Dry brings call to stop water mine
DRY springs and waterfalls across the Gold Coast and Tweed have compounded concerns about commercial water mines.
Springbrook residents say they are considering “alternative measures’’ to prevent water mining in the area after national park waterfalls on Cedar Creek and Mundora Creek, and the famous Purlingbrook Falls stopped running.
Ceris Ash, of Save Springbrook Waterfalls, says the group has been campaigning against approval of a third water extraction business in the area, which the city council is about to consider.
The bores, owned by Hoffmann Superannuation Fund, would be on a property in Repeater Station Road, Springbrook. Documents show the business would extract up to 16 megalitres of groundwater a year.
“The creeks and waterfalls of Springbrook are basically dry,” Ms Ash said.
“The drought is definitely the issue. But there is scientific evidence that the bore water taken for bottled water is the same water that flows out into the creeks and waterfalls.”
State and council studies into the impact of the water mining are ongoing.
Ms Ash said the group planned to begin “peaceful direct action” to stop the mining.
The application, which if successful would be the third extraction facility, goes before Gold Coast City Council planning committee next week.
Further south, Tweed residents have urged NSW Water Minister Melinda Pavey to act urgently to halt water mining, claiming bores and natural water courses are being sucked dry.
Earlier this year, Tweed Shire Council voted to ban new extraction and bottling facilities to protect the “public asset” but approved businesses were not affected.
Currently, Tyalgum and surrounds have Level 4 restrictions and water carters have been prohibited from selling water outside Tweed.
Tweed Water Alliance spokesman Pat Miller said “unprecedented fires and drought” should prompt Ms Pavey to order “temporary cessation” of water mining.
“Our watercourses are drying up and there is so little standing water the fire trucks have to use whatever they can find,” she said.
The group wanted water mining stopped completely.
Mount Warning Beverage Co co-owner Tessa Martin has been contacted for comment.
The Bulletin also sought comment from Ms Pavey.