In 2007 the very large Yancoal/Moolarben Mine Stage 1 was approved to allow underground mining operations within 200 metres of the Goulburn River and surrounding fragile sandstone cliffs and gorges. The project threatens key cultural landmarks including the iconic natural feature known as The Drip, sacred Wiradjuri women's places and an original Brett Whiteley rock painting created in the 1970s by Brett and his daughter Arkie under a sandstone overhang.

The Conditions of Approval for the underground mine require:

• "nil impact to The Drip water supply" and
• "negligible impact or environmental consequences on the Goulburn River."

However, once the damage is done it is irreversible. Mining within 2 kilometres of this sensitive reach of the Goulburn River is an unacceptable risk.

In June 2026, the NSW Department of Planning approved the Extraction Plan for the final longwall panels (LW9–14) – the panels closest to the Goulburn River corridor – despite critical groundwater, geological and ecological information still being outstanding. Mining is due to commence in September this year (2026) continuing until September 2028.

This represents the greatest mining threat so far to the integrity and stability of The Drip gorge and Goulburn River.

Key threats from this underground mining within 200 metres of the river bed and fragile sandstone cliffs and gorges:

• Collapsed longwall tunnels have caused far field movements of the earth surface up to 2 kms
• Valley closure (upsidence) - where the gorge walls pinch together and push the riverbed upward, threatening Arch Rock, pagodas and Corner Gorge (the closest formation, 400 metres from mining)
• Subsidence could destabilise the fragile sandstone landscape in and around sensitive areas of Goulburn River National Park, making The Drip walking track and river area unsafe for recreational and visitor use
• Underground mining risks fracturing and draining the upper aquifers (groundwater) that flow to the Goulburn River, removing critical base flows in times of drought
• Potential to crack the river and reverse surface and groundwater flow into the mine
• The Brett Whiteley mural on The Drip walk is currently managed by Goulburn River National Park. Yancoal's extraction plan (Moolarben UG4) comes within 200m of the river and could destabilise the area to a point where public access would be removed for safety. The mine's approval requires 'nil impact' on The Drip gorge — to achieve this, a 2km buffer would be needed.

The approval reveals a flawed "staged" process:
The Independent Expert Advisory Panel for Mining (IEAPM) recommended water monitoring bores collect baseline information in preparation for this mining phase. These were only installed in October 2025 - after mining had already passed earlier panels. Crucial groundwater interaction data has still not been provided and is not publicly available.

Monitoring is not protection. Under the approval, Yancoal is entirely in charge of monitoring its own impacts - the fox guarding the henhouse. Monitoring must be independent, real-time, and publicly reported. While the Department's panel has stated that mining must stop if movement exceeds approved limits, the only consequence for breaching conditions is a fine.

The five 1-2 km longwall panels are to be extracted starting at the closest point to the river corridor - any damage will be irreversible and occur at the beginning of mining.

Any "legal fine" could not cover the loss of this iconic natural landscape, loved by many. This risks a Juukan Gorge-style disaster in the Mudgee region.

Mining within 2 kilometres of the Goulburn River is an unacceptable risk.

The Drip Gorge is a significant place for the local Wiradjuri People and should be protected.

Key Links: 

• • DPHI Conditional Approval - June 2026
  • IEAPM Supplementary Advice - Dec 2025
  • Independent Expert Advisory Panel For Mining (IEAPM) Final Report - Aug 2025