Farmers on the Liverpool Plains continue to exist with the uncertainty of what may unfold with the proposed Shenhua Watermark Project. Businesses near and proposed mine site have now been operating with this issue hanging over their futures for almost a DECADE!! This has stifled not only investment and opportunities for local agricultural businesses, but the personal lives of those whose homes are within coo-ee of the mine have been put on hold as they are unsure of whether they will be able to stay in their homes.

Check out our latest video HERE…

Enough is enough!! We need a string government to stand up and stop this mine.

An independent analysis has found serious flaws in the modelling and reporting by an open cut coal mine adjacent to landholders who have lost, or have dramatically reduced groundwater supply. Initial modelling of the mine estimated a 10cm drop in bore levels, but data now shows an average 4m drop in the affected area. As a consequence of the findings the NSW DPI Office of Water has commissioned a review into what has become known as the “Werris Creek matter”.

After concerns raised by landholders above the Quipolly Creek alluvium aquifer were largely dismissed by Whitehaven Werris Creek mine and DPI Water only had the resources to review the reporting of groundwater take by Whitehaven against their licence conditions, Caroona Coal Action Group Inc. (CCAG Inc.) and the local landholders commissioned an independent assessment of the changing groundwater conditions to the … Read More »

Although Whitehaven refuted landholder’s claims that bores were being affected by the mining operations at Werris Creek, an independent assessment has found “it is likely that coal mining operations at WCC’s Werris Creek mine are contributing to the impacts currently being observed at landholders bores”.

UNSW Australia Water Research Laboratory (WRL) has reviewed available information and identified that Whitehaven Coal Company (WCC) has not undertaken the necessary hydrogeological field investigations, monitoring, analysis and modelling work to demonstrate beyond reasonable doubt that activity at Werris Creek mine has not significantly contributed to the rapid declines in groundwater levels within the aquifers about Quipolly Creek. The review found that Whitehaven’s arguments and assumptions in claiming that drought, landholder water use and Quipolly Dam upgrades were solely responsible for bores drying up “are not supported by logical reasoning and/or evidence”.

The draw down predicted in the … Read More »

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Under the legal gazetted definition of floodplain, the Shenhua project is in fact on the floodplain.
Despite what some say, this mine is encroaching on prime agricultural land.
We do not accept the “specialised” definition of floodplain that is being used only for the purposes of the two mines proposed on the Liverpool Plains, in the middle of Australia’s prime agricultural lands.

Even the “strictest” conditions imposed on the project are inadequate to ensure the safety of our pristine water, and it is not hard to understand why.
Once the aquifer has been cracked, damaged, or polluted it not possible to just fix it. No one can “make good” once the damage has been done.
It is that simple.
No report guaranteed no damage to water – the term “minimal” is one frequently used, and is vastly different to the assurances of “zero damage” that we require to allow this mine to proceed.
It is that simple.

Since Hunt’s decision to conditionally approve the Shenhua Watermark Coal Mine, the petition on change.org has over 42,000 signatures and we have received plenty of support through the media. We MUST build on this momentum!

“Be the change you wish to see in the world” – Gandhi

If you think the Shenhua Watermark Coal Project should not be approved you can do ALL of the following:
1. Contact Mike Baird and let him know that he should not approve this new coal mine
2. Contact Tony Abbott and let him know that this project should not go ahead
3. Sign and circulate to everybody you know the change.org petition
4. Circulate this email to ALL your friends, family and colleagues who would think THIS MINE IS A DUMB IDEA!

Why do the Liverpool Plains need protecting??? Watch this video to find out

TOGETHER WE CAN prevent the government … Read More »

The first PAC made a number of recommendations to safe guard mining activities so that the Liverpool Plains and surrounding groundwater aquifers had some level of protection.
Of the 25 recommendations, 19 were rejected.
The Final PAC rejected 3 further issues raised by the community.
This highlights that the consultation process via the Planning Assessment Commission considered the issues raised by the community, however failed to provide a pathway in resolving these issues.
Upon analysis of the recommendations a clear pattern emerges.
IF the mining conditions needed to be more stringent to address the issue raised by the community, but the restrictions would impact on the mining operations then the issues were ignored.
IF the mining conditions related to process or external activities, such as technical working groups then the issues were addresses.
Access the full report outlining the recommendations made and whether the Final PAC determination … Read More »

Come together to protect our food bowl and celebrate gasfield free north-west!!
Gunnedah, Sunday 15 March, midday to 3pm

The PAC Determination Report was released last week and has hit hard. The Commission has recommended that the application be given approval despite the serious concerns raised.
Access the report HERE