Thousands concerned about the impact of the proposed Hume Coal Mine and Boral Colliery heavy metal crisis have signed a petition to the NSW Parliament calling for an Upper House Inquiry into the protection of the Sydney Water Catchment.
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About 8000 concerned citizens have now signed the petition with the target of 10000 to force a debate in Parliament.
The petition highlights the impact of planned and proposed coal-mining activity in the Southern Highlands on the Sydney water Catchment, most notably the Boral Medway Colliery the proposed Hume Coal Mine, which is under assessment by the NSW Government.
The former Berrima Colliery is at the centre of a heavy metal discharge crisis after independent researcher Dr Ian Wright’s analysis and research on outflows led the EPA to issue an urgent notice against Boral seeking immediate action.
Discharge resulted in “a highly visible (rusty orange) staining at the discharge point to the river is occurring and the increased impact area now extends 600m downstream” and is due to iron and manganese minerals in the mine water.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority says 3 million litres are per day from the disused mine flow into the Wingecarribee River which is a critical feeder for the Sydney Water Catchment and Sydney’s drinking water supply.
The Wingecarribee River is also adjacent to the mega underground coalmine Korean owned Hume Coal is currently seeking approval.
“The depth of concern at both the Hume Coal proposal and what has happened with the existing Berrima Colliery, is profound,” Battle for Berrima president Michael Verberkt said.
“People are very worried about the impact of coal mining on the Sydney Water Catchment and the drinking water supply on which millions rely, both here and across the entire area.
“That is why they are calling for an Upper House Inquiry into the protection of the Sydney Water Catchment in the thousands.
“The problems with the Boral Colliery at Berrima are a stark warning and these lessons should be taken on board before any new mine is approved such as the mega coal mine proposed by Hume Coal’s Korean parent POSCO.
“It is too great a risk to approve a new coal mine on a scale that dwarves the Berrima Colliery, when the discharge problems impacting the Wingecarribee remain such a threat to the water supply of millions.
“We are calling on all communities in the Sydney Water Catchment to join with us and urge politicians at a state and federal level to act and protect this irreplaceable water resource from coal mining of any form,” Mr Verberkt said.
