Protection of Drinking Water Catchments

To:  NSW Legislative Assembly

YOUR DRINKING WATER IS DRAINING AWAY.

A vital part of our Shire’s water supply is already suffering from longwall coal mining close to Woronora Dam – and worse is proposed!

Longwall mining is now widely recognised as the cause of damaging subsidence problems, especially in Greater Sydney’s water catchment areas. This extensive form of mining leads to rock-cracks and land-collapses in the ground above.

Metropolitan Colliery is proposing to extend the longwall mining it is currently doing under Waratah Rivulet and under the Woronora Dam storage itself. The Rivulet provides a third of the Woronora’s water. Along sections of the Rivulet the water already disappears into rock-cracks.
A number of streams above other NSW longwall mines have run dry due to mine-related surface cracking. So the threat to our Woronora water supply is obvious.

Our Shire’s excellent water supply – nearly all of it from Woronora Dam – is now under threat from two sides: on one side, State Government says it will locate a huge desalination plant on Kurnell if dam levels fall below 30% (now 35%); on the other it looks likely to sanction this latest longwall mining proposal that will diminish the capacity of the Woronora catchment.

WaterFirst is calling on the Government of NSW to legislate greater protection for our water catchments, especially in “Special Areas”. You can help by joining us and signing this petition.

PETITION TO PROTECT DRINKING WATER CATCHMENTS FROM MINING

To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of New South Wales in Parliament assembled.

The petition of concerned citizens of NSW.

Brings to the attention of the House that coal mining is causing damage to Sydney’s water catchment areas in the form of rock-cracks, and streams above the mines have run dry.

The undersigned petitioners therefore request the Legislative Assembly to:

a) Ensure that drinking water catchments are not subject to surface cracking;

b) Establish underground mining prohibition areas of one kilometre around streams, upland swamps and water supply structures, as well as other areas of high conservation;

c) Ensure effective pollution licensing for underground mines so that companies are heavily prosecuted for damage to streams and water catchments, particularly for causing surface cracking; and

d) Develop a Protection of the Environment Policy that makes drinking water catchment preservation the primary consideration for mining operations in these areas.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Protection of Drinking Water Catchments Petition to NSW Legislative Assembly was created by WaterFirst and written by Graeme Booth (office@ssec.org.au).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.

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