THE impact of long-wall mining could explain why Woronora Dam is not overflowing, a new environmental alliance has speculated.
However, the Sydney Catchment Authority rejected the claim, saying Woronora Dam had received only two-thirds of the rainfall which had fallen in the other catchments in the last fortnight.
While the Warragamba, Cordeaux and Cataract dams reached 100 per cent capacity, the Woronora Dam’s most recent reading was 75.4 per cent.
Peter Turner, the spokesman for Save Our Water Catchment Areas, an alliance of community groups opposed to long-wall and coal-seam gas mining in such locations, said Woronora was ‘‘lagging well behind’’ other major dams supplying Sydney and nearby regions.
‘‘This renews community concerns that long-wall coal-mining is having an adverse impact on water supply,’’ he said.
Mr Turner said the Sydney Catchment Authority had previously attributed the lower level to rainfall variations and water releases required for downstream environmental health.
‘‘The SCA has also undertaken studies that show water is being lost from the Waratah Rivulet as a consequence of alarming subsidence damage caused by long-wall coal-mining below,’’ he said.
St George & Sutherland Shire Leader
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