Mine Pollution Levels in Blue Mountains Could Be Some of The Worlds Worst, Insect

Species Dying Out.

Jackson Vernon- ABC online, 25th February 2017

Pollution levels within the world heritage listed Blue Mountains have recognised as some of
the worst in the world.
Scientific research has been carried out to find alarming levels of nickel and zinc in the water
due to contamination from mining.
As a result of the significant contamination a decline in the number of insect species has
been recognised.
The Environmental Protection Authority have recognised have renewed their licenses to
combat the amount of contamination allowed in the streams.
Some people, such as the Deputy Mayor of Lithgow, continue to defend the environmental
operations of the mine claiming the environmental checks and balances now are a lot more
stringent on what they were as he noted the importance of the mine to local employment.
The EPA are currently finalising research carried out in this area and reviewing its current
Environmental Protection License (EPL). The Clarence Colliery thus will operate under a new
EPL and must follow a Pollution Reduction Programme to restore the world heritage listed
area.

Located within the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains, the Woolangambe River is currently
experiencing significant environmental pollution affecting the functioning of the river ecosystem.
Researchers from Western Sydney University have monitored the ecosystem and the impact that the
Clarence Colliery has upon the functioning of the environment surrounding it. The previous EPL set
by the EPA allows the coal mine to discharge waste straight into the river. These contaminants have
been recorded to increase the salinity levels of the water by up to 10 times that of tests completed in
other waterways and well as high levels of metals such as nickel and zinc.

The extent of this contamination is alarming as polluted water is not only found at the point of
discharge but extending as far as 22 kilometres downstream. These contaminants travel down the
river through hydrological processes and are deposited further downstream in the heart of the
World Heritage-listed area, affecting not only the functioning of this environment but the intrinsic
value of the heritage-listed site.

The mine itself holds great utility value as it provides employment for hundreds of people from the
community of Lithgow, however in doing this the health of the ecosystem is sacrificed. The
exploitation of the ecosystems resources and the discharge of waste products resembles that of an
environmental imperialism attitude towards the relationship some members of the Lithgow
community hold with their surrounding environment.

This negative human impact of the mining pollution entering the waterway initially can lead to a
catastrophic nature of change within the ecosystem due to the addition of nutrients and salinity
levels will affect many organisms within the habitat that are vulnerable to the change. On top of this
oxygen levels in the water would decline due to the increase turbidity of the water and algae growth
as a result of the additional nutrients. Gradually, this environment would become unsuitable to many
organisms, with only the most resilient being able to survive, resulting in reduced biodiversity within
the ecosystem. This is evident in the alarming rate of insect diversity declination within this
ecosystem. The contamination within the water has been connected to the major decline of insect
species in the water with numbers of any insects in the area declining by around 90%. This
deterioration in insect population in response to stress not only reduces species diversity of the
insects, but a decrease in genetic diversity also results due to less organisms being available to pass
on genes to successive organisms leading to a less diverse, vulnerable population. Furthermore, the
reduced population of insects initiates additional implications within the ecosystem as it interrupts
the functioning of the food chains and energy flows within the habitat. Due to the diminished
amount of linkages within the food web, causing those organisms reliant on insect species for food to
also eventually decline in number as they either perish or are forced to relocated to an ecosystem
with a greater amount of food available.

Further upstream from the colliery researchers have found areas of recovery providing evidence for
the resilience of the ecosystem, however the stress that the contaminants cause when entering the
waterway is so substantial that the amplitude of the stress has created a malleability that is still way
below the natural background.

In response to the research carried out in the Wollangambe River the importance of ecosystem
management and protection can be recognised. The maintenance of biodiversity is of great
significance, especially that of genetic diversity, to ensure that successive generations hold increased
resilience and can hence withstand future stresses upon their ecosystem. Species diversity is also of
the utmost importance to protect as the organisms that inhabit this environment also hold great
worth in their respective places within the food web, continuing the functioning of the ecosystem.

The importance of the protection and management of this ecosystem can be recognised in the
significant heritage value the environment holds. The river lies within the heritage listed Blue
Mountains recognised for its historic and scientific significance, as a result this area must be
protected for future use and appreciation.

The need to allow natural change to proceed is important in allowing secondary succession to occur
and adapt and strengthen the species within the modified environment. Thus, if a similar situation
was to occur in the future the communities within the ecosystem would be well equipped to respond
to the changes within their environment.

Carrying out scientific research on the river and educating the public of the dramatic impacts of the
mining contamination upon the ecosystem led to action being taken by the EPA and other
community groups to attempt to restore the ecosystem. Legislative action has also taken place with
the previous EPL being reviewed over five years of significant scientific testing. Due to this review the
Clarence Colliery will have to follow the operations of a new EPL in which the metal concentrations
within the water released into the river must be reduced and controlled. On top of this, the colliery
will also have to comply with a Pollution Reduction Programme issued by the EPA, designed to
address the major water quality issues that have led to the interrupted functioning of the river
ecosystem.