Three state government MPs will take their concerns to Coalition colleagues after witnessing firsthand ‘‘damage’’ longwall mining has caused in Sydney’s water catchment area.
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Member for Heathcote Lee Evans, member for Wollondilly Jai Rowell and Catherine Cusack, MLC, joined Sydney Water Catchment representatives, researchers and environmentalists as they toured parts of the catchment west of the Illawarra yesterday.
Mr Evans said he was ‘‘concerned personally’’ about the damage he witnessed.
He said formerly swampy areas had become ‘‘bone dry’’ due to seepage caused by longwall mining operations.
‘‘Longwall mining is affecting the catchment...in a way that I wouldn’t expect would be ticked off by any government,’’ Mr Evans said.
‘‘A lot of it’s fractured and collapsed and dry as a bone.
‘‘Those areas normally would have water seeping through it or running through it and it was dry as a chip.’’
Mr Evans said swift action was needed from his government colleagues to address the issue.
‘‘We can’t fix what’s already happening but we can make sure it doesn’t happen in the future,’’ he said.
The Nature Conservation Council of NSW organised the tour following a July report by the Office of Environment and Heritage that found significant damage to upland swamps and the quality and quantity of water flowing into the reservoirs caused by earlier BHP Billiton longwalls.
BHP, through its subsidiary company Illawarra Coal, currently operates its Dendrobium Mine under the water catchment area.
A BHP spokeswoman said: “Illawarra Coal has been mining at Dendrobium since approval was granted by the NSW government in 2001.
‘‘All of our mining activities are undertaken in accordance with NSW government regulations and conditions,’’ she said.
Mr Evans said the damage caused was distressing because ‘‘regulations in place’’ had permitted it.
‘‘The planning for the longwall mining under the swamps wasn’t expected to have any damage...but evidence tells me it’s more than damaged.’’
He said the tour had reinforced his opinion that no mining should be permitted in the catchment area, including coal seam gas.
‘‘It’s pristine bush and water catchment – it’s ridiculous to talk about having CSG in there,’’ Mr Evans said.
‘‘I’ve spoken to Barry O’Farrell on previous occasions and I’ll be reiterating with photos why we should be leaving this area as it is.’’
