Latest coal disaster highlights need to ban coal mining in drinking water catchments

chief jeremy2

MEDIA RELEASE - 3 July 2015
The Greens NSW mining spokesperson Jeremy Buckingham has today said that alarm bells should be ringing for the Baird Government about the dangers of allowing coal mining in Sydney’s sensitive water catchment areas, following the shocking news that at least 150 metres of the World Heritage listed E, in the Blue Mountains have been polluted by the collapse of a coal waste dump from the Clarence Colliery mine near Lithgow.

This comes after the NSW Planning Assessment Commission (PAC) recently recommended the proposed extension of the underground Springvale coal mine for approval despite serious concerns from government agencies that the expansion will affect Sydney water quality and Wollongong Coal are seeking to expand their Russell Vale mine in the catchment area for the Cataract Dam, Sydney’s third largest water storage.

“Alarm bells should be ringing in the Premier’s office this morning following this latest example of a coal mine damaging our precious water resources,” said Greens MP Jeremy Buckingham

“We cannot continue to pretend that coal mining can coexist with drinking water catchments and it’s time for Mike Baird to show leadership and impose a ban on long-wall mining in our fragile catchment areas.

“It is clear that the coal industry simply treats our environment as their tip and sees fines from the EPA as no more than the cost of doing business.

“The Clarence Colliery is a chronic environmental offender and, if there has been another toxic spill from this coal mine threatening the World Heritage listed Wollangambe River, then the EPA needs to get serious by taking them to court where a significant fine can be imposed,” Mr Buckingham said.

Contact: Jack Gough – 9230 2202 or 0427 713 101

 

3 comments

  • This again is information that is used frighten people
    All the information should be looked at before these people are allowed to go to the media.
    The only true wilderness ts between the ears of the greenie

    Like

  • Get a life you wanker! Everything you have in this world comes off the back of electricity produced by coal..

    Like

  • Bernadette Becher

    Thank you for this information and its publication. Unfortunately many are not aware that our Cox’s river (which flows to the warragamba catchment, for Sydney’s Water supply) begins its journey as a swamp, right near Angus Place Coal mine!! I’m sure if Sydney’s population were aware of this, they would feel more than a little concerned.
    As a regular user of the Wallangambe, I am deeply concerned about the Clarence Coal mine and its environmental pollution!!!
    Thank you again for your media release.

    Like

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