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#StopMoolarben: Make a submission on the proposed expansion of NSW’s biggest producing coal mine

Your step-by-step guide to writing a strong submission against the Moolarben OC3 Coal Mine expansion 

Contents:

Update 23rd January 2026: Yancoal has made an unprecedented move to have the Independent Planning Commission hearing postponed and to interrupt the community consultation on the Moolarben Open Cut 3 expansion, by making more minor amendments to its proposal. Click here for more info. SUBMISSIONS ARE STILL OPEN!

Background

What’s happening? 

Yancoal is seeking approval to expand its Moolarben Coal Mine (OC3) near Mudgee on Wiradjuri Country. 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. 

The proposal has now been referred to the NSW Independent Planning Commission (IPC). The IPC is the decision maker on this expansion that will approve or reject the Moolarben OC3 expansion. This is a critical moment to speak up and call on the IPC to recommend that this destructive coal expansion does not go ahead.  

Submissions close Tuesday February 17th 11:59pm. 

Learn more by watching Voices for the Valley

Voices for the Valley is a powerful short documentary tells the story of Wollar and the Mudgee region, where locals have spent over two decades resisting the devastating impacts of coal mining. Directed by young director Jess Nipperess, the film features all three coal mines near Mudgee and Wollar, with a focus on the Moolarben coal mine – NSW's largest producing coal mine – and the serious threat posed by its proposed expansion. Told through the personal lens of Manjot, a young person from Mudgee with Punjabi heritage — a region in India already facing deep climate impacts — the film weaves together stories from long-time residents, young people, and migrant voices. It is a story grounded in community, culture and resilience, and a reminder that the fight for climate justice is intergenerational and both local and global.

Make A Submission 

  1. Create a word document for your original submission.  
  2. Introduce yourself, who you are and why you care about stopping Moolarben. 
  3. Explain why you object to the Moolarben OC3 Expansion. Use the key points below to flesh out your argument.  
  4. Upload your submission before February 17th 11:59pm  

IPC Hearing 

(Postponed indefinitely - We Will Advise You When It's Rescheduled) 

Yancoal has made an unprecedented move to have the Independent Planning Commission hearing postponed and to interrupt the community consultation on the Moolarben Open Cut 3 expansion, by making more minor amendments to its proposal.The Department of Planning now needs to decide whether to accept or reject this amendment. In our view the amendment should be rejected and the public hearing should not have been postponed in the first place.The changes do not reduce the footprint of the mine at all but merely propose to manage more areas of vegetation outside the mine area for so-called ‘habitat enhancement’.

This amendment won’t make any difference to the direct and indirect impact on threatened wildlife and ecosystems, and it completely disrupts the community consultation process that is underway.It’s a farcical attempt at greenwashing a very damaging project and the change at this stage makes a mockery of community consultation processes.The IPC is still accepting submissions on the project, but the public hearing proposed for 10th February has now been postponed indefinitely. Read more at our media release here.

Please make a submission using our points, and add a point that the amendments just proposed by Yancoal do not reduce the clearing of native vegetation at all and are far too late in the process for consideration now.

Submission Writing Workshops 

Want to host your own for your local group or your friends? Use our How to Host a Submission Writing Workshop Guide here!

Upcoming Workshops

  • SYDNEY: Sun 15th February 12-3pm - Submission workshop and social lunch!!! RSVP HERE 

This list will be updated as more submission writing workshops are confirmed. 

Click here to submit your own submission writing workshop to list it here

Submission Guide

Click here to view our submission guide

Useful links 

Your voice matters. Let’s make sure decision‑makers cannot ignore the strength of opposition to this destructive coal expansion.