Mod 8 - Ulan West Continued Operations

To Whom It May Concern,

Re: Support for the Ulan West Continued Operations Modification (Mod 8)

I am writing to express my strong personal support for the proposed Ulan West Continued Operations Modification, which would allow mining at the Ulan Coal Complex to continue until 2041.

I am employed by Elite Industrial Equipment, a local business that has proudly supplied Ulan Coal for over ten years. During this time, I have seen first-hand the professionalism, reliability, and community focus that Ulan Coal demonstrates through its operations and ongoing investment in local suppliers.

From a personal and professional standpoint, the continuation of the Ulan Coal Complex is vitally important — not only to our company’s future but also to my own role and those of my colleagues. Many local businesses, including ours, rely heavily on Ulan’s ongoing operations to maintain stable employment, invest in stock, and plan for future growth. A decision to discontinue or reduce operations would have significant flow-on effects for local workers, families, and small business owners who depend on the mine’s continued success.

I have also witnessed the positive impact Ulan Coal has on the broader community through its support of local initiatives, schools, and sporting programs. Their genuine commitment to the region goes far beyond mining — they have consistently contributed to the strength and wellbeing of the community.

This modification does not seek to expand mining activities, but simply allows Ulan Coal to continue operating responsibly and sustainably within its current approvals. I believe approval of this proposal is essential to ensuring continued local employment, supplier opportunities, and economic stability for the region.

Thank you for considering my submission in support of the Ulan West Continued Operations Modification.

To Whom It May Concern,

Re: Support for the Ulan West Continued Operations Modification (Mod 8)

Elite Industrial Equipment Pty Ltd writes in strong support of the proposed Ulan West Continued Operations Modification to allow mining at the Ulan Coal Complex to continue until 2041.
Elite Industrial Equipment has been a proud and trusted supplier to Ulan Coal for over ten years, providing essential products and support to its underground operations. Our business relationship with Ulan is not only long-standing but integral to our continued success — the mine represents a significant and consistent portion of our client base, helping to sustain employment, training, and investment within our company.
The continuation of the Ulan Coal Complex is critical to our business operations. Like many regional suppliers, our growth and stability are directly linked to the mine’s ongoing activity. The ability to plan production, maintain local jobs, and invest in future improvements relies heavily on the certainty that Ulan will continue operating well into the future. Should the operation cease or reduce output prematurely, the economic flow-on effect would be immediate and substantial, impacting not only Elite Industrial Equipment but also many other small and medium enterprises across the Hunter and Mid-Western regions.
Over the past decade, we have witnessed Ulan Coal’s commitment to responsible mining practices, community support, and strong local procurement values. The company’s investment in local suppliers, trades, and services directly contributes to regional economic resilience and workforce confidence.
This modification does not propose to expand the operation or increase production; it simply allows Ulan Coal to continue operating responsibly within its existing framework. In our view, approval of this modification is essential to preserving hundreds of local business relationships and sustaining the regional economy that depends on them.
We strongly urge approval of the Ulan West Continued Operations Modification and commend Ulan Coal for its ongoing contribution to local employment, business sustainability, and community support.

To Whom It May Concern,

Strait Up Cranes & Rigging is a proud, locally owned crane and rigging provider operating in the Mudgee region.

Our team has supported the Glencore Ulan Coal Complex as the preferred crane contractor for the past two years, with a long-standing working relationship spanning more than 15 years across various projects. Strait Up Cranes & Rigging is pleased to express our full support for the proposed Ulan West Continued Operations Modification (MOD 8).

Since our establishment in 2008, we have partnered with many of the region’s key industries and have witnessed the positive impact that Glencore’s operations and investment have on local businesses, employment, and the broader community. Projects such as Ulan West are critical to maintaining regional economic strength by sustaining jobs, creating opportunities for local contractors, and delivering significant flow-on benefits throughout the Mid-Western Region.

The continuation of Ulan West Mine operations will allow businesses like ours to maintain growth and provide secure, ongoing employment for our workforce. It also enables us to continue investing in skills development, major equipment, and community initiatives across the Mudgee area. The consistency of local projects like this directly underpins the viability and resilience of small to medium-sized enterprises within the region.

Glencore’s demonstrated commitment to engaging local suppliers and supporting regional development plays an essential role in building long-term sustainability and confidence within our local economy. The continuation of these operations ensures certainty not only for businesses like Strait Up but also for the many families and community members who benefit from this investment.

For these reasons, Strait Up Cranes & Rigging strongly supports the Ulan West Continued Operations Modification and encourages its approval.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Yours sincerely,
Grant Gjessing, Managing Director – Strait Up Cranes & Rigging
and
Nicole Gjessing, Commercial Manager – Strait Up Cranes & Rigging

I have the following concerns about this project:
Extends Mining: Six-year extension to mine an additional 43 million tonnes of coal.
Massive Emissions: Adds 105 million tonnes of CO2-e, a 45% increase.
Spans Major Catchments: Operations impact both the Hunter and Murray-Darling basins, threatening water security.
Risky Tailings Dam: Expands toxic waste storage near a river, risking seepage downstream into a national park.
Habitat & Species Loss: Clears 100+ hectares of native vegetation, including 34ha of Box Gum Woodland, impacting threatened species like the Regent Honeyeater and Koala.
Cultural Heritage Risk: Impacts 71 Aboriginal sites on Wiradjuri Country under a Native Title claim.
Flawed Process: Assessed as a "modification" to avoid community scrutiny.

The Glencore Ulan Coal Mine
It is my understanding that the Glencore Ulan Coal Mine expansion should not be assessed under a modification as it falls entirely outside the current mining lease and can cause new and unassessed environmental impacts. It must be assessed as a new project so that it receives full independent merit assessment.
Their proposal would release over over 105 Mt of additional Greenhouse Gas emissions, poor monitoring and
reporting of methane emissions. It would involve the construction of a large new tailings dam area of 132 ha within a revegetated, rehabilitated old open cut pit next to Goulburn River risking leakage of toxic contaminants. The would be loss of flows to
Talbragar River, tributary of Macquarie River feeding into significant Macquarie Marshes and extended water releases into Goulburn River increasing salt load downstream.
There would be a significant loss of Aboriginal cultural heritage and spiritual landscape for Wiradjuri Nation impacting 71 known sites, including rock art and disturbing an additional 1743 ha with sandstone escarpment, caves and overhangs: which would destroy additional important habitat for the nationally threatened Large-eared Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Regent Honeyeater and Koala, critically endangered Box Gum Woodland.
The proposal would cause undermining of 17 private properties directly impacting 4 houses and 6 private bores having huge social impacts, loss of farm water and ongoing disturbance of rural way of life.
I strongly oppose this project and I encourage the government to also oppose this project.

Yours Sincerely
Patricia Evans

I object to the prosed Modification 8 to Ulan Coal Operations. It is NOT a modification to the existing mine. It relates to an area outside the current mining approved area. The company holds only an exploration license. Please refer to the attached document for full details of my objection.

I am currently employed at Ulan Coal Mine and fully support the proposed Mod 8 expansion. The project will secure ongoing jobs for local workers, strengthen the regional economy, and make the most of existing mine infrastructure.
Coal mining remains a vital industry for our community, providing reliable employment and contributing significantly to Australia’s energy needs and exports. Ulan has a strong record of safe and responsible operations, and I believe the proposed extension will continue that standard while ensuring long-term stability for local families and businesses.
I strongly support the approval of this modification.

Gas emissions derived from the extraction and burning of coal, oil and gas are the greatest drivers of climate change, and we need to halt that change as soon as possible, to maintain a world we can live in. We CAN stop mining coal, and must do so as soon as possible. - it should not be 'business as usual', now should we extend any permits for future coal mining. This proposal should be assessed as a new project with its inherent dangers including risks of leakage of toxic contaminants, loss of flows to Talbragar River and its effect upon the Macquarie River, the Macquarie Marshes, and the Goulburn River. This will also put at risk Aboriginal cultural heritage and spiritual landscape for Wiradjuri Nation and endanger nationally threatened Large-eared Pied Bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Regent Honeyeater and Koala, as well as critically endangered Box Gum Woodland.

Apart from the fact that this is not just a modification, the environmental damage already done by Ulan mining enterprises over the years will only be exacerbated by this proposal. Enough habitat of vulnerable or endangered species has already been compromised by mining activities and it can’t be reclaimed or remediated as things stand now, so what hope is there for the future if this proposal goes ahead? The same goes for the danger to water supplies – once the damage is done, we can’t reverse it, and we don’t need to do the damage: there is enough employment in the Mudgee area building renewable sources of energy, rather than exhausting fossil fuel resources at such an astronomic cost.

I support this project

I support this project

As the Sutherland Shire Environmental Citizen of the Year 2025 and life member of the Australian Plants Society NSW, I am well aware of the importance of our natural environment for the health of all our communities.
I oppose this coal mining project because it destroys bushland with high biodiversity values, causes greenhouse gas emissions and is not needed to provide regional jobs as there is a workforce shortage for renewable energy jobs.

I object to the proposed mine expansion being assessed as a modification. It should be assessed as a new project because it falls entirely outside the current mining lease causing new previously unassessed environmental impacts and thus differs substantially from the current approved mine. It should be assessed as a new project so that it receives full independent merit assessment. The project is an extension of the recently approved Ulan Mod 6 that is under legal appeal.

The proposed extension should not be assessed as a modification because it is not substantially the same as the current Mine approval:
• It falls entirely outside the current mining lease.
• It introduces new infrastructure such as new 132 ha tailings disposal area, additional ventilators, and tracks.
• It impacts an additional 1,734 ha of landscape.
• It increases impacts on groundwater, creeks and rivers.
• It destroys irreplaceable endangered species habitat.
• It causes additional biodiversity impacts under Federal environmental law.
• It destroys a new area of Aboriginal cultural heritage significance.
• It releases 105 Mt additional greenhouse gas emissions.
I object to this project and ask that it be rejected.

I support this project

I currently work at Ulan Coal Mines and I support the extension. This will bring long term support for me and my family, as well as the community.
Coal mine is a vital industry for the community.

Mudgee would not be the town it is today without the support of the Ulan coal mines, and the other mines in the region. Coal is not going anywhere quickly, the evidence is there that Mudgee has improved since Ulan West started.

I support Ulan West Continued Operations (Mod 8) as it enables an existing mine to continue operating responsibly, maintaining local jobs and economic stability for the region. Ulan has demonstrated ongoing commitment to applying and refining mitigation measures to effectively manage environmental impacts in accordance with regulatory requirements, and this approach will continue under Mod 8.

I am writing in support of the Mod 8 Mining Extension as both an employee of the mine and a proud member of our local community. I have worked at the operation for several years and have seen firsthand the positive impact the mine has had on our region — not just in terms of employment, but also through its contributions to local businesses, schools, and community initiatives.

The mine is one of the largest employers in our area, providing stable, well-paid jobs for local families. Many of us live, raise our children, and spend our earnings here, which helps keep small businesses, local shops, and service providers strong. The continuity offered by the Mod 8 extension means that hundreds of workers, including apprentices and contractors, will continue to have secure employment well into the future.

Beyond direct employment, the mine supports the community through sponsorships, local procurement, and volunteering. The company has consistently demonstrated its commitment to environmental management and to operating responsibly. With ongoing improvements in technology and rehabilitation practices, I am confident that the extension can proceed in a sustainable way that balances environmental care with economic necessity.

The Mod 8 project is vital for maintaining the economic stability of our town and surrounding districts. Without it, many families would face uncertainty, and our local economy would suffer from the loss of jobs and business activity that depend on the mine’s operation.

I fully support the Mod 8 extension and urge approval of this application to ensure ongoing employment, community stability, and a strong local economy for years to come.

I support this project as it will continue to support the local community through local employment, support of local economy, without the mining industry, the region will struggle immensely.

My objections are:
1. The proposal is invalid because it is outside the existing mining lease and requires a new tailing dam. It should therefore be assessed as a new project, not a modification of an existing mine.
2. The final surface layout has not been finalised.
3. The proposed new tailings dam close to a river threatens a national park downstream, and there are no proposals to monitor seepage into the Goulburn River.
4. The proposed estimated emissions of CO2 represent a 45% increase on the nearby mine. There will also be methane emissions with poor monitoring of them. These emissions will contribute to the global warming and to the current climate crisis.
5. Large amounts of groundwater will have to be used with subsequent reduced flows into the Macquarie Marsh, and the addition of 7 tonnes if salt per day.
6. The land clearing of over 100 hectares will threaten native species including koalas and the Regent honeyeater.
7. It will degrade Aboriginal cultural heritage sites.
8. This project will not be needed to provide jobs and income for local inhabitants. There is already a substantial need for workers in the renewable energy industry, as prioritised by the NSW government.

The proposed mine expansion should not be assessed as a modification because it falls entirely outside the current mining lease causing new previously unassessed environmental impacts and therefore differs substantially from the current approved mine. This ‘modification’ proposal should be assessed as a new project so that it receives full independent merit assessment.

I object to Loss of Aboriginal cultural heritage and spiritual landscape for Wiradjuri Nation – impacting 71 known sites, including rock art.
I object to the releasing over 105 Mt of additional Greenhouse Gas emissions, poor monitoring and reporting of methane emissions.
This project is not needed to provide regional jobs – there is a huge workforce shortage for renewable energy projects and other industries in the Central West.
I object to the construction of a large new tailings dam area of 132 ha within a revegetated, rehabilitated old open cut pit next to Goulburn River risking leakage of toxic contaminants.
I object to the impact upon the ground water and rivers.