Mining and water articles

Mining poses many serious threats to our state's precious water resources. From pollution of rivers with dirty or saline mine water and river diversions that damage local ecology to cracked riverbeds caused by mining subsidence or depletion of underground aquifers, to unsustainable high water use. Mining companies are getting more than their fair share of water at a very low price while agriculture, local communities and the natural environment are losing out.

Kenneally implicated: US coal giant's mine plans threaten water supplies

Commenting on the decision of Peabody Energy to proceed with a $70 million expansion plan for its Metropolitan coalmine in the Illawarra, Greens MP and mining spokesperson Lee Rhiannon said the project will put southern Sydney and Wollongong's water supply at risk.

Hansard of Lee's 2R speech

Lee Rhiannon gave the following speech in NSW Parliament on 14/5/2009 for the Greens new bill - Mining Amendment (Safeguarding agricultural land and water from mining) Bill 2009.

Greens move to protect prime farmland from mining

Greens MP and mining spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has kicked off debate in the NSW parliament on the Greens bill to stop mining on prime farmland in NSW and protect precious water resources and food production.

Delta Electricity's water woes in central western NSW

A local minewatcher comments on a Prime TV News story about the woes faced by Delta Electricity due to dwindling water levels in Oberon Dam. Delta admitted they are critically dependent on fresh (ie. low salinity) water from the Fish River system to help dilute the toxic pollution they and the mining industry continue to dump into the Cox's River system.

ABC News: River buffer decision puts coal off limits (6 May 2009)

In approving an upgrade to Coal and Allied’s Hunter Valley operations, the government has rejected a proposal to reduce the buffer zone of the Hunter River from 150m to 100m.

NSW’s carbon burial gamble is a coal-fired distraction

Drilling for sites to store small amounts of liquefied carbon dioxide near Munmorah power station is being used as an excuse by the Rees government for inaction on developing a renewable energy industry, according to Greens NSW MP John Kaye.

Mining and water forum resolution

In August 2008 Lee Rhiannon held a Mining and Water Forum in Orange NSW. The meeting resolution focussed on the impact of mining on water in the Murray-Darling basin.

Coal Mining 'on Steroids'

Coal Mining 'on Steroids' - New Mines Under Sydney's Water Supply are "the very worst of their kind". From the Total Environment Centre, 22 May 2008.

Labor approves Moolarben mega coal mine, ignores climate change dangers

Greens MP and mining spokesperson Lee Rhiannon says Minister Sartor’s approval this afternoon of the massive Moolarben coal mine, the largest new coal mine proposal on the table in NSW, again shows the Iemma government is failing to step up to the challenge of climate change.

Time to introduce 1km buffer on southern coalfield waterways

Greens MP and mining spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has called on BHP Billiton to agree to a one kilometre buffer around all creeks and waterways on its mine sites, following news of the company’s record $16.68 billion profit for the last financial year.