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Mudgee Environment Group's Save the Drip Campaign
The sandstone cliffs and gorges along the Goulburn River north of Mudgee are under threat from coal mining! The 'Great Dripping Wall', along the Goulburn River features a delicate curtain of dripping water fed from nearby springs gently falling from the over- arching cliffs, weeping bottlebrush and ferns. This magnificent natural feature and others in the adjacent Goulburn River National Park, are threatened by the expansion of coal mining in this sensitive area. The cultural significance of this area is immense, both aboriginal and European. Impressive rock art reveals an important aboriginal heritage, while photos as far back as the 1890s show people in long dresses and boaters happily picnicking at the Drip. Mining adjacent to these cliffs and gorges are likely to destroy this place of wonder and make it unsafe for the public.
Underground longwall coal mining subsides the ground surface, collapsing strata, cracking cliff faces and causing rock falls. Lateral movements from the effects of longwall mining have the potential to crack cliffs more than a kilometre away and intercept and pollute groundwater that feeds the river. The underground springs that flow to the river will be diverted from their natural course and degraded in quality.
The Moolarben Coal Project proposes to underground 'longwall' mine within 50-200m of the Goulburn River. The site id bounded by the Goulburn River to the north and west, and Goulburn River National Park to the east, so that mining will directly threaten the fragile sandstone cliffs and gorges along the Goulburn River, important aboriginal cultural sites (including cave paintings) and the groundwater system, life blood of this land. The company are also proposing three open cut mines in the picturesque Moolarben valley, rich in bird life and biodiversity. This mine will displace many farming families in this area and mine within 2 kilometers of the village of Ulan and local primary school.
The Wilpinjong Open Cut mine (Excel Coal Limited) was recently granted a DA to open cut mine 28 square kilometres of the valley. The valley to be mined is home to a range of endangered species and vegetation communities. This huge open cut coal mine will be producing 9.5mtpa for 21 years using 6.2ML water per day. There is little confidence that the government will be able to regulate the condtions of approval for this mine. It is likely to impact on groundwater in the area and has the potential for offsite saline and acid drainage.
Ulan Coal mines (Xstrata) has been granted development permission to expand its open cut mine. It plans to install a 400m wide longwall (the biggest of its kind in Australia - Australian Journal of Mining July/August 2004). Ulan Coal Mine currently produces over 11 million litres of excess mine water per day and discharges up to 5ML/day of salt-affected water into Ulan Creek (= 4-5 tonnes of salt). Mine subsidence and dewatering of the underground mine creates a regional 'draw down' affect causing interference to surrounding aquifers and the base flow of the Goulburn River.
The long term and cumulative impacts of these developments on the groundwater or river system has not been adequately assessed. The integrity and viability of the Goulburn River catchment is under threat.
For more information, and actions you could undertake to save this area, visit the Mudgee Enviornment Group campaign page at www.savethedrip.com
For more information, please contact:
Created: 24 Feb 2006 | Last updated: 24 Feb 2006
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