Centennial Coal plans to discharge of millions of litres of contaminated water a day into a stream that feeds into Sydney’s drinking water. This proposal would by-pass the purpose-built water treatment plant that is supposed to treat Centennial's mine waste. The water treatment plant, power station and coal mines were approved as a zero-discharge system.
Centennial plan to discharge diluted mine waste is a part of the company’s broader plan to expand its Angus Place and Springvale coal mines that operate underneath the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area. Plans like these pose serious threats to community health, to water, and to our environment. Conservation groups are calling for a short moratorium on the mine modification proposals to enable development of a long term strategy to be developed that deals with the polluting waste water.
Help stop the damage. Send a quick email to the Premier. Copy the dot points below into into a word processor, work these remarks into your own words, and copy the finished version to Chris Minns using the link below. Its a bit complicated, but, if you don't want to drink mine waste, then the Permier needs to hear from you. Yes, democracy works, when you use the tools provided to influence decision making.
Hon. Chris Minns, MP
Premier of New South Wales
GPO Box 5341
SYDNEY NSW 2001
Dear Premier Minns,
Protect Sydney’s drinking water from coal mine waste
I object to Centennial Coal's proposal to discharge diluted mine waste into Sydney’s drinking water supply.
Please take the steps necessary to facilitate a permanent and effective waste management solution for Mt Piper Power Station and its associated coal mines.
An integrated waste management solution is required for the health of the Coxs River catchment, an important element of Sydney’s drinking water supply.
An improved coal wastewater management strategy is required to address legacy mine pollution issues, ensure future mine discharges do not harm aquatic life in the World Heritage Area and that provides clean, pleasant, low-salt (soft) drinking water for five million Sydney residents.
The current waste management of Mt Piper Power Station and associated coal mines in the Coxs River catchment is a zero-discharge waste management system. This approved system is breaking down as coal mines now produce much more wastewater than the power station requires.
By the end of the year mines associated with this power plant want to pump over 50ML/day of mine waste, potentially causing unacceptable releases to the Coxs River catchment.
Salt and brine associated with waste management are not adequately being contained beside the power plant, adding to the pollution of the Coxs River.
Centennial Coal and Energy Australia intend to propose a series of consent modifications that change the zero-discharge waste management system for the mines and power plant into a dilute and discharge system. The new system would release increasing volumes of mine wastewater into water supply catchment.
These proposed consent modifications by Centennial Coal will cause significant impacts and should not be determined through a series of minor consent modification proposals.
A moratorium on further consent modifications so that a strategic integrated waste management solution can be prepared that protects Sydney’s water supplies from coal pollution.
Yours sincerely,
Your name
Address
If you have the time, please also copy your email to:
The Hon. Penny Sharpe, Minister for the Environment, and Minister for Energy
The Hon. Rose Jackson, MLC, Minister for Water
The Hon. Paul Scully, MP, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces