Skip navigation
  1. Home
  2. Koala killing mines
  3. NSW mines
  4. Yancoal’s Moolarben

Create your own countdown on howlongagogo.com

On August the 8th, EnvA-CQ provided evidence to the department and Minister Plibersek’s office that Vitrinite had commenced coal mining operations at the site of its Vulcan South coal mine before receiving federal approval for the project.

On Friday 4 Oct an ABC investigation revealed Queensland coal company Vitrinite has been found mining coal and bulldozing koala habitat at its proposed Vulcan South coal mine without Federal environmental approval. Minister Plibersek has not yet stopped the illegal clearing and mining to enforce the law. Read more.

Take Action Now

Yancoal’s Moolarben

  • Koala habitat to be cleared (ha): 113
  • Lifetime Coal Combustion emissions (Mt CO₂-e): 83

Yancoal’s Moolarben coal mine is an existing thermal coal mine located in mid-Western NSW near the town of Ulan, on Wiradjuri Country. Yancoal is currently seeking state and federal approval for a proposed expansion of the mine, Moolarben OC3, which would extract an additional 40 million tonnes of thermal coal until 2034. The mine expansion is set to clear over 113 ha of endangered koala habitat and extends close to the edge of one of the oldest conservation reserves in NSW, the Munghorn Gap Nature Reserve. The NSW government Environment and Heritage Group’s submission on the project says the coal mine expansion threatens koala habitat that is ‘critical to the survival of the species’ and “would significantly contribute” to four other animal species and one critically endangered ecological community becoming extinct in NSW7. Yancoal has acknowledged the project would displace a “critical” koala population.8

Species likely to be impacted: Large-eared pied bat, eastern cave bat, broad-headed snake, regent honeyeater, pin-tailed legless lizard, koala, swift parrot, squirrel glider

Follow local legends fighting to stop the mine, Mudgee District Environment Group, and Mudgee Coal Alert to get involved.