Call for public release of department briefings on coal threat to Sydney's water supplies

Ms Rhiannon was responding to today's report that senior government representatives ordered the Sydney Catchment Authority, Industry and Investment NSW and the Department of Environment and Climate Change and Water to provide their briefings on the coal mining impacts on Sydney's water in private hearings. (SMH, page 3, http://tinyurl.com.au/2nc)

"Public confidence takes a knock when government agencies that are critical of the project are heard behind closed doors," Ms Rhiannon said.

"There is already ample evidence in southern Sydney of the impact of mining on our water catchment.

"The Planning Assessment Commission hearing process is discredited because neither BHP Billiton or the six concerned government departments and agencies appeared at the public hearings.

"Announcing at a public hearing that you will meet privately with concerned government agencies makes a mockery of Kristina Kenneally's claim when she was planning minister that the PAC increases transparency in the planning process.

"I questioned Planning Minister Tony Kelly, who is responsible for approving BHP's mining application to conduct extensive mining under Sydney's water catchment, about these secret PAC hearings last week in the NSW Upper House.

"His response was far from adequate.

"The Minister's response that he was unaware that the government agencies had not appeared at public hearings reveals that he has taken his eye off the ball when it comes to this potentially disastrous mining project.

"I have put a series of further questions to the Minister about other government departments that may have been ordered to give evidence in secret to the PAC including the Office of Water, the Dam Safety Committee and the Roads & Traffic Authority," said Ms Rhiannon.
 

For information: Lee Rhiannon - 9230 3551, 0427 861 568