Everyone who loves Sydney tap water should fill their glasses and toast the decision of coal company South32’s decision abandon plans to expand its Dendrobium mine next to the Avon Dam, a critical part of the city’s drinking water supplies.
The company informed the market today it would not proceed with the proposal that is currently being assessed by the NSW Planning Department, and will instead focus on its mines at Appin.
“This is great news for everyone who loves Sydney’s great tap water,” Nature Conservation Council CEO Jacqui Mumford said.
“As the Independent Planning Commission found last year, South32’s longwall mining proposal would probably have polluted and reduced water flowing into Sydney’s dams ‘in perpetuity’.
“In an era of climate change and with Sydney’s population expanding rapidly, we should treasure every drop and not let a coal mine pour it down the drain.”
Ms Mumford said the project also have drained and killed 16 wetlands which are listed as threatened ecosystems.
The mine’s projected climate emissions would have undermined the NSW Government’s target of net-zero emissions and international efforts to keep the climate safe.
REFERENCES
[1] https://pp.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/dendrobium-mine-extension-project-0