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One of Whitehaven’s three foundation mines

Tarrawonga is part of the bedrock of Whitehaven’s business since the company’s formation in 1999 in the Gunnedah Coal Basin.​​

The Tarrawonga open cut mine produces high-quality thermal coal and semi-soft coking coal for export markets with reserves to support more than 20 years of coal extraction. Whitehaven took full ownership of the mine in April 2018 after purchasing Idemitsu’s 30% joint venture interest.

Tarrawonga successfully utilises improved mining techniques to reduce overburden removal costs.
Whitehaven has also recently approved an expansion to its fully approved rate of 3.5Mtpa ROM coal by the introduction of a new mining fleet from FY20.

Operation Tarrawonga mine
Ownership 100% ownership
Commenced operations 2006
Location 16km north east of Boggabri
Type of operation Open cut coal mine
Operating hours 24/7
Production approval 3.5 million tonnes run of mine coal per annum
Stage of Operation In operation
Workforce 180
Rehabilitation
More on rehabilitation
Progressive rehabilitation has been underway at Tarrawonga since seeding first occurred in 2007. By December 2024, approximately 230 ha of woodland habitat has been rehabilitated.

Rehabilitation at Tarrawonga is currently aimed at woodland/forest habitat. Tarrawonga adopted a geomorphic rehabilitation design from 2023 allowing better drainage, less long-term maintenance and a more natural post-mining landscape appearance. It also supports successful restoration of native forest and woodland including the critically endangered White Box—Yellow Box— Blakely’s Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland ecological community.

As the mine rehabilitation progresses, agricultural land capable of supporting pasture for cattle grazing will begin to be incorporated, with the target of 257 ha by closure.

Continual rehabilitation improvement
Tarrawonga adopted a hybrid rehabilitation method to transition to the currently used geomorphic design method, which resulted in a blend of traditional contours and geomorphic design.

Progress

Approvals

Community

Tarrawonga Mine CCC MEMBER DETAILS AND CONTACTS

Community Consultative Committee applications

The Tarrawonga Community Consultative Committee (CCC) is looking for a mix of people who live locally or are members of a local community or stakeholder group (eg social, environment, Aboriginal or industry) to contribute constructively to committee discussions, attend around four meetings a year, and communicate information about the mine’s social and environmental operations between the committee and the broader community. Committee membership is voluntary. Whitehaven employees and contractors are not eligible for appointment to the committee as a community representative.

To make an Expression of Interest to join the Tarrawonga CCC, please review the criteria, complete an application form and return it to the independent chairperson of the CCC, PO Box 37 Gunnedah NSW 2380 .

For more information contact 1800 WHAVEN.

Community representative nomination form
Other stakeholder group representative nomination form

Environmental Management, Monitoring & Compliance

Site Monitoring
  • Air Quality (PM10)=

    Average reading for 24hr period ending at 12:00 am on 12-07-2025

    23.34 µg/m3

    Operational Response:

    No action required – continue monitoring

    PM10: particle matter 10 micron or less in size.
    PM2.5: particle matter 2.5 micron or less in size.
    (C): recalculation of the 24hr average as some data unavailable due to rain, power or communications.
    * N/A: Data Not available due to servicing, power outage or communication issue.

    Noise (LF)23

    Average reading for 24hr period

    12-07-2025
    Day: 7am-6pm
    30.6 dB (A)
    12-07-2025
    Evening 6pm-10pm
    22.9 dB (A)
    12-07-2025
    Nights 10pm-7am
    26.7 dB (A)

    Operational Response:

    No action required – continue monitoring

    LF is estimated equivalent mining noise (LF = low frequency for band 20-630 HZ); Monitoring results may include noise from other sources.
    *Elevated levels affected by non- related mining event.
    N/A: Data Not available due to servicing, power outage or communication issue.
    (C): recalculation of the average as some data unavailable due to rain, power or communications.

    • Weather
    TODAY
    Min
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    Rain
    Wind Speed
    Wind Direction

    Full weather forecast

    Learn more

    Operational Response:

    • Noise reads >35dB may result in action as per the Noise TARP within the Noise Management Plan, if the source is considered to be mining related.
    • Temperatures >25 degrees and/or Wind Speeds >7m/s may result in Operational response according to site Visual Dust TARPs and Meteorological TARPs within the Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Management Plan.
    • Rain received >15mm will trigger surface water inspections pre and post rainfall in accordance with the Water Management Plan and relative TARPs.
All Management Plans are available on the website.

Tarrawonga Mine Timeline

FY05

Development consent approved

FY06

Operations commence

FY10

Mine extension approved

FY18

Whitehaven takes full ownership

after purchasing Idemitsu's 30 per cent stake

Future Planning

100% ownership

In 2018 we purchased Idemitsu’s 30% joint venture interest in Tarrawonga to move to 100% ownership. The acquisition will add about 0.7Mt ROM coal to the company’s equity share of production in the future. Whitehaven will continue mining at Tarrawonga over the next 10 years at 3.0Mtpa ROM coal.

Contacts

Tarrawonga Mine

Contact us for more information, to provide feedback or to lodge a complaint.

General enquiries – 02 6741 5000

Feedback and complaints – 1800 WHAVEN (1800 942 836)

All contacts

Weather Monitoring

View Tarrawonga weather forecast

Blast Notification

Next Scheduled blast:

Friday the 11th of July at approx. 1:00pm

*The time of this blast is approximate and may be within half an hour of notified time
Blast details:

#1376

Road Closure:

Goonbri Road Closure, please allow for additional 20mins travel time

Information updated:

10/07/2025