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Upper Hunter Shire Council Adopts Cautious Approach to Bickham Report
Last modified: October 28, 2009 - 11:28 AM
INDEPENDENT consultants will be engaged by the Upper Hunter Shire Council to assess the recently-released water resource report for the proposed Bickham coal mine about 15km south of Murrurundi.
At its meeting on Monday afternoon, Council resolved to seek expert opinions as well as a recommendation from its own Development and Environmental Services committee.
Councillors also reaffirmed that "Council remains very concerned regarding water security issues for the Pages River and associated catchment".
Upper Hunter Shire Council Mayor Cr Lee Watts said the long-awaited water study would be on public exhibition via the State Government Department of Planning until December 4.
"It should be noted that while the water study that was originally expected in late 2006 is now available for public, and council, comment, there is no approval for the mine and no application has been lodged, so possible consent for this project is a long way off," Cr Watts said.
Cr Watts said if approval was granted by the State Government, the mine would extract up to 36 million tonnes of coal from two adjacent open cut pits over a period of up to 25 years - a comparatively small operation, but with potentially a very significant environmental impact.
Cr Watts urged members of the public to view the reports and make submissions. The Department of Planning can be contacted on 1300 305 695.
She said the Department of Planning would take all submissions into consideration when it reviewed the reports and before a full environmental assessment.
Copies of the report are available via Council and there is a link to the report on Council's website.
"We have always been very concerned about the potential impact on water resources - an issue identified as critically important right from the start, by both the community and the Department of Planning," Cr Watts said.
"It has always been Council's plan to obtain an independent opinion by appropriate consultants on the adequacy of the report and its conclusion."
Council noted that it had taken the proponents over three years to produce the Water Resource Assessment and Draft Water Management Plan and in the meantime, the company had modified and downsized its last mine plan.
"The documents are very detailed and Council needs to be assured that the data can withstand robust independent assessment," Cr Watts said.
"Council has always adopted a cautious approach to this project and our concerns regarding potential impact on the surface and ground water supplies and potential impact to downstream users remain at a high level," she said.
Cr Watts said benefits of the project such as local employment opportunities needed to be weighed carefully against potential impacts, including loss of employment or investment in other local industries, such as horse studs.
"While there is the slightest uncertainty about potential impacts, Council will work to ensure that any decisions made are based on sound advice and appreciation of all relevant issues," Cr Watts said.
Contact details
Upper Hunter Shire Council
Tel: 02 6540 1100
Fax: 02 6545 2671
council@upperhunter.nsw.gov.au
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