The Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) and Moolarben expansions are in the NSW Government planning system. Lock the Gate is currently campaigning against these expansions.
Barilaro’s Strategic Statement on Coal Exploration and Mining in NSW was developed without community consultation and hasn’t been revised by the current government. It still forms the basis of policy and effectively rolls out a red carpet for coal companies seeking expansion. This has resulted in a growing number of expansion proposals. When the Minns government came into power, there were eight coal mine approvals in the pipeline; there are currently 19.
3% of all electricity in NSW is used to operate coal mines.
The International Energy Agency is saying coal demand will need to be reduced by 90% by 2040, if we are serious about our climate goals, and demand is expected to drop.
Mining has a huge footprint from methane emissions, diesel consumption and electricity use. Whitehaven uses renewable energies, but most don’t and aren’t required to, or regulations aren’t enforced. Mining companies are required to have a greenhouse abatement plan, but the responsible NSW department has signed off on management plans that involve 0% abatement and contain proposals as ridiculous as switching off engines when they aren’t needed.
For the 2025-2050 period, we are millions of tonnes of emissions short of where we need to be to even reach the existing (inadequate) goals, and every application for an extension will mean millions of tonnes of overshooting our emissions goals. As soon as a coal mine applies for expansion its total emissions are factored into NSW emissions – even before approval! This is why NSW is now not on track to meet its emissions target. It also means that the emissions of the HVO expansion have already been factored in – just by rejecting this application, about 20% of our expected emissions will be reduced!
None of the expansion projects are compatible with emissions targets without increasing the burden on other industries. The NSW Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has admitted that coal mine expansion will require other sectors to decarbonise more quickly. The EPA has some projects in the pipeline that may make a difference, but that remains to be seen. There should also be a requirement to consider methane emissions in assessing applications for coal mine expansions.
Unlike applications for new mines, expansions are not subject to review by the Independent Planning Commission (IPC), enabling mining companies to repeatedly apply to expand existing mines rather than undergo the scrutiny associated with applying for a new mining project.
The Department of Planning is totally captured by mining industry, and the EPA is taking over planning controls. On a very positive note, NSW Minister for Planning, Paul Scully, instructed the IPC recently that it needs to consider net zero obligations in its considerations.
Lock the Gate’s Campaign Plan
Phase 1 – June/July: Raising awareness
8 July: Public webinar “All you need to know about HVO”
19 July: HVO/Moolarben action outside Paul Scully’s office https://www.facebook.com/events/2436357546550580/
Phase 2 – July/August: Actions
14 August: HVO/Moolarben action outside NSW Parliament
Phase 3 – August/September/October: Advocate
Dates to be confirmed
Rally in Singleton
Register to speak at IPC hearing
250+ submissions
Where applications are referred to the IPC, it’s important that community members and groups make submissions!
There is reason to be hopeful that the Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) and the Moolarben expansion can be blocked. The Net Zero Commission could make its own submissions, and the IPC policy landscape has changed so hopefully the application won’t just be rubberstamped. Also, there are projects recommended by the government that the IPC didn’t approve – for example Bylong and Glendell.
It’s important that we make it clear that there is no social licence for this project, not least considering that NSW is in the top five jurisdictions in the world at risk from climate change.
Reference: Bill Moyer’s Movement Action Plan – eight stages through which social movements normally progress over a period of years and decades. It provides organizers with a map of the long road of successful movements.