30 April, 2015
Centennial Coal’s Springvale mine proposal would pollute Sydney’s drinking water
Centennial Coal has resolved to push ahead with a massive proposed expansion of the Springvale longwall mine project that the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) says would directly discharge 30Ml/day of high salinity mine water into the Coxs River.
NSW Nature Conservation Council Campaigns Director Daisy Barham said the company’s proposal was a significant risk to the health of the Coxs River and ignored the objections of the EPA.
“Centennial Coal plans to pump up to 30 million litres of contaminated water a day into the Coxs River headwaters that then flow into Lake Burragorang, Sydney’s main water supply,” Ms Barham said.
“Under the current proposal, the mine water would be released into the river despite a request by the EPA to either cease discharging or treat the mine water.”
Colong Foundation for Wilderness Director Keith Muir said the Coxs River needed to be cleaned up because it is an important source of drinking water.
“The mine would dump 7,500 to 13,000 tonnes per annum of salt that the EPA describes as extremely large for a freshwater system,” Mr Muir said.
“Centennial can’t expect the Planning Assessment Commission to approve a mine proposal when Centennial has made no effort to clean up its water pollution. Sydney’s drinking water must take priority over coal production and economic considerations.”
Blue Mountains Conservation Society Senior Vice President Tara Cameron said the Springvale projects needs to work within community expectations.
“Our Society has modified and prevented damaging proposals in the Land and Environment Court and the Planning Assessment Commission,” Ms Cameron said.
“This miner has refused the EPA’s reasonable requests to clean up, and it should not be allowed to pollute our drinking water.”
Lithgow Environment Group Vice President Chris Jonkers said: “Miners should not hide their environmentally damaging proposals behind the Mining State Environmental Planning Policy that requires economics to be the principal consideration.
“The EPA says that the pollution of the Coxs River by the proposed Springvale mine expansion is unacceptable.
“The mine proposal should be refused development consent as the toxicity and volume of the proposed mine discharge would kill most aquatic life in the Coxs River.”
REFERENCE
Submission by the EPA to the Springvale Mine proposal
https://majorprojects.affinitylive.com/public/e4d8dd4743e2d152cf4b7837323152d8/Springvale%20MEP_Environment%20Protection%20Authority%20Submission.pdf
MORE INFORMATION
Springvale Colliery EIS: http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/page/development-categories/mining--petroleum---extractive-industries/mining/?action=view_job&job_id=5594
Tags
Coal and gas
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