Failure of government report into Dendrobium mine

Thursday, 01 November 2001 10:00

"The integrity of the catchments that supply 20% of Sydney's water; the Shoalhaven area and all of the Illawarra's, is still under severe risk. For example, the COI recommends protection for some downstream reaches of the supply area but unless the upstream areas are also secured, water flow cannot be guaranteed. You can't place a Berlin Wall on part of the system, it is an integrated ecosystem," said Jeff Angel, Director of Total Environment Centre.

"The Inquiry has vindicated our views that the so-called rehabilitation methods for stream damage (cracking of rivers, draining of pools and swamps) caused by longwall mining, are not proven nor effective. It also supports our submission that the regulatory system used by the Department of Mineral Resources to manage environmental damage is seriously faulty.

Given the exacerbated risks that Dendrobium creates, a much tougher approach to catchment protection including extensive mining prohibition zones is necessary, " said Keith Muir, Director of the Colong Foundation for Wilderness.

The two groups will be seeking to have discussions with the NSW Government on the COI report and the future of the mine proposal. They regard the decision on the mine as an important measure of the Carr Government's capacity to protect drinking water supplies.