18 December, 2014
Baird Government backs massive expansion of coal mining in Sydney’s drinking-water catchment
The NSW Government is backing plans for a massive expansion of underground coal mining near Wollongong that will further threaten Sydney’s drinking-water catchment.
The Planning Department has recommended Wollongong Coal be allowed develop longwall panels in an area south-east of Cataract Reservoir in the Sydney Catchment Authority’s Metropolitan Special Area and Dam Safety Committee notification area.
The project would result in the extraction of 4.7 million tonnes of coal over five years and undermine half the water-storing swamps in the immediate vicinity.
The matter has now been referred to the Planning Assessment Commission for final approval because of the high level of public opposition to the project.
“This project would undermine one of the most sensitive parts of our drinking-water catchment, an area so special unauthorized bushwalking carries huge fines,” NCC CEO Kate Smolski said.
“In 2013, the Sydney Catchment Authority said mining under a Notification Area should not happen, but today the Department of Planning has ignored their advice, placing our water at risk.
“The government’s own report recognises the risks this project poses to surface and groundwater, and acknowledges more than half of the local water-storing swamps will be directly undermined.
“Undermining the drinking-water catchment for Sydney, a city of more than four million people, makes no sense and should not be allowed.
“By recommending this mine for approval, the government has again put the interests of big coal miners ahead of the broader community.
“The NSW Government should place a permanent ban on mining and coal seam gas activities in the state’s drinking water catchment areas if they are serious about securing our water supply.”
Coal mines in the Sydney Water Catchment Special Areas already drain about 3 billion litres a year from the water supply — enough water to fill 1,200 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
There is no date set for the Planning Assessment Commission’s public hearing.
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Coal and gas
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