The Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park is now threatened by the infamous Duralie coal mine mentioned in previous articles.
Duralie mine management want to be allowed to dump contaminated waste mine water - lots of it - into the Mammy Johnsons river (creek) which feeds the Karuah river north of Stroud which in turn is the only major river flowing into the western reaches of Port Stephens. It is alleged that contamination of the creek has already taken place but the latest development is a whole different ball game. It was a part of the Duralie mine consent that contaminated water would not be discharged into Mammy Johnsons River (and promised by Sartor).
This is a short extract from the Duralie extension assessment report 2006 : "At present, dirty water for mine operational areas is pumped to the mine water dam and used for dust suppression and irrigation of several areas within the Mining Lease. Rainfall runoff from irrigation areas and catchment areas unaffected by mining activities (clean water) is discharged to Mammy Johnson’s River. Duralie Coal has reviewed the water balance for the mine. This review indicates that there would be a small increase in the water pumped to the mine water dam of around 5 percent, but that this additional inflow can be managed through the mine’s existing water management system with no increase in the risk of off-site discharges to local waterways, including Mammy Johnson’s River."
Apart from the threat to arguably our best pristine waterway and marine environment on the east coast, many sections of Port Stephens, especially concentrated in the western reaches, and the actual upper reaches of the Karuah river itself has largely been declared a marine Park (2007). The upper reaches of the Karuah river south of Stroud is actually a "Sanctuary zone" - lets see how the 'spin doctors" try to convince us that a marine sanctuary and coal mine contaminated water can co-exist. Of course they won't even bother.
Not only do we have a threat to the Marine Park, there are farming activities also threatened - namely the oyster industry in the same area. So Nikki Williams (CEO NSW Minerals Council) thinks "farming and mining can co-exist" - try this one !! It is also worth pointing out that the raison d'etre for this blog - magnetite mining at Ironstone mountain - will also threaten the same Marine Park. All creeks feeding from the possible mine location feed into the Karuah river and magnetite mining is not clean !
The Marine Parks Authority and the Dept. of Environment and Conservation are both aware of this issue - it will be interesting to see what colours they fly.
Once the rivers are used as dumping grounds there will be no turning back so come on you oyster farmers - have your say too !!.