Accelerated Despite the damage to the Rivulet, WRS3 commenced in bank erosion. approval was given to continue with October 2003. adjacent panels, which subsequently Recent roundwater caused further fracturing of the rockbar and monitoring by SCA riverbed (Krogh, pers. comm., 2007). Monitoring of remediation impacts including macroinvertebrate and macrophyte surveys. Cataract Loss of Subsidence Longwall mining began at Tower Colliery in Study by DIPNR (2003) Grouting to A return to natural River below surface flow related to the vicinity of the Cataract River in 1988. found it difficult to prevent surface flow levels has Broughtons including longwall determine loss of flow and water losses. not occurred. Longwall 3 was extracted during 1990 and Pass Weir water loss extraction. effectiveness of Use of was the first of 10 to pass directly beneath Environmental from remediation due to lack of environmental the river. flow releases permanent sufficient pre-mining data. flows to were not Panels started 110 m wide, and were pools. compensate for Mining-induced fractures considered by increased in to 155 m in 1992. surface flow Reduced were first observed and DIPNR (2003) The adverse impacts on the river were losses. quality. mapped in the Cataract adequate to keep reported in 1994, when residents reported River in 1996 (Coffey the river flowing Growth of the loss of surface water from some of the 1996 cited by MSEC or to maintain iron oxidising more permanent pools. There was also a 2006), prior to the water quality. bacterial decrease in water quality, release of gas, commencement of Tower mats. vegetation dieback, fish kills and Longwall 14. Gas bacterial mats. Additional fractures were emissions In 1998, a Mining Wardens Court Hearing observed between Weirs and concluded that 80% of the drying of the 4 and 5 during and after vegetation Cataract River was due to longwall mining the extraction of Tower dieback. operations, with the balance attributed to Longwall 14, and these Fisk kills. reduced flows regulated by Sydney Water. were mapped in 1997 During 1999 grouting was carried out to Rock (Coffey 1997 cited by
Accelerated bank erosion. Despite the damage to the Rivulet, approval was given to continue with adjacent panels, which subsequently caused further fracturing of the rockbar and riverbed (Krogh, pers. comm., 2007). WRS3 commenced in October 2003. Recent roundwater monitoring by SCA Monitoring of remediation impacts including macroinvertebrate and macrophyte surveys. Cataract River below Broughtons Pass Weir Loss of surface flow including water loss from permanent pools. Reduced quality. Growth of iron oxidising bacterial mats. Gas emissions and vegetation dieback. Fisk kills. Rock Subsidence related to longwall extraction. Longwall mining began at Tower Colliery in the vicinity of the Cataract River in 1988. Longwall 3 was extracted during 1990 and was the first of 10 to pass directly beneath the river. Panels started 110 m wide, and were increased in to 155 m in 1992. The adverse impacts on the river were reported in 1994, when residents reported the loss of surface water from some of the more permanent pools. There was also a decrease in water quality, release of gas, vegetation dieback, fish kills and bacterial mats. In 1998, a Mining Wardens Court Hearing concluded that 80% of the drying of the Cataract River was due to longwall mining operations, with the balance attributed to reduced flows regulated by Sydney Water. During 1999 grouting was carried out to Study by DIPNR (2003) found it difficult to determine loss of flow and effectiveness of remediation due to lack of sufficient pre-mining data. Mining-induced fractures were first observed and mapped in the Cataract River in 1996 (Coffey 1996 cited by MSEC 2006), prior to the commencement of Tower Longwall 14. Additional fractures were observed between Weirs 4 and 5 during and after the extraction of Tower Longwall 14, and these were mapped in 1997 (Coffey 1997 cited by Grouting to prevent surface water losses. Use of environmental flows to compensate for surface flow losses. A return to natural flow levels has not occurred. Environmental flow releases were not considered by DIPNR (2003) adequate to keep the river flowing or to maintain water quality.
peat-swamp-subsidence.docx