Key Sites for Coal Operations in the Gardens of Stone region
The threat to the Gardens of Stone is not limited to existing mines. Centennial Coal is advancing or foreshadowing proposals that could extend underground mining, its wastewater burden and environmental impacts well into the 2030s.
Springvale Mine remains a major supplier to Mount Piper Power Station. As reserves decline, the proposed Springvale West expansion would open new longwall areas, bringing further risks to groundwater, headwater streams, upland swamps and the volume of contaminated mine water requiring treatment or discharge.
Nearby Angus Place is not currently producing coal but continues to generate millions of litres of contaminated mine water each day. Centennial has sought to delay rehabilitation while pursuing Angus Place West, a proposed new mining area that could damage sensitive waterways and biodiversity. These proposed expansions are being presented as important to maintaining Mount Piper’s coal supply, even as the power station moves towards a lower-output role.
At Clarence Colliery, a proposed modification would extend mining from 2026 to 2031. This follows repeated pollution incidents affecting the Wollangambe River, including recent convictions and penalties for unlawful discharges.
Together, these are not minor operational changes. They could lock in another generation of mining impacts across waterways connected to the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. The Alliance is pressing government to assess cumulative effects and properly test alternatives before accepting that new mine expansions are necessary.