Jury-out on Duralie desire to contaminate NSW water

THE NEW South Wales Department of Planning says it is still deciding on wether or not to allow Duralie Coal pump open-cut coal mine water into the Karuah River tributary.

The miner wants to pump up to 500 megalitres of mine water over two years because one of its dams is overflowing and cannot be drained through irrigation.

The Greens MP and mining spokesperson Lee Rhiannon claims allowing Duralie Coal to release mining water directly into the Mammy Johnson River would threaten the water supply for communities from the central coast to Port Stephens.

The NSW Department of Planning says Duralie Coal will have to submit a comprehensive environmental report on the impact of its proposed dump, and respond to all issues raised in public submissions before any determination is made.