The Labor Government must put an end to its arrogant denial of community concerns and establish a commission of inquiry into longwall mining around the Nepean River, Liberal candidates for Wollondilly and Camden, Sharryn Hilton and Chris Patterson said today. 

“The community has been asking for a commission of inquiry into longwall mining in the area for some time, only to be frustrated by the Labor Government’s arrogant refusal,” Ms Hilton said.

“The local community has serious concerns about the damage that this mining may cause to the Nepean River and our local environment.

“Just last week I went to Simpsons Creek with members of local environmental groups to inspect the damage to the riverbed caused by previous mining in that area,” Ms Hilton said.

“I was shocked by the massive cracks in the river bed. Anyone can read about the issue, but you don’t realise how bad it really is until you see it first hand.”

Similar mining to that proposed on the Nepean River has also caused serious damage to the Cataract River. Subsidence within the mine has cracked the riverbed, reducing environmental water flows below required levels, and significantly reducing water quality, with dissolved oxygen decreasing from 100% to lows of a mere 8.3%.

“We can’t afford to have that sort of damage to the Nepean,” Ms Hilton said.

Mr Patterson said: “The Labor Government’s refusal to hold a commission of inquiry shows how little they care about our local environment.

“A commission of inquiry is the best way to know for sure just how damaging this mining could be.

“We will not sit quietly by and watch the Nepean River destroyed.

“The Labor Government must find the backbone to set up a commission of inquiry before it’s too late,” Mr Patterson concluded.!