WINGECARRIBEE PEAT MINING DISASTER -

NEW THREAT TO WATER SUPPLY

Following recent heavy rains, the controversial dredge in the Wingecarribee Swamp has been washed into the Wingecarribee Reservoir which supplies drinking water to the Southern Highlands and Sydney Water.

Heavy dredging equipment has smashed 1500 metres through the Swamp 'buffer zone' and sunk in the Wingecarribee Reservoir. The equipment cut a channel through National Trust classified wetland creating a channel for polluted water from the dredge pond to directly enter the Reservoir.

Noel Plumb, Executive Officer of the National Parks Association said

"Numerous assurances were given by representatives of the peat mine to the recent Mining Warden's Inquiry that the buffer zone would protect the Wingecarribee Reservoir from contaminants in the mining zone. These include high levels of phosphorous and sewerage overflows from the Robertson Sewerage Treatment Plant. The inevitable disaster has happened. The buffer zone has been breached and contaminated water is now flowing directly into the water supply."

"We believe the Minister for Mining, Bob Martin, was repeatedly warned that this could occur, yet mining was allowed to continue and in fact increase, during the inquiry process".

"What will we find when the water is tested and who will pay for the clean up?"

"We fear that this disaster will trigger another blue green algae outbreak in the reservoir and has the potential to allow contmination by giardia and cryptospyridium parasites."

Despite previous major outbreaks of blue green algae in the reservoir linked to peat mining operations, Bob Martin, the Minister for Mining has refused to release the $2 million Mining Warden's Report or renewal of the peat mining leases .

The Wingecarribee Swamp, which is owned by Sydney Water and is zoned 7A (Environmental Protection which prohibits Mining) under the local LEP, has been clearly identified by Sydney Water, the Royal Botanic Gardens, the National Trust of NSW, the Environmental Protection Authority and the National Parks and Wildlife Service as the largest highland montane peat swamp in Australia and an important water catchment and filtration site containing numerous endangered species of flora and fauna.

The Executive Officer of the National Parks Association of Australia, Noel Plumb said today:

"We are extremely concerned with ongoing delays in the permanent protection of the area. This latest disaster is part of an ongoing chain of events that continues to threaten a significant part of Sydney's water catchment as well as a number of endangered species of flora and fauna."

"It is the strong desire of ourselves, other conservationists, numerous government authorities and the people of Wingecaribee Shire, that the Wingecarribee Swamp will be declared a Nature Reserve as soon as possible.

"What more does it take. For marginal royalties, this whole issue has cost NSW taxpayers millions of dollars, not to mention the effect the mine is having on our drinking water."

For further comment please contact Noel Plumb 92334660 or 018 975075