Coal Mining Water Study Missing in Action
Mudgee District Environment Group (MDEG) is asking the NSW Government to get on with the Regional Water Study required for the Moolarben Coal Project, near Mudgee in the central west.

While the farming community at Caroona is calling for a water study on the Liverpool Plains, the NSW Government has required Moolarben Coal to conduct a Regional Water Supply/Monitoring Investigation across the three coalmines operating in the Mudgee area as a condition of approval.
Media release

 

Moolarben Mega Coal Mine
Moolarben Stage 1 was approved in September 2007. Mining has not yet commenced.
Felix Resources have now applied for Stage 2 and a modification of Stage 1 infrastructure.
If approved this will create a mega mine producing 17 million tonnes of new coal per year for 24 years

Links to Submissions (pdf)
Mudgee District Env Group (165 KB)
Rivers SOS (95KB)

52 Climate Action Groups-Joint Submission

Community Submissions

C Imrie ( 209KB)

JImrie ( 85KB)

Goulburn River Stone Cottages ( 222KB)

Impacts Moolarben Coal Mine Stage 2 :
(does not include Stage One impacts)

• The unsustainable extraction of groundwater and interference to aquifer and river system due to mine subsidence, dewatering and on site water use.
  
• The removal of a total of 851 ha of remnant native vegetation
  Includes 157 ha of CEEC (Critically Endangered Ecological Communities) that provides habitat to a range of threatened woodland birds including Regent and Painted Honeyeaters, Hooded Robin, Brown Treecreeper, Diamond Firetail (referred under EPBC Act)
  
• Removal of over 11 km of creek habitat in the Murragamba Creek (also rated as significant cultural landscape) and Eastern Creek valleys including two groundwater dependant ecosystems (GDEs).
  
• Removal of five Aboriginal heritage sites of high significance and 16 sites of medium significance. An additional two Aboriginal heritage sites of high significance and seven sites of medium significance will be disturbed. Underground 2 surrounds a significant site in a 100m cliff line (C7 - Site ID S2MC236) containing numerous artworks - hand stencils, animal tracks and animal motifs. The mine has provided only a 55 metre buffer area to protect this area from subsidence.
  
• Cumulative impacts MCM will inflict on this catchment deserve serious offsets and protective measures around important natural and cultural features that are valued by society. There is wide spread support for the inclusion of the Goulburn River Drip Gorge, riparian area and adjacent escarpments into the Goulburn River National Park. This area has multiple values (cultural, scenic, educational, tourism and now a Brett Whitley Mural) and is of national significance. It is also supports a sensitive and connected groundwater system that is poorly understood.
  
  WRITTEN SUBMISSION DUE b 29 April 2009
  See Dept of Planning
  details Moolarben CM Stage 2 &
  Modification Stage One Coal Mine

BRETT WHITELY MURAL rediscovered
at The DRIP GORGE

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Articles, Reports & Facts
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Transforming the Hunter into a Renewable Hub - Green Report

Submission to NSW Task Force on Coal Mining Impacts - Coal affected Communities

How is Coal Toxic -

Climate Futures Bill
Speech by John Kaye Greens

PEAK COAL: Sooner than you think!
What is Clean Coal? Some facts..

 

Tough Decisions on Coal
by Ian Dunlop (former Coal Co. Executive)

Report by Total Environment Centre
Impacts of Long wall Mining
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Media Snippets

Neighbours Dig in..SMH

Mine Fuelsthe Fire SMH

"Mining our water too!"
'Land' Article by Alan Dick
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Quotes:

"Nature is the infrastructure of the economy, it's the best investment."

Robert Kennedy jnr speaking in South Australia
Feb 2008. The Stern Review commissioned by the British Government states:
"There is overwhelming evidence that climate change is a serious and urgent issue needing strong and urgent global action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions"

A INCONVENIENT TRUTH

" It is DIFFICULT to get a man to understand something when his SALARY depends upon him
NOT UNDERSTANDING IT"
Upton Sinclair

Community Submissions & Reports on the Moolarben Coal Project

The long term and cumulative impacts of these developments on the groundwater or river system is impossible to assess in the time frame allowed. The integrity and viability of the Goulburn River catchment and the sandstone cliffs and gorges are under threat from coal mining!