Mod 8 - Ulan West Continued Operations

Key points of objection:
1. Releasing over 105 Mt of additional Greenhouse Gas emissions, poor monitoring, and
reporting of methane emissions.
2. Outside the existing mine boundary with additional infrastructure disturbance - should be
assessed as a new project
3. Constructing a large new tailings dam area of 132 ha within a revegetated, rehabilitated
old open-cut pit next to the Goulburn River, risking leakage of toxic contaminants
4. Wholly west of the Great Dividing Range within the Murray-Darling Basin - loss of flows to
Talbragar River, a tributary of the Macquarie River, feeds into the significant Macquarie Marshes
5. Extended water releases into the Goulburn River, increasing salt load downstream to the Hunter
6. Loss of Aboriginal cultural heritage and spiritual landscape for the Wiradjuri Nation –
impacting 71 known sites, including rock art
7. Disturbing an additional 1743 ha with sandstone escarpment, caves and overhangs:
Destroying additional important habitat for the nationally threatened Large-eared Pied
Bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Regent Honeyeater and Koala, critically endangered Box Gum
Woodland. Cumulative impact on these species across 3 mines in the region.
8. Final layout of surface infrastructure not yet determined – mine plan not finalised
9. Undermining 17 private properties directly impacting 4 houses and 6 private bores
10. Increasing social impacts, loss of farm water and ongoing disturbance of the rural way of life
11. 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

More detailed information
1. Methane monitoring – Scope 1 emissions
Glencore does not report methane emissions and altered the baseline calculation for annual
CO2 -e emissions in 2014 to below requirement for offsets under the Federal Safeguard
Mechanism, with no explanation.
2. New Tailings Dam
A 132 ha new tailings dam area (and associated stockpile) is additional to the current approved
mining impacts. The proposed area for storage of coal waste from the washery abuts the
Goulburn River with no monitoring points to measure seepage into the river. This is a threat to
The Drip gorge and downstream water users including Goulburn River National Park. The chosen
site is an old revegetated open cut mine, backfilled with coal rejects and disturbed soils. This is
a new toxic legacy in the landscape further risking river health. No details are provided on how
this significant infrastructure will be managed or groundwater leakage monitored.
3. Water Impacts
Subsidence or land collapse caused by underground mining damages groundwater systems
that stores water in the landscape.
Groundwater provides base flows to rivers and creeks. This mine expansion will cause a
predicted additional loss of 26.5 million litres per year of flow to the Talbragar River – does not
report cumulative loss of flows from current approvals. The Talbragar River is a major tributary of
the Macquarie River in the Murray-Darling Basin that flows below Burrendong Dam. These
flows are directly connected to the internationally significant Macquarie Marshes.
The Goulburn River will also be impacted by additional loss of base flow.
Most importantly, it will add another six years of mine water discharge, carrying over 15,000
tonnes of salt (7 tonnes per day) into the Goulburn /Hunter River ecosystem. The cumulative
impact of the three large coal mines on the Goulburn River has never been fully assessed.
4. Aboriginal cultural heritage impacts
The cumulative loss of significant Aboriginal cultural heritage in the Ulan area is not assessed.
There is ample evidence of continuous Wiradjuri occupation of the region with a spiritual
connection to the country. Ulan Mod 8 will impact an additional 71 recorded sites.
5. Biodiversity impacts
The proposed extension of mine disturbance will impact areas of fragile sandstone landscape, including 6.5 km of escarpment with rocky outcrops and cliff lines higher than 10m. These
provide important habitat for the endangered Large-eared Pied Bat and Eastern Cave Bat. This
habitat loss cannot be offset. The cumulative loss of irreplaceable microbat habitat across the
three adjacent mines is not assessed.
The cumulative loss of mature, healthy Box Gum Woodland CEEC in the region through mine
clearing has not been assessed. This ecosystem provides important habitat for a range of
threatened woodland animal species.
3
Regent Honeyeater: The ongoing loss of important habitat for the critically endangered Regent
Honeyeater is not recognised or assessed. There are current records of breeding activity in the
district that are not identified in the assessment report.
Koala: ongoing disturbance of the Koala habitat from mining is not assessed
The area of impact provides habitat for the threatened Barking Owl and Powerful Owl
6. Final Mine Plan
The final placement of infrastructure in the landscape has not yet been provided because of
ongoing negotiations with private landholders. This issue should have been resolved before the
proposal was lodged and accepted by the Department of Planning. A final mine plan should be
submitted for consideration.
7. Social impacts
The proposal will impact 17 private properties, directly undermining 4 houses and lowering
water availability in 6 private bores, including the total dewatering of one. The mitigation measure of
providing replacement water will not continue after mining is finished. The Ulan Mine has
bought out a large number of properties over time because of the severe impacts of subsidence and
noise from ventilator fans. This diminishes the local community and removes neighbourhood
support in a remote rural area.
8. Not substantially the same project
The proposed extension should not be assessed as a modification because it is not
Substantially the same as the current Mine approval:
• Falls entirely outside the current mining lease
• Introduces new infrastructure, eg new 132 ha tailings disposal area, additional
ventilators, tracks
• Impacts an additional 1,734 ha of landscape
• Increases impacts on groundwater, creeks and rivers
• Destroys irreplaceable endangered species habitat
• Causes additional biodiversity impacts under Federal environmental law
• Destroys a new area of Aboriginal cultural heritage significance
• Directly impacts 17 private properties, threatens built structures and private bores
• Releases 105 Mt of additional greenhouse gas emissions
9. Not Justified
There is no need for extended coal mining in the region to provide local jobs. Mining is
competing for skilled labour urgently required in the construction, housing and renewable
energy industries. There is a major labour shortage in the Central West, with local workers
needed for the CWO REZ construction.
The NSW Government has prioritised the Central West Future Jobs and Investment Authority to
manage the transition away from coal mining. The Mudgee region has many opportunities to
diversify the economy.

More detailed information
1. Methane monitoring – Scope 1 emissions
Glencore does not report methane emissions and altered the baseline calculation for annual
CO2 -e emissions in 2014 to below trequirement for offsets under the Federal Safeguard
Mechanism, with no explanation.
2. New Tailings Dam
A 132 ha new tailings dam area (and associated stockpile) is addition to the current approved
mining impacts. The proposed area for storage of coal waste from the washery abuts the
Goulburn River with no monitoring points to measure seepage into the river. This is a threat to
The Drip gorge and downstream water users including Goulburn River National Park. The chosen
site is an old revegetated open cut mine, backfilled with coal rejects and disturbed soils. This is
a new toxic legacy in the landscape further risking river health. No details are provided on how
this significant infrastructure will be managed or groundwater leakage monitored.
3. Water Impacts
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 will cause a
predicted additional loss of 26.5 million litres per year of flow to Talbragar River – does not
report cumulative loss of flows from current approvals. The Talbragar River is a major tributary of
the Macquarie River in the Murray-Darling Basin that flows in below Burrendong Dam. These
flows are directly connected to the internationally significant Macquarie Marshes.
The Goulburn River will also be impacted by additional loss of base flow.
Most importantly, it will add another six years of mine water discharge, carrying over 15,000
tonnes of salt (7 tonnes per day) into the Goulburn /Hunter River ecosystem. The cumulative
impact of the three large coal mines on the Goulburn River has never been fully assessed.
4. Aboriginal cultural heritage impacts
The cumulative loss of significant Aboriginal cultural heritage in the Ulan area is not assessed.
There is ample evidence of continuous Wiradjuri occupation of the region with spiritual
connection to country. Ulan Mod 8 will impact an additional 71 recorded sites.
5. Biodiversity impacts
The proposed extension of mine disturbance will impact areas of fragile sandstone landscape
including 6.5 kms of escarpment with rocky outcrops and cliff lines higher than 10m. These
provide important habitat for the endangered Large-eared Pied Bat and Eastern Cave Bat. This
habitat loss cannot be offset. The cumulative loss of irreplaceable microbat habitat across the
three adjacent mines is not assessed.
The cumulative loss of mature, healthy Box Gum Woodland CEEC in the region through mine
clearing has not been assessed. This ecosystem provides important habitat for a range of
threatened woodland animal species.
3
Regent Honeyeater: The ongoing loss of important habitat for the critically endangered Regent
Honeyeater is not recognised

The project will continue to employ a large number of people in the local area as well as support local business. This will enable our small country town to continue to grow and thrive which will increase the social benefits to the community.
I believe industry is essential to the future of rural and regional areas like Mudgee and its surrounds.

I believe the continuation of this project will aid in the community to continue it's progress and growth, with little to no additional impact to what currently is seen or perceived. I believe the town at this point does not satisfactorily have a great enough financial industry to support it's future growth and endeavours without the mining industry.

Key points of objection:
1. Releasing over 105 Mt of additional Greenhouse Gas emissions, poor monitoring and
reporting of methane emissions.
2. Outside existing mine boundary with additional infrastructure disturbance - should be
assessed as a new project
3. Constructing 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
4. Wholly west of Great Dividing Range within the Murray Darling Basin - loss of flows to
Talbragar River, tributary of Macquarie River feeding into significant Macquarie Marshes
5. Extended water releases into Goulburn River increasing salt load downstream to Hunter
6. Loss of Aboriginal cultural heritage and spiritual landscape for Wiradjuri Nation –
impacting 71 known sites, including rock art
7. Disturbing an additional 1743 ha with sandstone escarpment, caves and overhangs:
Destroying additional important habitat for the nationally threatened Large-eared Pied
Bat, Eastern Cave Bat, Regent Honeyeater and Koala, critically endangered Box Gum
Woodland. Cumulative impact on these species across 3 mines in region.
8. Final layout of surface infrastructure not yet determined – mine plan not finalised
9. Undermining 17 private properties directly impacting 4 houses and 6 private bores
10. Increasing social impacts, loss of farm water and ongoing disturbance of rural way of life
11. 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 Ulan Mod 8 on the following grounds:
- The extension of the mine would nearly double the amount of coal extracted, and therefore nearly double the mine's scope 3 emissions. Australia is already suffering the impacts of climate change in increased frequency and severity of weather events and the world is now at 1.5 degrees of warming. We cannot afford to mine and burn more coal anywhere. The time for new or extended coal mining has passed and new energy investment in Australia must be in renewables.
- Mod 8 represents a signicant pollution risk to two major NSW water catchments, the Murray-Darling Basin & Hunter River.
- Mod 8 relies on Mod 6 mine extension 2033-35, and Mod 6’s underground longwall panels. Now Mod 6 has been rejected, the Mod 8 time extension and infrastructure are not viable.
- Preserving old growth and established native forest helps mitigate our existing unsustainable carbon emissions. Australia has a dreadful track record in clearing native vegetation that is contributing to our net carbon emissions. Ulan Mod 8 would involve clearing 34ha of Box Gum Woodland, when we should be doing all we can to preserve native forests everywhere in NSW.

I support the project

There are a number of reasons for my objection to this proposal.
First this should be considered as a totally new application as the proposal sits outside the current mine boundary and involves new infrastructure.

There are major water impacts that are unacceptable: 1) the project will cause significant loss of water flows into the MurrayDarling basin system, with particular impacts on the world significant Macquarie Marshes and 2) there will be increased salt load into the Goulburn River and then on into the Hunter River which is already a stressed river. The cumulative impacts from the three major mines in the Mudgee area on water are never considered within the planning system and this is a serious flaw that MUST be addressed. Water resources are one of our most vital assets and should be protected above all else.

The project has unacceptable impact on biodiversity with disruption to a large amount of habitat critical for several endangered species. Again cumulative impact is not being considered,

The same argument stands for impact on Aboriginal cultural heritage.


The jobs argument does not hold as already there is a serious skills shortage in the Mudgee region and priority must be given to building the renewable energy zone.

Climate change is real and if the NSW government is genuinely serious about reducing emissions there is no way this project with its 105Mt additional Greenhouse Gas emissions can be approved.

Sincerely JL

Ulan Coal mines is a place of employment for my whole family . It is a valuable resource for the Mudgee Ulan Community .I have worked here for the last 20yrs and know the benefits that it provides to the community . I support this project as i support the Mudgee community

This project with maintain jobs in the mudgee area and continue ti support the economy of mudgee

I am currently employed at the Ulan Coal Mine Complex and completely support the proposed expansion to the existing Ulan West development. This project will be vital for ensuring continued employment and longer-term stability in the region for 100s of families including my own. Beyond this, Ulan Coal has a great record of safety and strong commitment to a safety culture within its operations.

The coal industry is and will continue to be one of the central pillars of the economy for the region and provides economic benefit to the state and to Australia as a whole. It is an essential industry that will for the interim future support the ongoing energy transition in the back half of this century.

This project will provide great benefit to the Mudgee community and will greatly support the local economy.

This project will support the local community, largely NSW and Australia economy. This project will create hundreds of jobs which make people continue to support their families and send their childens to school for education. Educating people is one of the most important function/purpose of government presence.

This project supports the local community and brings critical financial benefits to the town.

See attached submission

I’m born bred in Mudgee and currently employed with Glencore at Ulan West
I’ve been between both underground sites for 17.5years
The opportunities it’s given me, raising my family, owning my house! The support the mines provides for our community, roads/sporting/entertainment/hospitality
I strongly support this as it’s ensuring long-term stability for local families and businesses.

Great ongoing opportunity for the regional economy of Central West NSW, in particular Mudgee

This expansion allows continued growth to the community.

The project will continue to provide the region with ongoing support and revenue.

Mod 6 extended the mine’s life from 2033 to 2035.
Mod 8 relies entirely on that time extension, it covers 2035 to 2041. Now that mod 6 has been overturned,
Mod 8 has no basis to proceed.
Mod 8’s proposed infrastructure is also directly attached to mod 6’s underground longwall panels. Without mod 6 that infrastructure cannot exist, meaning mod 8 is fundamentally unworkable.

Ulan West Glencore Mine continues to be an important part of our region, providing stable jobs, apprenticeship opportunities, and long-term income for local families. Their commitment to supporting junior sporting clubs shows genuine investment in our community’s future, helping young people stay active and connected. With the proposed expansion, these positive contributions can continue to grow, strengthening our local economy and creating even more opportunities for the next generation.