Labor MPs block Greens motion to protect Mammy Johnson River from coalmine pollution

"Planning Minister Kristina Keneally must reject Duralie Coal's bid to discharge polluted mine water into the Mammy Johnson River, and place an embargo on any future applications by mining companies to pollute the river," said Ms Rhiannon.

"Labor MPs voted to stifle the debate today to cover up their Government's unwillingness to put the future of the community and the environment ahead of the short term needs of mining companies.

"I will be meeting with concerned residents at a public meeting this coming Saturday in Karuah to discuss the Government's unwillingness to protect the region and its future water resources from mining expansion.

"The Department of Land and Water Conservation lodged strong objections to any mine water discharge at the Duralie mine's original Commission of Inquiry in 1997. Local councils, water authorities, environment and community groups have all expressed their opposition.

"The Government should end this farce immediately and deliver some security to the community that their river will remain protected from mine pollution.

"In 2006 then Planning Minister Frank Sartor promised that Duralie Coal would not get a discharge license.  Minister Keneally needs to honour her Government's promise to the people of the Gloucester Stroud basin.

"It is also unacceptable to allow the mine to irrigate adjoining river flats and floodplains with its excess dirty mine water. 

"Any toxic mine waste water that is dumped into the environment will end up in the Mammy Johnson River and flow on to the Karuah River and Port Stephens.

"The mining company should be made to spend a portion of its profits to solve its excess water problems on site, not be allowed to foist its pollution problems onto the community and the river," said Ms Rhiannon.

Motion on following page.

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

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MOTION:
Protect the Mammy Johnson River from polluted coalmine water discharge

I move that this House notes:

1)    The Department of Planning approved the Duralie Coal mine, near Gloucester, on the conditions that it could not discharge polluted mine water into the Mammy Johnson River and Coal Shaft Creek.

2)    The Gloucester community, scientific and planning experts participated in an extensive two year review for the Commission of Inquiry that recommended a mining license be granted to Duralie Coal on the basis that it could not discharge excess mine water into the river.

3)    In 2006 former Planning Minister Frank Sartor promised the Gloucester community when he granted an extension to the Duralie Coal mine that the Department of Planning would never allow polluted mine water to be discharged into local waterways.

4)    The Mammy Johnson River flows into the Karuah River, which supplies local drinking water to Stroud and Stroud Road.

5)    The Mammy Johnson River is a safe home for many platypus colonies.

6)    Duralie Coal is seeking to vary its Environmental Protection Licence and the mine's original conditions of development consent so that it can discharge polluted mine water into the nearby river.

7)    Duralie Coal should be made to spend a portion of its profits on solving its mine dewatering problems, rather than trying to lower its operating costs by pushing its problems onto the community and their local waterways.

I move that this House:

8)    Calls on the NSW Government and the Planning Minister Kristina Keneally to reject Duralie Coal's bid to discharge polluted mine water into the Mammy Johnson River or Coal Shaft Creek.

9)    Calls on the NSW Government to place an embargo on any future applications to discharge water into the Mammy Johnson River or Coal Shaft Creek.

end