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Protect Our Water Alliance

Dharawal/Yuin Country, Wollongong

  • SYDNEY WATER CATCHMENT
    • GREATER SYDNEY WATER CATCHMENT
    • MINING RELATED DAMAGE TO THE CATCHMENT
  • COAL MINES IN THE CATCHMENT
    • DENDROBIUM MINE
    • RUSSELL VALE MINE
    • METROPOLITAN MINE
    • WONGAWILLI MINE
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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.

WOLLONGONG COAL HAVE RESTARTED WORK AT THEIR CONTROVERSIAL RUSSELL VALE MINE

JOIN THE COMMUNITY DIRECT ACTION CAMPAIGN TO STOP WORK

WWW.STOPRUSSELLVALEMINE.ORG

Updates

Have your say: make a submission opposing The Dendrobium Mine Extension Project (SSI-33143123)

Submissions close 14th June 2022 – have your say here Our recommendation is that you write a short, unique submission which explains why you oppose this project. To help you, we have created this submission guide. You may choose to include some (or all) of the points below depending on your personal views about this … Continue reading Have your say: make a submission opposing The Dendrobium Mine Extension Project (SSI-33143123)

by Protect Our Water Alliance 23rd May 202223rd May 2022

JOIN US: Don’t sell out to coal, Minister Roberts!

Friday 3rd June 8:30am Department of Planning and Environment, 84 Crown Street, Wollongong Minister for Planning and Homes, Anthony Roberts, now has the final say on the Dendrobium Mine Expansion. On Friday June 3rd at 8:30am we’ll be at his Department’s local office doors. Never before in NSW has a coal mine been given this … Continue reading JOIN US: Don’t sell out to coal, Minister Roberts!

by Protect Our Water Alliance 23rd May 2022

WATCH POWATalks #3 – What does sustainable water infrastructure look like? With Prof Stuart Khan

Dr Stuart Khan responds to the question: what does sustainable water infrastructure look like in this, the final talk in POWATalks Autumn series on May 17th, 2022. Stay tuned for the interesting Q&A with the audience too. Dr Stuart Khan is a Professor at the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering at UNSW. His research … Continue reading WATCH POWATalks #3 – What does sustainable water infrastructure look like? With Prof Stuart Khan

by Protect Our Water Alliance 19th May 202223rd May 2022

WATCH POWATalks #2 – Creatures of the Catchment with Dr Ian Wright and Tom Kristensen

In this presentation from May 4th, 2022, Tom Kristensen and Dr Ian Wright (Western Sydney Uni) bring us up close with the endangered koalas and invertebrates who inhabit Sydney-Illawarra’s Special Areas (our water catchment). They show us why these species are threatened by current mining.

by Protect Our Water Alliance 9th May 202223rd May 2022

POWATalks #2 and #3

POWAtalks #2 is coming up on May 4th at 7pm, via Zoom! This time we’ll be learning about some fascinating creatures of the Greater Sydney Water Catchment from Dr Ian Wright and Tom Kristensen. Ian is a science communicator, researcher and senior lecturer in Western Sydney University’s School of Science. His research interests include freshwater … Continue reading POWATalks #2 and #3

by Protect Our Water Alliance 30th Apr 2022

Wongawilli MOD2 approved by DPIE, condemned by locals

MEDIA RELEASE  19 April 2022 Wollongong, New South Wales — Protect Our Water Alliance condemns the latest approval for coal mining expansions within the Greater Sydney Water Catchment. Wollongong Coal’s Wongawilli Colliery has received NSW Government approval to build its North West Mains Development – a 7km long underground road beneath Avon Reservoir. Avon Dam … Continue reading Wongawilli MOD2 approved by DPIE, condemned by locals

by Protect Our Water Alliance 19th Apr 202230th Apr 2022

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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

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