Hunter Community Environment Centre

23/09/2026

We invite community to come along to help clean up our mangroves this Sunday.

0.8 tide @ 12:30PM. Meeting at Elizabeth Street Boardwalk. 🌳

22/09/2026

15/09/2026

The Big Swiftie is an icon of regional resistance to the destruction of habitat, water resources and sacred Gomeroi country in Northwest NSW from coal mining.

This giant sculpture was created in collaboration with artists and over sixty community members back in January in Newcastle, and this October, Lock The Gate Alliance will launch the Flight of the Big Swiftie to draw attention to the plight of the critically-endangered Swift Parrot and the threat to habitat, climate, community and Gomeroi Country presented by Whitehaven's Maules Creek coal mine expansion plans, set to be deliberated by the Independant Planning Commission this year.

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🦜The Return of the Big Swiftie - Newcastle
A community craft and training session on how to fly the giant Swift Parrot in Newcastle (Sunday 18th Oct):
https://www.lockthegate.org.au/big_swiftie_returns

🌿Flight of the Big Swiftie - Sydney
A flight of the giant Swift Parrot to the halls of power at Parliament House in Sydney (Wed 21st Oct):
https://www.lockthegate.org.au/flight_of_the_big_swiftie_sydney

✨Create on Country - Maules Creek
A weekend of arts workshops, creativity and celebration of collaboration and community at Maules Creek Hall (Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th Oct - limited spaces):
https://events.humanitix.com/create-on-country

Poster for the Newcastle event below. See the event links above for more info and to RSVP!

05/08/2026

Until midnight tonight, you can lodge your objection to the HVO mine expansion:

🚨 SUBMISSIONS CLOSE AT MIDNIGHT!

This is a key moment to have your say on the largest coal mine ever considered under NSW planning law.

Make your submission and object to the Hunter Valley Operations coal project today: https://www.lockthegate.org.au/hvo_ipc_submission

04/08/2026

Just 2 days left to lodge our objections to the HVO via this link. The deadline is Wednesday 5th, 11:59PM

https://www.ipcn.nsw.gov.au/form/hvo-north-and-south-open-cut-coal-continuation

See the Submission Guide from Lock the Gate Alliance here:
https://www.lockthegate.org.au/hvo_ipc_submissions

🚨 The NSW Independent Planning Commission has extended the submission deadline for the Hunter Valley Operations coal project to Wed 5th August.

This is a key moment to have your say on the largest coal mine ever considered under NSW planning law.

Make your submission today: https://www.lockthegate.org.au/hvo_ipc_submissions

30/07/2026

Lodge your objection to the HVO Continuation project here, before August 5th - that's next Wednesday!

Just over a week ago, numerous people stood before the Independent Planning Commission to speak about what approving the Hunter Valley Operations coal expansion would mean for their lives, their families, and their future.

"I'm here today because I'm fearful for the quality of life that my children will have in a hotter world and also the state of the natural world. I'm opposed to this extension." - Janet Murray, former blast furnace superintendent, Newcastle steelworks.

The IPC's decision is expected in early September. But right now, your voice still matters.

Make a submission before August 2nd: www.lockthegate.org.au/hvo_ipc_submissions

29/07/2026

The City of Newcastle has passed a motion calling on the Federal Government to establish a National Climate Compensation Fund, so council can ensure a safer and stronger city in the face of worsening extreme weather! 👏🎉

The establishment of a Climate Compensation Fund would be a huge step in the right direction, and would protect local councils, and everyday people from picking up the costs of the extreme weather we're going to experience in coming decades due to climate change.

Deputy Lord Mayor Charlotte McCabe, who moved the motion, said: "Every time, it is local ratepayers and council budgets that carry the costs of recovery and repair. As the home of the world’s largest coal port, we are calling for the coal and gas corporations whose climate pollution is driving these disasters to pay their fair share – not just so we can manage and recover after each disaster, but so we can build back better. That is not radical. That is fair,"

The motion passed with an overwhelming majority of support from all but two Newcastle City Councillors.

See the Media Release from the Communities for Climate Compensation here:
https://www.whatsonoz.com.au/news-releases.html?id=1054240&headline=home-of-the-worlds-largest-coal-port-city-of-newcastle-calls-on-big-polluters-to-pay-for-climate-damage&pageNumber=2

15/07/2026

Interest in the state's largest coal mining extension project Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) near Singleton has been so...

11/05/2026

Massive day in High Court this week for Muswellbrook locals who have successfully challenged the Mt Pleasant coal mine expansion in the High Court of Australia over the impacts of coal pollution we're facing right here in the Hunter, and communities everywhere are exposed to.

We wish Wendy, Tony and the team all the success, and will be staying tuned about the High Court's final decision which will effect decisions yet to come on another 17 coal mine expansion proposals across NSW....

https://www.nbnnews.com.au/2026/05/08/upper-hunter-locals-taking-climate-change-to-high-court/?fbclid=IwY2xjawRuEHdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFONVMxQlNrZEdxckVnQ0Foc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHjlYfaW3GZJCZfp7_v393gR4SJ0OE1T3GxyRyLXeNXWmeGZHOCe6_802x2lw_aem_y54IaUx-rp4BsWxRuNV5Hg

The highest court in the land will hear its first climate change litigation case next week. An Upper