Underground Coal Mining has caused severe loss of water, cracking and rock uplifts on the Waratah Rivulet
The Waratah Rivulet and its tributaries used to supply around 29% of the water supply for Sutherland Shire into Woronora Dam. But it has now been very badly cracked, drained and polluted by Peabody's longwall coal mines, which were allowed to go under the river bed.
A 2 km stretch is now virtually dry.
It is argued by the Mining Lobby that this does not cause water loss and that the water will resurface elsewhere - BUT....
1) In all probability, the water will NOT resurface in the creek bed (where it would normally drain into the Water Storage System), but elsewhere and is effectively lost.
2) Wherever the water resurfaces, it will be heavily polluted after travelling along mine shafts and tunnels
Peabody is a USA-based multinational mining corporation, the biggest in the world. It plans to go on mining under this river and eventually under the dam itself.
Sydney Catchment Authority officials have unofficially asked for this shocking situation to be publicised.
