Yancoal's Moolarben Underground 4 Expansion (UG4) project was approved in 2007 and will mine within 200 metres of the Goulburn River near The Drip picnic area. A long community campaign at the time expressed major concern about the impacts on the river.

The project was approved with the condition for an independent review of its impact on the Goulburn River, Mining in Underground 4 commenced in mid 2022. The Independent Expert Advisory Panel for Underground Mining (IAPUM) established by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment conducted the review and submitted recommendations to Yancoal in 2022. These stressed the importance of monitoring groundwater flows related to the Goulburn River, highlighting various concerns about the project's impact on this vital water source.

However, Yancoal has continued mining in UG4 without implementing the recommendations of the review, causing alarm within the community and environmental experts. The Department of Planning imposed a June 2023 deadline for the installation of critical monitoring data sites, which Yancoal has failed to meet. This delay is particularly concerning when mining of the expansion project is approaching the midway point of its first extraction plan.

Furthermore, the independent panel, has questioned the accuracy of Yancoal's water prediction model, which downplays the potential impact on baseflows to the Goulburn River and The Drip. The IAPUM has challenged the claim that the groundwater near 'The Drip' is not connected to the regional water table.

Consequently, there is a pressing need for a reassessment of the predicted groundwater takes, both for the entire Moolarben Mine site and the specific longwall panels, to ensure the protection of the Goulburn River's baseflow and address concerns about potential water loss and regional drawdown. The ongoing controversy underscores the importance of responsible and sustainable water resource management practices in underground mining operations.

Handy Links:

IAPUM Website
IAPUM report - MCC UG4 Extraction Plan LW401-408