EPA issues Metropolitan Collieries Clean-Up Notice for landslip

The mine reported the incident to the EPA on Sunday afternoon following more than 80 mm of rain leading up to the incident. An approximately 600m2 section of steep embankment below the mine’s surface work site slumped, causing a significant amount of sediment to enter the Creek.

The EPA understands that the area is not part of the mine’s active operations and was not being disturbed at the time of the incident.

Director of Operations Adam Gilligan said EPA officers attended the site on Monday with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to inspect the slump and water quality impacts to the Creek.

“EPA officers observed a significant amount of slumped material in the Creek and collected water samples for analysis,” Mr Gilligan said.

“We have issued a Clean-Up Notice to Metropolitan Collieries to ensure they urgently develop a plan to remove this material from the creek to protect the waterway.”

Initial reports indicated that the incident significantly increased turbidity in the Creek, with discoloured water and sediment extending downstream to the Hacking River in the Royal National Park.

Conditions have since eased and the turbidity downstream of the site has improved.

“Metropolitan Collieries have activated their Pollution Incident Response Management Plan and have commenced preliminary works to remove material from the creek and hold the remaining loose material on the slope in place.

“We will work closely with the mine and other agencies to ensure the Creek is restored.”

The EPA regulates Metropolitan Collieries through an environment protection licence. EPA investigations are ongoing into the major incidents that occurred in 2022 where coal material was allegedly discharged from the site impacting Camp Gully Creek.

In May 2023, the EPA imposed tougher conditions on the mines’ environment protection licence and issued two penalty notices totalling $30,000 for a separate alleged water pollution incident in late 2022.