Dharawal Country, New South Wales — Community group Protect Our Water Alliance (POWA) will hold a community rally outside NSW Planning Minister Paul Scully’s Wollongong office tomorrow (Wednesday) morning at 8am. This follows an announcement earlier this month by mining company Wollongong Resources that they are closing their Russell Vale and Wongawilli Collieries, laying off over 50 workers in the process. 

Russell Vale Colliery has been plagued by environmental and safety concerns in recent years, with both frequent pollution of Bellambi Creek and frequent underground friction ignition incidents. The NSW Resources Regulator closed the mine due to safety concerns earlier this year. There is a $12 million bond held with the NSW Government for mine rehabilitation. However, the mine’s own consultants estimated in 2018 that it will actually cost $200 million to adequately rehabilitate the mine site.

POWA spokesperson Dr Rada Germanos said “We are at Paul Scully’s office to demonstrate that the local community wants a robust transition plan for the mine workers of this region. There are still two more active coal mines within the greater Sydney water catchment – these both have an uncertain future, and really no place in the future of the region. We’ve seen sudden job losses at Russell Vale Mine, amidst a cost of living crisis.”

“Furthermore, we need these mine sites properly rehabilitated, so they don’t continue to draw down drinking water and trash local waterways. The beautiful Illawarra escarpment has been treated as a quarry for the last 200 years, and we have seen the damage that mining has and continues to cause, both to the escarpment areas and to our suburban creeks and green corridors. Will the Planning Minister allow Wollongong Resources to cut and run without footing the bill to properly clean up the Russell Vale and Wongawilli mines?”

“The community deserves better, we know change is coming. There are many job opportunities in the region for a green transition, and in ensuring these mines are properly rehabilitated – the Illawarra needs a solid plan to support workers and repair the environments that sustain us.

“We’re calling on Planning Minister Scully to protect workers and protect water”