Protect Sydney’s drinking water from coal mine pollution
In 2026, our flagship campaign aims to reinstate strong protections for the waterways impacted by coal mining in the Gardens of Stone region. Stronger water protections are one of the most practical and achievable ways to reduce the impacts of coal mining on the Gardens of Stone while ensuring future decisions better protect this internationally significant landscape.
Our current work builds on a long history of efforts to stop damage to surface waterways and groundwater, which are irreparably impacted by coal mining under the Gardens of Stone.
A key safeguard is the Neutral or Beneficial Effect (NorBE) test, introduced in 1998 to ensure developments in Sydney’s drinking water catchment protect water quality. In 2017, after Alliance member 4nature successfully challenged pollution from Springvale Coal Mine in court, the NSW Government weakened these protections for existing coal mines, creating loopholes that continue to affect decision-making today.
Since then, the Gardens of Stone Alliance has worked with scientists, legal experts, community groups and parliamentarians to restore robust water quality protections. Our advocacy has highlighted ongoing pollution from mine water discharges, the failure of the promised zero-discharge water management system associated with the Springvale Water Treatment Plant, and the need for stronger environmental oversight across the region.
Restoring a strong and durable NorBE test is one of the Alliance’s key policy priorities, as it will help to check the damaging impacts on the Gardens of Stone region more broadly. It would help ensure future mining proposals and modifications can only proceed where they demonstrate they will protect water quality. Reinstating this important safeguard is a practical and achievable step towards better protecting the region’s waterways, ecosystems and communities.
