[Greens-Media] Greens challenge Minister Firth to stop Duralie Coal polluting Mammy Johnsons River

[Lee Rhiannon]

MEDIA RELEASE
7 October 2008

Greens challenge Minister Firth to stop Duralie Coal polluting Mammy
Johnsons River 

Greens MP and mining spokesperson Lee Rhiannon said today that she will
bring on the Greens motion calling on Environment Minister Verity Firth
to reject attempts by Duralie Coal Mine to discharge dirty mine water
into the Mammy Johnsons River as a matter of urgency when the NSW
Parliament returns. 

*It beggars belief that the Environment Minister Verity Firth would
allow the Mammy Johnson River to be polluted at a time of drought and
warnings about ongoing water shortages due to climate change*, said Ms
Rhiannon.

*Allowing Duralie Coal to release mining water directly into the
Mammy Johnson River would threaten the water supply for communities from
the central coast to Port Stephens.

*The Duralie Coal mine is pushing its luck by applying to breach
existing operating conditions and discharge dirty mine water into the
Mammy Johnsons River. 

*I hope this matter is speedily resolved and Ms Firth rejects this
push by Duralie Coal Mine to dump polluted water in the Mammy Johnsons
River. If she fails to act I will bring on the Greens motion calling on
the Minister to reject the application as a matter of urgency

*When Duralie Coal Mine applied to extend its operations in 2006,
Planning Minister Frank Sartor consented on the basis that the mine
would not directly discharge water into the Mammy Johnsons River.

*Only two years later, Duralie Coal is back at the table seeing what
extra concessions they can get their hands on. 

*Duralie Coal will be able to save money on remediation works if the
company is allowed to discharge water directly into the Mammy Johnson
River. Company profits should not be placed ahead of community and
environmental interests.  

*A polluted river system will threaten prime agricultural land and
wildlife, including the endangered bush tailed rock wallaby, along the
valley floor. 

*I have been informed by local community members that Duralie Coal
has already discharged polluted mine water into the Mammy Johnsons
River.  Yet the company has dodged any penalties.

*I have visited to Gloucester area and toured the Mammy Johnson River
with locals. The Greens will continue to work with local community
groups who have waged a sustained campaign against this mine*, said Ms
Rhiannon. 

For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568.  



Full motion overleaf

Ms Rhiannon to move*

1.	That this House notes:

(a)	the Duralie Coal Mine, south of Gloucester, has applied to the
Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) to vary its
conditions of consent to allow it to dispose of mine water into Mammy
Johnsons River, which flows into the Karuah River which in turn flows on
to Port Stephens,

	(b)	that when the Duralie Coal Mine extension was approved
in 2006 almost 100 conditions of consent were imposed by the Department
of Planning, including *The applicant shall not discharge any mine
water from the site*,

	(c)	that the original Duralie Coal Mine consent stated that
*There shall be no direct discharge of dirty water * from the mine to
Mammy Johnsons River*,

	(d)	that the Duralie mine Statement of Environmental Effects
dated March 2006 based its request for a section 96 (2) modification on
continuing the containment of mine water from entry to Mammy Johnsons
River,

	(e)	that the Department of Planning*s Assessment Report to
the Minister in July 2006 justified the use of a Section 96 (2)
modification on *No discharge of mine water* and that the condition
was *Unchanged*, and

	(f)	that the former Planning Minister Frank Sartor in
announcing the $11million extension to the Duralie Coal Mine on 31 July
2006 stated that he had insisted on a number of environmental measures
to *protect Mammy Johnsons River* and stated that *The proponent
will be required to continue the use of a strictly controlled irrigation
scheme to dispose of mine
 water, preventing any discharge to local
waterways.*

2.	That this House calls on:

	(a) 	the Minister for Planning to reject the application from
the Duralie Coal Mine to vary its conditions of consent and discharge
water into the Mammy Johnsons River, 

(b)	the Minister for Planning to guarantee that Duralie Coal will
never be granted permission to discharge water into the Mammy Johnsons
River, and

(c)	DECC to strictly enforce the current consent conditions under
which the Duralie Coal Mine operates to ensure that no mine water is
released from the site. 

(Notice given 24 September 2008)