Rivers SOS logo 18jun09
   Mermaid's Pool on Bargo River

NSW Rivers in a State of Shock

Rivers SOS is an alliance of some 40 environmental and community groups concerned with the wrecking of rivers in New South Wales by mining operations.

These groups can be found on The Rivers SOS Alliance page.

Aim of Rivers SOS
Rivers SOS calls on the NSW government to mandate a safety zone of at least 1 kilometre around all rivers in the state, to protect them from further permanent damage through the effects of mining under, or too close to, river beds.

(Rivers SOS Aims as a 104KB PDF document.)
Latest News
Toxic metals threat
SMH, 18th June 2009
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Water v coal is no contest
SMH Editorial, 15th June 2009 see 2nd part
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Longwall mine plan a threat
to water supply

SMH, 9th June 2009
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Duralie Mine River Discharge
Background  
(This is a 165KB PDF)
Sign the
Rivers not Drains for Coalmines
petition

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Rivers of Shame 2 DVD
The 30 minute film covers the damage to rivers, soaks and aquifers by mining.
more

Longwall mining is a form of underground coal mining which removes the coal, and simply allows the overlying material to collapse into the vacated space.

This can cause:

  • the land above to subside
  • rock shelves to crack
  • swamps, water courses and aquifers to drain away.

It can also cause:

  • methane and other gases to be released
  • minerals and chemicals to be released into swamps, water courses and aquifers.

Waratah Rivulet
Waratah Rivulet
(click the image to see a larger image)

Open Cut Mining is the removal of the surface soil or overburden from a huge area, down to the depth of the mineral deposit. This can be from a shallow depth of several metres up to 1000 metres deep. It forms a huge hole in the ground. Once exposed the mineral deposit is then mined by usually blasting and or digging.

It can cause the release of minerals, salts and other chemicals into -

  • the surrounding ground waters or aquifers.
  • the surrounding creeks and rivers.

It also releases dust into the air carrying these minerals, salts and chemicals for vast distances.

The piles of overburden are equally at risk of contaminating the waters and areas around them in wet times, as the rain water washes through the piles and runs away.

Overburden at Mammy Johnsons
Overburden - Mammy Johnsons River in the foreground
(click the image to see a larger image)
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