About 

The Nature & Renewables Toolkit was developed to help communities in NSW who are grappling with how to achieve a renewables rollout that protects and enhances the local environment, are done in collaboration with Traditional Owners and benefit communities.  

It aims to build up the capacity of communities and local environment groups to engage with the planning process for renewable energy developments in their regions in an informed, constructive way.  

It can be used by local community members or groups who are being impacted by the transition (whether located inside or outside of a Renewable Energy Zone), key stakeholders (such as local councils), and decision makers, to inform policy decisions. 

Nature & Renewables Toolkit Parts 

• Introduction | DOWNLOAD

• Part 1: Protecting nature in the rollout of renewable energy | DOWNLOAD

• Part 2: Nature and Renewables FAQs | DOWNLOAD

• Part 3: Renewable energy developments and the NSW planning system | DOWNLOAD

• Nature & Renewables Toolkit (Full version) | DOWNLOAD

MEDIA RELEASE 

26th June 2025  

Today’s NSW State of the Environment Report paints a grim picture of the health of NSW ecosystems according to the Nature Conservation Council of NSW, the state’s leading environmental organisation. 

The State of the Environment report is NSW’s premier scientific report card, released every three years. It describes the health of our life support systems – the land, water, air and ecosystems, and it tracks trends over time. This year almost all indicators are “getting worse”. 

Key Report Findings 

Since the last report, 36 more animal and plant species have been listed as threatened with extinction. 

Since 2021, there have been 190 fish kill events, with tens of millions of fish dying in some events. 

Alarmingly, the fastest growing segment of threatened animals is those which are critically endangered, which grew by 35 species over the same period. This is a stark indicator of the worsening biodiversity crisis, and shows current settings to protect endangered species are not working.  

Across the state, distribution of native land mammals continues to shrink, with fewer habitats left to offer safe refuge. The clearing of native vegetation remains significantly higher than before land clearing laws were loosened in 2016, with agriculture the main driver. 

Projections show that only half of all native animal species currently listed are expected to survive the next 100 years. 

Recommendations 

In response to the State of the Environment report card, NCC is calling on the NSW Government to: 

• Rein in land clearing for agriculture by closing legal loopholes. 

• End native forest logging, protecting 1 million hectares of our most precious forest for conservation and recreation.  

• Reduce water extraction by irrigators, allowing inland rivers to connect and flow. 

• Restore coastal estuaries to protect communities from climate impacts. 

• Increase funding for environmental programs from 1.6% to at least 2% of state expenditure to resource an effective NSW Nature Strategy. 

Statements attributable to Jacqui Mumford, Chief Executive Officer of Nature Conservation Council NSW: 

"Every NSW resident should be outraged that our shared natural heritage is being stolen from under our feet.  

“The risk to First Nations cultural heritage is intolerable. Indigenous knowledge must be informing the protection and restoration of Country. 

“This report confirms what we already know, and the message couldn’t be clearer. Nature in NSW is in deep trouble and those in power are failing to turn this alarming trajectory around.  

"Our state's environment is being mismanaged, and until the developers, irrigators, and logging companies are kicked out of government back-rooms, nothing will change. 

"The ecological carrying capacity of NSW has been slashed to 29% of its natural level since colonisation. 

“Our rivers are being sucked dry, forests are shrinking, and species are vanishing. We need the NSW Government to act with the urgency that the biodiversity crisis demands. 

“The NSW Government urgently needs to develop and implement their Nature Strategy, fix the laws that aren’t working and truly chart a path out of this crisis.” 

“This is an opportunity for Premier Minns to secure a legacy as the government that stood up for nature by acting urgently to stop extinction, restore ecosystems, and protect the future for all of us.” 

Statements attributable to Mel Gray, Inland Rivers Campaigner, NCC: 

“This report is truly alarming. River health is plummeting. Waterbird populations have suffered sharp declines and native fish kill events have increased dramatically since 2018. 

“Even with wetter conditions in recent years, poor riparian and wetland health has meant a spike in water pollution and an increase in native fish kill events. Combined with the sudden crashing of water bird populations in inland NSW, it paints a chilling picture - and it's just getting worse.  

“Despite overwhelming evidence and years of promises from Labor in opposition and as a new government, for the people and wildlife of the Darling-Baaka River nothing has changed. 

“We know how to solve this. The Connectivity Expert Panel has provided a blueprint, backed by science and the law, for restoring the Darling-Baaka River to life, and yet it sits on a shelf.” 

Statements attributable to Jacqueline Mills, Senior Climate Campaigner, NCC: 

“NSW has warmed by 1.4 degrees since 1910, and sea levels have risen 12 cm in the last 35 years. 

“Climate change is one of the biggest drivers of species extinctions, yet NSW is not on track to meet its emission reduction targets.  

“The Minns government needs to redouble its efforts to bring on renewable energy and give nature a fighting chance. 

“Everyone in our state has been impacted by climate-fuelled disasters, yet coal and gas companies are pouring more fuel on the fire every day.  

“Today’s report makes it clear that transition to clean energy and a phase out of coal mining can’t come quickly enough to preserve our way of life.”  

ENDS  

Media contact: Madeline Hayman-Reber 
E: [email protected] M: 0493 733 529  

Note: Spokespeople are available for comment on request 

MEDIA RELEASE 

23rd June 2025 
 
Australia’s leading environment groups have come together to release a new report tracking states and territories’ progress towards electricity decarbonisation, finding that protecting nature and improved regional planning are the missing link to accelerating Australia’s renewable energy rollout. 
 
The report, States of Transition, prepared by Common Capital, finds that planned renewable energy projects currently in the pipeline could meet 2030 renewable energy targets by up to 5 times in some jurisdictions, but stronger nature and community protections are vital for public confidence and to ensure the best projects get built. 
 
The good news out of the report is that Australia currently has a healthy supply of renewable energy projects in train to meet our nation's energy goals. However, not all proposals are viable and the report finds that progress is being held back by inadequate planning, lack of community clarity around the rollout of renewables and public concern on nature impacts. 
 
The States of Transition report identifies the need for strong regional strategies to safeguard high-level conservation areas and restore degraded habitat. 
 
This will ensure that the renewable energy transition can help tackle climate change and Australia’s ongoing extinction crisis. While shifting the nation off fossil fuels and powering homes and businesses with renewable energy is a long term win for both the climate and nature, restoring and not further degrading landscapes and ecosystems is equally critical. 
 
First Nations engagement and consultation will be essential to achieving positive environmental and cultural outcomes as we transition to renewable energy in a manner consistent with the vital principles of free and prior consent and self-determination. 
 
Nature Conservation Council of NSW, Senior Climate and Energy Campaigner, Jacqui Mills: 
 
“Half of threatened species in NSW are not expected to survive the next 100 years and climate change is one of the biggest threats. The renewable energy transition is a once in a generation opportunity to tackle climate change and bring transformative benefits to our regions whilst protecting and restoring nature.  
 

With the right planning, renewable energy projects can help us give nature a fighting chance. Biodiversity hotspots must be off limits for any form of development and we need to throw everything into restoring and connecting habitat as we roll out renewable energy”.  

 
Environment Tasmania, Energy and Climate Campaigner, Maddie McShane: 
 
“With an increasingly unstable climate, it’s time to prioritise the renewable transition in Tasmania. Tasmanians have a proud legacy as a renewable energy superpower, but it’s important to recognise the need to diversify and expand our renewable energy generation to support our electrifying society. 
 
Tasmania ranks far behind the rest of Australia on rooftop solar and there lies a massive missed opportunity to cut bills and emissions. It’s time to catch up and unlock our full potential. Designing and citing renewable energy zones that benefit nature and communities is critical to powering this transition.” 
 
Environment Centre Northern Territory, Senior Climate Campaigner, Bree Ahrens: 
 
“The Territory has the natural assets to become Australia's renewable energy leader, but we need to move faster. With strong planning and environmental regulation we can help secure a safe climate future while safeguarding the Territory’s nature. 
 
More battery storage, greater investment in the grid and reinstating our renewable energy target will help deliver more affordable and reliable power for Territorians. With parts of the Territory set to become unlivable by 2070 due to climate change, we need to act now.” 
 
Environment Victoria, Senior Climate and Energy Advisor, Dr Kat Lucas-Healey: 
 
“A decade ago, Victoria had one of the dirtiest electricity grids in the world. Today, 40% of Victoria’s electricity comes from clean renewable energy. There is still a long way to go to reduce climate pollution down to zero. 
 
“Renewable energy projects that genuinely protect nature and respond to local concerns have the best prospects. Fast-tracking must not come at the expense of best practice public consultation and environmental assessment. There is also huge potential to expand smaller-scale renewable generation and storage projects, making use of rooftops in the cities and improving community energy resilience in the regions.” 
 
Queensland Conservation Council, Senior Campaign Manager, Stephanie Gray: 
 
“Queensland is blessed with natural advantages and we have a strong pipeline of renewable energy projects, but disappointingly, the Queensland Government is not capitalising on this exciting economic opportunity.  
 
“Instead they’re creating policy uncertainty and dragging their feet on the Renewable Energy Zone planning we need to responsibly manage the energy transformation.” 
 
Conservation Council of Western Australia, Executive Director, Matt Roberts: 
 
"We are already seeing the impacts of climate change in our day-to-day lives. To protect West Australians and our natural environment from increasing climate impacts like heat waves, fires, and floods, we urgently need to, as a state, raise our ambition and funding to deliver the renewable energy we need. 
 
“WA emissions have risen by 17% since 2005, far exceeding any other jurisdiction, with no clear pathway to the reductions we have committed to. We can cut climate pollution, while continuing to meet our energy requirements by having a robust renewable energy target, creating certainty and that clear pathway forward. 
 
“Strong state and federal environment laws are the way to enable community confidence and the environmental protections we need to deliver an energy transition that is fast and fair.” 
 
ENDS 

Media contact: Madeline Hayman-Reber  
E: [email protected] M: 0404 935 157 

Note: Spokespeople are available for comment on request 

23rd June 2025

Conservation councils have come together to release a report tracking renewable energy progress across Australia’s states and territories. With only half of all threatened species in NSW expected to survive the next 100 years and climate change a major driver of species loss, we need urgent action. Renewable energy is critical to decarbonise our electricity supplies and address climate change, but the energy transition should not proceed at the expense of local ecosystems.

Key findings

• NSW is currently ranked fourth out of seven states and territories on the percentage of energy currently from renewable sources. We need to wean ourselves off fossil fuels – last year, 63% of our energy needs were met by coal or gas.  
• To get there, we need a timely renewable energy transition. There’s an untapped opportunity to get more solar panels and batteries onto homes and businesses fast.
• Most states and territories have enough renewable energy project proposals ‘in the pipeline’ to meet 2030 renewable energy targets. For NSW, we could meet our targets 2.5 times over.
• But a lot of projects never get built, held back by planning system barriers and community concerns, including on nature impacts.
• The NSW Government is tackling planning system roadblocks through a reform package announced late 2024, but there’s more to do to expedite the transition whilst simultaneously ensuring genuine concerns on nature and renewables are addressed
  
  

Renewable energy is a once-in-a-generation opportunity

The report finds that nature protection and improved regional planning are the missing link to a successful energy transition.

With the right planning, renewable energy projects can help us give nature a fighting chance. Biodiversity hotspots must be off limits for any form of development, and we need to throw everything into restoring and connecting habitat as we roll out renewable energy. 

Renewable projects like the Blind Creek solar farm in NSW combine renewable energy with farming and biodiversity restoration. Communities have a say in and benefit from the project.

What we’re calling for

NCC is working with communities in NSW Renewable Energy Zones and other allies to push for improved strategic planning of renewable projects to promote habitat protection, restoration and connectivity. We’re engaging with the NSW government on the Biodiversity Conservation Act reform and development of the NSW Nature Strategy.

Click here to read the report

Voices for the Valley: Rising Up Against NSW's Largest Coal Mine

Watch the trailer:

This powerful short documentary, created by 19 year old filmaker Jess Nipperess, tells the story of Wollar and the Mudgee region, where locals have spent over two decades resisting the devastating impacts of coal mining. 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. 

We’re at a critical point right now to stand with Wollar, share their story, and push back against the expansion of a coal mine that has already taken too much.   

By hosting a screening for your group, organisation or friends, you can share the story and support the attendees to sign up to write a submission opposing the Moolarben expansion. We need 1000 submissions, and to get there we need your help. We’ll help you get started with resources, a screening guide, a draft program for the screening and 1-1 calls. 

FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW TO EXPRESS INTEREST IN ORGANISING A SCREENING 

MEDIA RELEASE 
28th May 2025 

The Nature Conservation Council of NSW (NCC), Rising Tide, and the Knitting Nannas have staged a protest outside Yancoal Australia’s AGM to protest their plans to expand their controversial Moolarben coal mine, which will clear over 100 hectares of endangered koala habitat. 
 
Three youth climate advocates also attended the AGM to put questions to the company on its planned expansions and the impacts on threatened species. 
 
Yancoal is currently seeking state and federal approval to expand its destructive Moolarben open cut thermal coal mine in the Mudgee region, on First Nations Wiradjuri Country in NSW.  
 
The mine expansion poses a serious threat to the survival of koalas and other threatened species like the Regent Honeyeater, a critically endangered bird species –– of which there are only 250-350 individuals left in the wild.  
 
In August last year, Lock the Gate Alliance detected a mother and baby koala within areas set to be cleared by Yancoal for the expansion. The NSW Environment Department has said the project could threaten the survival of the local population –– potentially causing regional extinction.  
 
Yancoal plans to expand the mine right up to the border of one of NSW’s oldest conservation reserves, the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve –– an important local tourist spot.  

According to Market Forces, Yancoal paid $0 in tax for the financial year of 2020/2021. 

Statement attributable to Manjot Kaur, NCC Coal Campaigner and Mudgee local: 
 
“Koalas are on the pathway to extinction, fueled by climate change and habitat destruction. Yancoal’s proposed Moolarben koala killing coal mine cannot go ahead. 
 
“We’re here at the AGM to tell Yancoal the community doesn’t want this destructive coal mine expansion going ahead.

“Mudgee is lucky to be so close to the incredible bushland at the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve. No one wants to visit a regional park and see a giant hole in the ground. 
 
“The NSW Government has emissions targets, which they’re projected to fall well short of meeting. NSW communities, including Mudgee, are already feeling the impacts of climate change with increased floods and fires.  
 
“We can’t afford any new coal mines and expansions –– not just for the sake of our endangered wildlife, but for people and communities already being hit with climate fuelled disasters.” 
 
Photos available here: 
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rKZhbHZiQgKScZJRhfdVSeVpwRRd5aN6 

ENDS

Media contact: Madeline Hayman-Reber 
E: [email protected] M: 0404 935 157 

Note: Spokespeople are available for comment on request 

MEDIA RELEASE 
8th May 2025 

The Nature Conservation Council of NSW (NCC) has welcomed today’s announcement that major renewable energy projects have been granted grid access in the Central West of the state, unlocking a huge wave of clean power that will help transition the state away from unreliable coal-fired energy. 

The 7GW of projects, which include wind, solar, and battery developments, have today received access rights to connect to the grid through NSW’s first Renewable Energy Zone. 

This not only marks a major milestone, but a turning point for the state’s energy future. However the NCC is calling for strong environmental standards to ensure nature is protected and restored as the energy transition gathers pace. 

Quotes attributable to Nature Conservation Council CEO Jacqui Mumford:

“Today’s approval of grid access will set off an avalanche of cheap, clean electricity. It’s enough to fully power four out of every five homes in NSW.” 

“This summer showed that coal-fired power stations are too old to reliably power our grid, with coal breakdowns already causing price spikes. Getting these renewable energy zones online isn’t just good for the climate - it’s essential for reliable, affordable power.” 

“Many projects still need to pass environmental assessments, and we’re calling on developers to make sure their projects create benefits for nature, such as revegetating creek lines and restoring endangered habitats.” 

“The construction of transmission lines to deliver this cheap, clean power to NSW homes and businesses can’t come quickly enough.” 

ENDS 

Media contact: Madeline Hayman-Reber 
E: [email protected] M: 0404 935 157 PH: (02) 7208 9482   

Note: Spokespeople are available for comment on request 

MEDIA RELEASE
31 March 2025

Nature Conservation Council NSW (NCC), the state’s leading environmental advocacy organisation, has called on Centennial Coal to clean up its act as the Independent Planning Commission (IPC) has today approved the transfer of polluted water to a dam that discharges into Sydney’s drinking water supply.

This is a temporary solution to a problem that needs an ecologically responsible and scientifically robust long term fix. The IPC has noted the lack of a closed loop system, with discharged water entering the Sydney drinking water catchment.

“Centennial Coal has deliberately left it to the last moment to alert regulators that it will need an alternative solution to managing wastewater,” said Jacqui Mills, Senior Climate and Energy Campaigner at Nature Conservation Council of NSW.

The Mount Piper power station will be offline for maintenance in April and May, meaning it can’t take Centennial’s wastewater for use in its cooling towers.

“Thanks to community opposition, this is a ‘less bad’ outcome than what was originally proposed: to dump the dirty water into the dam over a 15-year period, yet the situation could still have been avoided,” said Ms Mills.

“We know that Centennial Coal has enough underground water storage capacity. They’ve chosen to pollute instead, and the regulator has let them get away with it.

“Dirty water discharge will far exceed ANZECC water quality standards for salt, which is toxic to species like platypus. 

“It’s not good enough and the ecologically sensitive areas around this destructive coal mine need better protection.

“The Springvale Water Treatment Plant was meant to be the solution to Centennial Coal’s dirty water problem. We know now that it is not sufficient to treat the huge volumes of water generated by Centennial Coal’s intensive coal mine methods damaging aquifers in the pristine environment adjacent to the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.

“This pollution is just the tip of the iceberg. There are millions of litres of wastewater stored underground in Centennial coal mines, and they are waiting for an opportunity to dump the lot into the river to enable mine expansion.

“This must not be allowed. 

“We are calling for an urgent independent public inquiry into Centennial Coal’s operations in the Gardens of Stone area to protect our water, environment and health.”

ENDS

Jacqui Mills, NCC Senior Climate Campaigner, is available for comment.
E: [email protected] M: 0415 640 211

Background

• The company applied to release up to 42ML/day of waste water to Thompsons Creek Reservoir - which discharges to the Coxs River catchment -  consisting of up to 24ML/day untreated water (filtered for sediment only but not pollutants or salt). SSD-7592 MOD11 was submitted to cover the period from April to May 2025 when EnergyAustralia’s Mount Piper coal-fired power station is offline for maintenance and unable to take mine waste water for use in its cooling towers.
• This was approved by the Independent Planning Commission on 28 March 2025.
• Following environmental group advocacy and interagency discussion, the amended proposal was significantly narrowed in scope, and involved less environmental harm, than the original proposal from Centennial which was to discharge to the reservoir over successive power station outages for the life of the plant (up to 15 years). Releases of water from the reservoir into the riparian environment are limited to smaller volumes (less than 1ML/day) during the outage periods. 
• Centennial Coal also has a stocktake of wastewater stored within its mines that is interrupting coal operations and expansion plans, and it intends to submit a second proposal in the first half of 2025 to discharge much bigger volumes of water directly into Wangcol Creek which runs through the world heritage area. 
• Centennial has by-passed technology that was established to effectively clean the wastewater of heavy metals, brine and salt toxic to aquatic life in the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. 
• These developments follow withdrawal in November 2024 of previous unapproved modification proposals that sought to discharge 10ML/day of dirty water directly into Wangcol Creek to address the water storage problem and prepare for the Angus Place West mine proposed expansion. 

• Water experts have previously warned that blending or dilution of dirty water with treated water will exacerbate, rather than address, pollution of the Sydney drinking water catchment. LINK

• The overall intent is to keep EC levels (a measure of salinity) at 600EC, double the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council water quality guideline values for storages and streams (ANZECC 2000).  
• High salinity levels are of concern. Higher salinity means lower oxygen, which reduces food for platypus. Elecro-receptors on their bill locate prey, however salinity disrupts these, they can’t find food and starve to death.

• Centennial mining operations occur underneath and adjacent to the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area, a place with 80 rare and threatened species and 16 threatened ecological communities. Intensive mining methods have destroyed aquifers, resulting in drying out of endangered upland Temperate Highland Peat Swamps on Sandstone (THPSS EPBC Act). 
• Over a 23-year period, Centennial has been found to have breached its environmental licence more than 1400 times across 7 coal mine sites in the Greater Blue Mountains region. LINK
• Discharge of stored water would clear the way for Centennial to prepare for its extension plans for the proposed Angus Place West coal mine capable of producing 2 million tonnes of coal annually. The Environmental Impact Statement for Angus Place West project is expected in Q2/3 2025.

MEDIA RELEASE
20th March 2025 

Community leaders from the Hunter and New England Renewable Energy Zones have travelled to NSW Parliament House to urge politicians from all parties to get behind the renewable energy transition and to ensure it benefits both communities and nature.

Representatives of community groups in the New England and Hunter Renewable Energy Zones joined Nature Conservation Council NSW (NCC) to call for stronger planning laws, environmental protections, and local engagement to ensure clean energy development safeguards wildlife, restores degraded landscapes, and creates long-term prosperity for the regions.

“Climate change is one of the biggest threats to nature, and with almost 1,000 threatened species in New South Wales, we can’t afford more delays to climate action and the renewable energy transition”, said Eve Altman, NCC Clean Energy Campaigner.

“What we need is to continue the rollout of renewable energy but to do it in a way that fully takes advantage of the opportunity to do planning and infrastructure right – to build in stronger nature protection, enforce best practice and include nature restoration and protection into the assessment process.

“Renewable energy is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for our regions, with significant investment underway. That’s why we’re working with communities in the Renewable Energy Zones to make sure they benefit and that nature is protected and restored through the rollout.”

Heidi McElnea, Regional Partnerships Co-ordinator, Community Power Agency said:

“In the New England region alone we have 20 renewable energy projects in the pipeline. 

“This represents an exciting opportunity to wean our country off harmful fossil fuels and limit the damage of climate change, while shoring up our country’s energy supply. But we need projects to be clever about site design and placement so we are protecting what’s important while enhancing and restoring damage to landscapes.

“We want the change to renewable energy to happen with communities, not to them.

“Now is the time to make sure we have the right laws and guidelines in place to protect nature.”

Annette Kilarr, Convenor of Climate Action Armidale of Sustainable Living Armidale, and Member of the Community Reference Group (CRG) of the New England REZ North, said:

“The rollout of the New England Renewable Energy Zone represents a significant land-use change for our region and is central to national climate action.

“I have travelled to NSW Parliament to ensure that the renewables transition is good for both the environment and our communities.

“The protection and restoration of nature must be central to the planning process, with place-specific ecological priorities identified upfront.

“First Nations, agricultural, and scientific communities must be involved in co-created regional benefit plans to ensure the transition is regenerative, not extractive.”

Kerry Walker, Spokesperson for Hunter Wildlife Rescue said:

“In the path to renewables, we want the NSW Government to enact its ‘driving ambition to protect what’s left, restore what has been degraded and set biodiversity on a path to recovery’.

“The Hunter region has a long history of coal mining and coal fired power generation. These industries have supported numerous communities and been the backbone of the Hunter’s prosperity.

“We are ready and positioned to lead the transition from harmful fossil fuels and limit the damage of climate change, while maintaining our country’s energy supply and security. But this development can’t be at the cost of our local ecosystems, already under duress from mining activities, housing development, widespread agricultural clearing and extreme weather events such as the catastrophic drought and wildfires that we’ve experienced.

“Large scale renewable projects and the continuing fragmentation of habitat corridors threaten the diminishing native flora and fauna that is critical for our own survival. We must not make the same mistakes as in the past. 

“Now is the time to make sure we have the right laws and guidelines in place to protect nature.”

Peter Coughlan, representative of Hunter Renewal said:

“The Hunter economy, people, and landscape are moving towards a post-coal future. The question is, how well will we manage this change?

“If managed poorly, we risk being left with a degraded landscape and struggling communities. If managed well, we can create a diverse and resilient economy with a thriving natural environment.

“We need strong laws and well-resourced public agencies to ensure coal companies pay their dues and restore the land.

“The NSW Government urgently needs a plan to address mining voids and rehabilitation—one that is research-driven, enforceable, and ensures a future for both people and nature.”

ENDS 

Media contact: Anna Greer 
E: [email protected] M: 0493 733 529 PH: (02) 7208 9482   

Note: Spokespeople are available for comment on request 

Footage of speakers from press conference available here.

BACKGROUND

Nature Conservation Council NSW and a delegation of community groups from Hunter and New England Renewable Energy Zones have travelled to NSW Parliament and launched a statement to press the NSW Government to adopt best practice in the renewable energy rollout. 

The delegation are meeting with Ministers for Parliament from across the political spectrum to advocate for key recommendations outlined in their joint statement, ‘Strengthening NSW Renewable Energy Zones’. 

The delegation is calling for three key recommendations:

1. Genuine engagement and consultation with First Nations communities must remain a central part of the planning, construction, operations and decommissioning of renewable energy projects
2. Identify ecological protection and restoration priorities for each Renewable Energy Zone and require developers to contribute to specific nature positive environmental regional outcomes
3. Develop regional community benefit plans and strengthen developer consultation with communities

These recommendations were developed alongside environment, community, and First Nations stakeholders in the New England and Hunter REZs. They reflect the learnings and desires of people in these regions of the rollout thus far.

17 organisations, including NCC, have signed onto the statement (see full list of signatures below).

The signatories on the statement are:

1. Nature Conservation Council of NSW
2. Community Power Agency
3. Hunter Jobs Alliance
4. Hunter Renewal
5. Sustainable Living Armidale
6. National Parks Association of NSW
7. Climate Action Newcastle
8. Hunter Wildlife Rescue
9. Armidale Tree Group
10. Coal-ash Community Alliance
11. Stringybark Ecological
12. Clean Energy Association of Newcastle and Surrounds (CLEANaS)
13. Wando Conservation and Cultural Centre
14. Ahoy Traffic Control and Labour Hire Services
15. Hunter Community Environment Centre
16. EcoNetwork Port Stephens
17. ACF Community Hunter

MEDIA RELEASE 
7 February 2025 

Nature Conservation Council of NSW (NCC), the state’s leading environmental advocacy organisation, has today called for an independent inquiry into Centennial Coal’s mining operations in the Blue Mountains. This comes after the company recently applied to dump polluted water into Sydney’s drinking water catchment. 

NCC can also reveal that Centennial Coal’s current proposal to dump 42 ML of mine wastewater daily into Sydney’s drinking catchment is just the tip of the iceberg. 

“Centennial’s application to discharge 42 million litres of polluted water per day is bad enough, but it is only the first of a series of plans to deal with its growing pollution problem,” said Jacqui Mills, NCC Senior Climate Campaigner. 

In a recent Non-Government Organisation quarterly update, Centennial outlined its plans to discharge up to 68.5 ML of water daily into the sensitive headwaters of Sydney’s water catchment over two applications. This water would be a mix of treated and untreated water and is polluted with heavy metals and salt toxic to aquatic life.[1] 

“Taken together, this would be a torrent of pollution, and a disaster for Sydney’s pristine drinking water”, Mills continued.  

NCC and the Gardens of Stone Alliance have released a report, Centennial Coal: Environmental Scorecard in the Gardens of Stone, demonstrating the company’s terrible track record through their history of operations around the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. 

“This is not a company that can be trusted to do the right thing.” 

“Over a 23-year period, Centennial has been found to have breached its environmental licence more than 1400 times across 7 coal mine sites in the Greater Blue Mountains region. 

“Centennial’s intensive underground mines have disrupted groundwater, resulting in massive water inflows and flooding of the mines. They currently have millions of litres of water sitting underground across their Angus Place mine, and their Springvale mine. To expand their mining operations, they need to get rid of this water. 

“Not only will this polluted water damage sensitive ecologies and waterways, it will ultimately end up in the drinking water of Sydney’s residents,” she said. 

A previous application to dump wastewater was withdrawn in 2024 (Centennial Coal plan to release more water into Sydney catchment will make pollution worse, expert says - ABC News), however the company has pivoted to a ‘dilute and pollute’ approach and now intends to apply to dump a much larger volume of wastewater. 

Centennial mining operations are adjacent to the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area, a place with more than 80 rare and threatened species and 16 threatened ecological communities. Intensive mining methods have intercepted groundwater and surface water, resulting in drying out of endangered upland peat swamps. 

“Centennial needs to clean up its act.  

“This is an alarming departure from the ‘zero dirty water discharge’ approach. If Centennial gets their way, Sydneysiders will cop millions of litres of polluted water on their doorstep. 

“This is a desperate attempt to clear the way for Centennial’s expansion of their Angus Place West coal mine. We strongly urge the NSW Government to reject this and future proposals. 

“It would be unconscionable for Centennial Coal to release millions of litres of toxic wastewater every single day on our doorstep.” 

ENDS 

Media contact: Anna Greer  
E: [email protected] M: 0493 733 529 PH: (02) 7208 9482   

Note: Jacqui Mills and Australia’s leading expert on water pollution, Dr Ian Wright are available for comment on request. 

[1] documentation available on request. 

Background 

• Centennial Coal outlines its plans for discharging a total of up to 68.5ML/day of water directly (into the headwaters of Warragamba Dam) and indirectly (via Thompsons Creek Reservoir) into the environment within its Non-Governmental Organisation quarterly update, December 2024.  
• To address the historical stored wastewater, Centennial intends to apply to release up to 26.5ML/day into Wangcol Creek (consisting of 16.5ML/day treated water via the water treatment plant and 10ML/day filtered untreated water for up to 4 years). The overall intent is to keep EC levels (a measure of salinity) at 700EC, double the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council water quality guideline values for storages and streams (ANZECC 2000). 
• To address the ongoing influx of groundwater into mining areas resulting from intensive mining methods, in January 2025, Centennial applied to release 42ML/day to Thompsons Creek Reservoir – which discharges to Lake Wallace via a national park – consisting of up to 18ML/day treated water via the water treatment plant and 24ML/day untreated water. This application, designed to cover periods when the Mount Piper power station is offline for scheduled maintenance and unable to take mine water for use in its cooling towers, has not yet been approved. 
• Water experts have previously warned that blending or dilution of dirty water with treated water will exacerbate, rather than address, pollution of the Sydney drinking water catchment. 
• Discharge of stored water would clear the way for Centennial to prepare for its extension plans for the proposed Angus Place West coal mine capable of producing 2 million tonnes of coal annually. The Environmental Impact Statement for Angus Place West project is expected in Q2/3 2025. 
• Centennial’s underground coal mining has disrupted ground and surface water around the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area. To drain the resulting influx of groundwater into underground coal mines, Centennial removes more than 20 billion litres of groundwater every year, interrupting groundwater supply and drying out peat swamps.