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The Gardens of Stone Alliance is campaigning to stop coal mining pollution in the Lithgow region and protect the waterways the flow into Sydney’s drinking water catchment. For years, coal mines have discharged large volumes of contaminated water into local creeks and swamps, damaging endangered wetlands, fragile pagoda formations and downstream waterways. A water treatment plant that was meant to operate as a “zero discharge” system has not delivered on its promise, and weakened water quality rules have left regulators unable to properly enforce environmental protections.

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Environmental assessments fail to protect threatened species

Submitted by keith on

The environmental impact assessment for walking tracks and other visitor facilities are failing to adequately protect threatened species and environmental assets. The assessment for the Lost City track in the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area estimated a potential 15% loss of a threatened plant population. This impact didn't trigger public exhibition or further environmental assessment and points to a fundamental flaw in the existing regulations.

Briefing - Problems with Springvale’s Water Treatment Plant

Submitted by keith on

Problem #1 - the approved no discharge design no longer works: A $250 million water treatment plant, commissioned in 2019, faces critical issues. It was designed to be a no-discharge scheme, meaning treated waste was meant to be released as water vapor into the atmosphere through the Mt Piper Power Plant's condensers. However, the plant often operates at much reduced capacity or idles due to the rise of green energy sources, reducing by many megalitres a day the plant’s need for coolant water.

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