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 »

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.

The ‘water-trigger’ legislation which Tony Windsor has fought hard for over the past few years has finally been passed to become law. This monumental piece of legislation was passed through the Senate yesterday, Thursday June 20, 2013.
This is huge win for water, with CSG and mining projects now requiring the green light from the Independent Expert Scientific Committee to ensure that these projects will not damage water resources.
This process will allow the Federal Government to step in where State Government has all too often been both the consenting body and a major beneficiary of such projects.
“Federal oversight based on independent science will help protect Australia’s most productive farmland from potential damage and encourage mining companies to pursue projects with lower risk profiles. After seven year fighting alongside local communities for a more balanced mining approvals process, I know farmers and … Read More »

An independent environmental report has identified a litany of deficiencies, missing data, and failures to meet basic planning requirements in plans lodged by the Chinese mining giant Shenhua for a major coal mine on the Liverpool Plains.

The report, by the internationally respected consultants Earth Systems, has found there are such major gaps in baseline data on water quality and geochemistry that “…it is not possible to fully assess environmental impacts”.

It says not only does Shenhua’s 325-page EIS dedicate just a single page to its risk assessment which “appears to understate the likely impacts and risks” but has also uncovered the fact that Shenhua’s plans involve mining on the iconic floodplains – a clear breach of its exploration licence.

CCAG spokesman Tim Duddy said the Earth Systems review was damning of Shenhua’s approach to environmental protection and confirmed the community’s fears.

“From the … Read More »

An Environmental Consultant has been employed by the Caroona Coal Action Group to review Shenhua’s EIS and prepare a submission for our Group. Personal submissions are also essential in ensuring the communities concerns are raised formally.

SUBMISSION TEMPLATE APRIL 2013 Version1

As we have stated before, there are many concerns with the proposed mine at Breeza. Some of these concerns being dust, noise, flora, fauna, water, aboriginal heritage, social impacts, traffic, hazards, soils and loss of agricultural land to mining just to name a few.

To assist you prepare your personal submission, a guide submission template has been prepared. The guide provides the format and compulsory information that is required by the Department of Planning for a hard copy submission. The guide also includes some of the concerns raised at a recent public meeting at Breeza as well as suggestions from members. The concerns … Read More »

The final report of the Namoi Water Study is finally here.

Download the full report: https://www.namoicatchmentwaterstudy.com.au/client_images/1085523.pdf

The water study meetings held on Tuesday 31st July were well attended. Approx. 60 people attended the session at Gunnedah with a similar number attending in Quirindi. The presentation by Schlumberger Water Services (SWS) was easy to understand and included various scenarios showing the risks to our water resources with the current mining development and proposed mining developments. SWS identified data gaps in a number of areas within the catchment as well as a lack of water quality data which obviously impacts the results they have presented.

We need to acknowledge the efforts of the Stakeholder Advisory Group (SAG) led by John Lyle. The commitment these community members made to the study was phenomenal. They attended the many meetings over the life of the study as well as review the presentations and technical reports prepared by SWS. The group worked tirelessly … Read More »