It was supposed to be a community open day where Wollongong Coal could explain its plans for the "continuation of its operations" at Wongawilli colliery.
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But it was mainly activists from the Illawarra Climate Justice Alliance and Protect Our Water Alliance who dropped by on Wednesday while the Mercury was there.
The vocal activists crashed the open day at the Dapto Rural Fire Service Station to protest the expansion of the Wongawilli coal mine in the Illawarra water catchment.
Wollongong Coal environmental approvals and community manager Richard Sheehan said the proposed project "was not so much an expansion but a continuation of the current operations".
Wollongong Coal proposes to extend the life of the colliery by five years to enable continued development of the approved North West Mains Development (NWMD), to access the existing Wongawilli Ventilation Shaft.
Approval of the project modification will allow the NWMD to be completed.
But Claire Dunning, the incoming environment officer from the Wollongong Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) wasn't impressed.
She said this proposed expansion would undermine Avon Reservoir, the only source of water supply for over 310,000 residents in the Illawarra region, and would contribute to increased instability of the land and water in the escarpment.
"Wollongong Coal have held this open day to supposedly listen to the community, so here we are. It's outrageous that these mining companies are allowed to carve up our escarpment for profit," Dunning said.
"Sydney and the Illawarra is the only region in the world that allows mining under its water catchment, and the expansion of the disgusting fossil fuel industry is a slap in the face to everyone who lived through the bushfire crisis of last year.
"We need to stop these new mines from being expanded, but also shut down every single existing coal mine and replace them with renewables."
This view was supported by high school climate striker and Illawarra Climate Justice Alliance member Lola Bell.
"Today we hope to highlight the outrage our community holds at the proposed expansion of the Dendrobium mine and raise awareness of the horrible and everlasting effects that long wall mining in our water catching does," she said.
Protect Our Water Alliance member Ali Jane Smith added protecting water, one of our most precious resources, should be a priority.
"It is time for mining companies to plan for a transition for workers and for the closure and rehabilitation of coal mines," she said. "When The Economist magazine does a cover story on the end of coal, it's a clear signal that mine extensions and expansions are a folly.
"Now is the time for the Illawarra to get ready for the jobs of the future - we can manufacture low carbon steel and build the infrastructure for renewable energy right here in the Illawarra.
"Coal mining is our heritage, but it's not our future."
Mr Sheehan would not comment on the issues raised by the protesters, but did invite them in to talk about their particular concerns in an informed way.
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