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.

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.

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."

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.

Rivers of Shame 2 DVD

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

Rivers SOS 2020 Summit Submission

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

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

News Release 27 January 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".

News Release 24 January 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."