Emergency discharge event
After discussion with the EPA, between 8-23 July 2023, Mangoola Coal Operations Pty Ltd discharged water from their HRSTS discharge point.
On 8 July 2022, Mangoola Coal Operations Pty Ltd (Environment Protection Licence No. 12894) approached the EPA about critical water storage issues on site during a declared flood emergency. Mangoola Coal Operations Pty Ltd advised the EPA that water levels in the mine’s dam were approaching critical threshold for wall stability; controlled and timed release of water was essential to ensure that impacts could be managed downstream.
The State Emergency Operations, which had been set up at Broke downstream of Mangoola, had advised that the Maitland Levee Bank was very close to breaking and that there was a real concern threatening human lives and property within the catchment. The EPA acknowledged Mangoola’s concerns about the critical water levels onsite and the downstream issues associated with the Maitland Levee Bank and stated that if a discharge was required, a report would be required for EPA assessment. Between 8-23 July 2023, Mangoola discharged water from their HRSTS discharge point which was reported to the EPA.
The EPA subsequently varied Mangoola’s Environment Protection Licence to include a Pollution Reduction Study (PRS) requiring an investigation into their water infrastructure and potential improvements to manage their saline water storages and discharges. Mangoola has completed the PRS and the licence has been varied. Please visit the EPA’s Public Register for more information.
This event highlights the challenges of the Scheme in extreme weather conditions. In response, the EPA is reviewing the HRSTS Regulation and Scheme processes to maintain Scheme integrity and alignment with its objectives under extreme weather conditions.