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Note. If the link to the article no longer works, it can be retrieved by clicking (pdf).

6 March 2010
Farmers claim win in BHP fight   (pdf)
SMH, 6th March 2010
1 March 2010
Officials gagged over mine fears   (pdf)
SMH, 1st March 2010
18 Feb 2010
BHP mines set to damage life-giving swamps   (pdf)
SMH, 18th February 2010
30 Jan 2010
Mining 'threat to swamps and rock art'   (pdf)
SMH, 30th January 2010
2 Oct 2009
A Win for Mammy Johnsons River - Duralie Coal Discharge Prevented   (pdf)
Duralie Coal Media Release, 2nd October 2009
10 Sept 2009
Decision opens door for legal action on river   (pdf)
SMH, 10th September 2009
24 July 2009
Mining jobs won't last - our need for water will (pdf)
SMH, Letters, 24th July 2009
23 July 2009
New mine could crack dam floor   (pdf)
SMH, 23rd July 2009
23 July 2009
Black soil, coal and water   (pdf)
SMH Editorial, 23rd July 2009
20 July 2009
The Good Earth.
4 Corners. The conflict between coal mining and agriculture in the Gunnedah Basin.

15 July 2009
Toxic waste in town's drinking water  (pdf)
SMH, 15th July 2009
1 July 2009
Traditional Owner further delays Lake Cowal gold mine expansion  (pdf)
Save Lake Cowal, 1st July 2009
29 June 2009
Go-ahead for mining under city's water supply  (pdf)
SMH, 29th June 2009
27 June 2009
Mining imperils our water   (pdf)
SMH, Letters, 27th June 2009
19 June 2009
Labor knew about toxic water threat  (pdf)
SMH, 19th June 2009
18 June 2009
Toxic metals threat  (pdf)
SMH, 18th June 2009
15 June 2009
Water v coal is no contest  (pdf)
SMH Editorial, 15th June 2009 see 2nd part
9 June 2009
Longwall mine plan a threat to water supply  (pdf)
SMH, 9th June 2009
22 Sept. 2008

Rivers SOS's Response to the Southern Coalfield Inquiry Report

On July 10th, the NSW Dept of Planning released its Strategic Review entitled Impacts of Underground Coal Mining on Natural Features in the Southern Coalfield.

As the result of lengthy consideration, and many inputs from our Alliance members, Rivers SOS has prepared and submitted a detailed response to this Strategic Review.

click here to download our 25 page response.
   NB It is a 428 KB PDF.
July 2008

Southern Coalfield Inquiry Report

On 10th July 2008, the NSW Dept of Planning released a Strategic Review entitled Impacts of Underground Coal Mining on Natural Features in the Southern Coalfield.

The report can be accessed either from the Dept of Planning website, or from our website using the following link.

click here to download the 168 page report.
   NB It is a 3.9 MB PDF.
May 2008

The Leaked DECC report

A leaked report from the Department of Environment and Climate Change calls for more consideration for the environment where mining is concerned.

It recommends that watercourses and other sensitive sites should be avoided altogether.

It notes that past impacts have been "devastating" to some rivers, and that "further underground mining has the potential to create more impacts to watercourses. The potential impact on drinking water catchments in the Southern Coalfield and Wyong areas is of particular concern."

click here to download the 56 page report.
   NB It is a 4 MB PDF.

pp. 25 - 27 of the report covers effects of mining on watercourses, and effects of mine pump-outs of contaminated waste water.

Rivers SOS Media Release - this is 114KB PDF.

8 May 2008

Rivers of Shame 2 DVD

Rivers of Shame 2 DVD was launched in NSW State Parliament Theatrette on Thurs. 8th May 2008.

Speakers at the launch included Lee Rhiannon, Phil Costa and Pru Goward.

The film covers the damage to rivers, swamps, springs, soaks and aquifers by mining.

The film runs for 30 mins. There is a short 15-minute version of the film available at the same cost.

Copies of the film are available for $5 each for individuals,
or $30 each for business.
Prices include postage.   Orders to -

Rivers SOS, PO Box 73,
Douglas Park, NSW 2569

Enquiries to riverssos@riverssos.com

Feb. 2008

Rivers SOS 2020 Summit Submission

Rivers SOS prepared a submission in the following category for the 2020 Summit

    Topic 3: Sustainability, population, climate change and water
    b) How does Australia best plan for its long-term water needs?

Click here to access a 37KB PDF of the submission.

27 Jan. 2008

BHP Billiton's mining operations are now fracturing the bed of the Nepean River.

Hundreds of methane gas vents have erupted in a formerly pristine stretch of the Nepean River south west of Sydney.

BHP Billiton have admitted that the first of their four underground longwall coal mines at this site has caused "minor releases of gas at the surface of the Nepean River".

24 Jan. 2008

Mining Threat To Sydney's Water Supply

"Rivers SOS condemns BHP-Billiton's proposal to expand its Dendrobium coal mine in Sydney's southern water supply catchment area," says the group's secretary, Julie Sheppard. "

This contentious mine, which received conditional approval in 2001, undermines the Avon and Cordeaux dam catchments to the west of Wollongong."


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