Skip navigation

Minns & Perrottet must commit to phasing out coal mining in Sydney’s Water Catchment

profile image
Cate Faehrmann
NSW Greens MP
10 March 2023

Dominic Perrottet and Chris Minns must commit to ruling out any new longwall mining in Sydney’s water catchment as well as a timetable to phase it out after it was revealed that one of the last actions by the NSW National Party Water Minister was to hand out water licences to coal companies mining in the catchment, says Cate Faehrmann, Greens MP and water spokesperson. 

“The Government’s move shows it acknowledges the impact coal mining is having on Sydney’s water catchment, yet instead of acting to protect our water supply they’re locking in decades of water loss at a time when we are going to have less water to sustain a growing population,”  said Cate Faehrmann. 

“The Government has long claimed that mining under Sydney’s water catchment has no impact on water supplies but is now handing out water entitlements to deal with the vast amount of water that is being used to mine coal in our precious catchment, including what is leaking from subsidence caused by longwall mining.

“I’ve visited areas in the catchment where coal mining is occurring nearby and seen for myself creek and river beds that have massive cracks in them caused by longwall mining with water just draining away.

“There is no doubt that Sydney will face dry conditions again in the next few years. We can’t afford for coal companies to be taking unlimited amounts of drinking water and putting Sydney’s water security at risk.

“Sydney’s water catchment is the only publicly owned water catchment in the world that has longwall mining allowed under it. The community is disappointed that both major parties seem content to allow mining in the catchment to continue. 

“The Greens will rule out any more mining in the catchment to protect Sydney’s water security. We will also develop a plan to phase out coal mining in Sydney’s water catchment altogether, and I’m calling on all parties to commit to doing the same. 

“Coal mining has no future, but particularly in Sydney’s water catchment in a climate emergency,” said Cate Faehrmann. 

profile image
Cate Faehrmann
NSW Greens MP
10 March 2023
SHARE:

THE LATEST NEWS

Minns & Perrottet must commit to phasing out coal mining in Sydney’s Water Catchment

Dominic Perrottet and Chris Minns must commit to ruling out any new longwall mining in Sydney’s water catchment as well as a timetable to phase it out after it was revealed that one of the last actions by the NSW National Party Water Minister was to hand out water licences...

MEDIA RELEASE

Greens Announce Plan to Legalise Cannabis in Next Term of Parliament

Cate Faehrmann, Greens MP and drug law reform spokesperson, has today launched the Greens plan to legalise and regulate recreational cannabis in NSW. 

MEDIA RELEASE

Pill Testing Urgently Needed after Tragic Death at Music Festival: Greens

Following the tragic news of the death of a man from a drug overdose at Sydney’s Transmission Festival this weekend, Cate Faehrmann, Greens MP and drug law reform and harm reduction spokesperson is calling on the Government to urgently implement all recommendations of the Coronial Inquest into the six deaths...

MEDIA RELEASE

The Govt Shows Contempt for Democratic Process with 5th Introduction of Floodplain Harvesting Regulations

The NSW Water Minister’s introduction of floodplain harvesting regulations for a fifth time shortly before an election shows complete and utter contempt for the voters of NSW, says Cate Faehrmann, Greens MP and water spokesperson.  The NSW Government gazetted regulations to license floodplain harvesting this afternoon after previous regulations were...


CAMPAIGNS