CATCHMENT STILL ENDANGERED

Saturday, 27 June 2009 02:57

Big problems remain across the catchment, however, including the issue of secret preliminary licences that seek to establish damaging mine layouts before major projects are properly assessed and approved, TEC said today.

“Planning Minister Keneally is to be congratulated for making a decision that establishes significant protection zones around the undamaged section of the Waratah Rivulet and its Eastern tributary,” said TEC’s Natural Areas Campaigner, David Burgess.

“So much has been wrecked already by the miners and while not entirely ensuring the Rivulet suffers no further damage, the new layout sends a strong message to mining companies that they cannot expect to get away with the dodgy environmental assessment and damage that has occurred in the past.

Unfortunately, Mr Burgess said, a further 300m stretch of the Rivulet will be undermined because of a secret roading and venting approval gained from the Department of Primary Industries in 2007.

“This was clearly a blatant attempt by Peabody to lock in mine layout before full and independent assessment took place. It was carried out without public scrutiny. The Minister’s decision and independent panel review has exposed the poor assessment practices of the mining company and its consultants. The company should be embarrassed by the shoddy data and analysis it provided government and the community. The Government must take concrete action to stop these tactics from being used in future.”

The approval will also see the continued undermining and further damage of a significant cluster of upland swamps, but with some improvement in monitoring and further approval required.

“These swamps are vital to water supply and provide critical habitat to several threatened species. They are set to be mined heavily by all mining companies with access under the Woronora Plateau. The Department of Planning has been severely critical of Peabody’s assessment of the swamps within the approval area and there’s a clear admission that the miners and the recent Southern Coalfields Inquiry have not got it right.

“The drying out of swamps following mining has become a regular occurrence and protection outcomes need to be established in future.

“Pulling back from natural features will not affect the profitability of the mine,” Mr Burgess concluded.