MOD 11 - water management during MPPS outages

I live in Sydney and am very concerned about Centennial Coal’s proposal to release millions of litres of toxic wastewater into a reservoir that discharges into the headwaters of Sydney’s water catchment. This water is polluted with heavy metals and salt, which will not only will impact Sydney’s drinking water but also sensitive ecologies and waterways.

Centennial mining operations are adjacent to the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area, a stunning nature wonderland with more than 80 rare and threatened species and 16 threatened ecological communities.

Centennial Coal has already damaged aquifers, draining and destroying irreplaceable peat swamps. It is of great concern that they plan to expand their Angus Place mine which will require the release of billions of litres of wastewater.

I urge the government act as follows to protect our drinking water and the environment:

1. Ensure that Centennial Coal fully removes contaminants like heavy metals, salt and brine and delivers the zero release system they proposed when their water treatment plan was approved. If Centennial Coal is unable to do this, Springvale mine must be closed and alternative coal supplies found for Mt Piper power station.

2. Review the licence conditions which govern the volume and quality of water which Centennial Coal is entitled to release.

3. Commission a public enquiry into mine wastewater produced by Centennial Coal’s underground coal mines in the Gardens of Stone area.

I strongly oppose this proposal since 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Two previous applications from Centennial seeking to discharge megalitres of mine waste into Wangcol Creek were withdrawn, and this ‘dilute and discharge’ approach would be far worse as it involves far more polluted water.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 license 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 object to this project because Centennial Coal is proposing to discharge million litres of untreated water into pristine creeks that feed Sydney water supply.
Centennial is operating under the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area, a unique terrain that must be protected for future generations. As a co-author of a 9-book series, The Gardens of Stone and Beyond, I know the area well and it is beyond belief that it can still be allowed to be damaged by a coal mine.
Centennial must be required to fully treat all its water discharges or else close its mines, in particular, the Angus Place and Springvale Collieries.
Centennial must not be allowed to self-monitor the water discharges as they have been caught red-handed many times in the past when they had major breaches, including the pollution of the World Heritage-listed Wollangambe River.

Thankyou for considering this submission.

I oppose Centennial Coal's Modification request 11 to SSD-7592 (MOD 11). The dumping of vast quantities of toxic water into Sydney's drinking water catchment threatens the safety of the citizens of NSW. The poisoned water represents an ecological catastrophe to threatened species in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, including platypuses.

Any water that is discharged must be properly treated to address these threats. Centennial Coal must remove contaminants like heavy metals, salt and brine and deliver the zero release system they proposed when the water treatment plant was approved. This must also apply to any additional upcoming mine waste proposals that may be submitted by Centennial Coal.

Further, the government must commission a public inquiry into mine wastewater produced by Centennial’s underground coal mines in the Gardens of Stone region.

Dumping toxic waste into the environment is unacceptable and is a disgrace.

Thankyou.

I am opposed, on public health grounds, to the dumping of untreated waste water into a reservoir that eventually drains into the catchment area for Sydney's drinking water. It is Centennial's responsibility to treat 100% of the water they propose to dump. Centennial originally proposed this solution when the water treatment plan was conceived. While Centennial may prefer to break previous commitments to increase short term profits, the government is not bound to follow them.

I wish to express my concern 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 in their current application would be far worse as it involves far more polluted water.
If this 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. Electroreceptors on their bill locate prey, however salinity disrupts these, they can’t find food and starve to death.
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.

The risk to our precious drinking water is not worth the for a toxic coal mine for a company with a record of breaching its environmental licence over 1400 times over the last 23 years. The risk is too great.
Thank you

I am making this submission because I am 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.
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.

The Government has failed to manage and take necessary action to protect people's drinking water and the environment - I am referring to current media about forever chemicals that cannot be cleaned up!!!!!. I implore you to reject the Centennial proposal because it's the only outcome that cares for the long term benefits of individuals, communities, animals and the environment.

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.

Toxic wastewater should not be allowed to enter our drinking water catchment. Please do not allow this to go ahead. We need less pollution in the environment not more.

This proposal should not be approved because it would result in the dumping of huge amounts of pollution into pristine waterways within the Blue Mountains National Park. These pollutants include, but are not limited to heavy metals and a high salinity load. Heavy metals should not find there where are you? into our drinking water and are toxic to all life. Higher salinity means lower oxygen, which in turn reduces life in the waterways including insects and crustaceans which are vital food sources for animals such as platypus which are already endangered/ threatened due to degradation and loss of habitat (elecro-receptors on their bill locate prey, however salinity disrupts these, they can’t find food and eventually starve to death).
As Mount Piper power station may remain open until the early 2040s, Centennial is also 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.

I am writing this submission due to my concern about Centennial Coal having new plans to dump polluted wastewater into the Sydney water catchment from its coal mines. The water under discussion is laced with heavy metals and salt which will impact Sydney’s drinking water and will have a general negative effect on the waterways. I am concerned, due to their very negative history, that Centennial Coal will flout already existent laws. Centennial mining operations are adjacent to the Gardes of Stone State Conservation Area which has rare and threatened species and they have already caused damage in this area. I am deeply concerned that the health of Sydney’s drinking water and also will affect the natural areas around their mine. They need to be forced to to treat the mine water more strongly so that contaminants like heavy metals are removed. No self monitoring should be allowed.

Christina Smith

Please find my submission objecting to this proposal.
Cathy merchant

This project should not get approval. A few years ago, Centennial was slowing down their mining activity as a reflection of the way the world is moving away from fossil fuels. Now they seem to be stepping up their activity to squeeze every last cent out of their operations before they are forced to stop. There is no need to for the Angus Place project to expand, we need to be focussing on renewables, so Lithgow can have a sustainable, secure future.
Centennial Coal, wants to dump millions of litres of toxic wastewater into a reservoir that discharges into the headwaters of Sydney’s drinking water supply. This is water laced with heavy metals and salt, that not only will impact Sydney’s drinking water but also sensitive ecologies and waterways. Throughout its history of mining operations in the precious Gardens of Stone area, Centennial Coal has shown itself to be a rogue operator, continuously flouting the rules and destroying nationally endangered ecosystems. They pay lip service to looking after the environment but they do not stick to the requirements of their approvals. In our area, Airly mine exceeded their subsidence limits and are now talking about patching up the cracks with concrete!
Over a 23-year period, 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. This includes a coal mine spill from the Centennial Clarence coal mine into the World Heritage Area that resulted in one of the largest fines in the EPA’s history.
Centennial mining operations are adjacent to the Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area, with more than 80 rare and threatened species and 16 threatened ecological communities.
Centennial Coal has already damaged aquifers, draining irreplaceable peat swamps, destroying them forever. It’s time their operations were stopped completely and yet they plan on expanding their Angus Place mine.
To be able to expand, however, they need to offload billions of litres of wastewater – a crisis of their own making. This project should not be approved.

I am extremely concerned that the discharge of contaminated water from Thompsons Creek Reservoir will add pollutants such as heavy metals to Sydney’s drinking water and over the long term there will be degradation of the Blue Mountains natural environment. Heavy metals and increased salinity will impact waterways downstream. The Cox's River has long been unfit for human consumption. This is disgraceful and yet here is a proposal, based on addressing a long term mining problem, to further damage the water quality and damage habitat for fish, birds, mammals such as the Platypus and invertebrates. It is simply not acceptable to discharge treated and untreated mine waste into our waterways.

I object most strongly to the proponent discharging such substantial pollution into my drinking water. If they cannot rely on the Mount Piper power station providing the filtration then they must provide their own or cease operations for the duration.
The threat to platypus survival is even less acceptable.

I can't believe that this hugely polluting proposal to dump toxic coal waste water into a reservoir at the headquarters of Sydney's drinking water catchment is being considered seriously as a modification. It is not some minor modification. It is an unsafe and irresponsible proposal of major proportions. Like everyone else in Sydney I don't want to risk my health by drinking polluted water. The NSW Planning Department, Department of Health and other government agencies have a fundamental responsibility to ensure our drinking water is safe and approving the Centennial project would be a dereliction of duty

I strongly oppose the proposal to dilute and discharge polluted mine water from Centennial Coal into Sydney’s drinking water catchment. This plan poses severe risks to the health of Sydney’s water supply, the ecological integrity of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, and the survival of iconic wildlife such as the platypus.

Key Concerns
Compromised Water Quality and Public Health
Water experts have warned that blending untreated or partially treated water with clean water will not mitigate pollution but will increase the overall pollutant load in Sydney’s drinking water catchment. This includes harmful substances like heavy metals, salt, and other contaminants, posing a direct threat to public health.

Unacceptable Ecological Impacts
This proposal threatens the delicate ecosystems of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. For example, the platypus, a unique and vulnerable species, relies on electro-receptors in its bill to locate prey. Elevated salinity disrupts these receptors, rendering the platypus unable to feed, ultimately leading to starvation. Increased salinity also reduces oxygen levels in water, further degrading aquatic habitats.

Previous Applications Withdrawn for Good Reason
Centennial’s two previous applications to discharge mine waste into Wangcol Creek were withdrawn due to valid environmental concerns. This ‘dilute and discharge’ approach is even more damaging, involving significantly larger volumes of highly polluted water.

Long-Term Environmental Damage
With the Mount Piper power station potentially remaining operational until the early 2040s, Centennial’s proposal could result in up to 15 years of dirty water discharge during scheduled maintenance periods, lasting up to 111 days at a time. This scale of pollution would cause irreversible damage to water-dependent ecosystems and species.

Inadequate Pollution Control Measures
Centennial should be held accountable to deliver the zero-release system promised when their water treatment plant was approved. Any discharged water must be fully treated to remove all contaminants, including heavy metals and salts. Allowing self-monitoring is insufficient, especially given Centennial’s record of over 1,400 environmental license breaches across seven coal mine sites in the Greater Blue Mountains region.

No Contingency Plan
The absence of a contingency plan to manage higher-than-expected salinity levels highlights the reckless nature of this proposal. Without a credible 'Plan B,' Sydney’s drinking water supply remains vulnerable to contamination.

Recommendations
Centennial must treat all mine water to remove contaminants and adhere to the zero-release commitment.
If this is unfeasible, the Springvale mine should be closed, and alternative coal supplies for Mount Piper power station should be secured.
The planning department must require Centennial to significantly reduce mining intensity to protect the natural environment and reduce wastewater volumes.
The government should commission a public inquiry into wastewater management by Centennial’s underground coal mines in the Gardens of Stone region.
Approving this proposal would jeopardize the safety of Sydney’s drinking water and the integrity of globally significant ecosystems. I urge the planning department to reject this proposal and prioritize the protection of public health and environmental sustainability

I am strongly opposed to this proposal.
I trust the water experts who have warned that this proposal will increase pollution in Sydney’s drinking water catchment.
Sydney’s drinking water is an essential resource that should not be further polluted or compromised in any way.
The volume of mine waste water is far in excess of any ‘safe’ level.
The dirty water will increase salt levels and the load of heavy metals in the catchment. This will negatively impact freshwater life including platypus and the aquatic invertebrates on which it feeds.
This proposal will negatively impact the ecological value of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. I have already had to campaign to protect the WHA from a proposal to raise the wall of the Warragamba Dam.
It is ludicrous to allow Centennial Coal to self-monitor the level of contaminants it proposes.
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.
NSW Planning must require Centennial to significantly reduce the mining intensity at its underground coal mines.
NSW Planning must act to protect the natural environment and to reduce the volume of wastewater sent to Mount Piper power station.
The mine wastewater produced by Centennial’s underground coal mines in the Gardens of Stone region should be the subject of a public inquiry.

Its is wrong that
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. Intensive mining methods have 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.
Approximately 5,000,000,000 litres of mine wastewater is stored underground in Angus Place mine as well as Springvale mine. To continue mining, Centennial proposes to discharge this waste into Sydney’s drinking water catchment.
We have a duty of care and are failing badly, not just with this project. The way our enviorment is miss managed is discusting and imoral. We can ans need to do better. A healthy enviorment is esential for all species, including us.