About POWA
Protect Our Water Alliance was formed in early 2019 in response to the ongoing mining beneath Sydney’s water catchment.
Located on unceded Dharawal Country in Wollongong, POWA is affiliated with grassroots groups and environmental organisations across the Illawarra, Southern Highlands, and Greater Sydney regions.
POWA is calling for a total ban on mining in our water catchment.
Damage to the Catchment
The Greater Sydney Water Catchment supplies 5 million people with clean drinking water.
The four active coal mines that dig beneath the catchment cause irreversible damage to creeks, rivers, and endangered upland swamps. This not only reduces the quality and quantity of water we need to drink, but ruins critical ecosystems and cultural heritage sites.
What is longwall mining?
Longwall mining is a method used by the mines within our water catchment. It is highly destructive, causing issues such as subsidence and surface-to-seam fracturing.
POWA has made an explanatory video about longwall mining – watch it here.
Updates
Dendrobium Damage Update #4 – more cracked rocks
South32 has finished mining Longwall 17 in “Area 3b” in the Dendrobium Mine, which of course is on unceded Dharawal Country, and just north of the Avon Reservoir.Your faithful friends here at POWA have trawled through the End of Panel report, and distilled some Dendrobium Damage for you. Spoiler alert: longwall mining is highly destructive, … Continue reading Dendrobium Damage Update #4 – more cracked rocks
Dendrobium Damage #3 – this is what a cracked stream looks like
South32 has finished mining Longwall 17 in “Area 3b” in the Dendrobium Mine, which of course is on unceded Dharawal Country, and just north of the Avon Reservoir.Your faithful friends here at POWA have trawled through the End of Panel report, and distilled some Dendrobium Damage for you. Spoiler alert: longwall mining is highly destructive, … Continue reading Dendrobium Damage #3 – this is what a cracked stream looks like
Dendrobium Damage Update #2
South32 has finished mining Longwall 17 in “Area 3b” in the Dendrobium Mine, which of course is on unceded Dharawal Country, and just north of the Avon Reservoir. Your faithful friends here at POWA have trawled through the End of Panel report, and distilled some Dendrobium Damage for you. Spoiler alert: longwall mining is highly … Continue reading Dendrobium Damage Update #2
Dendrobium Damage Update #1
South32 has finished mining Longwall 17 in “Area 3b” in the Dendrobium Mine, which of course is on unceded Dharawal Country, and just north of the Avon Reservoir. Your faithful friends here at POWA have trawled through the End of Panel report, and distilled some Dendrobium Damage for you. Spoiler alert: longwall mining is highly … Continue reading Dendrobium Damage Update #1
Peabody’s Metropolitan Mine pollutes Camp Gully Creek in the Royal National Park, the latest in a long string of coal pollution events in the Illawarra
You’ve all no doubt heard by now about Camp Gully Creek in the Royal National Park being choked with thick black coal sludge, released from the Metropolitan Mine near Helensburgh. Thankfully the NSW Environment Minister seems royally pissed off and says he will throw the book at the mine. Here’s hoping. We’ve compiled a trip … Continue reading Peabody’s Metropolitan Mine pollutes Camp Gully Creek in the Royal National Park, the latest in a long string of coal pollution events in the Illawarra
DENDROBIUM BITES THE DUST – South32 cancels expansion plan
In a surprise announcement this week, South32 have abandoned their plans to expand the Dendrobium Mine. Workers at the mine were apparently told this news via text message. While South32 has admitted the expansion did not stack up economically — a something POWA has been questioning for some time — its also clear that the … Continue reading DENDROBIUM BITES THE DUST – South32 cancels expansion plan
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WOLLONGONG COAL HAVE RESTARTED WORK AT THEIR CONTROVERSIAL RUSSELL VALE MINE
JOIN THE COMMUNITY DIRECT ACTION CAMPAIGN TO STOP WORK
WWW.STOPRUSSELLVALEMINE.ORG
POWA recognises that the traditional owners of the regions spanning Sydney’s water catchment have never ceded sovereignty of their lands and waters.
Protect Our Water Alliance 2022
Protect Our Water Alliance 