Tell Whitehaven shareholders that Maules Creek’s a risky business

Dear friend

It’s time Whitehaven Coal shareholders understood that degrading ecosystems, dividing communities and damaging the climate is a risky business. On Monday the 4th of November, we’re heading to their AGM in Sydney, with our friends at Quit Coal, to explain exactly why. We hope you will join us.

Right now, Whitehaven is progressing plans for its Maules Creek mine – a 2000 hectare open-cut coal mine in NSW’s beautiful Leard State Forest.

The mine will see 1600 hectares of unique bushland and farmland cleared, 700 hectares of which is classified as critically endangered. When fully operational, Maules Creek and its neighbouring Boggabri coal mine will destroy habitat for 396 native species, drain the local water table by up to 6-7 metres, pump 18,000 tonnes of coal dust onto surrounding communities and release 60 megatons of carbon dioxide per year – more than the annual individual emissions of 165 countries, including Sweden, Hungary and our neighbours, New Zealand.

It’s pretty clear that Whitehaven knows this isn’t right. As we speak, they are under federal investigation over claims that it provided false and misleading information in its environmental approval application, which was rushed through earlier this year. And on the very same day as the AGM, 2 former Whitehaven directors will be in Court over undeclared political donations.

Shareholders deserve to know the truth about Maules Creek. Will you join us outside Whitehaven’s AGM on November the 4th to spread this truth?

As if the environmental and social risks weren’t enough, Maules Creek is beset with financial risks. 400km from the nearest port, it faces major infrastructure bottle-necks. Additionally, the project requires an enormous capital outlay and faces an uncertain market as coal prices continue to drop in the wake of a global coal glut. With Whitehaven’s share price now at its lowest level since 2009, these are financial risks that the company can’t afford.

But as the risks are swelling, so too is community opposition. Maules Creek is fast becoming the eye of a brewing storm of sustained public action to protect Australia’s environment, communities and climate against the destructive effects of fossil fuel expansion and proposed environmental deregulation. Over the Summer, 350.org will be supporting efforts like this around the country as part of our Summer Heat campaign.

The fight is heating up and it starts with Maules Creek. On November 4th, join us outside Whitehaven’s AGM to tell shareholders to protect their pockets and the planet by getting out of this risky coal investment while they still can.

In solidarity,

Charlie on behalf of 350.org Australia and Alex on behalf of Quit Coal

P.S. Join and share our Whitehaven AGM facebook event.