STOP COAL EXPANSION IN THE MUDGEE REGION!
Sign our ePetition to the Legislative Assembly of NSW
Three large coal mines operate North of Mudgee on Wiradjuri land: Yancoal’s Moolarben Mine, Glencore’s Ulan Mine and Peabody’s Wilpinjong Mine. The mines intersect farming land, the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone and awe-inspiring National Parks.
The three mines were the biggest producers of coal in NSW in 2023 with a combined production of 36.7 million tonnes – equivalent to 89 MT CO2e. The overall CO2e could be as great as 1.7 billion tonnes with current approvals and proposed expansions. This is three times Australia’s emissions from all sources.
All three mines are planning to expand! The EIS stated Yancoal’s proposed OC3 expansion alone could put “six species at risk of serious and irreversible impacts” including Regent Honeyeaters and Koalas.
Continuing to approve expansions of mines this size makes a mockery of the target of 50% emissions reductions by 2030. The target of net zero emissions by 2050 will be impossible.
“this proposal could contribute to the real possibility of the extinction of Koalas in NSW” – EIS
No amount of offsetting or management will change these impacts.
The three mines are also within the Central West Orana Renewable Energy Zone. Competition for workforce, accommodation and services are very high. There is no justification to expand coal mining in a region with fast-tracked renewable energy generation.
To ensure a safe climate future, no new coal can be mined.
MUDGEE COAL ALERT
An initiative of Mudgee District Environment Group with the support of Lock The Gate.
Mudgee Coal Alert is a community action group in the Upper Hunter opposing new coal expansions in the Mudgee region.
Three large coal mines operate North of Mudgee on Wiradjuri land. Their approvals allow them to produce a combined volume of up to 58 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) until 2038.
Climate science and the International Energy Agency have declared that to ensure a safe climate future no more new coal can be mined.
BUT…
All three mines are currently planning to expand!
If these expansion plans are approved it will make a mockery of NSW Government Climate Change target of 50 per cent emissions reduction on 2005 levels by 2030.
The target of net zero emissions by 2050 will be impossible.
Any expansion of fossil fuels is dangerous and irresponsible.
Don’t turbo charge climate change!
It is time to put a stop to the further expansion of coal in the Mudgee Region.
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The three Mudgee Region coal mines were the largest producers of coal in NSW for 2023.
Yancoal’s Moolarben Mine topped the list producing 14.2 million tonnes of coal. Closely followed by the Glencore’s Ulan Mine with 11,3 million tonnes and Peabody’s Wilpinjong Mine with 11.2 million tonnes.