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Mudgee Coal Alert
Mudgee Coal Alert is a community action group in the Upper Hunter opposing new coal expansions in the Mudgee region.
Our focus is on three large coal mines which operate North of Mudgee on Wiradjuri land: Yancoal's Moolarben Mine, Glencore's Ulan Mine and Peabody's Wilpinjong Mine. Their approvals allow them to produce a combined volume of up to 58 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) until 2038. The three 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.
Climate science and the International Energy Agency have declared that to ensure a safe climate future no more new coal can be mined.
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.
Latest Updates
Net Zero Commission:
Coal emissions threaten NSW climate targets
The NSW Net Zero Commission has released its Coal Mining Emissions Spotlight Report, warning that NSW will not meet its legislated climate targets without urgent action to reduce emissions from coal mining — particularly fugitive methane.
The report finds that current regulatory settings are not delivering the on-site emissions reductions required, and that improved measurement and stronger planning decisions are critical. It also makes clear that continued coal mine expansions are incompatible with NSW climate law and the Paris Agreement, and that governments must begin planning for an orderly decline of coal production.
Key findings include:
- On-site methane abatement at existing mines is essential
- Stronger regulation is needed to deliver real emissions cuts
- Improved fugitive emissions reporting, especially at open-cut mines
- Climate impacts must be meaningfully considered in all coal planning decisions
- Policies are needed to support a just transition for coal regions
In the news:
Ulan Mine Mod 6 back on exhibition following court overturn:
The Ulan coal mine near Mudgee is back on public exhibition after the Land and Environment Court invalidated the State’s approval for a two-year extension that would have allowed an additional 18.8 million tonnes of thermal coal to be extracted.
The decision follows the Court of Appeal’s landmark ruling on MACH Energy’s Mount Pleasant mine, which confirmed that the local impacts of global climate change must be considered in planning decisions. Despite this, Glencore has immediately re-applied, placing a revised proposal on exhibition that presents a single “final mine plan” and asserts that greenhouse gas emissions are not relevant to the assessment.
Key issues include:
- Approval for the extension was previously overturned
- Proposal would enable 18.8 million tonnes of additional coal
- Re-exhibited application replaces 9 previously approved options with one
- Greenhouse gas impacts and concerns are dismissed by the proponent
- Case tests how climate law precedents are applied in practice
In the news:
In the press:
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- ABC News story on UG4 and Groundwater (from: 2.05 - 3.07)
- ABC News: Glencore Australia's Ulan Coal Mine expansion near Mudgee approved By Hamish Cole
- NSW Country Hour, Mon 26 May 2025 Presented by Michael Condon (42:30 - 48:05)
- Continued coal expansionforces all other industries to make faster & deeper cuts to emissions. NSW's Net Zero Commission warns: it won’t be mining that pays. Read more.
- Lock The Gate: As record floods raged, NSW Government quietly approved fifth coal mine expansion
- 'Bad reputation': coal mine bid to expand in koala, black cockatoo habitat by Saffron Howden
- Assessment Report: Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure
- ABC News: "Wollar residents fear for town's future with temporary accommodation bid for coal mine workers"
- ABC Listen: "Country Hour"
Download Maps:
Stop Coal Expansion in the Mudgee Region!
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! Yancoal’s proposed Moolarben OC3 expansion will produce an additional 30 million tonnes of coal, Glencore’s Ulan Mod 6 will produce an additional 16 million tonnes of coal and extend mining operations up to 2035, Peabody’s Wilpinjong Mine is planning an extension to produce an additional 34 million tonnes of coal.
Continuing to approve expansions of mines this size makes a mockery of the NSW target of 50% reductions by 2030. The target of net zero emissions by 2050 will be impossible. The NSW Government has recently admitted that they are already struggling to meet these legislated targets under the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Act 2023.
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.
Take Action Now
Did You Know?
They Don't Pay Tax
The three multinational coal companies operating in the Mudgee Region: Glencore, Yancoal and Peabody Energy pay minimal to NIL tax in Australia while making significant profits that are sent offshore.
They Threaten Tourism
Mudgee is NSW top tourist destination. These mines are adjacent to the Goulburn River, the National Park and Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve (an Important Bird Area). They threaten the leading natural tourism attraction – The Drip Gorge.
They Threaten Our Water
Current coal operations have approval to draw a staggering 24,000 million litres of groundwater from the landscape every year – that’s more than 9,000 Olympic swimming pools!
They're Expanding
The coal mine operations mining leases (MLs) cover a combined area of approximately 300 km2 equivalent to the distance between Chatswood and Penrith. Additional 165km2are held under exploration licences (ELs).