Wilderness Society Seeks Confirmation of Environmental Protection in Coalition Mining Plan

The Wilderness Society has raised concerns that the Coalition’s interim assessment policy for mining and gas developments will fail to include core environmental concerns, including clearing of threatened forests, and disposal of polluted water from coal seam gas operations.

The impact of the policy on projects currently under assessment, such as the Eastern Star Gas project in the Pilliga, is also unclear. This project will clear large swathes of environmentally significant forest and withdraw large volumes of unlicensed water from the Great Artesian Basin.

“We welcome the Coalition’s commitment to progress on mining regulation, including in regards to aquifer interference, community consultation and agricultural assessments” said Belinda Fairbrother, The Wilderness Society’s NSW Campaign Manager.

“With details yet to be made public, it is difficult to determine whether the interim policy will fully address all issues. We are concerned that some key issues, particularly in regards to the natural environment, could be overlooked.”

“We’re seeking confirmation from the coalition that this interim policy will address the full range of community concerns regarding the environmental impacts of mining” concluded Ms Fairbrother.

Several environmentally-damaging mining projects are being assessed in NSW. One highly contentious project is the massive 550 well Eastern Star Gas Narrabri project. The project will impact 75,000 hectares of the iconic and environmentally significant Pilliga Scrub and withdraw massive volumes of groundwater from the Great Artesian Basin.

The Boggabri coal mine in Leard State Forest, near Narrabri, is in the final stages of assessment. This project will clear around 1500 ha of forest, including critical endangered grassy box woodland.

“We have significant concerns that projects such as the Eastern Gas Narrabri project in the Pilliga and the Boggabri coal project will slip through the cracks of the Coalition’s policy” said Warrick Jordan, Campaigns Manager at the Wilderness Society Newcastle.

“We could see irreparable environmental damage before policies are put in place to properly protect our forests, rivers, and groundwater from destructive mine operations.” said Mr Jordan.

Media Contact:
Belinda Fairbrother, NSW Campaign Manager, The Wilderness Society Sydney, 0405 082 396
Warrick Jordan, Campaigns Manager, The Wilderness Society Newcastle, 0451 633 197