HUME Coal's recent Sutton Forest coal mine plans "change nothing" for Southern Highlands Coal Action Group (SHCAG).
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Following the release of Hume Coal's mining plans last Friday, SHCAG co-ordinator Tim Frost said this changed nothing and SHCAG would continue to resist coal mining in "prime agricultural country".
However, the group was pleased that after several years, Hume Coal had released plans for coal mining in area.
"It was long overdue and about time they adequately informed the community," Mr Frost said.
However, concerns were still present with Mr Frost referring to the plan as "half a plan" because it made "little, if any mention of the most important consideration of all, the water".
"The local community is not interested in how Hume Coal intends to make profit of mining," Mr Frost said. "We are interested in the mining effects on the community with the most important being water and health."
Hume Coal's coal mine proposal runs off a mining design called the Pine Feather System which will include a series of panels excavated 70-180 metres underground by partially automated machinery in the shape of the branches and needles of a young pine tree. Hume Coal has said the system would selectively extract 35 per cent of coal from the panels.
However, Mr Frost questioned the extraction of 35 per cent of the coal and said "what on earth makes you think they will leave any coal behind?"
Mr Frost said the Pine Feather System was similar to the system used at the closed Medway mine which resulted in a drop in water table. Court documents said groundwater experts found that as a result of the coal extraction in the Medway mine, voids were created and water flowed from the overlying regional aquifer system in the sandstone into the voids and as a result the water table was lowered.
"The Sutton Forest mine will be 30 times larger," Mr Frost said. "They say there will be no long-term impact, but the evidence is in lowering of the water table of the Medway mine."
However, despite concerns, Mr Frost said Hume Coal was doing the "best job it could" and as a result of the activities of SHCAG and other environmental groups, the miners had started to "behave themselves better".
This follows the statement by Hume Coal's mining planning manager Alex Pauza who said the mine's surface infrastructure would be about 150ha with limited exposure as it would be "tucked away" behind the landscape.
"We are pleased it won't be an eye sore, but there is a danger there with it being out of sight and out of mind," Mr Frost said.
Councillor Jim Clark shared the same water concerns as SHCAG and said "the very nature of geology is that once they break through the coal, water can reach the sandstone and run out so it's a bit dubious".
The first step in the development proposal will be Hume Coal's preliminary environmental assessment and application which will be submitted to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment. SHCAG will review and respond to the application when it becomes available.