Drinking water: Call for halt to coal mining as contamination level increases


Iron concentrations in a rivulet that feeds the Woronora Reservoir have doubled since the expansion of the Metropolitan Colliery, to levels which exceed Australian Drinking Water Guidelines by 30 per cent, a study has found.

Until an independent investigation into its impact on Sydney's water supply has been done, a member of the mine's community consultative committee wants the state government to halt operations.

''The mine expansion approval conditions clearly state that there should be no more than a negligible reduction in water quality and quantity,'' said Dr Peter Turner, the National Parks Association-nominated committee member who reviewed the mine's 2012 annual report.

''These requirements are there to protect water supply and must be taken seriously.''

Peabody Energy, which owns the subsidiary that operates Metropolitan Colliery, denied the mine - about 30 kilometres north of Wollongong - had breached approval conditions.

''No performance measures have been exceeded and iron concentrations in Waratah Rivulet are below project approval requirements,'' a spokeswoman said.

Dr Turner also highlighted an attempt by the mine to shift the baseline period used to gauge water quality from May 2010 to the next phase of longwall operations due to start in early 2014.

''The change would mean the contamination increase caused by the first phase of the mine expansion when the water quality had already been compromised would become the new normal'', Dr Turner said.


http://www.smh.com.au/environment/water-issues/drinking-water-call-for-halt-to-coal-mining-as-contamination-level-increases-20131229-301re.html


Time for the cons in government to stop this mining so to protect sydney's population from continuing poisoning themselves by drinking the contaminated water.

Who needs drinking water?

Jobs are more important.

We can buy water from Africa, it will be good for their struggling economy too.

Besides, the readings are only 30% over the recommended level, surely we can go to 80% without causing too many problems.....for the sake of jobs, of course.

The way you dopes post you'd think the mine started in the last 3 months.

try thinking thru the logic of your argument just occasionally.  That way you could confuse us into believing you could possibly make a coherent argument.

longweekend58 wrote on Dec 30^th, 2013 at 7:13am:

The way you dopes post you'd think the mine started in the last 3 months. try thinking thru the logic of your argument just occasionally.  That way you could confuse us into believing you could possibly make a coherent argument.

Who cares when the mine started?

So you agree they should shut down the mine immediately in the interest of water safety?

Ex Dame Pansi wrote on Dec 30^th, 2013 at 7:24am:

longweekend58 wrote on Dec 30th, 2013 at 7:13am: The way you dopes post you'd think the mine started in the last 3 months. try thinking thru the logic of your argument just occasionally.  That way you could confuse us into believing you could possibly make a coherent argument. Who cares when the mine started? So you agree they should shut down the mine immediately in the interest of water safety?

the point was that if you want to blame the 'cons' then you seem to forget it was approved and starred under state and federal labor.

but to you other point, yes water quality trumps a mine.  However, the assumption here is that there is a connection and/or that it is not fixable.   more investigation is needed to firstly prove the connection and if so, put together remediation and repair solutions.

____ wrote on Dec 30^th, 2013 at 6:23am:

Call for halt to coal mining as contamination level increases

Fortunately there are many more 'cons' than there are eco-socialists so sanity will prevail.

Swagman wrote on Dec 30^th, 2013 at 8:38am:

____ wrote on Dec 30th, 2013 at 6:23am: Call for halt to coal mining as contamination level increases Fortunately there are many more 'cons' than there are eco-socialists so sanity will prevail.

What are you talking about Swagman.  You can't even control yor own greed how are you going to control the greed of others to protect your water supply.  Silly person

I wonder if the greens realise that if they succeed in getting rid of mining we won't be able to pay them to hang out on the dole any more. 

Innocent bystander wrote on Dec 30^th, 2013 at 2:41pm:

I wonder if the greens realise that if they succeed in getting rid of mining we won't be able to pay them to hang out on the dole any more.

Oh come on IB you're just worried all the government welfare you're on will dry up.  But use some common sense.  Clean water is basic to survival, whereas if you lose your govt handouts you can always work like the rest of us.