The "Swamp Offset" Policy in Sydney

Miners may be allowed to pay to degrade swamps that supply Sydney's drinking water

The fragile upland swamps in the Sydney catchment help maintain the city's supply of drinking water, particularly in times of drought, by storing and purifying water.

Environmental scientist Ann Young, who has monitored the impact of mining in the area, said there were positive aspects of the New South Wales Government's proposed policy, but it did not go far enough to prevent environmental damage.

"My concern is that there's not more emphasis being placed by the Department of Planning currently on avoiding damage to the swamps as a major step," she said.

"I certainly wouldn't like them to be just going straight to offsets and put money into a fund which may benefit some other environment but won't benefit the swamps."

Dr Young said the threat to upland swamps from longwall mining would increase if several Illawarra coal mines pushed ahead with planned expansions.

"It'll certainly impact Dendrobium when they apply for the next five longwalls in that development," she said.

"If Wollongong Coal extends further into their Wonga West areas or goes back into their Wongawilli areas it would affect those and as Peabody moves further north in Woronora catchment, it will affect those as well."

The chief executive of the Nature Conservation Council, Kate Smolski, said the changes would affect two mines that have applications before planning authorities to use longwall mining techniques in Sydney's water catchment - namely Wollongong Coal in Russell Vale and Centennial Coal's Springvale mine near Lithgow.

Source: ABC

Media

Taxonomy

• Environment
• Mining Development
• Drinking Water