal. The science is clear. The earth's atmosphere has too much carbon in it and burning fossil fuels, especially coal, has to be stopped . Now.

10816

New South Wales 2477

18/01/2026

Object

Website

To Ms Jannett Milligan, Mr Richard Pearson and Mr Michael Wright, By way of introduction, I am a postgraduate at the University of Sydney, with Honours in both Economics and Law. I attended high school in regional NSW and maintain a strong connection to my hometown. As such, the holistic well-being of regional NSW communities is very important to me. I write to object to Yancoal’s proposed Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project near Mudgee on Wiradjuri Country. In essence, I am concerned that the proposed expansion would cause serious and irreversible harm to cultural heritage, climate, biodiversity, the economy, and the broader public interest, and that it should therefore be refused. I acknowledge the significant time and resources that have been invested in the Assessment Report prepared by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure. Given the scope of this submission, I am unable to address all the aspects of that report that are concerning to me. Instead, I wish to summarise and highlight key issues with the proposed extension. CULTURAL HERITAGE My understanding is that the OC3 extension would damage Wiradjuri sites, including those of cultural and spiritual significance. Considering the historical relationship between First Nations Peoples in Australia and mining ventures, it is clearly within the public interest that the sites of the Wiradjuri people be protected at all costs. The effects of destroying cultural heritage on the community surrounding Mudgee would be severe, and so the issue of cultural heritage should be taken very seriously by the IPC. CLIMATE IMPACTS AND LEGISLATIVE TARGETS I also understand that the OC3 extension would generate significant greenhouse gas emissions. Over recent decades, both NSW and Australia have suffered from extreme and unpredictable weather events linked to climate change. These events have caused irreparable damage to regional NSW communities. The IPC should take the impact of additional greenhouse gas emissions created by the OC3 extension into consideration. Further, the IPC should consider that NSW is not on track to meet its legislated emissions reduction targets under the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023. The NSW Government has acknowledged that, on current trajectories, NSW will fall well short of both the 2030 and 2035 targets. The failure to meet targets outlined in legislation is a serious concern. In addition, Australia has obligations under the Paris Agreement to reduce emissions. In my opinion, it is not wise to approve the OC3 extension in this context. BIODIVERSITY The project would result in the clearing of 113 hectares of koala habitat, with koalas and the breeding activity of other species recorded on site. Ultimately, this clearing would cause unacceptable and irreversible impacts to other threatened species and ecological communities. This is in addition to the risk of removing drought refuges for wildlife due to groundwater drawdown. I acknowledge the possibility of using biodiversity offsets to mitigate these types of damage; however, I have concerns about the efficacy of these offsets and the authenticity of the intention behind their implementation. ECONOMIC JUSTIFICATION As a young Australian with graduate qualifications in economics, I am critical of the economic justifications for this project. These concerns include coal mining vacancies that have existed in the Mudgee region for many years. The project also sits within the Orana Renewable Energy Zone, where government policy is focused on accelerating renewable energy development and employment. A significant proportion of the coal is intended for export to markets with declining thermal coal demand, further weakening the economic case. While I appreciate that interested parties believe the expansion will generate profit for their business, the IPC must critically analyse these profits in the context of the broader economic landscape, as well as the negative externalities generated by the project that I have outlined above. I understand that business profits generate national economic growth which can benefit all Australians, but in my opinion, this project will have an overall detrimental effect on the community. More sustainable and economically resilient pathways for growth are available. CONCLUSION For the reasons set out above, I believe the proposed Moolarben OC3 Extension Project is not in the public interest and should be refused. I respectfully urge the IPC to recommend that the Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project not be approved. I appreciate the IPC’s role and respect its time and dedication to this decision-making process. I look forward to reading its detailed analysis of this matter. Thank you for your time.

10831

New South Wales 2087

18/01/2026

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Dear IPC, My name is Chloe, writing to you from Greenwich, a beautiful leafy part of North Sydney. I work for Willoughby City Council as Resource Recovery Officer, where my day to day is focused mainly on improving the recycling infrastructure, systems and knowledge for residents in the area. I’m also passionate about maintaining natural assets in my area, across NSW and Australia. The proposed expansion of Yancoal's Moolarben Coal Mine presents significant concerns. Specifically, there's a risk of collapsed longwall tunnels causing far-field movements. These movements can lead to sinking earth material and fractures in sandstone structures up to 2 km away, potentially destabilising them. Furthermore, the mining activity could inflict permanent damage on culturally significant sites, such as The Drip, a sacred Wiradjuri place. I’d like express my concern and disapproval of Yancoal’s Moolarben underground mine and ask for: • A 2 km buffer zone to be implemented between the mine and the river gorges • Shorten the longwalls to prevent further harm to the area. A 2 km buffer zone needs to be implemented between the mine and the river gorges and shorten the longwalls of the Moolarben Coal Mine to prevent further harm to this sensitive and significant area. Thank you for taking the time to read and action my submission. Kindly, Chloe Hyde

10836

New South Wales 2112

18/01/2026

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I am an environmental advisor in Sydney and I am deeply concerned about the expansion of coal mining in my State, due to the climate impacts being felt in my area. Students in my area are already sitting through 40+ degree days, our energy bills are going up due to the amount of fossil fuels still in our electricity system, and I know communities across NSW (especially those in rural communities) are facing the same struggles. I am writing to object to Yancoal’s proposed Moolarben OC3 coal mine expansion near Mudgee on Wiradjuri Country. I am concerned that this project would cause serious and irreversible impacts to the environment, climate and community, and should not be approved. In particular, I am concerned about: Threatened species and habitat loss, including the clearing of over 113 hectares of koala habitat where koalas and breeding have been recorded, as well as Regent Honeyeater and microbat habitat. Yancoal will likely pay for their offsets directly into the Biodiversity Conservation Fund which cannot replace habitat that is already supporting threatened species. Impacts on Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, with mining proposed within 100 metres of the reserve and inadequate assessment of noise, blasting and vibration impacts. Water and groundwater risks, including long-term groundwater drawdown that could harm Moolarben Creek and groundwater-dependent ecosystems that are critical drought refuges for wildlife. Climate impacts, with the project producing an estimated 64 million tonnes of additional greenhouse gas emissions at a time when NSW is not on track to meet its legislated emissions reduction targets. Lack of public benefit, with no clear jobs justification for expanding coal mining in a region where renewable energy development is being prioritised. The NSW Government cannot afford to approve new or expanded coal projects during a climate and biodiversity crisis. This proposal is inconsistent with the NSW Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023 and the goals of the Paris Agreement. The NSW Land and Environment Court has already dismissed coal projects on the basis of climate impacts so I urge the Independent Planning Commission to recommend that the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mining Extension Project be refused.

10841

New South Wales 2043

18/01/2026

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I am an Australian citizen concerned with the decision to extend the Moolarben Coal Complex. The expansion will cause serious and irreversible harm to the environment, including clearing Koala habitat and impacting other threatened ecological communities. No amount of biodiversity offsets can replace this existing environment. There is also no economic justification for the extension improving job opportunities for the surrounding communities. The expansion will increase emissions and is not aligned with Australia’s Paris agreement goals. For these reasons I urge the independent planning commission to recommend the Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project be refused. Thank you for taking into account my submission.

10851

New South Wales 2022

18/01/2026

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Dear Commission of Planning, I am concerned about the Moolarben Coal Mine. I am a young person growing up in a climate crisis - I worry about inequality from climate change causing insecurity and extremism and how threats to community stability can be avoided by supporting the environment. Economically I would prefer for job creation to be supported in less polluting industries. There have been already vacancies in nearby mines for several years and this indicates that rural job creation is not as much of a necessity to require this drastic choice of support for fossil fuels. Biodiversity is in complete decline and any impact on threatened species puts them at a higher vulnerability irrespective if biodiversity (through offsets) is supported in other areas. Additionally, if the projects water and emissions impact on the environment is not mitigated biodiversity will continue to be at threat. Groundwater drawdown in the area will disrupt local wildlife and emissions will further impact the systems that barely support the ecosystems we rely on. I completely reject support for this project - particularly as the methods and decision-making processes (the EPBC Act) for approval of projects such as this do not accurately give direction on how to weigh economic and social benefits against environmental outcomes. Kindly, Rachel Arthur

10856

New South Wales 2220

18/01/2026

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My name is Winston Liu, and I am a 25 year old living most of my life in Hurstville Sydney 2220. Last October, my close friends road tripped to the Goulburn river area, and visited the Drip. They experienced the rich cultural significance of these landmarks, and saw regent Honey eaters, Microbats (super cute!), and many other flora and fauna in the ecological community. Unfortunately - the Government’s approval of Yancoal’s Moolarben Coal Mine is devastating on the Climate, terrible for the community, and (non hyperbole) destroying Australia’s economy. Yancoal is seeking approval from state authorities to expand the existing mine’s operations (known as the OC3 Extension Project). The proposal would increase the footprint of the mine and lock in additional coal production, extending extraction within the lifespan of the current approvals. The expansion will directly disturb approximately 675 hectares (ha) of land, including 480 ha of native vegetation and add approximately 30Mt ROM (run-offmine) coal, resulting in around 25Mt product coal produced over the life of the mine to 31 December 2038. As a citizen who wants to one day visit these sites, please do not approve the coal mine. These devastating impacts include Climate: Over the life of the extension, the project is estimated to produce an additional 64 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. At a time when NSW is not on track to meet its legislated climate targets, approving this expansion would further undermine climate commitments under the NSW Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023 and the Paris Agreement. The ‘[Spotlight on Coal](https://www.netzerocommission.nsw.gov.au/publications/coal-mining-emissions-spotlight-report)’ report, recently released by the NSW Net Zero Commission acknowledges that coal mine expansions in NSW are not consistent with a safe climate or the NSW Climate Change Act, stating that: *“[c]ontinued 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*”. The expansion would worsen climate impacts already being felt locally, including more intense heatwaves, longer droughts, and increased extreme weather events. These changes affect community health, water availability, agriculture, and liveability across the region. Biodiversity The expansion would cause serious and irreversible environmental harm, including Clearing 113 hectares of koala habitat, where koalas and active breeding have been recorded Serious and irreversible impacts (SAII) on threatened fauna and ecological communities, including Regent Honey-eater, Broad-headed Snake, Microbats (eastern cave and large-eared pied bats), and White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Box Woodland and Derived Native Grassland (loss of 493.12 Ha). Impacts on Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, with mining proposed within 100 metres of the reserve and inadequate assessment of noise, blasting and vibration impacts. Yancoal has indicated it will rely on biodiversity offsets to help compensate for habitat destruction. However, no biodiversity offsets can replace habitat that is already supporting threatened species. Water: The project could cause groundwater drawdown of 2–6 metres, potentially lasting up to 25 years after mining ends. This puts Moolarben Creek at risk - a critical drought refuge for wildlife and groundwater-dependent ecosystems. Cultural significance: Mining would damage Wiradjuri cultural landscapes, including sacred sites. Economics: There is no justification for this expansion to provide regional jobs. There have been vacancies at the three Mudgee region coal mines for many years. Additionally, the Moolarben Mine is within the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone, where government investment is focused on clean energy jobs. Additionally, Yancoal plans to export 65% of coal to China, with smaller amounts to South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Japan. With declining global demand for thermal coal, the economic case is weakening. I’m no expert in Mining policy, but I’m sure you to bring this up in government to protect the land we live on. Hope to hear from you. Best regards, Winston

10861

New South Wales 2131

18/01/2026

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Hello, my name is AJ Gough, a resident of Ashfield, NSW and I’m writing in opposition of the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mining Extension Project based on unacceptable projected increase in carbon emissions. The project locks in a decade of largely unmitigable fossil fuel emissions, inconsistent with climate commitments. The OC3 Extension will add nearly 500,000 tonnes of CO₂-e & rely overwhelmingly on diesel combustion. The vast majority of the GHG emissions will come from the increased use of diesel machinery (72%) for which there isn’t current viable alternative. Further, the project offers no credible mitigation pathway, operates under an outdated GHG minimisation plan and locks in emissions until 2034. This week it was 43°C in Ashfield. The last seven years have been the warmest on record, with 2024 confirmed as the hottest year globally. In 2025, the three-year average global temperature breached the 1.5C threshold set in the 2015 Paris Agreement for the first time. I studied Environmental Science at university, and I’m terrified by the implications of this. I do not want to sit back and find out what 2026 will bring. I’m concerned, not only for me personally, but for the whole community I live in and love. I am 27 and want to start a family but I don’t know if it’s ethical to bring children into a world under such an imminent threat. I want to secure a future for myself and my family. We need to make an urgent transition away from fossil fuels – not committing to their expansion. I urge the Independent Planning Commission to recommend that the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mining Extension Project be refused.

10866

Redacted

18/01/2026

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To the Independent Planning Commission, My name is [name redacted], and I'm a citizen based in Sydney. I have written in the past in objection of Yancoal’s proposed Moolarben OC3 coal mine expansion near Mudgee, and I am once again objecting to the most recent proposal. As a resident of Western Sydney, I've seen firsthand the impact climate change has had in my community. It is completely irresponsible to support an expansion such as the Yancol proposal. At a time when NSW is not on track to meet its legislated climate targets, approving this expansion would further undermine climate commitments under the NSW Climate Change Act. The expansion would cause irreversible damage to the Mudgee and Mid Western region, and impact our flora and fauna. For example, the expansion would clear 113 hectares of koala habitat, where koalas and active breeding have been recorded. It would impact endangered species, including the Regent Honey-eater, Broad-headed Snake and Microbats such as the eastern cave and large-eared pied bats. Furthermore, the project could cause groundwater drawdown of 2–6 metres, potentially lasting up to 25 years after mining ends. This puts Moolarben Creek at risk - a critical drought refuge for wildlife and groundwater-dependent ecosystems. It also has no benefit to our public, with no clear jobs justification for expanding coal mining in a region where renewable energy development is currently being prioritised. In a time when our communities and ecosystems are affected by climate change, it would be competely irresponsible for the NSW government to approve new expansion projects for mining. Again, this proposal is inconsistent with the NSW Climate Change Act and the goals of the Paris Agreement. I urge the Independent Planning Commission to recommend the Moolarben OC3 coal mine to be refused. Thank you

10871

Redacted

18/01/2026

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I am writing to state my objection to the Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project. I do not think we have the scientific or social license to be able to extend coal operations into the next decade in the interest of our future under climate change. I grew in the Upper Hunter Valley and have personal experience with the benefits and detractions of coal mine operations and how they affect a community. I visited the Mudgee and Wollar region last year and have witnessed both the beautiful nature in the area and the staggering expanse of mines. I understand the importance of industry but this must be balanced in the best interests of the community and our environment. As such, I strongly object to this project. Recently NSW has experienced extreme weather - of heatwaves and flood in January, while Victoria burns in bushfires. We know that this extreme weather is attributed to climate change, and I object to this project that is estimated to produce an additional 64 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. NSW is not on track to meet our legislated climate targets, and approving this expansion would undermine our commitments under the NSW Climate Change (Net Zero Future) 2013 Act and the Paris Agreement. The NSW Net Zero commission has recently acknowledged that coal mine expansions are not consistent with a safe climate or the NSW Climate Act as part of the ‘Spotlight on Coal’ report. I do not believe there is a sound economic demand for this project, given that the exports for thermal coal have been declining globally. I am in particular concerned for the biodiversity and the serious and irreversible impact that this expansion would produce. The Critically Endangered Ecological Communities in the area - including Box Gum Woodland. This CEEC is groundwater dependent, and historically, there has been poor water management and modelling of groundwater use for coal mines in this region, with the Wilpinjong Mine requiring more water than predicted. The NSW government website specifically mentions that box gum woodland is under threat from fragmentation and habitat loss, which would occur further under this project. I am also concerned about the risks to our fauna species - not least the endangered microbats and their critical breeding habitats, the regent honeyeater and koalas in the region. Additionally I am greatly concerned of the impacts this project would have to the cultural significance of the area for the Wiradjuri people, landscapes and sacred sites. I believe this project would cause permanent and irreversible damage to the surrounding community. The Wollar community is working hard to rebuilt their town, and I praise them for their welcoming attitude to the Renewable Energy Zone in NSW. I have met many members of the community and am inspired by how they have committed to the transition to clean energy in NSW. Overall, I object to this project based on the impact to biodiversity and groundwater, Indigenous cultural heritage and local community. The risks outweigh any benefits.

10876

Redacted

18/01/2026

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To whom it may concern, I am writing to object to the Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project, as I have serious concerns about the negative impacts of this proposal. Increasing the mine’s footprint and committing to further coal production seems to me to go against the government’s current renewable energy and emissions reductions targets, and also seems likely to cause harm to local communities. At a time when NSW is not on track to meet its legislated climate targets, approving this expansion would further undermine climate commitments under the NSW Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023 and the Paris Agreement. Having visited the town of Wollar to learn more about the impacts of coal mines on local communities, I have seen firsthand the way that communities shrink as coal mines expand. Locals expressed to me how their population had shrunk to due noise, air, and light pollution, and how none of the promised economic boons had eventuated. I also have seen the recent Rising Tide protests regarding NSW’s coal exports, and from that have learned more about how these companies damage the Australian countryside only to export goods overseas, often at low prices and without significant taxes, and the Australian people suffer the consequences of this. The expansion would worsen climate impacts already being felt locally, including more intense heatwaves, longer droughts, and increased extreme weather events. These changes affect community health, water availability, agriculture, and liveability across the region. Whilst near the Wollar/Mudgee area, I saw an incredible diversity of flora and fauna, typical for the region outside mine-impacted areas. This proposed expansion would clear 113 hectares of koala habitat, where koalas and active breeding have been recorded. It would also irreversibly impact threatened fauna and ecological communities, including Regent Honey-eater, Broad-headed Snake, Microbats (eastern cave and large-eared pied bats), and White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum. In a time when the countries we export this resource to (e.g. China) are rapidly transitioning to renewables, there seems to be little point in further destroying our landscape when soon there’ll be no buyers for this product. I’ve also seen how mining can poison groundwater, which has long-lasting and wide-reaching impacts. The project could cause groundwater drawdown of 2–6 metres, potentially lasting up to 25 years after mining ends. This puts Moolarben Creek at risk - a critical drought refuge for wildlife and groundwater-dependent ecosystems. As climate change increases the chances of severe droughts, this waterway is vital. Biodiversity and climate offsets are not going to change this outcome if the mine is built, and the local area has a low chance of recovery should this happen. Overall, I object to this proposal on economic, community, biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, water resources, and policy grounds. Any potential positive impact of this project is insignificant when weighed against its overall consequences.

10881

Redacted

18/01/2026

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My name is [name redacted] and I'm a proud NSW resident who grew up in this beautiful state. Climate change has been a big part of my life growing up, from volunteering in local environmental groups in my suburb to now championing decarbonisation in the transport sector. I strongly oppose to this coal mine development due to the adverse impacts on biodiversity, greenhouse gas emissions, water resources and the local community. This coal mine development will be detrimental to the natural ecosystem, especially the impacts on the natural habitats of the Regent Honey-eater (a highly endangered species). In this era, it's vital that we do not build any new coal mines as this would worsen climate impacts already felt by our communities across Australia. This project would also put Moolarben Creek at risk due to the groundwater drawdown, impacting drought refuge for wildlife. Overall, please terminate this project and consider our environment first. Our future generations are depending on us to do the right thing.

10891

Redacted

18/01/2026

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Dear Independent Planning Commission, I am a 28 year old living in Sydney, NSW and studying in Queensland. In recent years I have witnessed the impacts of climate change on friends and family, whether it is due to cyclones in Queensland, or the heatwaves in NSW. For these reasons, the Moolarben OC3 Extension Project concerns me, as it has the potential to exacerbate issues related to climate, biodiversity, and water resources. The assessment report by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure has made this clear by outlining impacts such as 64 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, irreversible impacts on threatened fauna and ecological communities, including Regent Honey-eater and koalas, and a groundwater drawdown of 2–6 metres, potentially lasting up to 25 years after mining ends. The climate impact of greenhouse gas emissions will not only be felt locally, but throughout Australia in the form of more extreme weather events. For these reasons, I would like to ask the Independent Planning Commission to refuse the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mining Extension Project. Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns.

10896

New South Wales 2140

18/01/2026

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My name is (REDACTED), I'm a young person living in the west of Sydney. I am deeply concerned about the expansion of coal in NSW. I grew up in regional Queensland, and lived through incredibly severe weather events and floods directly amplified by fossil fuel extraction. Now in NSW I am worried for a future where these weather events become increasingly common. I am writing to express that the Moolarben coal mine expansion should not proceed. In particular I hold concerns that: Any expansion of coal mines in the state will lock in additional fossil fuel extraction into the longterm, long past the timeline we need to transition to a net-zero economy. The clearing of 480ha of native habitat poses risks to multiple iconic threatened species. Notably, Yancoal's own report notes 113ha of koala habitat that is "The habitat within the Development Footprint was determined to potentially constitute habitat critical to the survival of the species.” Over 100ha of habitat to be cleared is identified as important to the endangered Gang-gang Cockatoo and critically endangered Regent Honeyeater. If this expansion is to proceed it threatens to undermine the NSW Government’s climate commitments at a time where the State is already not on track to meet its emissions targets. As a result, expansion is clearly incompatible with the NSW Government’s Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023. Continued export of coal will worsen climate impacts felt locally as well as accelerate climate change globally. NSW is already experiencing severe heatwaves and floods and it's imperative we work towards adaptation and making things safer for communities rather than double down on the causes. As the mine site is contained within the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone, there is a missed opportunity to instead prioritise a just transition to renewable industries instead of expanding coal. The site will lead to damage to indigenous cultural landscapes and sacred sites and it is not clear how these impacts will be minimised by the proponent. Offsets should be used as a last resort. Reliance of offsets as indicated by the proponent to mitigate environmental harm is reckless and should not be continued in the wake of the numerous failings of the broken State Biodiversity Offset Scheme that results in a 'pay to destroy' system where there is more money paid into the pool than projects to fund. The expansion should not be approved when readily available, accessible, affordable solutions exist that do not cause environmental harm that can still provide for regional workers

10901

New South Wales 2015

18/01/2026

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To the Independent Planning Commission, My name is [name redacted], I am a 28 year old Sydney resident. I live far from the Moolarben Coal mine but have had the opportunity to get to know people from the community that have been affected and would potentially be further impacted if the expansion is approved. Not just for the wellbeing of the local community, I am also deeply concerned about the expansion of coal mining in our states, due to the climate impacts and loss of biodiversity and natural habitats. Everyone of us have experienced or witnessed firsthand the impact of the changing climate and extreme weather events. Climate change is a challenge faced globally, and beyond the scope 1 emission the expansion project would add locally, scope 2 and 3 emission would play a big role as the produced coal being shipped overseas (not to mention that the local communities are not getting much monetary compensations relative to the profit the coal companies are making). I am writing to object to Yancoal's proposed Moolarben OC3 coal mine expansion near Mudgee on Wiradjuri Country. I am concerned that this project would cause serious and irreversible harm to the environment, climate and community, and should not be approved. In particular, I am concerned about: No amount of biodiversity offsets can replace the existing environment. All of the 113ha of woodland Yancoal is proposing to clear is koala habitat and koalas are recorded on site, including in the middle of one of the proposed pits and breeding is occurring in the area. No biodiversity offsets can replace habitat that is already supporting threatened species. As the independent expert advisory panel has pointed out, the expansion is likely to result in serious and irreversible impacts (SAIl) on threatened fauna and ecological communities, including Regent Honey-eater, Broad-headed Snake, Microbats (eastern cave and large-eared pied bats), and White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Box Woodland and Derived Native Grassland. The NSW government simply cannot afford to approve any new coal mines and expansions. This project is clearly inconsistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement and the NSW Government's Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023, and NSW is not on track to meet GHG targets. With abatement "as currently tracking", the NSW government projects that NSW will achieve only a 44% reduction by 2030 and 65% by 2035. This is well short of both the 50% by 2030 and 70% by 2035 legislated targets. NSW in top 5% of states most at risk from climate change globally: The Climate Risk Group - in their submission to the NSW Parliament's Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Bill 2023 inquiry - warned that NSW is in the top 5% of states most at risk from extreme weather and climate change globally. For these reasons, I urge the Independent Planning Commission to recommend that the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mining Extension Project be refused. Thank you for considering my submission.

10906

New South Wales 2008

18/01/2026

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To Whom it May Concern at the Independent Planning Commission, I am writing to you today as a citizen concerned about the environmental impacts of the proposed expansion of the Moolarben Mine. My personal concern comes from my love of the Australian environment. I am privileged enough to have explored much of the continent and I hope that I will continue to be able to do so, as well as share those experiences with my future children. Over the life of the extension, the project is estimated to produce an additional 64 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. At a time when NSW is not on track to meet its legislated climate targets, approving this expansion would further undermine climate commitments under the NSW Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023 and the Paris Agreement. The ‘Spotlight on Coal’ report, recently released by the NSW Net Zero Commission acknowledges that coal mine expansions in NSW are not consistent with a safe climate or the NSW Climate Change Act, stating that: “[c]ontinued 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”. The expansion would worsen climate impacts already being felt locally, including more intense heatwaves, longer droughts, and increased extreme weather events. These changes affect community health, water availability, agriculture, and liveability across the region. The expansion would cause serious and irreversible environmental harm to the area’s biodiversity, as it would clear koala, wombat, regent honey-eater, broad-headed snake, micro bat, pin-tailed legless lizard, swift parrot and squirrel glider habitat, making the inhabitants face even further threat of intinction. The expansion would put nearby waterways at risk, such as the Moolarben Creek, a critical drought refuge for wildlife and groundwater-dependent ecosystems. The project could cause groundwater drawdown of 2–6 metres, potentially lasting up to 25 years after mining ends. Economically, there is no justification for this expansion to provide regional jobs. There have been vacancies at the three Mudgee region coal mines for many years. Additionally, the Moolarben Mine is within the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone, where government investment is focused on clean energy jobs. Additionally, Yancoal plans to export 65% of coal to China, with smaller amounts to South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and Japan. With declining global demand for thermal coal, the economic case is weakening. I am asking for you to please recommend that the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mining Extension Project be refused. King Regards, Kate Moffatt

10911

New South Wales 2205

18/01/2026

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My name is Mary, I am a young woman from South Sydney. I am a keen birdwatcher, and I am deeply concerned about the impact of this project on my favourite bird - the regent honeyeater. I have been very fortunate to see a regent honeyeater in the wild, something very few Australians can say, despite the fact they once flocked in the thousands in NSW. The prospect of further reducing the scarce habitat of the regent honeyeater through the approval of this project is very distressing. Additionally, I believe it is essential that Australia rapidly phases out fossil fuels. We have a duty not only to our native wildlife and ecosystems, but also future generations and those currently suffering under climate impacts to ensure access to a safe environment. I look forward to enthusiastically supporting renewable power opportunities in NSW. Thank you for considering my submission.

10916

New South Wales 2849

18/01/2026

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Submission – Objection to Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project To the Independent Planning Commission, I am writing to formally object to the proposed Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project near Mudgee on Wiradjuri Country. I oppose this proposal because it would cause serious and irreversible harm to the environment, climate, water resources, cultural heritage and local community, while delivering no clear or credible public benefit. 1. Unacceptable loss of threatened species and habitat The proposed expansion puts a total disturbance area of 675 hectares at risk from clearing and mining activities. This includes the proposed clearing of 113 hectares of koala habitat, with koalas recorded on site and breeding occurring in the area. The proposal also includes clearing 80 hectares of Regent Honeyeater habitat, with breeding females recorded on site. These impacts are not theoretical. They involve the destruction of habitat that is already supporting threatened species. No biodiversity offsets can replace functioning habitat that is already present, connected and occupied. The submission guide also identifies likely serious and irreversible impacts on threatened fauna and ecological communities, including the Regent Honeyeater, Broad-headed Snake, microbats, and threatened woodland communities. 2. Poor assessment of impacts on Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve Noise and blasting impacts on Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve were poorly assessed and not included in the modelling report. This is a major gap. If impacts are not properly modelled, they cannot be properly avoided, minimised or conditioned. 3. Long-term and unacceptable water and groundwater impacts The project could cause groundwater drawdown up to and exceeding 2–6 metres for up to 25 years post mining, putting Moolarben Creek at risk as a vital drought refuge for wildlife. 4. Climate impacts inconsistent with NSW obligations and public interest The OC3 extension would result in an additional 64 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over the life of the extension. NSW is not on track to meet its legislated emissions reduction targets, with projections falling short of the 2030 and 2035 targets set under the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023. NSW is also identified as being in the top 5% of states globally most at risk from climate change impacts. 5. No credible jobs or economic justification There is no justification for this expansion to provide regional jobs. Vacancies have existed at coal mines in the Mudgee region for many years. The mine is located within the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone, where the NSW Government is prioritising renewable energy development and associated employment. 6. Cultural harm Mining would damage Wiradjuri cultural landscapes, including sacred sites. Conclusion For these reasons, I urge the Independent Planning Commission to recommend that the Moolarben OC3 Extension Project be refused.

10926

New South Wales 2007

18/01/2026

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I am making a submission in opposition to the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mining Extension Project. I may not live near the mine, but I am already impacted by the climate change that this extension would worsen. During heat waves, I am prone to medical cardiac events, as my disability involves heat intolerance. Hot days are becoming hotter and more frequent. On these days, it is unsafe for me to leave my apartment. This leaves me isolated, sitting on my cold bathroom floor tiles, and taking extra medication to cope with my symptoms. Considering the extreme weather caused by fossil fuel emissions, I hope that coal mining shrinks instead of expands. This extension project specifically has definitive local harms. Serious and irreversible environmental harm would come to threatened animals, and mining procedures would disrupt the nearby Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve. The local and global environmental harms of this extension outweigh the minimal economic benefits. Yancoal plans to export most of the coal, and other coal mines in the area have vacant jobs. Renewable energy should be prioritised, especially in the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone.  I hope the Independent Planning Commission refuses this extension, for my sake and for the people and animals living locally. 

10936

Western Australia 6071

18/01/2026

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To the Independent Planning Commission I am writing this submission to express my opposition to the proposed extension to the Moolarben OC3 coal mine, my reasons being: * The resulting drawdown of the water table will result in reduced water availability to the Moolarben Creek. This in turn will result in the demise of a valuable drought refuge currently available to the animals in the region as well as increased stress on the local flora. * Clearing of the land to be mined will severely reduce valuable habitat for many animals, koalas, regent honeyeaters to mention just two. Any destruction of habitat will only add to the major losses experienced in wide tracts of Australian land, loss of koala nesting and feeding sites being particularly worrisome given the current plight of the koala on the East Coast. * Removal of vegetation, in particular trees, will only increase the likelyhood of further heatwave conditions, ground water loss and increased greenhouse gas emmissions. * To those who claim that without the mine extension communities will suffer lost employment opportunities, it must be pointed out that the current and future development in the area of alternative energy projects will more than compensate. * On the question of broader economics, the fact that the demand for Australian coal by overseas countries is decreasing, as is the demand for coal on the domestic front since coal fired power stations are being decommissioned. Why mine coal if no-one wants it ? * Of course the major reason for objection is the question of climate change. Australia has committed to net zero emmissions by 2050 (Paris Agreement). This mine extension would result in the burning of additional coal giving rise to the release of an additional 64 million tonnes of greenhouse gases . Aren't we irresposible if we continue to promote or assist further mining and burning of coal? In conclusion, I believe that if expansion of the Moolaben mine is approved , irreversible harm will be caused not only to the Australian but to the global environment. So, with respect I ask that you do not approve it. Sincerely Cliff Harris

10941

New South Wales 2333

18/01/2026

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Dear Madam/Sir, I hereby lodge my submission to the Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project. I OPPOSE the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mine Extension Project, Project Number SSD-33083358. Moolarben coal mine is an existing thermal coal mine near Mudgee in mid-western New South Wales, on Wiradjuri Country. Mining giant Yancoal is proposing to expand the mine, pushing it out into a beautiful valley surrounded on three sides by Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, one of the oldest conservation reserves in the state. My Summary: * This beautiful valley should be managed jointly as part of a whole conservation landscape with the magnificent Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, not turned into an open cut coal mine. * The mine will clear 480 hectares of native vegetation and mine right up to 100m from the boundary of Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve. * The area has incredible importance for biodiversity and there have been 23 threatened wildlife species recorded in and around the site, including habitat that is critical to the survival of the Koala in a uniquely resilient population. * The mine will also destroy habitat and is likely to cause serious and irreversible impact to threatened wildlife like the Large-eared Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat and Regent Honeyeater, and will also clear endangered Box Gum Woodland. * It will also lead to water drawdown of up to 5m in the alluvium of Moolarben Creek, which runs into the Goulburn River, and represents a risk to deep-rooted vegetation that uses that water. * The mine will cause serious harm to cultural heritage. There are 55 Aboriginal heritage sites within the mine footprint that will be directly impacted and a further 12 that may be indirectly impacted. * The mine will also harm New South Wales by contributing to runaway climate change, with the New South Wales Net Zero Commission (NZC) stating clearly in their recent Coal Mine Emissions Spotlight Report that any further coal mine expansions are inconsistent with achieving New South Wales climate targets or with a safe climate. * Further, the assessment of the project has not quantified the economic costs of the downstream greenhouse gas emissions, even though it is now effectively legally required following the Court of Appeal decision on the Mt Pleasant coal mine. This project should not be approved. A detailed analyse of the impacts of this mine extension follows: Koalas: Koalas have been recorded in and around the proposed mine site, including a record of a mother and her joey recorded by Lock the Gate with a thermal drone just over a year ago. The Biodiversity, Conservation and Science Group (BCS) at NSW DCCEEW has highlighted the threat the project poses to the Koala, noting that: 1. The Koala habitat present is ‘critical to the survival of the species’. 2. It is a climate-robust population which “has survived recent and historical temperature increases, drought and bushfires successfully”. Threatened wildlife and vegetation: The mine will clear habitat for multiple threatened wildlife species and also clear 401 hectares of the nationally endangered Box Gum Woodland ecosystem. The project has not avoided or minimised impacts on biodiversity and is likely to cause serious and irreversible impacts to a number of entities, including the Koala, Large-eared Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Regent Honeyeater, Broad-headed Snake, Squirrel Glider and Box Gum Woodland. There are vital sandstone cliffs and rocky habitat right along the edge of Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, which are key habitats for the bat species especially. Blasting and noise represent a major threat to those species. The department agency said there should be at least a 500m buffer from Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve to better protect those species, but the mining company refused to accept the buffer. Biodiversity offsets are deeply flawed and simply justify habitat destruction when in fact, impacts on native vegetation must be avoided if we are to avoid further species extinctions. Water impacts: The project will cause drawdown of the alluvium by up to 5m along Moolarben Creek, and put at risk deep-rooted trees that use that water. The company has not done proper baseline monitoring of water, and it has a very poor history elsewhere in the mine complex, by failing badly to do ongoing water monitoring required. Climate change: DPHI in their assessment report has ignored a key finding of the Net Zero Commission in it’s Coal Mine Emissions Spotlight Report released in December that any further coal mine expansions are inconsistent with the New South Wales Climate Change Act. They do not make any reference to Finding 4, which states that “Continued extensions or expansions to coal mining in New South Wales are not consistent with the emissions reduction targets in the Climate Change Act or the Paris Agreement temperature goals it gives effect to”. The project will produce an estimated 64.6Mt of total lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions which is equivalent to 58% of total annual emissions from all sources in New South Wales. As the NZC has stated, any such emissions are not consistent with New South Wales climate change targets or the Paris temperature goals. The assessment report also fails to mention that the New South Wales Government is not on track to achieve either the 2030 or 2035 emissions reduction targets. The proponent has also failed to apply the Court of Appeal decision in the Denman case, which found that the local environmental, social and economic impacts of climate change, including downstream greenhouse gas emissions, need to be considered by decision makers. It is impossible for the decision maker to consider those matters for the Moolarben expansion, because there has been no attempt to quantify the full economic costs of downstream emissions to New South Wales and the locality, even though they make up 99% of all emissions from the project. Cultural heritage: The project will destroy 55 cultural artefacts, including two shelters, one of which contains grinding grooves. The CHCP recommended protection of that site, but the mining company refused. Cumulative impacts: The cumulative impacts of this proposal in terms of other current and proposed coal mines in the Mudgee region has not been assessed. Both the Ulan and Wilpinjong coal mines also have major expansions proposed, and collectively the three existing coal mines and all their proposed expansions have enormous impacts on biodiversity, water, cultural heritage and our climate. Regional impacts and jobs: There are numerous alternative job opportunities available in the region because Mudgee is part of the Central West Renewable Energy Zone and there is a boom in jobs available in renewable projects, with close to 2,000 new jobs predicted over the next decade. Further, the existing Moolarben coal complex will continue to operate until 2038 regardless of whether this expansion goes ahead or not. The summer of 2025/26 has thus far given us 42°C and violent storms in Sydney, destructive bushfires in Victoria and flooding in northern Queensland. With these ever-increasing effects of climate change on the country the Minns Government must actively denounce the implementation of this project. Green energy generation and infrastructure must take precedence. The extraction and use of fossil fuels must be curtailed immediately. To divert from this necessary path forward would be irresponsible. I thank you for this opportunity to express my opinions on this matter. For the only planet we have.

10946

New South Wales 2050

18/01/2026

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Hi, my name is Tobias Walsh and I’m part of the Climate Writers community in Sydney. I started writing to politicians and objecting to projects like this because I want to see our planet thrive and in this current climate emergency that is happening, it seems as though there is a severe lack of care for the environment. At a time when NSW is not on track to meet its legislated climate targets, approving this expansion would further undermine climate commitments under the NSW Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023 and the Paris Agreement. As a nation, we should set the standard and not accept any new fossil fuel projects that will directly harm us

10951

Redacted

18/01/2026

Object

Website

I am writing to object to the proposed Moolarben Coal Mine OC3 Extension Project. I have an educational background in the global economy and currently work in the environmental consulting space. Through this lens, I am deeply concerned about both the weak economic case for expanding thermal coal production and the significant impacts this project would have on local communities and biodiversity. The proposed expansion would extend coal extraction to 2038, disturb large areas of native vegetation, and result in an estimated additional 64 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. At a time when NSW is already struggling to meet its legislated climate targets, approving this project would further undermine commitments under the NSW Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023 and the Paris Agreement. The NSW Net Zero Commission has clearly stated that coal mine expansions are not consistent with a safe climate. I am particularly concerned about the serious and irreversible impacts on biodiversity, including the clearing of koala habitat and damage to threatened species and ecological communities. Long-term groundwater drawdown also poses risks to Moolarben Creek, an important refuge for wildlife, while the project would cause harm to Wiradjuri cultural landscapes and sacred sites that cannot be adequately offset. Given declining global demand for thermal coal and the Central West’s growing role in renewable energy and clean job creation, I do not believe this project represents a responsible or forward-looking development. For these reasons, I respectfully ask the Independent Planning Commission to recommend refusal of the Moolarben Coal Mine OC3 Extension Project. Thank you for considering my submission.

11156

17/01/2026

Object

Email

Objection to Ulan Coal Mine Mod 6 I am a retired GP with a career-long interest in the environmental threats to human health, and threats to the biosphere. Climate change is by far the greatest of these. I OBJECT TO THIS MODIFICATION PROPOSAL; IT SHOULD NOT PROCEED Key points of my objection: 1. Must be assessed together with the Ulan Mod 8 proposal as a new project to provide robust cumulative impact information. 2. The amendment report still fails to fully identify the impacts of the increased greenhouse gas emissions on the local environment, community and economy, as required under NSW planning law. 3. The proposal will produce an additional 18.8 million tonnes of coal and when combined with Mod 8 (additional 43 MT) there will be over a 45% increase in total emissions above current approved operations at Ulan Mine. 4. There is no assessment of cumulative impacts from existing mine approvals or expansion proposals across the three Mudgee Mines: Ulan, Moolarben, Wilpinjong 5. The cumulative loss of threatened species habitat, significant Aboriginal cultural heritage values, water from the landscape and flows to creeks and rivers, and threats to amenity and livelihoods of neighbours has not been assessed 6. The proposal is within the CWOREZ and is competing for regional workforce urgently needed for new industries in the Central West 7. The proposal will place further pressure on already stressed surface and ground water sources within the Murray Darling Basin My contact details are: Roderick Weir Anderson, (REDACTED)

11161

17/01/2026

Object

Email

To whom it may concern, I abhor the destruction and pollution generated under the auspices of Net Zero and support fossil fuel extraction and MORE EFFICIENT fossil fuel burning technologies however, Mining giant Yancoal is proposing to expand a mine, pushing it out into a beautiful valley surrounded on three sides by Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, one of the oldest conservation reserves in the state. This beautiful valley should be managed jointly as part of a whole conservation landscape with the magnificent Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, not turned into an open cut coal mine. The mine will clear 480 hectares of native vegetation and mine right up to 100m from the boundary of Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve. The area has incredible importance for biodiversity and there have been 23 threatened wildlife species recorded in and around the site, including habitat that is critical to the survival of the Koala in a uniquely resilient population. The mine will also destroy habitat and is likely to cause serious and irreversible impact to threatened wildlife like the Large-eared Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat and Regent Honeyeater, and will also clear endangered Box Gum Woodland. It will also lead to water drawdown of up to 5m in the alluvium of Moolarben Ck, which runs into the Goulburn River, and represents a risk to deep-rooted vegetation that uses that water. The mine will cause serious harm to cultural heritage - there are 55 Aboriginal heritage sites within the mine footprint that will be directly impacted and a further 12 that may be indirectly impacted. Sincerely, Anna Harpley. Coolac. 2727

11166

17/01/2026

Object

Email

I am making a submission OBJECTING to the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mine Extension Project, Project Number SSD-33083358. Anna Lorcan

10711

New South Wales 2846

17/01/2026

Object

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I am a small farmer from the district. I am strongly against the approval of this expansion for the reasons listed below: Many threatened species, including koala, depend on this habitat. 675 hectares will be disturbed which has an impact on many native animals that use this area as a home. This may force more extinctions. Ground water is impacted and this effect will last at least 25 years after the mining ceases. All of this coal will be exported overseas which has no benefit to Australia, although the coal company stands to make $250,000 million. However our local community will be affected by the greenhouse gas emissions and the climate pollution. NSW is one of the highest impacted areas in the world from this.

10786

Victoria 3121

17/01/2026

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Website

To the Independent Planning Commission, My name is Sarah and I am a writing in objection to the Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project. I am a young person who is concerned about the impact coal has on the climate and our environment and have seen the impact climate fuelled disasters such as bushfires have had. Therefore, I am concerned about the impact this proposed extension would have on the environment, climate and nearby communities. My concerns include: ⦁ The clearing of vital woodland (113ha) of which koalas have been recorded to be on site and breeding is occuring. The clearing will also impact threatened fauna including the Regent Honeyeater, Broad-headed snake, and Eastern Cave and Large-eared Pied microbats. Flora impacted included White Box, Yellow Box, Blakely's Red Gum, Grassy Box Woodland and Derived Native Grassland. Offsets cannot replace the existing environment. ⦁ The impacts on water and groundwater could harm Moolarben Creek which is a vital refuge during drought for wildlife. ⦁ Impacts on the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve such as noise and blasting have been poorly assessed and not included in modelling reports. With mining proposed to occur within 100 metres of the reserve, these impacts should be considered. ⦁ The greenhouse gas emissions from the prposal amount to 64 million tonnes which is unacceptable when NSW is lagging behind meeting its emissions reduction targets and further exacerbates climate impacts. Local communities already feel the impacts of drought, heatwaves and extreme weather events. ⦁ In a time where the NSW government is focusing on fast tracking renewable energy zones, relevant being the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone, there's no justification to expand coal when renewable energy is being prioritised to create jobs and benefit communities instead. For these reasons I call on the Independent Planning Commission to recommend that the Moolarben 0C3 Coal Mining Extension Project be rejected. Regards, Sarah Brennan Hawthorn VIC 3122

10791

New South Wales 2193

17/01/2026

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My name is Tim Carroll I believe that the NSW government should reject this expansion for many reasons. It is time to stop expanding climate damaging fossil fuel projects and focus on renewable energy. My Key Points are: 1. No amount of biodiversity offsets can replace the existing environment. Yancoal is proposing to clear 113ha of woodland. All of the bush they will clear is koala habitat and koalas are recorded on site, including in the middle of one of the proposed pits and breeding is occurring in the area. 2. The nature and biodiversity impacts of the proposed expansion are unacceptable. The expansion is likely to result in serious and irreversible impacts (SAII) on threatened fauna and ecological communities, including Regent Honey-eater, Broad-headed Snake, Microbats (eastern cave and large-eared pied bats), and White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Box Woodland and Derived Native Grassland (loss of 493.12 Ha). 3. Noise and blasting impacts on Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve (MGNR) were poorly assessed and not included in the modelling report. 4. The expansion will have impacts on local water sources, and groundwater. 5. The NSW government cannot afford to approve any new coal mines and expansions. This project is clearly inconsistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement and the NSW Government’s Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023. NSW is not on track to meet GHG targets: on 23 April 2024, the NSW Minister for Climate Change advised that NSW is not on track to meet legislated climate targets for 2030 and 2035. With abatement “as currently tracking”, the NSW government projects that NSW will achieve only a 44% reduction by 2030 and 65% by 2035. This is well short of both the 50% by 2030 and 70% by 2035 legislated targets. NSW in top 5% of states most at risk from climate change globally: The Climate Risk Group - in their submission to the NSW Parliament’s Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Bill 2023 inquiry - warned that NSW is in the top 5% of states most at risk from extreme weather and climate change globally. Given: a) that NSW is not on track to meet GHG targets; b) that NSW is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change; c) that approval of Moolarben is not in the public interest and not aligned with Paris Agreement goals or the principles of the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023, the project should be rejected. 6. The expansion will harm the local community in the Mid-Western region by contributing to climate impacts felt locally. The Moolarben OC3 expansion would worsen climate change impacts already being experienced by the local community. In the Mid-Western Region, climate change is intensifying heatwaves, prolonging drought conditions and increasing the risk of extreme weather events, all of which affect community health, water availability, agricultural livelihoods and day-to-day liveability.

10796

New South Wales 2107

17/01/2026

Object

Website

Submission attached.

Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project.pdf (PDF, 106.2 KB)

10801

New South Wales 2072

17/01/2026

Object

Website

I am writing to formally object to the proposed extension of the Moolarben Coal Mine. This submission is made on the grounds that the proposal would result in unacceptable environmental, social, and climate impacts, and is inconsistent with contemporary planning principles and the public interest. 1. Unacceptable Environmental Impacts The proposed extension would further entrench long-term environmental degradation in the Moolarben region. The mine has already resulted in extensive land clearing, habitat fragmentation, groundwater disruption, and cumulative impacts on surrounding ecosystems. Extending the mine would exacerbate these impacts, particularly on: • Native vegetation and biodiversity, including threatened species and ecological communities that rely on intact woodland and riparian habitats. • Surface water and groundwater systems, with ongoing risks of drawdown, contamination, and altered hydrological regimes that extend beyond the mine footprint. • Soil integrity and landscape function, through additional open-cut mining, spoil emplacement, and long-term rehabilitation uncertainty. Given the cumulative impacts of existing and approved mining in the region, further expansion cannot be considered environmentally sustainable. 2. Inadequate Consideration of Cumulative Impacts The proposal fails to adequately address the cumulative impacts of multiple coal mines operating within the same catchment and bioregion. Incremental approvals have progressively eroded environmental values, yet each modification is assessed in relative isolation. This approach understates the true scale of impact on ecosystems, water resources, and regional amenity. A precautionary approach is required, particularly where environmental thresholds may already have been exceeded. 3. Climate Change and Inconsistency with Emissions Reduction Goals Approving an extension to a thermal coal mine is fundamentally inconsistent with Australia’s emissions reduction commitments and the global imperative to rapidly reduce fossil fuel extraction. The downstream combustion of coal from the proposed extension would generate significant greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change and its well-documented impacts on communities, biodiversity, water security, and public health. Planning decisions must take into account not only direct operational emissions, but also the broader climate consequences of facilitating continued coal production. 4. Social and Community Impacts The continuation and expansion of mining operations prolongs adverse impacts on nearby communities, including: • Noise, dust, and vibration • Visual impacts and loss of rural character • Increased heavy vehicle traffic and associated safety risks • Ongoing uncertainty about land use, rehabilitation outcomes, and post-mining futures These impacts disproportionately affect local residents while delivering diminishing long-term benefits to the wider community. 5. Rehabilitation and Post-Mining Land Use Uncertainty Despite decades of mining in NSW, there remains no strong evidence that large open-cut coal mines can be rehabilitated to a condition that genuinely restores ecological function or supports equivalent land uses. Approving further disturbance in the absence of demonstrated rehabilitation success places an unacceptable burden on future generations. 6. Public Interest Test When assessed against the principles of ecologically sustainable development, intergenerational equity, and the public interest, the proposed extension does not justify approval. Short-term economic considerations should not outweigh long-term environmental harm, climate risk, and community impacts. Conclusion For the reasons outlined above, I strongly oppose the proposed extension of the Moolarben Coal Mine and urge the consent authority to refuse the application. Instead, planning and investment should be directed toward environmental protection, genuine rehabilitation, and a transition to sustainable industries that provide long-term benefits for communities and the environment. Thank you for the opportunity to make this submission.

10806

Victoria 3282

17/01/2026

Object

Website

I am making a submission OBJECTING to the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mine Extension Project, Project Number SSD-33083358. It has been shown that the land in question for the project is crucial habitat for koalas, wombats and other Australian wildlife. Please reconsider the project and withdraw application for proposed plan. Let’s all do better, smarted and more sustainable for not only ourselves but the other creatures we share this country with.

10811

New South Wales 2515

17/01/2026

Object

Website

I object to the extension coal project. Protecting biodiversity should be the number one priority in Australia today. Keeping filthy coal in the ground should be our second. For future generations I implore you to reject this extension.

10641

New South Wales 2223

16/01/2026

Object

Website

To the Independent Planning Commission, I am writing as a parent and a concerned NSW resident, with close family living in regional New South Wales, to formally object to Yancoal’s proposed Moolarben OC3 Coal Mine Extension Project on Wiradjuri Country near Mudgee. As a parent, I am deeply concerned about the kind of future we are leaving for our children. As someone with family in regional NSW, I am equally concerned about the real and immediate impacts this project would have on local communities, water sources, wildlife and cultural landscapes that cannot be replaced once they are damaged or destroyed. I am concerned that this proposed expansion would cause serious and irreversible harm to the environment and climate, with no clear public benefit, and should not be approved. In particular, I am concerned about the following: Irreplaceable biodiversity loss Yancoal is proposing to clear 113 hectares of koala habitat, where koalas and breeding have been recorded, including within the footprint of proposed pits. The project would also destroy critically endangered species, Regent Honeyeater, habitat and impact other threatened species such as microbats and the Broad-headed Snake. No amount of biodiversity offsetting can replace habitat that is already supporting threatened species and ecological communities. Unacceptable impacts on protected areas The proposal includes mining activities within close proximity to Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, yet noise, blasting and vibration impacts on the reserve were poorly assessed and not adequately included in modelling. This raises serious concerns about the protection of a significant conservation area. Water and groundwater risks The project risks long-term groundwater drawdown of 2–6 metres for up to 25 years post-mining, placing Moolarben Creek at risk. This creek is a vital drought refuge for wildlife and an important water source in a region already experiencing increasing climate stress. The impact on the water table and the biodiversity is likely to be extensive, particularly given the likelihood of increased heatwaves. Climate impacts that undermine our children’s future The OC3 extension would result in an estimated 64 million tonnes of additional greenhouse gas emissions over the life of the mine. This is occurring at a time when the NSW Government has acknowledged it is not on track to meet its legislated emissions reduction targets for 2030 and 2035, and when NSW is recognised as being among the most climate-vulnerable regions globally. Australia was the hottest place on earth, with recent heatwaves. Climate impacts are increasing and making some areas unliveable. Approving new or expanded coal projects in this context is inconsistent with the NSW Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023 and the goals of the Paris Agreement, and is not in the public interest. What future are we giving generations to come? It looks bleak, unless we achieve Net Zero soon. Opening and expanding mining operations is in conflict with Net Zero. Lack of genuine public or regional benefit There is no compelling jobs justification for this expansion. Long-standing vacancies already exist across coal mines in the Mudgee region, while the project sits within the Orana Renewable Energy Zone, where the NSW Government is actively prioritising clean energy investment and job creation. Continuing to expand coal mining undermines this transition and locks regional communities into further climate and economic risk. Harm to regional communities Communities in the Mid-Western Region are already experiencing more intense heatwaves, prolonged drought, and extreme weather events. Projects like the Moolarben OC3 expansion will worsen these impacts, affecting community health, water security, agricultural livelihoods and overall liveability for families now and into the future. How many families have had to truck in water during drought periods? How many families have suffered heat stress? How much land has been cleared already - and led to loss of biodiversity in NSW? Given that NSW is not on track to meet its climate targets, that regional communities are highly vulnerable to climate impacts, and that this project would cause irreversible environmental and cultural harm with no clear public benefit, I believe approval of the Moolarben OC3 expansion is not in the public interest. For these reasons, I urge the Independent Planning Commission to recommend that the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mine Extension Project be refused. Thank you for considering my submission. Sophia

10646

New South Wales 2774

16/01/2026

Object

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My name is Lizzie Chase. I am a school teacher in Western Sydney, living in the Blue Mountains, and I strongly object to the expansion of coal mining in NSW. I object to the proposal for n extension of this mine and the establishment of 4 new open cut mines in the valley. Firstly, I object due to the severe climate impacts of coal mining already being experienced in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains. We have recently had a heat wave and on one of the days, Penrith was recorded as being the hottest place on earth. Students at my school are already experiencing extreme heat conditions in which outside play is cancelled during summer, on our hottest days. We need to back renewable energy sources - our energy bills are going up due to the added cost of air conditioning, and I know many areas in NSW are in the same position. I am writing to oppose Yancoal’s proposed Moolarben OC3 coal mine expansion near Mudgee. This expansion will cause irreversible harm to the environment and should be categorically rejected - what planet do we want to leave for our children and grandchildren. Please place people and the environment before profits. There is no Planet B. My specific worries are: • KOALAS, REGENT HONEY EATERS, MICROBATS: Threatened species and habitat loss, including the clearing of over 113 hectares of koala habitat where koalas and breeding have been recorded, as well as Regent Honeyeater and microbat habitat. No biodiversity offsets can replace habitat that is ALREADY home to threatened species. • NATURE RESERVE: Mining proposed within 100 metres of Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve. The reserve will be impacted by noise, blasting and vibration. • WATER ECOSYSTEMS: Mining activities cause severe damage to water, including long-term groundwater draw down that may harm Moolarben Creek and groundwater-dependent ecosystems which are very important drought refuges for wildlife in these heat wave times. • GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS: An estimated 64 million tonnes of additional greenhouse gas emissions will be produced in the context of NSW not being on track to meet its legislated emissions reduction targets. PLEASE consider this major issue. • NO CLEAR JOBS JUSTIFICATION: Why are we considering expanding coal mining in a region where renewable energy development is being prioritised? Surely, it's time to focus on sustainable energy? Time to save our earth and not continue to destroy it with resources that are running out anyway? • INSUMMARY, NSW has a climate and biodiversity CRISIS: This proposal is totally inconsistent with the NSW Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023 and the goals of the Paris Agreement. For these significant reasons, I urge the Independent Planning Commission to recommend that the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mining Extension Project be refused. The world is in free fall at the moment, can we please have a win for goodness and the environment? Can people who care about the legacy we are leaving our children please have a voice? I teach about conservation and protecting our environment and it is my strong hope that we can back these priorities with actions. Lizzie Chase, Teacher

10651

Victoria 3073

16/01/2026

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Website

If approved, the Moolarben OC3 expansion would clear 113 hectares of koala habitat, where breeding has been recorded, destroy Regent Honeyeater and microbat habitat, and bring mining within 100 metres of Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve. It would add an estimated 64 million tonnes of climate pollution — at a time when NSW is already failing to meet its legislated climate targets, and communities here in NSW and across the world are facing climate-fuelled disasters.

10656

Western Australia 6107

16/01/2026

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The latest Moolarben Coal Complex (MCC) expansion proposal is equivalent in scale to a new coal mine development. How can this be justified when the Federal government is saying that coal mines must start closing? Also the NSW Government’s emissions targets are already projected to fall well short of what is required to combat climate change. NSW communities, such as Mudgee, are already feeling the impacts of climate change with increased floods and fires. Yancoal’s plans are to expand the mine right up to the border of one of NSW’s oldest conservation reserves, the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve. This is an important local tourist spot important to Mudgee. No one will want to visit a regional park and see a giant hole in the ground. The mine expansion would also pose a serious threat to the survival of koalas and other threatened species like the Regent Honeyeater, a critically endangered bird species –– of which there are only 250-350 individuals left in the wild. The project would also impact 80 hectares of Regent Honeyeater habitat, a bird that zoos in Victoria and NSW have invested hundreds of hours bringing back from the verge of extinction. There are no more than 300 individuals in the wild today, with numbers possibly already dropping as low as 50. The NSW Environment Department has said the project could threaten the survival of the local population –– potentially causing regional extinction. Authorities have already warned that koalas will not survive in the wild for more then 25 years if the current rates of habitat loss continue. Although Yancoal is promising to rehouse koalas from the area, there are many other animals that are found in the area such as broad-headed snakes, pin-tailed legless lizards, and squirrel gliders. Unlike koalas, these species are very difficult to relocate, and it remains unclear what their fate will be if the project is approved. We can’t afford any new coal mines and expansions –– not just for the sake of our endangered wildlife, but for people and communities already being hit with climate-fuelled disasters. Although Yancoal employs more than 6,000 Australians and is one of the country's largest coal exporters, according to Market Forces, Yancoal paid no taxes for the financial year 2020/21. It is a public company listed on the ASX and in Hong Kong, and is majority-owned by Yankuang Energy Group, a state-controlled Chinese corporation. Why are we allowing foreign-owned companies to devastate Australia? Yancoal itself admits the project poses a threat to habitat that is “critical to the survival” of the local koala population.This project poses risks of increased mortality and physiological stress for koalas due to habitat fragmentation, stress, and vehicle strikes. I believe that clearing critical koala habitat would: o fragment the landscape, making it more challenging for koalas to move and access food sources, o increase the likelihood of vehicle strikes, and o disrupt breeding activities, further threatening the viability of the koala population in the area. Our koalas are facing a perilous situation nationwide due to dual threats of habitat destruction from land clearing and devastating bushfires. This mine expansion is beyond the pale and cannot be allowed.

10666

New South Wales 2848

16/01/2026

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Thank you for the opportunity to make a submission on this project. The full text of my submission is attached.

Moolarben OC3 Expansion (SSD) - Submission.pdf (PDF, 269.48 KB)

10671

Dubbo Environment Group Inc,

New South Wales 2830

16/01/2026

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Website

The members of Dubbo Environment Group Inc. do not support the expansion of any new coal mines or, for that matter, the continuation of any fossil fuel extraction. We should not need to continually repeat that we need to reduce our carbon and methane emissions as expert Climate Science has been advising for the last 20 years, for us to avoid the devastating consequences of a 2 -degree C. rise in world average temperatures. Already we are experiencing the unprecedented extreme weather events which were predicted by these experts. Currently Victoria is experiencing bushfires which are worse than the previous devastating Black Fires and a flood along the Great Ocean Road while Queensland has lost some 15000 livestock and countless homes to floods. Climate Change is to blame! In 2024, NSW's average temperature was 1.71 degrees C. above the average for 1961 -1990 according to the BOM. Global temperatures in 2024 were 1.28 degrees C. above 1951-1980 records and the Earths' average surface temperature was the warmest on record according to NASA. Dubbo Environment Group Inc. supports the urgent progression of all energy providers to renewable power sources.

10676

Climate Resource

Victoria 3065

16/01/2026

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By online submission at https://www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au 16 January 2026 Submission to the Independent Planning Commission — Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project I write to provide climate-relevant context for the Commission’s assessment of the Moolarben OC3 Extension project. We recently conducted analysis of Australia’s coal outlook in a warming world - Insights from integrated assessment models (report attached to this submission). Key points from this analysis: ● Global and export coal demand is in structural decline under climate pathways consistent with limiting warming to 1.5 °C or 1.8 °C, which is in line with projected warming if countries meet their current targets. Integrated assessment model projections show that thermal coal exports from Australia could fall by ~64 % or more by 2035 under these scenarios. This decline reflects accelerating policy commitments and technological transitions worldwide. ● Additional coal production risks locking in carbon emissions inconsistent with climate goals. The Moolarben OC3 Extension would extract tens of millions of tonnes of coal that, when combusted, contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions. Ongoing expansions of coal mining increasingly stand in contrast to pathways envisaged to meet Paris-aligned warming limits, posing reputational and policy risk. ● Australia’s economic exposure to declining coal markets warrants caution. With major import markets projected to sharply reduce coal consumption over the next decade, approving further coal mine expansions may expose communities and investors to future economic risk as global energy systems decarbonise. Conclusion Given the trajectory for global coal demand and the imperative to align infrastructure decisions with climate commitments, the Commission should consider whether extending coal mining projects is consistent with credible long-term climate and economic scenarios. Our report underscores the urgency of aligning planning decisions with climate and market realities. With best regards, [name redacted], Decarbonisation Lead, Climate Resource Pty Ltd

Climate Resource Submission to Moolarben coal extension project_Redacted.pdf (PDF, 141.46 KB)

2025-12-11_Australias_coal_outlook_in_a_warming_world.pdf (PDF, 3.27 MB)

2025-12-11_Australias_coal_outlook_briefing.pdf (PDF, 276.88 KB)

10536

Queensland 4701

15/01/2026

Object

Website

To the Independent Planning Commission, My name is Violet, I am a 30 year schoolteacher in Western Sydney and I am deeply concerned about the expansion of coal mining in our states, due to the climate impacts being felt in my area. Students at my school are already sitting through extreme heatwaves, our energy bills are going up due to the added cost of air conditioning, and I know communities across NSW are facing the same struggles. I am writing to object to Yancoal’s proposed Moolarben OC3 coal mine expansion near Mudgee on Wiradjuri Country. I am concerned that this project would cause serious and irreversible harm to the environment, climate and community, and should not be approved. In particular, I am concerned about: • Threatened species and habitat loss, including the clearing of over 113 hectares of koala habitat where koalas and breeding have been recorded, as well as Regent Honeyeater and microbat habitat. No biodiversity offsets can replace habitat that is already supporting threatened species. • Impacts on Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, with mining proposed within 100 metres of the reserve and inadequate assessment of noise, blasting and vibration impacts. • Water and groundwater risks, including long-term groundwater drawdown that could harm Moolarben Creek and groundwater-dependent ecosystems that are critical drought refuges for wildlife. • Climate impacts, with the project producing an estimated 64 million tonnes of additional greenhouse gas emissions at a time when NSW is not on track to meet its legislated emissions reduction targets. • Lack of public benefit, with no clear jobs justification for expanding coal mining in a region where renewable energy development is being prioritised. The NSW Government cannot afford to approve new or expanded coal projects during a climate and biodiversity crisis. This proposal is inconsistent with the NSW Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023 and the goals of the Paris Agreement. For these reasons, I urge the Independent Planning Commission to recommend that the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mining Extension Project be refused. Thank you for considering my submission.

10551

Redacted

15/01/2026

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To the Independent Planning Commission, My name is [name redacted], and I am a middle-aged teacher residing in the Blue Mountains. I am deeply concerned about the expansion of coal mining in our state, especially due to its potential climate impacts, threats to biodiversity, risks to groundwater, and the lack of tangible public benefits. I am writing to formally object to Yancoal’s proposed expansion of the Moolarben OC3 coal mine near Mudgee, located on Wiradjuri Country. I have justifiable concerns that this project will result in irreversible damage to the environment, climate, and local communities, and should not be approved. I am concerned about the following issues: The destruction of over 113 hectares of critical koala habitat, where koalas have been recorded breeding, as well as the impact on habitat for Regent Honeyeaters and microbats. Biodiversity offsets do not replace habitats that support endangered species. The potential harm to the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, with mining operations planned just 100 meters from the reserve, and the inadequate assessment of impacts from noise, blasting, and vibrations. Risks to water and groundwater, particularly long-term groundwater depletion that could adversely affect Moolarben Creek and groundwater-dependent ecosystems that serve as vital drought refuges for wildlife. The climate impact, as this project is projected to generate an additional 64 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions at a time when NSW is already off-track to meet its legally mandated emissions reduction targets. The absence of clear public benefit, as the proposed expansion does not offer a strong case for local job creation in a region that is shifting towards renewable energy development. Given the ongoing climate and biodiversity crises, the NSW Government cannot afford to approve new or expanded coal projects. This proposal is at odds with the objectives outlined in the NSW Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023 and the Paris Agreement. For these reasons, I urge the Independent Planning Commission to recommend the rejection of the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mining Extension Project. Thank you for your consideration of my submission. Sincerely, [name redacted]

10556

Running Stream Water Users Association

New South Wales 2848

15/01/2026

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Please see attached document: RSWUA_Submission_Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project_15/01/26

RSWUA_Submission_Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project_15:01:26.pdf (PDF, 193.9 KB)

10561

New South Wales 2850

15/01/2026

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Website

15 January 2026 Submission to the NSW Government Independent Planning Commission objecting to the proposed Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project I am writing to object to Yancoal’s proposed Moolarben OC3 coal mine expansion on Wiradjuri Country near Mudgee. I am a resident of Running Stream, around 70 kilometres from the Moolarben mine. I am deeply concerned about the climate impacts of the expansion of coal mining in New South Wales and I believe that this project would cause serious and irreversible harm to the environment, climate and community, and should not be approved. In particular, I am concerned about: • Threatened species and habitat loss, including the clearing of over 113 hectares of koala habitat, as well as Regent Honeyeater and microbat habitat. No biodiversity offsets can replace habitat that is already supporting threatened species. • Impacts on Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, with mining proposed within 100 metres of the reserve and inadequate assessment of noise, blasting and vibration impacts. • Water and groundwater risks, including long-term groundwater drawdown that could harm Moolarben Creek and groundwater-dependent ecosystems that are critical drought refuges for wildlife. • Climate impacts: This project is clearly inconsistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement and the NSW Government’s Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023, with the project producing an estimated 64 million tonnes of additional greenhouse gas emissions at a time when New South Wales is not on track to meet its legislated emissions reduction targets. • Lack of public benefit, with no clear jobs justification for expanding coal mining in a region where renewable energy development is being prioritised. The Moolarben mine is within the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone, where the NSW Government is focusing on fast-tracking renewable energy and providing jobs in this industry. The NSW Government cannot afford to approve new or expanded coal projects during a climate and biodiversity crisis. This proposal is inconsistent with the NSW Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023 and the goals of the Paris Agreement. For these reasons, I urge the Independent Planning Commission to recommend that the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mining Extension Project be refused. Thank you for considering my submission. Sincerely, Fiona Sim Running Stream, NSW

10566

New South Wales 2785

15/01/2026

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I am a remote critical infrastructure professional with experience in groundwater monitoring, water quality and associated development-related monitoring. I do not believe the proposed development provides sufficient resource extraction related gains to offset the risk to groundwater resources in the area which I understand are as yet not fully understood. Proposing to build a better understanding of groundwater impacts during development does not mitigate risk, as negative impacts resulting from development may only be understood after the fact. For an extension that does not extend the life of the mine, and would not provide any additional local long-term local economic benefit this is not acceptable.

10591

New South Wales 2281

15/01/2026

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Email

Hi, Re: Objection to Moolarben OC3 Coal Mine Extension Project Number SSD-33083358 I'm registering my objection to the extension because it threatens endangered wildlife and vegetation. It puts at risk deep rooted trees in the Moolarben Creek. Furthermore coal mine expansions are inconsistent with the NSW Climate Act. Long term, beauty and diversity are more valuable than an open cut coal mine as we transition to a sustainable future. Thank you, Ros Treloar

10596

15/01/2026

Object

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To the Independent Planning Commissioners Dear Madam, Sir It is understood that by making this submission, I agree to take responsibility for its entire content, including statements and opinions. Please find attached my submission. Regards Pierre Louys

Pierre Louys attachment_Redacted.pdf (PDF, 123.04 KB)

10601

15/01/2026

Object

Email

I am a retired GP and have had a career long interest in the environmental threats to the biosphere and environmental determinants of health. By far the greatest of these is climate change. I OBJECT TO THIS PROJECT. IT SHOULD NOT PROCEED. Here's why: Koalas: The Biodiversity, Conservation and Science Group at NSW DCCEEW has highlighted the threat the project poses to the Koala, nothing that: the Koala habitat present is ‘critical to the survival of the species’ and that it is a climate-robust population which “has survived recent and historical temperature increases, drought and bushfires successfully. Threatened wildlife and vegetation: The mine will clear habitat for multiple threatened wildlife species and also clear 401 hectares of the nationally endangered Box Gum Woodland ecosystem. The project has not avoided or minimised impacts on biodiversity and is likely to cause serious and irreversible impacts to a number of entities, including the Koala, Large-eared Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Regent Honeyeater, Broad-headed Snake, Squirrel Glider and Box Gum Woodland. There are vital sandstone cliffs and rocky habitat right along the edge of Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, which are key habitats for the bat species especially. Blasting and noise represent a major threat to those species. The department agency said there should be at least a 500m buffer from Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve to better protect those species, but the mining company refused to accept that. Biodiversity offsets are deeply flawed and simply justify habitat destruction when in fact, impacts on native vegetation must be avoided if we are to avoid further species extinctions. Water impacts: The project will cause drawdown of the alluvium by up to 5m along Moolarben Ck, and put at risk deep-rooted trees that use that water. The company has not done proper baseline monitoring of water, and it has a very poor history elsewhere in the mine complex, by failing badly to do ongoing water monitoring required. Climate change: DPHI in their assessment report has ignored a key finding of the Net Zero Commission in its Coal Mine Emissions Spotlight Report released in December - that any further coal mine expansions are inconsistent with the NSW Climate Change Act. They do not make any reference to Finding 4, which states that “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”. The project will produce an estimated 64.6Mt of total lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions - which is equivalent to 58% of total annual emissions from all sources in NSW. As the NZC has stated, any such emissions are not consistent with NSW climate change targets or the Paris temperature goals. The assessment report also fails to mention that the NSW Government is not on track to achieve either the 2030 or 2035 emissions reduction targets. The proponent has also failed to apply the Court of Appeal decision in the Denman case, which found that the local environmental, social and economic impacts of climate change, including downstream greenhouse gas emissions, need to be considered by decision makers. It’s impossible for the decision maker to consider those matters for the Moolarben expansion, because there has been no attempt to quantify the full economic costs of downstream emissions to NSW and the locality, even though they make up 99% of all emissions from the project. Cultural heritage: The project will destroy 55 cultural artefacts, including two shelters, one of which contains grinding grooves. The CHCP recommended protection of that site, but the mining company refused. Cumulative impacts: The cumulative impacts of this proposal in terms of other current and proposed coal mines in the Mudgee region has not been assessed. Both the Ulan and Wilpinjong coal mines also have major expansions proposed, and collectively the three existing coal mines and all their proposed expansions have enormous impacts on biodiversity, water, cultural heritage and our climate. Regional impacts and jobs: There are numerous alternative job opportunities available in the region because Mudgee is part of the Central West Renewable Energy Zone and there is a boom in jobs available in renewable projects, with close to 2,000 new jobs predicted over the next decade. Further, the existing Moolarben coal complex will continue to operate until 2038 regardless of whether this expansion goes ahead or not. Yours sincerely, [redacted]

10606

15/01/2026

Object

Email

To Whom It May Concern, My name is Ben Rumble and I live in Bowral NSW. I am writing this submission to express my objections to the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mine Expansion Project, Project Number SSD-33083358. My principal objections to the above cited project are listed below: 1. DESTRUCTION OF KOALA HABITAT The existing Koala population recorded on and near the proposed mine site has been deemed by the Biodiversity, Conservation and Science Group (BCS) at NSW DCCEEW to be a robust and thriving population which has successfully "...survived recent and historical temperature increases, drought and bushfires." Furthermore, this Koala habitat has been identified as being "critical to the survival of the species." Destroying it for the sake of prolonging the life of what is widely deemed to be a moribund coal extraction industry would be an exercise in futility on every conceivable level. 2. THREAT TO EXISTING WILDLIFE AND VEGETATION The Moolarben Expansion Project is projected to clear 401 hectares of the nationally endangered Box Gum Woodland ecosystem and critically endanger many threatened species in addition to Koalas, including the Squirrel Glider, the Broad-Headed Snake, the Regent Honeyeater, the Eastern Cave Bat and the Large-Eared Pie Bat. The noise created by the mine poses a direct threat to key bat habitats along the edge of the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve which, along with the destruction of native vegetation caused by the proposed mine expansion, could result in the permanent extinction of these already endangered species. 3. THREAT TO WATER AND CLIMATE Yancoal has failed to conduct effective baseline monitoring of existing water resources associated with this proposed expansion project. This is unfortunately consistent with the company's glaring failure to carry out effective water monitoring procedures in the already operating sections of its Moolarben mine. The projected expansion also represents a disaster in the making for the climate of Eastern Australia, with an estimated 64.6 megatonnes of total lifecycle greenhouse gases being pumped into the atmosphere if it is approved. This is totally inconsistent with the findings of the Net Zero Commission and the targets established by the NSW Climate Change Act. This oversight is highly significant, given that the NSW Government is currently far short of meeting its 2030 and 2035 emissions reductions targets and that the current Moolarben coal complex will continue to produce unacceptable quanities of CO2 and other toxic greenhouse gases even without the proposed expansion taking place until its scheduled closure in 2038. 4. OTHER MINE EXPANSION PROJECTS New expansion projects have also been tabled for the Ulan and Wilpinjong mines, likewise located in the Mudgee region. The cumulative effects of expanding all three mines have not been properly assessed, leaving the impacts they will have on biodiversity, climate, water and indigenous cultural heritage basically unknown. In closing, I ask the Independent Planning Commission to apply common sense when considering the Moolarben mine expansion project and to reject it out of hand. Neither NSW or Australia as a whole can continue to depend on fossil fuels to supply them with reliable sources of energy. Yancoal must not be permitted to put its profits before the future of the environment and the continuing existence of human and animal life on our planet. Thank you for allowing me to share my concerns with you. Yours sincerely, Ben Rumble

10611

New South Wales 2576

15/01/2026

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1. 675 hectares are at risk of clearing and mining activities. 2. 30Mt of coal will be mined, resulting in 25Mt of product coal., which will add an additional 64 million tonnes of GHG emissions. 3. The project will result in 13 ha of Koala habitat and 80 ha of Regent honeyeater habitat being cleared. 4. The project could cause groundwater drawdown of 2-6 metres for up to 25 years post mining. The risks Moolarben Creek, which is a vital drought refuge for wildlife. 5. It will damage Wiradjuri cultural landscapes and sacred sites. 6. There is no economic justification fo rthis project.

10616

Victoria 3078

15/01/2026

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Reasons for my objection: 1. No amount of biodiversity offsets can replace the existing environment. Yancoal is proposing to clear 113ha of woodland. All of the bush they will clear is koala habitat and koalas are recorded on site, including in the middle of one of the proposed pits and breeding is occurring in the area. 2. The nature and biodiversity impacts of the proposed expansion are unacceptable. The expansion is likely to result in serious and irreversible impacts (SAII) on threatened fauna and ecological communities, including Regent Honey-eater, Broad-headed Snake, Microbats (eastern cave and large-eared pied bats), and White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Box Woodland and Derived Native Grassland (loss of 493.12 Ha). 3. Noise and blasting impacts on Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve (MGNR) were poorly assessed and not included in the modelling report. 4. The expansion will have impacts on local water sources, and groundwater. 5. The NSW government cannot afford to approve any new coal mines and expansions. This project is clearly inconsistent with the goals of the Paris Agreement and the NSW Government’s Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023. NSW is not on track to meet GHG targets: on 23 April 2024, the NSW Minister for Climate Change advised that NSW is not on track to meet legislated climate targets for 2030 and 2035. With abatement “as currently tracking”, the NSW government projects that NSW will achieve only a 44% reduction by 2030 and 65% by 2035. This is well short of both the 50% by 2030 and 70% by 2035 legislated targets. NSW in top 5% of states most at risk from climate change globally: The Climate Risk Group - in their submission to the NSW Parliament’s Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Bill 2023 inquiry - warned that NSW is in the top 5% of states most at risk from extreme weather and climate change globally. Given: a) that NSW is not on track to meet GHG targets; b) that NSW is highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change; c) that approval of Moolarben is not in the public interest and not aligned with Paris Agreement goals or the principles of the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023, the project should be rejected. 6. The expansion will harm the local community in the Mid-Western region by contributing to climate impacts felt locally. The Moolarben OC3 expansion would worsen climate change impacts already being experienced by the local community. In the Mid-Western Region, climate change is intensifying heatwaves, prolonging drought conditions and increasing the risk of extreme weather events, all of which affect community health, water availability, agricultural livelihoods and day-to-day liveability. 7. There has been next to ZERO community engagement undertaken by Yancoal. 8. There is no justification for this expansion to provide regional jobs. There have been vacancies at the three Mudgee region coal mines for many years. Additionally, The Moolarben Mine is within the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone where the NSW Government is focusing on fast-tracking renewable energy and providing jobs in this industry. Yancoal has indicated that 65% of coal from Moolarben will go to China, 10% to South Korea, 10% to Taiwan, 5% to Thailand, 5% to Japan, and 5% to Others. Given the slow forecasted decline of Australian thermal coal demand from China and South Korea especially - the economic argument could be even weaker than Yancoal has outlined in the May 2025 Resource Assessment. Please refer to this document for EVIDENCE of Australia's coal outlook. Climate Resource analysis of coal demand in Australia’s key markets indicates that by 2035, thermal coal exports could fall by 64% or more, and metallurgical coal exports could drop by 28% or more in these scenarios. Australia’s own 2035 thermal coal use is projected to be 86 to 93% lower in these scenarios. We should be 100% focussed national and international decarbonisation. https://www.climate-resource.com/reports/decarb-futures/2025-12-11_Australias_coal_outlook_briefing.pdf The NSW Government cannot afford to approve new or expanded coal projects during a climate and biodiversity crisis. This proposal is inconsistent with the NSW Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023 and the goals of the Paris Agreement. For these reasons, I urge the Independent Planning Commission to recommend that the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mining Extension Project be refused.

10621

New South Wales 2281

15/01/2026

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Dear Commissioners, I am a 52-year-old mother of two, working as a Volunteer Engagement Officer and Coordinator for a national conservation organisation. I live on Awabakal Country in Lake Macquarie LGA, on a coastline already greatly affected by climate-change induced storms and increasingly heavy and unpredictable rainfall. I grew up visiting my cousins who live on Wiradjuri Country near Ilford, where they raised four children, on beautiful, healthy bushland. In the Mudgee district, we used to visit friends living on productive farms and in rich, biodiverse bushland before the many open-cut coal mines arrived, destroying habitats, dividing communities, and shifting the local economy away from deep territorial connection and regeneration (agriculture and nature-based tourism) to high-turnover, short-sighted, extraction (coal mining). This shift has put lie to the myth that new fossil fuel projects are designed to create jobs and strengthen communities. Since the emergence and expansion of mines in the region, my cousins now travel to Bathurst instead of Mudgee for shopping and recreation. They choose to drive up to one hour further to access cultural, medical and social services because they feel that Mudgee’s rural community and natural beauty have been destroyed by the mines and the fly-in, fly-out nature of the mining-related work they have brought. Through my relatives, and in my own home, I have witnessed the impacts of coal mining expansion in NSW over the last three decades – leading up to this, the “Decade of Climate Action” that we are halfway through, with greenhouse gas emissions skyrocketing. In 2026, permitting expansion of any fossil fuel projects in NSW is not a responsible option in regard to the climate, to native species’ chances of survival of the current extinction crisis, or to the character and finest qualities of rural and regional economies and communities. In short: - Moolarben OC3 Coal Mining Extension Project proposal is inconsistent with the NSW Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023 and the goals of the Paris Agreement. - The proposed project would have an “un-off-settable” impact on several native species, including the Regent Honeyeater. - The proposed project is bereft of public benefit, in a region where sustainable agriculture and renewable energy industries are growing and are genuinely desired and supported by the community. For these reasons I ask you, as Commissioners tasked with the fair, honest, and responsible assessment of the project proposal, to recommend that the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mining Extension Project be refused. Yours sincerely, Mina BUI JONES

10626

New South Wales 2121

15/01/2026

Object

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My submission is contained in the attached files.

Submission Moorlaben Coal Complex Extension_Redacted.pdf (PDF, 86.48 KB)

10631

New South Wales 2422

15/01/2026

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I am a resident of NSW at Gloucester. Whilst I am generally opposed to any expansion of coal mining in NSW due to the need to address Greenhouse Gas Emissions globally, I am also informed of the following impacts that the Moolarben OC3 coal expansion will have: 1. Threatened species and habitat loss, including the clearing of over 113 hectares of koala habitat where koalas and breeding have been recorded, as well as Regent Honeyeater and microbat habitat. 2. Impacts on Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, with mining proposed within 100 metres of the reserve and inadequate assessment of noise, blasting and vibration impacts. 3. Water and groundwater risks, including long-term groundwater drawdown that could harm Moolarben Creek and groundwater-dependent ecosystems that are critical drought refuges for wildlife. 4.Climate impacts, with the project producing an estimated 64 million tonnes of additional greenhouse gas emissions at a time when NSW is not on track to meet its legislated emissions reduction targets. This proposal is inconsistent with the NSW Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023 and the goals of the Paris Agreement. 5. Lack of public benefit, with no clear jobs justification for expanding coal mining in a region where renewable energy development is being prioritised.

10636

New South Wales 2774

15/01/2026

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I oppose this expansion of mining because of environmental reasons, especially greenhouse gas.

10321

Redacted

14/01/2026

Object

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My primary objection to the increase of coal extraction at the Yancoal Moolarben Mine is the end result, an increase in the production of Carbon Dioxide resulting in greater Climate Change. Approving any increase to coal mining capacity, in lieu of the urgently needed reduction of the same, makes a complete farce of the NSW Government’s (EnergyCo NSW) statement that the Mid-Western region of NSW is a renewable energy zone. The Land and Environment Court has already refused previous modifications requested by coal producers in this area. This standard needs to be upheld to ensure that the NSW Government is forced to move into renewable power generation a lot faster than it is currently doing and take combating the effects of Climate Change more seriously. My second objection is the clearing of Koala and Regent Honeyeater habitat. Being familiar with some of the local area to the Moolarben mine I am aware of under documented koala populations and undocumented black cockatoo habitat. The proximity of the current mine to sensitive environmentally significant locations is unacceptable making the proposed extension even more so. I insist that you respect the fact that global warming is currently harming the natural systems that keep not only humans alive but also those same supportive natural systems that we rely on. Climate change is effecting greater and more intense weather system changes which alone are negatively affecting those same natural systems. I ask that you DO NOT APPROVE THIS MODIFICATION!

10326

Wellington Valley Wiradjuri Aboriginal Corporation

New South Wales 2820

14/01/2026

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Wellington Valley Wiradjuri Aboriginal Corporation members have put forward an objection to the Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project as we have significant concerns around the koala population and their locally dwindling habitat. If this expansion is approved it will signal the end of this population and will give other mining companies and renewable energy projects precedence for destroying koala habitat with intact animal populations. Koalas are nationally listed as an endangered species and must be protected. They also have significant cultural connection to our Apical Clan descendants from this area around Ulan and Moolarben as they are totems. Wellington Valley Wiradjuri Aboriginal Corporation members have put forward as very strong and resolute objection to the Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project being approved as in the OC3 area, Registered Aboriginal Parties located and identified the only known local where source of Blue and White Banded Cert where it was identified as a quarry area for our Aboriginal Ancestors. This material has been found as fragments and cultural artefacts including 1 highly significant cultural male ceremonial tool in the surrounding district and nowhere else. This Cultural Quarry which is the origin of this material cannot be allowed to be destroyed as it is highly significant to our people, especially those who Apical connection to this project area and continue their connection to the surrounding area to this day. Wellington Valley Wiradjuri Aboriginal Corporation members have put forward an objection to the Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project as Registered Aboriginal Parties located and identified a large boulder shelter with significant cultural artefacts and cultural material in and around it where there was also a good soil deposit containing artefacts. This is one of very few boulder shelters within the Moolarben, Ulan and Wilpinjong Coal complexes and must not be impacted. Wellington Valley Wiradjuri Aboriginal Corporation members have put forward as very strong and very load objection to the Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project as Registered Aboriginal Parties located and identified a potential burial site, this was reported to Booral Maliyan a Wiradjuri Knowledge Holder and on hearing the description identified it as a potential burial site as it is very similar to another site near Ulan and Moolarben where ancestral Aboriginal Clan remains have been sealed up in chambers of a sandstone outcrop. This site under no circumstances can be impacted in any way. With the Intergenerational Cumulative Loss of cultural sites, impacted songlines from the mass of renewable energy projects, Moolarben Coal's own previous 100% clearance of the OC4 area and the CWO-REZ 500Kva Powerline, our people's heritage is being systematically wiped from the landscape. Those of us involved in Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Field Assessments and the archaeological salvage, we are the last to see these sites in the cultural landscape and in the context of where it is located and for us it is the physical link to our past and helps us understand what our ancestors were doing in that place up to several thousand years ago right up to when they were pushed of the lands they knew to Wellington or also in the case of Mudgee region hunted and killed. Our future generations if these three locations and the koala population and their habitat are destroyed will see only a pdf documents with archaeologist views on it from a scientific point of view, those reports are also significantly lacking in photographic records of these sites and need to be significantly enhanced to the satisfaction of Aboriginal community as onsite cultural heritage field assessments, field officers are not allowed mobile phones and are not allowed to take photos of anything and must request images from the archaeologist and through Moolarben Environmental team, in doing so the requests as to date have not been fulfilled.

10331

New South Wales 2785

14/01/2026

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The world and specifically Australia does not require any more coal or in fact any more fossil fuel . Australia needs to lead on this matter not be an "also run country" that allows coal mining to continue throughout the 21st century when there is more that enough clean green energy available . Extending the excavation of more fossil fuels is sheer madness. Our grand children will one day ask of us, " what did we do to stop more fossil fuel being emitted " I hope we can respond positively .

10346

New South Wales 2303

14/01/2026

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To the Independent Planning Commission, My name is Sally Novak. I am employed as a Primary school teacher and grew up in the Mudgee district and have watched as the mining industry expands, destroying habitat, communities and changing the water ways. I am extremely concerned about the impacts of the mines in their current operation and the thought of expansion terrifies me. I am aware of the impacts that climate change is already having and that the changing climate is caused by the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and it is absolutely irresponsible for anyone to be supporting and increase in extraction. The governing bodies should instead be encouraging a decrease and a move to renewables and less consumption of energy overall. I have been visiting ‘The Drip’ and the ‘Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve’ since I was a child and value and appreciate the beauty and diversity of these places. Recently I had to drive at night from Wollar past the Munghorn Gap area and had to drive at 10kms per hour because of the incredible amount of wildlife. I saw wombats and wallabies and other small night mammals. The current global extinction rates are the highest they’ve been since the Yucatan meteorite collision 65 million years ago. We need to protect the biodiversity pockets we have. Giving Yancoal permission to clear 113ha of woodland where we know endangered koalas are living is outrageous and completely unacceptable. The NSW government cannot afford new or expanded coal projects in the face of a climate and biodiversity crisis. I implore you to protect what we have to ensure that there is something for future generations and that there are places for plants and animals to thrive. I am pleading for the Independent Planning Commission to recommend that the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mining Extension Project be refused. Thanks for considering my submission, Sincerely, Sally Novak Newcastle

10351

Australian Capital Territory 2617

14/01/2026

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I am a Commonwealth public servant based in Canberra. I am deeply concerned that Australia is not taking effective action to mitigate climate change. While our contribution to greenhouse gasses is small on the global stage, our natural abundance of sunlight, wind and innovative entrepreneurship provides us with the resources to lead the world in making the essential energy transition before it is too late to save the environment we depend upon for our survival. In addition, if we counted emissions from fossil fuels which we mine and export, out total contribution to greenhouse gas emissions is much more significant. This is why I object to Yancoal’s proposed Moolarben OC3 coal mine expansion near Mudgee on Wiradjuri Country. I am concerned that this project would cause serious and irreversible harm to the environment, climate and community, and should not be approved. In particular, I am concerned about: • Threatened species and habitat loss, including the clearing of over 113 hectares of koala habitat where koalas and breeding have been recorded, as well as Regent Honeyeater and microbat habitat. The science is clear that biodiversity offsets cannot replace habitat that is already supporting threatened species. The whole notion of offsets is deeply flawed. • Impacts on Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, with mining proposed within 100 metres of the reserve and inadequate assessment of noise, blasting and vibration impacts. • Water and groundwater risks, including long-term groundwater drawdown that could harm Moolarben Creek and groundwater-dependent ecosystems that are critical drought refuges for wildlife. • Climate impacts, with the project producing an estimated 64 million tonnes of additional greenhouse gas emissions at a time when NSW is not on track to meet its legislated emissions reduction targets. • Lack of public benefit, with no clear jobs justification for expanding coal mining in a region where renewable energy development is being prioritised. The NSW Government cannot afford to approve new or expanded coal projects during a climate and biodiversity crisis. This proposal is inconsistent with the NSW Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023 and the goals of the Paris Agreement. For these reasons, I urge the Independent Planning Commission to recommend that the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mining Extension Project be refused. Thank you for considering my submission.

10356

Redacted

14/01/2026

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1. State of Significance Status is both grossly overused, and used as a Government tool to enable large scale destruction of NSW country and natural areas. 2. Such proposals are gifted to big business and presented to the Minister for Planning to tick off. 3. My past very recent experience with Snowy Special Activity Precinct, Snowy 2.0 and related Transgrid overhead lines provide for the destruction and desecration of large tracks of valuable, rare and iconic Kosciuszko National Park. The KNP catchments are being further damaged, despite their contributing to 30% of the Murray Darling Basin inflows. 4. This Moolarben OC3 extension, will also deplete, damage and destroy the catchments of the Goulburn River. You well know the damage, so I don't need to spell it out, including the riverine areas and overall water resource, for the surrounding natural areas, towns and the rural sector. 5. All for 10 years extension of a mine, and a mine owned by an overseas company (Yancoal) and overseas country. 6. Data from 2021 states: Chinese-owned Yancoal paid no tax on $18 million of profit and more than $5 billion in revenue. 7. Just to give my submission further credibility, given that the project will be approved, I suggest you allow, at a minimum, the buffer zones to the various creeks and waterways; protect the box-gum woodlands; koala and regent honey habitats (they are endangered species); recognise that these area are full of springs, in fact the catchment to the Goulburn River is one large spring; and take some cognisance of the importance of the whole area to the Aboriginal people. 8. I have been visiting the area for 40+ years, and stayed in Munghorn Gap NR and the Goulburn River NP, plus many of the regional towns. I have a daughter and family living in the Hunter area, a major urban and industrial growth area, and am aware that the Goulburn River is a major tributary of the Hunter catchment. I also know quite a lot about the paucity of Box Gum woodlands in NSW, as the ACT where I live has the largest remaining Box Gum woodlands in Australia, and the ACT is a tiny landlocked blip within the NSW boundaries. None of this is anything to be proud of. 9. I am sick to death of the swathe of accompanying reports, ie the 45 reports associated with the 'hollow' EIS and other formalised documents to this proposal. 10. Finally I do hope my submission goes towards triggering an action thru the EPBC Act, will allow the Federal Government to disallow this extension proposal.

10386

New South Wales 2762

14/01/2026

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Submission for Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project (SSD-33083358) To: The Independent Planning Commission (IPC) of NSW From: [Your Name] Location: Schofields, NSW Status: Object Subject: Objection to the Moolarben Coal OC3 Extension Project I am writing to formally object to the Moolarben Coal Complex OC3 Extension Project. As a resident of Sydney with a young daughter, I am deeply concerned about the long-term environmental and climate legacy we are leaving for the next generation. My profession involves assessing the long-term viability and risks of complex systems; looking at this proposal through that lens, the "technical debt" we are accruing by approving further coal expansion is unsustainable. My objection is based on the following key points: 1. Critical Habitat Destruction (Koalas and Regent Honeyeaters) The proposal involves clearing over 113 hectares of endangered Koala habitat and 80 hectares of habitat for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater. In the real world, the "villain" is often the incremental destruction of our own backyard. With only 250-350 Regent Honeyeaters left in the wild, we cannot justify "upgrading" a mine at the cost of a species' extinction. 2. Proximity to Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve The expansion pushes right up to the boundary of the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve. This is one of NSW’s oldest conservation areas. Blasting and dust from the open-cut pits will inevitably impact the biodiversity of the reserve. I recognize that ecosystems are delicate; you cannot remove a core component (the buffer zone) without the whole system suffering. 3. Climate Change and Intergenerational Equity This project is expected to generate approximately 64 to 72 million tonnes of lifecycle GHG emissions. As a parent to a three-year-old, I am climate-conscious and committed to Democratic Socialist values that prioritize the common good over short-term corporate profit. Every megatonne of CO2 added to the atmosphere now is a direct threat to my daughter’s future quality of life in Australia. We should be investing in the renewable transition, not extending the life of thermal coal assets. 4. Water and Groundwater Risks The Independent Expert Scientific Committee (IESC) has raised concerns about groundwater drawdown of up to 5-6 metres. This threatens the health of Moolarben Creek and the Goulburn River system. In Australia, water is our most precious resource; risking a 3,000-year impact on base flows for a 10-year coal extension is a catastrophic "return on investment." Conclusion The "Patch Notes" for our planet shouldn't include "removed biodiversity" and "increased global warming." I urge the Commission to reject this extension. We must pivot toward a sustainable economy that respects First Nations heritage and protects our unique Australian wildlife. Thank you for considering my submission.

10401

14/01/2026

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Hello, The Moolarben OC3 expansion would clear 113 hectares of koala habitat, where breeding has been recorded, destroy Regent Honeyeater and microbat habitat, and bring mining within 100 metres of Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve. It would add an estimated 64 million tonnes of climate pollution — at a time when NSW is already failing to meet its legislated climate targets, and communities here in NSW and across the world are facing climate-fuelled disasters. Remember the Black Summer? 2/3 of koala's died. Enough. Australia needs solar, not coal, not more fossil fuels, and not more trees cut down ! Sincerely, Michelle Rice Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not. ~ Theodor Seuss Geisel

10406

14/01/2026

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Dear concerned parties in the NSW and Australian Government, DPHI, EPA, Minister for Regional NSW, Minister for Resources, and NSW Resources Regulator, I am writing to object to the proposed Moolarben OC3 Coal Mine Extension Project. It is my wish that this beautiful valley should be managed jointly as part of a whole conservation landscape with the magnificent Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, not turned into an open cut coal mine. The area has incredible importance for biodiversity and there have been 23 threatened wildlife species recorded in and around the site, including habitat that is critical to the survival of the Koala in a uniquely resilient population. The project has not avoided or minimised impacts on biodiversity and is likely to cause serious and irreversible impacts to a number of entities, including the Koala, Large-eared Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Regent Honeyeater, Broad-headed Snake, Squirrel Glider and Box Gum Woodland. There are vital sandstone cliffs and rocky habitat right along the edge of Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, which are key habitats for the bat species especially. Blasting and noise represent a major threat to those species. The department agency said there should be at least a 500m buffer from Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve to better protect those species, but the mining company refused to accept that. Biodiversity offsets are deeply flawed and simply justify habitat destruction when in fact, impacts on native vegetation must be avoided if we are to avoid further species extinctions. It will also lead to water drawdown of up to 5m in the alluvium of Moolarben Ck, which runs into the Goulburn River, and represents a risk to deep-rooted vegetation that uses that water. The company has not done proper baseline monitoring of water, and it has a very poor history elsewhere in the mine complex, by failing badly to do ongoing water monitoring required. The mine will cause serious harm to cultural heritage - there are 55 Aboriginal heritage sites within the mine footprint that will be directly impacted and a further 12 that may be indirectly impacted. The project will destroy 55 cultural artefacts, including two shelters, one of which contains grinding grooves. The CHCP recommended protection of that site, but the mining company refused. The mine will also harm NSW by contributing to runaway climate change, with the NSW Net Zero Commission stating clearly in their recent Coal Mine Emissions Spotlight Report that any further coal mine expansions are inconsistent with achieving NSW climate targets or with a safe climate. Further, the assessment of the project has not quantified the economic costs of the downstream greenhouse gas emissions, even though it is now effectively legally required following the Court of Appeal decision on the Mt Pleasant coal mine. This project should not be approved. DPHI in their assessment report has ignored a key finding of the Net Zero Commission in its Coal Mine Emissions Spotlight Report released in December - that any further coal mine expansions are inconsistent with the NSW Climate Change Act. They do not make any reference to Finding 4, which states that “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”. The project will produce an estimated 64.6Mt of total lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions - which is equivalent to 58% of total annual emissions from all sources in NSW. As the NZC has stated, any such emissions are not consistent with NSW climate change targets or the Paris temperature goals. The assessment report also fails to mention that the NSW Government is not on track to achieve either the 2030 or 2035 emissions reduction targets. The proponent has also failed to apply the Court of Appeal decision in the Denman case, which found that the local environmental, social and economic impacts of climate change, including downstream greenhouse gas emissions, need to be considered by decision makers. It’s impossible for the decision maker to consider those matters for the Moolarben expansion, because there has been no attempt to quantify the full economic costs of downstream emissions to NSW and the locality, even though they make up 99% of all emissions from the project. The cumulative impacts of this proposal in terms of other current and proposed coal mines in the Mudgee region has not been assessed. This project should not be approved. Yours sincerely, Brigid Prain Kia Ora For our Earth, Brigid Mary Prain [redacted]

10411

New South Wales 2325

14/01/2026

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To whom it may concern I am of the opinion that it would be against all logic and terribly wrong to turn an incredibly important area for biodiversity and one of NSW’s very few remaining Koala habitats, a beautiful valley that should be managed jointly as part of a whole conservation landscape with the magnificent Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, into an open cut coal mine. I therefore wholeheartedly recommend you to turn that particular project down. Sincerely yours, Dorothée Heibel

10416

Nature Conservation Council

Redacted

14/01/2026

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1 Total disturbance area: 673 ha at risk of clearing and mining activities .2 Coal extraction : this project will add approximately 30 Mt Rom ( run of mine) coal resulting in around 25 Mt product coal produced over the mine to Dec.2030 .3 Native species impact: Yancoal is proposing to clear 113 ha of koala habitat with breeding koalas on site as well as 8 ha Regent Honeyeater habitat with breeding females recorded on site .4 Water impacts: This project could cause drawn water up to exceeding 2-6 m for up to 25 years post mining. This puts Moolarben Creek at risk, a vital drought for wildlife . 6 .Economics: There is no justification for the expansion to provide regional jobs. There have been vacancies at the 3 Mudgee coal region for many years. Additionally the Moolarben mine is within the Central Coast West. 7 Cultural significance. Mining would damage Wirudjuri cultural landscapes, including sacred sites

10456

New South Wales 2430

14/01/2026

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My name is Alan Pursch. I am a 72 year old retired TAFE teacher, and also worked in early childhood education education for many years, as well as in agriculture. I wish to strongly oppose Yancoal's proposed Moolarben OC3 coal mine expansion near Mudgee on Wiradjuri country, for these reasons: 1. In a climate and extinction crisis, we need to be focussed on renewables, not fossil fuels, and particularly not coal. This project is estimated to release 64 million tonnes of greenhouse gases, which is totally incompatible with the NSW Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023, and the Paris Agreement on climate change. We have legal obligations to both of these, and currently are not on track to meet those obligations. 2. Habitat loss that will put even more pressure on threatened species, including koalas, regent honeyeaters and microbats. Biodiversity offsets cannot realistically compensate for loss of habitat that is already supporting threatened species. 3. Groundwater drawdown that will inevitably downgrade Moolarben Creek and ecosystems that depend on it, including as drought refuges. 4. Lack of public benefit and social licence in an area where renewable energy is being prioritised. For these reasons, I strongly urge the Independent Planning Commission to recommend that the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mining Project be refused. Kind regards, Alan Pursch [redacted]

10471

New South Wales 2289

14/01/2026

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To the Independent Planning Commission, My name is Martin and I am a resident of Lake Macquarie in the Hunter Valley. My partner and I moved here three years ago from Peru where we witnessed the impact of mining operations on local communities, and it has been distressing to see similar impacts on local communities and the environment in New South Wales. In the case of Yancoal’s proposed Moolarben OC3 coal mine expansion near Mudgee on Wiradjuri Country, I am particularly concerned about the water and groundwater risks, including long-term groundwater drawdown, that could harm Moolarben Creek and groundwater-dependent ecosystems that are critical drought refuges for wildlife and impact the lives and livelihoods of local residents. Furthermore, mining will damage Wiradjuri cultural landscapes, including sacred sites. I am also concerned about the climate impacts generated by the estimated 64 million tonnes of additional greenhouse gas emissions at a time when NSW is not on track to meet its legislated emissions reduction targets. Finally, I fail to see any public benefit when there is no clear jobs justification for expanding coal mining in a region where renewable energy development is being prioritised. At a moment in time when we see the devastating impacts of fire in part generated by long term climate change, it seems to be illogical that he NSW Government is approving new or expanded coal projects. This proposal is inconsistent with the NSW Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023 and the goals of the Paris Agreement. For these reasons, I urge that the Independent Planning Commission recommend that the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mining Extension Project be refused. Yours sincerely, Martin Scurrah

10531

New South Wales 2470

14/01/2026

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Stop pushing coal ,Stop lining your pockets. Think! Don't destroy our wildlife and wilderness. For a few dollars once destroyed it will never come back.You don't have a good track record. You egotistical maniacs.

10371

13/01/2026

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Please don't let Yancoal expand their Moolarben mine. The locals don't want it and Australia doesn't need it as we should be focusing on renewables, not coal. Coal is bad in so many ways which you know. I want my grandchildren to inherit a world without coal and other destructive climate wrecking things. Thanking you in anticipation Yvonne Lollback Springwood NSW

10376

New South Wales 2130

13/01/2026

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Please find submission attached. -- Rob Wildman [redacted]

Rob Wildman attachment_Redacted.pdf (PDF, 114 KB)

10381

13/01/2026

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This beautiful valley should be managed jointly as part of a whole conservation landscape with the magnificent Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve, not turned into an open cut coal mine. The mine will clear 480 hectares of native vegetation and mine right up to 100m from the boundary of Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve. The area has significant importance for biodiversity with 23 threatened wildlife species recorded in and around the site, including habitat critical to the survival of the Koala in a uniquely resilient population. The mine will destroy habitat and is likely to cause serious and irreversible impact to threatened wildlife like the Large-eared Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat and Regent Honeyeater, clearing endangered Box Gum Woodland. It will also lead to water drawdown of up to 5m in the alluvium of Moolarben Ck, which runs into the Goulburn River, and represents a risk to deep-rooted vegetation that uses that water. The mine will cause serious harm to cultural heritage - there are 55 Aboriginal heritage sites within the mine footprint that will be directly impacted and a further 12 that may be indirectly impacted. Koalas have been recorded in and around the proposed mine site, including a record of a mother and her joey recorded by Lock the Gate with a thermal drone just over a year ago. The Biodiversity, Conservation and Science Group (BCS) at NSW DCCEEW has highlighted the threat the project poses to the Koala, nothing that: • The Koala habitat present is ‘critical to the survival of the species’ and that • It is a climate-robust population which “has survived recent and historical temperature increases, drought and bushfires successfully” Further, the assessment of the project has not quantified the economic costs of the downstream greenhouse gas emissions, even though it is now effectively legally required following the Court of Appeal decision on the Mt Pleasant coal mine. It is my strong opinion that this project should not be approved. Jeffrey Hamilton [redacted]

10391

13/01/2026

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Coal mine extension Stop this in its tracks. SAY NO Thanks Joanne Joanne Stevenson