1. Moolarben Mining -
Above right - Open Cut & Underground mining proposal above Below - The proximity of the Longwalls to the Goulburn River

2. Wilpinjong Mines - owned by Excel

3. Ulan Coal Mines - owned by Xstrata

Possible new coal-fired power station

- Proposed Transgrid Power Transmission line

Wilpinjong Open Cut mine (Excel Coal Limited) was recently granted a DA to open cut mine to the east. The valley to be mined is home to a range of endangered species and vegetation communities. This huge open cut will be producing 9.5mtpa for 21 years using 6.2ML water per day. There is little confidence that the government will be able to regulate the condtions of approval for this mine. It is likely to impact on groundwater in the area and has the potential for offsite saline and acid drainage. Details & Documents on Wilpinjong Mine

Ulan Coal mines (Xstrata) has now reached critical excess water problems across the site, with saline water continuing to inundate the underground mine. Current modelling indicates that to continue underground mining they will need to discharge 12ML of saline water per day. Currently the mine water salinity is 1600-2800 EC. Ulan CM plans are to lower the salinity to 1200EC (desalination plant+blending) and discharge 12ML/day into local creeks. While natural background salinity levels in the Goulburn River are ~ 200-800EC.

The source of this excess mine water is still to be resolved. It is clear that 22 years of coal mining, mine subsidence and dewatering of the underground, has dramatically disrupted the groundwater system and the base flow of the Goulburn River.

Ulan CM was granted development permission to expand its open cut mine (DA-103-5-2005). As part of its underground operations it plans to install a 400m wide longwall (the biggest of its kind in Australia - Australian Journal of Mining July/August 2004). Documents available:

In addition these new Mudgee coal mines, a 33okva powerline is proposed, linked to possible coal-fired power station at Ulan.