The general public appear to be becoming more aware of the threat to local rivers and waterways from Duralie Coal. This is great to see and I personally hope that more are willing to speak out.
on 27/7/09, a newspaper report (Matthew Kelley) outlined the concerns of the Port Stephens oyster growers - and so they ought to be concerned !
'The Port Stephens Shellfish Program has sought an assurance from the State Government that future water quality in the river will not adversely impact on the industry. "Has specific routine testing of the water been undertaken with regard to heavy metals, hydrocarbons, nutrient load or algal species to ascertain it meets existing constraints on inputs into oyster harvest areas?" the group wrote in a submission to the Department of Planning.
Karuah River oyster growers have already suffered from abnormally thin oyster shells and unexplained oyster deaths in recent years. Group chairman Don Burgoyne said it was essential that the quality of the water flowing from tributaries was maintained. "Small changes in the water upstream can have dramatic consequences for us," he said. The Herald was unable to obtain comment from Duralie mine's owners Noble Coal.' (extract).
However, of course they will get assurances - how many do they want - the ministers responsible will give whatever they wish. What value could you place on the assurance of a current NSW Gov't politician ? - they of course will not be around when it all goes belly up and in any case a bit of political "spin" will overcome that problem.
Matthew Kelly also wrote another article on 28/7/09 outlining similar concerns from the Stroud branch of the NSW Farmers Federation.
'The Stroud branch of the NSW Farmers Federation has proposed that Duralie Coal pay $20,000 a year for independent environmental monitoring to allay concerns about pollution from the proposed expansion of its mine near Stroud. The recommendation in the group's submission to the Planning Department would be part of its "social contract" with the community. "It is suggested that while inclusion of such a condition is likely to make traditional mine personnel feel nervous about the risk to the credibility of their own testing, it should be seen by those who think more laterally as an opportunity to demonstrate the mine's confidence in its own practices and in its commitment to playing a positive and important role in the community," submission
author Brian Eastoe said. ' (extract).
Again, this is great stuff but $20,000 a year is peanuts to Duralie Coal - they will do it if deemed necessary, but monitoring will only indicate when things are actually going belly up - if testing shows the river system is becoming polluted it may be too late ! Once acid mine drainage becomes a major problem, the river is effectively "stuffed" for many years.
Another article in the Newcastle Herald of 29/07/09 states
"When the State Gov. approved the Duralie Coalmine, near Stroud Road, it proclaimed that "preventing discharge by local waterways" was a key condition of the new mines consent. This was significant, since the mine operates in the catchment of the Karuah River, which empties into Port Stephens where oyster growing, fishing and tourism are of vital importance." and
"The Hunter Valley can provide numerous examples of the detrimental effect of mine water discharge on river ecosystems and water quality and it would be an immense tragedy if the same damage was allowed to be repeaqed in the relatively unspoilt Karuah River system."
"But the mines owners now want to change the arrangements. Instead of storing saline, dirty mine water on site and re using it for irrigation and other purposes, they want permission to discharge directly to the catchment."
The NSW Government ought to be able to sense the concerns and dangers of this madness - but they are politicians, so I suppose they need plenty of time to digest all this.
Of course the only solution is to maintain the "NO DISCHARGE" at all policy - what a simple solution ! The mine can carry on as it has been and the local public will be happier - how much more simple can it get ?
There is however another twist, one of coal mining related health issues as reported by Steve Robinson:
"The Herald (Newcastle) devoted the whole of its front page, plus page4, plus its editorial to the story of a possible class action resulting from the failure of the NSW Health Dept to discharge its duty of care by neglecting to study the adverse health impacts of open cut coal mining and coal fired power generation. Hundreds of Upper Hunter residents are seeking to be represented by the Environmental Defenders Office. All coal mining communities should be contacting the EDO to provide details from their areas. Whilst respiratory conditions such as asthma and lung cancer get most newspaper publicity the Alliance survey showed noise was the most complained about problem and psychological impacts were the most numerous type of disorder. The smallest particles cause damage to blood vessels increasing heart attacks, strokes and even reducing the birth weight of babies born to mothers living near coal mines."
This is a seperate issue to the imminent pollution of Mammy Jonhsons River but no less important.
(Acknowledgements to authors of the above extracts - there is no point in stating the same thing in another form - I simply wish to get the message out there).