MOD 11 - water management during MPPS outages

I strongly object to this proposal and I am very concerned about the health of Sydney’s drinking water and the ecological value of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and wildlife such as the platypus will be compromised should this proposal be approved.
Water experts have previously warned that blending or dilution of dirty water with treated water will exacerbate, rather than address, pollution of the Sydney drinking water catchment as overall load of pollutants will drastically rise[1].
Two previous applications from Centennial seeking to discharge megalitres of mine waste into Wangcol Creek were withdrawn, and this ‘dilute and discharge’ approach would be far worse as it involves far more polluted water.
If this first proposal is approved, it would result in a huge increase in pollution, heavy metal and salinity load into the receiving environment. Higher salinity means lower oxygen, which reduces food for platypus. Elecro-receptors on their bill locate prey, however salinity disrupts these, they can’t find food and starve to death.
As Mount Piper power station may remain open until the early 2040s, Centennial is seeking permission to dilute and discharge water from Thompsons Creek Reservoir during scheduled offline maintenance periods for the lifetime of the water treatment plant. This could mean up to or around 15 years of huge volumes of dirty water discharge for up to 111 days at a time.
Centennial should be required to treat mine water to ensure that any discharge fully removes contaminants like heavy metals, salt and brine and deliver the zero release system they proposed when the water treatment plant was approved. Anything less threatens the safety of Sydney’s drinking water supply and water dependent ecosystems, including endangered and threatened species.
If Centennial is unable to do this, Springvale mine must be closed and alternative coal supplies found for Mount Piper power station.
It is not good enough for Centennial to self-monitor the level of contaminants as they have proposed. Centennial has been found to have breached its environmental licence more than 1400 times across 7 coal mine sites in the Greater Blue Mountains region[2].
There is no ‘plan B’ to divert mine water if monitoring reveals higher than expected salinity levels.
The planning department must require Centennial to significantly reduce the mining intensity at its underground coal mines to protect the natural environment and to reduce the volume of wastewater sent to Mount Piper power station.
The government needs to commission a public inquiry into mine wastewater produced by Centennial’s underground coal mines in the Gardens of Stone region.
This is a priority and the environment , wildlife and people’s health must be protected.

I am opposed to this proposal due to my concern for the health of Sydney’s drinking water, and the ecological value of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, especially with regard to wildlife such as the platypus which will be compromised should this proposal be approved.

The details of my opposition to this proposal is as follows:
1. Water experts have previously warned that blending or dilution of dirty water with treated water will exacerbate, rather than address, pollution of the Sydney drinking water catchment as overall load of pollutants will drastically rise[1].
2. Two previous applications from Centennial seeking to discharge megalitres of mine waste into Wangcol Creek were withdrawn, and this ‘dilute and discharge’ approach would be far worse as it involves far more polluted water.
3. If this first proposal is approved, it would result in a huge increase in pollution, heavy metal and salinity load into the receiving environment. Higher salinity means lower oxygen, which reduces food for platypus. Elecro-receptors on their bill locate prey, however salinity disrupts these, they can’t find food and starve to death.
4. As Mount Piper power station may remain open until the early 2040s, Centennial is seeking permission to dilute and discharge water from Thompsons Creek Reservoir during scheduled offline maintenance periods for the lifetime of the water treatment plant. 5. This could mean up to or around 15 years of huge volumes of dirty water discharge for up to 111 days at a time.
6. Centennial should be required to treat mine water to ensure that any discharge fully removes contaminants like heavy metals, salt and brine and deliver the zero release system they proposed when the water treatment plant was approved. Anything less threatens the safety of Sydney’s drinking water supply and water dependent ecosystems, including endangered and threatened species.
7. If Centennial is unable to do this, Springvale mine must be closed and alternative coal supplies found for Mount Piper power station.
8. It is not good enough for Centennial to self-monitor the level of contaminants as they have proposed. Centennial has been found to have breached its environmental licence more than 1400 times across 7 coal mine sites in the Greater Blue Mountains region[2].
9. There is no ‘plan B’ to divert mine water if monitoring reveals higher than expected salinity levels.
10. The planning department must require Centennial to significantly reduce the mining intensity at its underground coal mines to protect the natural environment and to reduce the volume of wastewater sent to Mount Piper power station.
11. The government should commission a public inquiry into mine wastewater produced by Centennial’s underground coal mines in the Gardens of Stone region.
[1] Centennial Coal plan to release more water into Sydney catchment will make pollution worse, expert says - ABC News
[2] https://apps.epa.nsw.gov.au/prpoeoapp/

Thank you.

As a recreational user of the Cox’s River, I have encountered Platypus along the river many times. I am concerned that the mine water discharge into the catchment will adversely impact upon the Platypus. Centennial should treat mine water to ensure that any discharge fully removes contaminants like heavy metals, salt and brine and deliver the zero release system they proposed when the water treatment plant was approved. Anything less may be harmful to Sydney’s drinking water supply and water dependent ecosystems, including endangered and threatened species.

Hi,
I strongly object to the proposal that such a serial polluter as Centennial be permitted even the slightest possibility of discharging wastewater into our freshwater catchments.
The relatively pure water available to residents and businesses in greater Sydney is one of the State’s most valuable assets and needs to be protected with the most stringent regulations, most of all from the fossil fuel industry which should be shut down urgently to mitigate global heating.
I support all the objections raised by the Nature Conservation Council of NSW, and won’t repeat them here.
Please adopt the commonsense approach and reject the proposal.
Yours sincerely,
Mike Cottee

I object to this proposal. I am concerned that the health of Sydney’s drinking water and the ecological value of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and wildlife such as the platypus will be compromised should this proposal be approved.
Water experts have previously warned that blending or dilution of dirty water with treated water will exacerbate, rather than address, pollution of the Sydney drinking water catchment as overall load of pollutants will drastically rise[ Centennial Coal plan to release more water into Sydney catchment will make pollution worse, expert says - ABC News].
Two previous applications from Centennial seeking to discharge megalitres of mine waste into Wangcol Creek were withdrawn, and this ‘dilute and discharge’ approach would be far worse as it involves far more polluted water.
If this first proposal is approved, it would result in a huge increase in pollution, heavy metal and salinity load into the receiving environment. Higher salinity means lower oxygen, which reduces food for platypus. Elecro-receptors on their bill locate prey, however salinity disrupts these, they can’t find food and starve to death.
As Mount Piper power station may remain open until the early 2040s, Centennial is seeking permission to dilute and discharge water from Thompsons Creek Reservoir during scheduled offline maintenance periods for the lifetime of the water treatment plant. This could mean up to or around 15 years of huge volumes of dirty water discharge for up to 111 days at a time.
Centennial should be required to treat mine water to ensure that any discharge fully removes contaminants like heavy metals, salt and brine and deliver the zero release system they proposed when the water treatment plant was approved. Anything less threatens the safety of Sydney’s drinking water supply and water dependent ecosystems, including endangered and threatened species.
If Centennial is unable to do this, Springvale mine must be closed and alternative coal supplies found for Mount Piper power station.
It is not good enough for Centennial to self-monitor the level of contaminants as they have proposed. Centennial has been found to have breached its environmental licence more than 1400 times across 7 coal mine sites in the Greater Blue Mountains region[https://apps.epa.nsw.gov.au/prpoeoapp/].
There is no ‘plan B’ to divert mine water if monitoring reveals higher than expected salinity levels.
The planning department must require Centennial to significantly reduce the mining intensity at its underground coal mines to protect the natural environment and to reduce the volume of wastewater sent to Mount Piper power station.
The government should commission a public inquiry into mine wastewater produced by Centennial’s underground coal mines in the Gardens of Stone region.

My concern is that Sydney’s drinking water and the ecological value of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and wildlife such as the platypus will be compromised should this proposal be approved.
Water experts have previously warned that blending or dilution of dirty water with treated water will exacerbate, rather than address, pollution of the Sydney drinking water catchment as overall load of pollutants will drastically rise.
Two previous applications from Centennial seeking to discharge megalitres of mine waste into Wangcol Creek were withdrawn, and this ‘dilute and discharge’ approach would be far worse as it involves far more polluted water.
If this first proposal is approved, it would result in a huge increase in pollution, heavy metal and salinity load into the receiving environment. Higher salinity means lower oxygen, which reduces food for platypus. Elecro-receptors on their bill locate prey, however salinity disrupts these, they can’t find food and starve to death.
As Mount Piper power station may remain open until the early 2040s, Centennial is seeking permission to dilute and discharge water from Thompsons Creek Reservoir during scheduled offline maintenance periods for the lifetime of the water treatment plant. This could mean up to or around 15 years of huge volumes of dirty water discharge for up to 111 days at a time.
Centennial should be required to treat mine water to ensure that any discharge fully removes contaminants like heavy metals, salt and brine and deliver the zero release system they proposed when the water treatment plant was approved. Anything less threatens the safety of Sydney’s drinking water supply and water dependent ecosystems, including endangered and threatened species.
If Centennial is unable to do this, Springvale mine must be closed and alternative coal supplies found for Mount Piper power station.
It is not good enough for Centennial to self-monitor the level of contaminants as they have proposed. Centennial has been found to have breached its environmental licence more than 1400 times across 7 coal mine sites in the Greater Blue Mountains region[2].
There is no ‘plan B’ to divert mine water if monitoring reveals higher than expected salinity levels.
The planning department must require Centennial to significantly reduce the mining intensity at its underground coal mines to protect the natural environment and to reduce the volume of wastewater sent to Mount Piper power station.
The government should commission a public inquiry into mine wastewater produced by Centennial’s underground coal mines in the Gardens of Stone region.

I am, alarmed by this proposal and extremely concerned byt the threats it poses not only to the health of Sydney’s drinking water, but also its impact on the the ecological value of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and wildlife such as the platypus.

I am aware that water experts have previously warned that blending or dilution of dirty water with treated water will exacerbate, rather than address, pollution of the Sydney drinking water catchment as overall load of pollutants will drastically rise[1].

Two previous applications from Centennial seeking to discharge megalitres of mine waste into Wangcol Creek were withdrawn, and this ‘dilute and discharge’ approach would be far worse as it involves far more polluted water.
Approving this project will result in an enormous increase in pollution, heavy metal and salinity load into the receiving environment. COnsequences include lower oxygen, which reduces food for platypus. Elecro-receptors on their bill locate prey, however salinity disrupts these, they can’t find food and starve to death.

I am very concerned that Mount Piper power station may remain open until the early 2040s, and that gthat is seeking permission to dilute and discharge water from Thompsons Creek Reservoir during scheduled offline maintenance periods for the lifetime of the water treatment plant. This could mean up to or around 15 years of huge volumes of dirty water discharge for up to 111 days at a time.
Centennial should be required to treat mine water to ensure that any discharge fully removes contaminants like heavy metals, salt and brine and deliver the zero release system they proposed when the water treatment plant was approved. Failure to ensure these actions will threaten the safety of Sydney’s drinking water supply and water dependent ecosystems, including endangered and threatened species.

If Centennial is unable meet these requirements this, Springvale mine must be closed and alternative coal supplies found for Mount Piper power station. Self-monitor the level of contaminants as Centennial have proposed, is n inadequate solution. It cannot be overlooked that Centennial has been found to have breached its environmental licence more than 1400 times across 7 coal mine sites in the Greater Blue Mountains region[2]. This is not only mind boggling but also outrageous and should serve as a caution for the type of activity they will engage in should this project be approved. We cannot afford to let this happen.

Further, there is no ‘plan B’ to divert mine water if monitoring reveals higher than expected salinity levels.The planning department must require Centennial to significantly reduce the mining intensity at its underground coal mines to protect the natural environment and to reduce the volume of wastewater sent to Mount Piper power station.

I urge the government to commission a public inquiry into mine wastewater produced by Centennial’s underground coal mines in the Gardens of Stone region.

I object to the Project as it will severely threaten the water-dependent ecosystems within the Thompson Creek Reservoir and its tributaries, which feed into the waterways of the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area, a place with more than 80 rare and threatened species and 16 threatened ecological communities. The Project will cause immense damage to these ecosystems and put vulnerable wildlife, including our beloved platypus, at further risk of extinction. It will also pollute the drinking water of Sydney, although I believe the risk to wildlife to be of far greater importance and the more pressing issue that would be caused by the Project.

The idea that polluted water is going to be added to a waterway that is part of the Sydney basin drinking water is wrong. The mining company must cleanup their waste water so it’s not going to pollute our drinking water. Any discharge into our waterways needs to be tested by government authorities

Centennial mining operations are adjacent to the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area, a place with more than 80 rare and threatened species and 16 threatened ecological communities. The company's intensive mining methods have already destroyed aquifers, resulting in drying out of endangered upland peat swamps.
Centennial’s underground coal mining has damaged groundwater aquifers under the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area. To drain the resulting influx of groundwater into underground coal mines, Centennial removes more than 20 billion litres of groundwater every year, interrupting groundwater supply and drying out peat swamps.
I understand that approximately 5000 million litres of mine wastewater is stored underground in Angus Place mine as well as Springvale mine and that in order to continue mining, Centennial proposes to discharge this waste into Sydney’s drinking water catchment.
I believe Centennial also wants to release an additional 42 million litres per day of mine wastewater to Thompsons Creek Reservoir (for up to 111 days at a time) to cover Mount Piper outage periods. This will consist of up to 18 million litres per day of water through the water treatment plant and 24 million litres a day of untreated water (only sediment will be removed).
Thompsons Creek Reservoir discharges via tributaries of the Coxs River that flows through a World Heritage listed national park and ultimately to Warragamba Dam.
In total, the modifications requested by Centennial will result in the discharge of combinations of treated and untreated mine waste totalling up to 68.5ML/day of water directly and indirectly (via Thompsons Creek Reservoir) into the catchment for Sydney’s drinking water supply.
I oppose Centennial Coal's proposal. I am extremely concerned that the health of Sydney’s drinking water and the ecological value of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and wildlife such as the platypus will be compromised should this proposal be approved.
Water experts have previously warned that blending or dilution of dirty water with treated water will exacerbate, rather than address, pollution of the Sydney drinking water catchment as the overall load of pollutants will drastically rise[1].
Two previous applications from Centennial seeking to discharge megalitres of minewaste into Wangcol Creek were withdrawn, and this latest ‘dilute and discharge’ approach would be far worse as it involves far more polluted water.
If this first proposal is approved, it would result in a huge increase in pollution, heavy metal and salinity load into the receiving environment. Higher salinity means lower oxygen, which reduces food for platypus. Elecro-receptors on their bills locate prey, however salinity disrupts these, they can’t find food and starve to death.
As Mount Piper power station may remain open until the early 2040s, Centennial is seeking permission to dilute and discharge water from Thompsons Creek Reservoir during scheduled offline maintenance periods for the lifetime of the water treatment plant. This could mean up to or around 15 years of huge volumes of dirty water discharge for up to 111 days at a time.
Centennial should be required to treat mine water to ensure that any discharge fully removes contaminants such as heavy metals and salts and deliver the zero release system they proposed when the water treatment plant was approved. Anything less threatens the safety of Sydney’s drinking water supply and water-dependent ecosystems, including endangered and threatened species.
If Centennial is unable to do this, Springvale mine must be closed and alternative coal supplies found for Mount Piper power station.
It is not good enough for Centennial to self-monitor the level of contaminants as they have proposed. Centennial has been found to have breached its environmental licence more than 1400 times across seven coal mine sites in the Greater Blue Mountains region[2].
There is no ‘plan B’ to divert mine water if monitoring reveals higher than expected salinity levels.
The planning department must require Centennial to significantly reduce the mining intensity at its underground coal mines to protect the natural environment and to reduce the volume of wastewater sent to Mount Piper power station.
The government should commission a public inquiry into mine wastewater produced by Centennial’s underground coal mines in the Gardens of Stone region.
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[1] Centennial Coal plan to release more water into Sydney catchment will make pollution worse, expert says - ABC News
[2] https://apps.epa.nsw.gov.au/prpoeoapp/

submission attached

I am a frequent visitor to the Cox river in the Wild Dog mountains section and further upstream reached on the Six Foot track. It is a wonderful natural area with rich river life and spectacular rock formations where the river carves through the pink granite. It is one of NSW's secret wonders. The proposal by Centennial coal to discharge vast amounts of mine waste water into the Cox river is totally unacceptable. It is the total load of pollutants that matters to the river ecology, and just diluting it in extra water to get below a concentration limit is no remedy at all. The proposal will damage the river invertebrate and plant ecology, and the animals such as platypus that rely on it.
Centennial coal has shown itself to be an untrustworthy operator by its historic breaches of environmental controls. The plan is bad, and the implementation is likely to be worse.
Do not allow it to proceed. Our natural environment is worth more than a few months of coal operations.

I object to the proposal tthe modifications proposed by Centennial Coal regarding the discharge of stored waste water into Thompson Creek and Wangcol Creek both of which flow through the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and then on to Sydney's Drinking Water. To allow such "modifications" to go ahead is an act of environmental vandalism and does not adhere to the responsibilities of government to the WHA nor the people who will be drinking the contaminated water. Centennial must be required to treat the mine water to ensure that any discharge fully removes contaminants like heavy metals, salt and brine and deliver the zero release system they proposed when the water treatment plant was approved. Anything less threatens the safety of Sydney’s drinking water supply and water dependent ecosystems, including endangered and threatened species.

I am concerned that the health of Sydney’s drinking water and the ecological value of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and wildlife such as the platypus will be compromised should this proposal be approved.
Water experts have previously warned that blending or dilution of dirty water with treated water will exacerbate, rather than address, pollution issues.
If this first proposal is approved, it would result in a huge increase in pollution, heavy metal and salinity load into the receiving environment. Higher salinity means lower oxygen, which reduces food for platypus. Elecro-receptors on their bill locate prey, however salinity disrupts these, they can’t find food and starve to death.
As Mount Piper power station may remain open until the early 2040s, Centennial is seeking permission to dilute and discharge water from Thompsons Creek Reservoir during scheduled offline maintenance periods for the lifetime of the water treatment plant. This could mean up to or around 15 years of huge volumes of dirty water discharge for up to 111 days at a time.
Centennial should be required to treat mine water to ensure that any discharge fully removes contaminants like heavy metals, salt and brine and deliver the zero release system they proposed when the water treatment plant was approved. Anything less threatens the safety of Sydney’s drinking water supply and water dependent ecosystems, including endangered and threatened species.
It is not good enough for Centennial to self-monitor the level of contaminants as they have proposed as it has been found to have breached its environmental licence more than 1400 times across 7 coal mine sites in the Greater Blue Mountains region. That is unacceptable.
There is no ‘plan B’ to divert mine water if monitoring reveals higher than expected salinity levels.
The planning department must require Centennial to significantly reduce the mining intensity at its underground coal mines to protect the natural environment and to reduce the volume of wastewater sent to Mount Piper power station.
The government should commission a public inquiry into mine wastewater produced by Centennial’s underground coal mines in the Gardens of Stone region.
Please consider this carefully for the sake of our environment and the health of the Sydney residents.

The following statements appears on the Springvale Water Treatment Facility website:
The Springvale Water Treatment Facility transfers water from existing dewatering facilities on the Newnes Plateau for treatment and reuse at the Mount Piper Power Station (MPPS).

The project was initiated to improve environmental outcomes for the Coxs River catchment and meet the requirements of the Springvale Mine Extension Project consent.
It should be noted that the Centennial Mining operation are in close proximity to The Gardens of Stone Conservation Area where there are at least 80 threatened species and 16 threatened ecological communities.
Centennial’s underground mining operations are already responsible for significantly damaging the aquifers under the Conservation Area. They are currently draining in excess of 20 billion liters of groundwater from the aquifers every year resulting in drying out of peat swamps.
I believe that considering Centennial’s atrocious record, that is, breaching it’s environmental license some 1400 times over 23 years, if this this proposal is approved it will indicate clearly to them that the destruction they have caused means nothing.
This proposal will allow them to pump an extra 42 million liters of contaminated water into the Thompson Creek Reservoir for up to 111 days at a time . Thompson Creek Reservoir discharges water into the creeks that flow into the Cox’s River through a World Heritage Area and then into Warragamba Dam.
I am sure that Springvale won’t be advertising this information front and centre on their Website. Surely it is time for our Government to take a stand and protect our most valuable and irreplaceable environments and wildlife and prevent our drinking water being contaminated.
Please stop this dangerous and totally irresponsible proposal.
Thank you for accepting and considering my submission.

Hi there,
It is understandable that due to the maintenance considerations of our existing Centennial Coal Mine near Warragamba Dam, it may be necessary to release the excess contaminated water away from the mine site. However, due to environmental concerns, the wastewater needs to be properly treated according to the EPA regulations being set out. More information is in the attached submission.

I object because this project poses a pollution risk to Sydney's water supply and it therefore must not proceed, under any circumstances. Human and ecological health must be our first priority. Without clean drinking water there is no life.

I strongly oppose Centennial Coal's proposal. I'm very concerned that the health of Sydney’s drinking water and the ecological value of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and wildlife such as the platypus will be compromised should this proposal be approved.
Water experts have previously warned that blending or dilution of dirty water with treated water will exacerbate, rather than address, pollution of the Sydney drinking water catchment as overall load of pollutants will drastically rise.
Two previous applications from Centennial seeking to discharge megalitres of mine waste into Wangcol Creek were withdrawn, and this ‘dilute and discharge’ approach would be far worse as it involves far more polluted water.
If this first proposal is approved, it would result in a huge increase in pollution, heavy metal and salinity load into the receiving environment. Higher salinity means lower oxygen, which reduces food for platypus. Elecro-receptors on their bill locate prey, however salinity disrupts these, they can’t find food and starve to death.
As Mount Piper power station may remain open until the early 2040s, Centennial is seeking permission to dilute and discharge water from Thompsons Creek Reservoir during scheduled offline maintenance periods for the lifetime of the water treatment plant. This could mean up to or around 15 years of huge volumes of dirty water discharge for up to 111 days at a time.
Centennial should be required to treat mine water to ensure that any discharge fully removes contaminants like heavy metals, salt and brine and deliver the zero release system they proposed when the water treatment plant was approved. Anything less threatens the safety of Sydney’s drinking water supply and water dependent ecosystems, including endangered and threatened species.
If Centennial is unable to do this, Springvale mine must be closed and alternative coal supplies found for Mount Piper power station.
It is not good enough for Centennial to self-monitor the level of contaminants as they have proposed. Centennial has been found to have breached its environmental licence more than 1400 times across 7 coal mine sites in the Greater Blue Mountains region.
There is no ‘plan B’ to divert mine water if monitoring reveals higher than expected salinity levels.
The planning department must require Centennial to significantly reduce the mining intensity at its underground coal mines to protect the natural environment and to reduce the volume of wastewater sent to Mount Piper power station.
The government should commission a public inquiry into mine wastewater produced by Centennial’s underground coal mines in the Gardens of Stone region.

I am writing my submission to object to Centennial Coal’s proposal to dump its wastewater into Sydney’s water catchment.

What is going on here? I read in the Guardian Online today (23/1/25) that PFAS and other environmental contaminants are being looked at by water experts to toughen guidelines for safe drinking water.
At the same time Centennial Coal wants approval to dump its contaminated wastewater into Sydney’s drinking water supply, via interlinked river tributries.
No way!! Coal and water do not mix!
Where is the duty of care towards Sydney’s residents?
Secondly, I Iive in the beautiful World Heritage Blue Mountains and am concerned that environmental degradation will result to its unique ecological habitats if this dumping occurs. This area needs to be kept in a pristine state.
Please don’t let this happen!


Rima DArcy

The health of Sydney’s drinking water and the ecological value of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and wildlife such as the platypus will be compromised should this proposal be approved.
Water experts have previously warned that blending or dilution of dirty water with treated water will exacerbate, rather than address, pollution of the Sydney drinking water catchment as overall load of pollutants will drastically rise.
Two previous applications from Centennial seeking to discharge megalitres of mine waste into Wangcol Creek were withdrawn, and this ‘dilute and discharge’ approach would be far worse as it involves far more polluted water.
If this first proposal is approved, it would result in a huge increase in pollution, heavy metal and salinity load into the receiving environment. Higher salinity means lower oxygen, which reduces food for platypus. Elecro-receptors on their bill locate prey, however salinity disrupts these, they can’t find food and starve to death.
As Mount Piper power station may remain open until the early 2040s, Centennial is seeking permission to dilute and discharge water from Thompsons Creek Reservoir during scheduled offline maintenance periods for the lifetime of the water treatment plant. This could mean up to or around 15 years of huge volumes of dirty water discharge for up to 111 days at a time.
Centennial should be required to treat mine water to ensure that any discharge fully removes contaminants like heavy metals, salt and brine and deliver the zero release system they proposed when the water treatment plant was approved. Anything less threatens the safety of Sydney’s drinking water supply and water dependent ecosystems, including endangered and threatened species.
If Centennial is unable to do this, Springvale mine must be closed and alternative coal supplies found for Mount Piper power station.
It is not good enough for Centennial to self-monitor the level of contaminants as they have proposed. Centennial has been found to have breached its environmental licence more than 1400 times across 7 coal mine sites in the Greater Blue Mountains region.
There is no ‘plan B’ to divert mine water if monitoring reveals higher than expected salinity levels.
The planning department must require Centennial to significantly reduce the mining intensity at its underground coal mines to protect the natural environment and to reduce the volume of wastewater sent to Mount Piper power station.
The government should commission a public inquiry into mine wastewater produced by Centennial’s underground coal mines in the Gardens of Stone region.