A geotechnical engineer and mining expert says Delta Coal’s proposal to prolong the operations at its Lake Macquarie mines has failed to provide the community with a true picture of the risks it poses to the environment.
Delta Coal proposes to dig up an additional 9.5 million tonnes of coal from Chain Valley Colliery and Mannering Colliery by prolonging their operations by two years, until 2029.
The two underground mines in southern Lake Macquarie waters supply coal to Vales Point Power Station at Mannering Park which is scheduled to close in 2029.
Environmental Justice Australia (EJA) says this proposal could impact water quality and aquatic ecosystems and seriously harm community health.
Acting on community concerns over the project, EJA commissioned Canadian-based geotechnical engineer Gordon Johnson as an independent expert to review Delta’s environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposal.
Johnson, who has more than 35 years of experience in the industry, found Delta had provided a “cursory review” of the proposal and that it failed to adequately address the impacts the proposal would have on water, threatened species and land sinking.
“The EIS does not adequately assess the impacts of the proposal on local biodiversity, particularly the potential impacts on the ecology of Swindles Creek,” he said.
“Potential impacts from mine wastewater being discharged into Swindles Creek, which runs into Lake Macquarie, is not examined by the EIS.
“Likely impacts of land sinking, due to underground mining, have not been adequately addressed in the EIS.
“Groundwater assessment is cursory and not based on any rigorous analysis, instead relying on historical data trends – which is insufficient for a thorough assessment.
“The EIS does not properly address the cumulative impacts of mining in an area that has experienced an intense level of mining,” Johnson said.
EJA lawyer Jocelyn McGarity said Johnson’s report made one thing clear – Delta Coal’s proposal should be put under the microscope and receive proper government and community scrutiny.
She said the matter should be referred to the Independent Planning Commission for more rigorous assessment and community participation.
Hunter Community Environment Centre Senior Researcher Paul Winn said the cumulative impacts on sensitive seagrass beds in Lake Macquarie from previous mine subsidence, as well as thermal impacts from the Vales Point power station had not been considered in the project assessment.
“Lake Macquarie is the lifeblood of our community, and we must look after it,” said Bruce Macfarlane, a member of the Keep Lake Macquarie Clean group.
“In just the past few months alone we’ve seen fish kills which are still under investigation by the EPA as well as documented reductions in sea grass beds.
“Delta coal needs to do its homework and the proposal must be properly assessed by the government for its risks,” he said.
EPA still investigating mass fish kills
Meanwhile, the Environment Protection Authority says the investigation into the two mass fill kills in and around Wyee Bay at Mannering Park in August and September is still ongoing.
In September the EPA started an investigation into a link between the fish kills and operations at Vales Point Power Station.
An EPA spokesperson said the power station had provided new information relating to the recent fish kills.
The EPA inspected the power station on September 13 and secured on-site equipment for testing and requested a further report from Delta.
“The EPA is treating this as a top priority and is using all available resources, including assigning specialist investigators to the issue,” the spokesperson said in September.
When Coast News followed-up progress on the investigation on Tuesday, December 20, the EPA said “the community will be updated when more information is available”.
“The EPA understands the community is concerned about the mass fish kills in Wyee Bay, Lake Macquarie and is undertaking a thorough investigation,” an EPA spokesperson said this week.
“To maintain the integrity of this ongoing investigation the EPA is not able to provide any further comment at this time, however, information including real-time water quality data is available on our website.”
Sue Murray