About 50 people took part in a lively protest outside the Resources and Energy Division of the NSW Department of Industry on July 22. The protest, organised by Land, Water, Future and Protect Sydney's Water Alliance, was against coalmining in Sydney's water catchment area.
Wollongong Coal has two coalmines in Sydney’s water catchments — Russell Vale and Wongawilli — and is now seeking approval to triple-seam mine under the catchment for Sydney's drinking water. Triple-seam mining has never been tried before in Australia.
There has been mining in Sydney's drinking water catchment for decades. But high profile collapses, big cracks, pollution events in the creeks feeding the dams and the death of coastal upland swamps that filter and release clean water to the creeks have prompted questions about whether sufficient controls are in place to manage the risks.
Dan Robins from Lock the Gate Alliance told the crowd: "Sydney is the only city in the world to undermine its own drinking water."
Deidre Stewart, a Wollongong resident who lives near the boundary of the catchment area, said: "We need to ask the department to suspend Wollongong Coal's licence in the Sydney water catchment area. Our water is more important than coal.
"The mine will probably only last five years, but the environmental damage will last for generations. Wollongong Coal has also shown disregard for its workers — they only want to cut costs.
"We need to transition away from coalmining and move to retraining workers while creating new, sustainable jobs and industries.".
A copy of Risky Business: Undermining Sydney's Water, a report by the Protect Sydney's Water Alliance of community and environment groups, was delivered by a delegation from the protest to the division's office. The protesters chanted, "Water, not coal," as the delegation entered the building to present a copy of the report to department officials.
The report shows how Wollongong Coal does not meet legislated requirements to be a “fit and proper” operator. It fails to meet the five key tests before it is granted the right to mine under the Mining Act 1992 and has a demonstrated lack of financial and technical capacity. It also has a documented and damning environmental record.
It is time for Sydney to say no more to coalmining in the Special Areas. The water supply for 5 million people should not be put at risk.
See the report here.