My Submission – Whitehaven Coal’s Maules Creek Mine Expansion

🚨 Urgent: Speak Up to Protect Country – Maules Creek Mine Expansion

Whitehaven Coal wants to extend its Maules Creek mine to 2044 and increase coal processing to 14 million tonnes a year.

But here’s why I / Barayamal is objecting – and why you should too:

1. Cultural heritage at risk

Government seems to have confirmed advised (Attachments & Resources) parts of the project area are subject to undetermined Aboriginal Land Claims and may also be under Native Title – and allegedly no binding agreements with all Traditional Owners are in place.

Thus, this means that cultural heritage and land rights could be harmed without consent.

2. Threats to endangered species and water

The Commonwealth has flagged serious risks to:

• Critically endangered woodlands 🌳
• Koalas, Swift Parrots, Regent Honeyeaters 🐨
• Surface & groundwater resources 💧

The NSW SEARs supposedly requires a full-life water balance and proof of water licences — but the EIS doesn’t reconcile impacts from Whitehaven’s other mines and shared water pipelines.

Risk example – article: ‘Slap on the wrist’: Farmers fume as Whitehaven Coal fined $200,000 for unlawfully taking water

3. Unverified Indigenous benefit claims

Whitehaven says “20% of its Maules Creek workforce identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander”. But:

• There’s no independent verification of this number
• Indigenous supplier claims are self-declared, risking “black cladding”

“Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce self-identify across all of our operations, including Maules Creek Coal.” – Darren Swain General Manager Community Engagement

References:

Beyond Profits: Why the Labor-NSW Government should reject Whitehaven Coal’s Gunnedah mine extension

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/beyond-profits-why-labor-nsw-government-should-reject-dean-foley-s0k9c

Whitehaven Coal and Good Advice: How Australian Corporations Might Be Exploiting Indigenous Engagement
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/whitehaven-coal-good-advice-how-australian-might-exploiting-foley-8idoc

Calls for ‘urgent’ investigation into lobbying activities of fracking advocate and gas company
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jun/28/mps-call-for-urgent-investigation-good-advice-empire-energy-beetaloo-energy-fracking-on-aboriginal-land-in-northern-territory-ntwnfb

4. Social impacts

The project could deepen disadvantage in local Aboriginal communities, creating another “sacrifice zone” where cultural, health and environmental costs stay local… but profits flow out!

Our message to the NSW Government – Chris Minns, David Harris – NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure, NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, NSW Aboriginal Land Council, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Chris Bowen, etcc.

This project seems to:

• Fail to meet cultural heritage and engagement standards
• Fail to prove its Indigenous benefit claims
• Fail to meet water transparency and environmental safeguard requirements

Recommendation: Refuse consent.

But if not (despite Labor’s “Green” / renewal energy claims), please impose strict(er), enforceable conditions – including verified Indigenous participation, audited water-use reporting and binding cultural heritage agreements.

⏳ Submissions close soon.

If you care about protecting Country, endangered species and truth in Indigenous rights, make your voice heard and submit here:

https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/maules-creek-continuation-project

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Submission Objection to the Whitehaven Coal Maules Creek Continuation Project (SSD-63428218) – Barayamal