Factiva

Page 1 of 2

Mining company condemned over new Waratah Rivulet crack

Nick McLaren 355 words 26 September 2012 Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) News ABCNEW English (c) 2012 Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Conservation groups have expressed outrage over a new section of cracked riverbed in Sydney Water Catchment land near Helensburgh. Groups including the National Parks Association and Rivers SOS visited the Waratah Rivulet yesterday to monitor the environmental impacts of Peabody Energy's Metropolitan underground coal mine. The group observed a new section of cracking near a waterfall, causing the discolouration and loss of surface water. Jeff Angel from the Total Environment Centre says mining subsidence has cracked the rock formations underneath a waterfall in an area known as WRS 5. Despite remediation work worth millions of dollars to repair the cracked riverbed, Mr Angel from the Total Environment Centre says the threat to the water catchment needs to stop. "The iron oxide staining, the destruction of the habitats with the algae that grows on that staining the cracking of waterfalls which always flowed in drought, means that millions of people are not only losing a pristine habitat, they are losing the security of their water supply," Mr Angel said. He says the riverbed cracking was predicted by the mining company and approved by regulators, but shouldn't be happening. "We shouldn't let the short term profit from this damaging mining override the importance of keeping a water catchment for thousands of years for future residents". The company is spending millions of dollars injecting cracks with polyurethane with work on two sections of the river almost completed. But Peter Turner from the National Parks Association says despite assurances from, he still has strong reservations about the effectiveness of remediation work. "The sub-surface fracturing is resulting in a redirection of water away from the catchment," Mr Turner said. "Peabody denies that's the case, but the Sydney Catchment Authority says that is the case. "I'm inclined to go with the Catchment Authority thinking about what the impact of subsidence will be, so no they haven't really addressed my concern". The conservation groups say they have met with the Peabody Energy to express concerns about ongoing riverbed cracking. Peabody Energy was unavailable for comment.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation

http://global.factiva.com/aa/?ref=ABCNEW0020120926e89q0005n&pp=1&fcpil=en...

28/10/2012

Factiva

Page 2 of 2

Document ABCNEW0020120926e89q0005n

2012 Factiva, Inc. All rights reserved.

http://global.factiva.com/aa/?ref=ABCNEW0020120926e89q0005n&pp=1&fcpil=en...

28/10/2012