Mining company Gujarat NRE rejects claims its expanded longwall mining operations near Wollongong will pose a risk to Sydney’s water supply.
Jeff Angel from the Total Environment Centre says plans by Gujarat for a multi-seam coal mine at Appin will impact directly on the Cataract dam.
“[There will be a] loss of water from the dam and the adjacent rivers, heads, swamps, etcetera,” he said.
But a statement from the company’s head of technical services, Dr Chris Harvey, dismisses the claims.
Dr Harvey says the company has no intention of undertaking further longwall mining underneath the Cataract Reservoir.
He says any future mining will require approval from the Dams Safety Committee to ensure there is no potential risk to Sydney’s drinking water supply.
