Sydney’s drinking water supply may be in danger from underground coal mining. But despite serious warnings of irreparable damage, the mining company still plans to expand its operations
Although it was first thought drought was to blame, streams and upland swamps that feed Sydney’s Prospect Reservoir have been losing water for some time because of the mining.
The water drains down to the mines through a system of cracks and is lost forever.
The water supply is not the only concern. Endangered ecological communities and species in the surrounding pristine wilderness zone are also threatened.
Even though Sydney has a Catchment Authority to manage its water supply, it has no power to stop coal mining or coal seam gas development within the catchments. Instead those decisions are made by a Planning Department which conservationists say too often puts private company interests ahead of clean water.
Tell your elected officials to urge the Department of Planning to stop mining development that threatens Sydney’s water supply.
We, the undersigned, insist that the threat underground mining poses to Sydney’s water supply be immediately and adequately addressed and expansion halted.
A special report by ABC News Australia stresses concerns by experts that any future expansion of underground coal mining will cause irreparable and serious long-term and damage to Sydney’s catchments that supply water to over four million people.
Damage to the surrounding pristine wilderness area are also reason for concern, and together these threats warrant taking immediate and definitive action to protect these valuable and essential natural resources.
We request that the Department of Planning put interests of the public ahead of interests of private companies and do whatever is necessary to protect Sydney‘s water supply..
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