3 July, 2014
Baird Government must ban coal and gas in Sydney’s drinking water catchment
The Nature Conservation Council of NSW is calling on the Baird Government to go beyond the recommendations of the NSW Chief Scientist and ban coal mining and coal seam gas development in Sydney’s drinking water catchment. [1]
The NSW Chief Scientist Mary O’Kane has recommended in her report [2] that a comprehensive monitoring program be developed to measure water contamination and loss resulting from longwall coal mining in the drinking water catchment for Sydney’s population of more than 4 million.
“Professor O'Kane’s report acknowledges coal mining is having negative long-term impacts on Sydney’s drinking water, yet her main recommendation in response to this threat is simply to improve data collection,” NCC Chief Executive Officer Kate Smolski said.
“By the time significant water loss or contamination has been detected it may be too late to do anything about it. The government must protect this vital resource by banning coal and gas developments in the catchment once and for all.”
Professor O’Kane’s review found that water contaminated by mining could be treated to make it fit for drinking, and recommended upgrading infrastructure to enable this to occur.
“We believe this is an irresponsible way to manage such a precious resource for more than 4 million people,” Ms Smolski said.
“Allowing mining companies to contaminate our water and then expect taxpayers to foot the bill for making it fit to drink is unacceptable.”
Ms Smolski said state planning laws put the interests of coal mining companies ahead of citizens.
“The government is continuing to approve these types of development against the advice of the Sydney Catchment Authority [3], the that was body set up to ensure Sydney has a safe, clean and reliable water supply,” Ms Smolski said.
“This lamentable situation was demonstrated again recently when the Planning Department over-rode the advice of SCA and the Office of Environment and Heritage to approve the expansion of the Metropoilitan Colliery. [4]
“We already know that mining is draining about 3 billion litres a year from the water supply, enough to fill 1,200 Olympic-sized swimming pools. Given that long-term forecasts are for lower rainfall and less run-off as a result of climate change, the government must not allow our catchment to be degraded further by coal mining.”
REFERENCES
[1] http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/coal-seam-gas-water-monitoring-not-good-enough-chief-scientist-20140702-zstfg.html#ixzz36LfnGMw0
[2] On measuring the cumulative impacts of activities which impact ground and surface water in the Sydney Water Catchment,
http://www.chiefscientist.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/44485/140530_SCA-Report-Final-Combined.pdf
[3] Now amalgamated with the State Water Corporation to form a new entity, Bulk Water NSW.
[4] Planning ignored NSW state agencies in giving coalmining expansion the nod, http://www.smh.com.au/environment/water-issues/planning-ignored-nsw-state-agencies-in-giving-coalmining-expansion-the-nod-20140702-zsjyu.html#ixzz36LexCMtC
Media contact: James Tremain, 0419 272 254 or 9516 0206.
Tags
Coal and gas
Let others know about this issue