THE Central Coast’s water supply is under no threat from the Wallarah 2 coal mine because the geology of the area was “peculiar and ideal” for underground mining.
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That’s the view of Wallarah 2 project manager Kenny Barry who, in an exclusive interview with the Lakes Mail, has addressed some of the big questions over the $800-million mine planned for Bushells Ridge.
While opponents of Wallarah 2 have questioned everything from the viability of the coal mine, to the predicted economic benefits for the local community from the operation, and the extent of subsidence that would be caused by the mine, the hot button issue has always been the threat posed to the Central Coast’s water supply.
And on that score Mr Barry is confident that the science provides a rock solid safeguard for the security of the region’s drinking water.
Inside this week’s Lakes Mail, Mr Barry explains what’s going on under the valleys of Yarramalong and Dooralong that makes the area so well suited to safe and sustainable coal mining.
It’s the first in a series of articles that addresses what Mr Barry considers to be some of the myths and misunderstandings about Wallarah 2.
The articles are likely to polarise opinion, just like the proposed mine itself.
Mr Barry said the community’s concern about the potential impacts of new mines were understandable, but nothing new.
He said concerns that preceded coal mining at Mandalong were a good local example.
“We often refer to Mandalong. There are a lot of the things that are being said about this project [Wallarah 2] that were also predicted by the opponents to happen [at Mandalong],” Mr Barry said.
“They were going to destroy the water. They were going to cave houses in. They were going to fracture roads. Bridges were going to be buckled.
“None of those have come to pass.”
- This is part of a series of articles in which Wallarah 2 project manager Kenny Barry gives his take on issues relating to the proposed coal mine.
