One of Australia’s largest coal mines has been granted approval to expand, raising concerns over environmental damage and threats to endangered wildlife.
The Ulan Coal Mine, located near Mudgee in New South Wales’ central west, has received clearance from the state’s Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure to extend its underground operations. The approval allows the mine to extract an additional 18.8 million tonnes of coal, extending its operational life by two years, now ending in 2035.
Glencore Australia, which owns the Ulan site, is now authorised to extract nearly 330 million tonnes of coal over the next 20 years. A company spokesperson said the decision would help maintain local employment opportunities at the Ulan Coal Complex.
“This modification will provide ongoing employment opportunities for people at Ulan,” the spokesperson said.
But the project has drawn criticism due to its environmental impact. The federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water identified 21 native species at risk from the expansion. About 17 hectares of native vegetation will be cleared. Endangered animals such as koalas, brush-tailed rock wallabies, and several species of microbats are expected to lose key habitat areas.
Environmental groups are concerned the cumulative impact of mining in the region is becoming unsustainable. Mudgee District Environment Group president Rosemary Hadaway described the expansion as “a death by a thousand cuts.”
The site includes sandstone cliffs that provide critical habitat for threatened microbats. More than 630 hectares of land in the surrounding area are expected to subside due to mining activities. Surveys found large-eared pied bats and large bent-winged bats using these areas for roosting and breeding.
The approval documents note that subsidence-related rockfalls could damage breeding caves and roosting sites. These impacts would likely have serious consequences for endangered bat populations.
“There’s a breeding colony, and that should receive maximum protection,” Ms Hadaway said.
As part of the approval, Glencore must establish a detailed bat monitoring program and secure environmental offsets for habitat loss. However, Ms Hadaway questioned the effectiveness of offsets.
“They’ll have nowhere else to go,” she said, explaining that microbats rely on specific sandstone formations that cannot be replaced elsewhere.
The planning department stated that all bat habitats directly above mining areas must be identified. These areas will require separate assessments and approvals before mining can begin. The department also said the mine’s environmental impacts could be “avoided, managed and offset.”
In total, 13 conditions have been placed on the project to address biodiversity, water resources, greenhouse gas emissions, and Aboriginal cultural heritage.
Still, critics remain unconvinced. Ms Hadaway said the conditions will not prevent long-term harm.
“Monitoring tells you when damage has already happened. That’s beyond the point of no return,” she said.
The department’s climate assessment found that emissions from the mine expansion would contribute less than 0.1 percent to the state’s 2030 and 2035 greenhouse gas targets. Glencore must now prepare a Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Plan in consultation with the NSW Environment Protection Authority within six months.
Despite the conditions, environmental advocates argue that approving the mine’s expansion is a setback for conservation and climate efforts.