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
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