A $30,000 fine for Wollongong Coal spilling coal pollution into Bellambi Creek has caused the NSW Greens to question whether the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) is serious.
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The EPA fine is for an incident last December where 70 tonnes of coal fines was spilled into the creek down to Bellambi beach.
EPA Illawarra manager Peter Bloem said there were two fines which totalled $30,000, for the pollution, and for not properly maintaining equipment.
“Water management at this mine is critical given its sensitive location on the foothills of the Illawarra escarpment and its discharge through residential areas of Bellambi Gully to Bellambi Beach,” Mr Bloem said.
But Mr Buckingham said the fine was “paltry”.
“If the operators of the mine, Wollongong Coal, are unable to prevent such a spill occurring, then they should certainly not be given approval to expand the mine or build coal washeries in the future,” he said.
“I am very concerned that the ‘care and maintenance’ regime at the mine is inadequate and that a much stronger message needs to be sent to coal companies in NSW that pollution incidents from mothballed and closed mines are unacceptable.”
