Plan to drought-proof NSW
The New South Wales government is investigating an ambitious plan to convert opencut coal mine pits into a vast lake system the size of ‘‘multiple Sydney Harbours’’ to drought-proof parts of the state.
Three pits in the Hunter Valley are ready to be turned into artificial lakes and, as more mining operations end over the next 10 to 20 years, more voids will become available.
The proposal is modelled on Europe’s largest artificial lake system in eastern Germany, where old coal mine pits have been turned into recreational lakes, with cycling paths and watersports.
The Lusatian Lake District, which has become a tourist destination after the mining wasteland was turned into a ‘‘water land’’, also provides drinking water to Berlin.
Greg Story, a director of the Hunter Valley Lakes Corporation that is behind the proposal, said the water system would eventually stretch 60km, providing significant benefits to the state.
The proposal would lead to the creation of interconnected lakes stretching from Muswellbrook to Broke south-west of Singleton to ‘‘provide water security, jobs, irrigation and drought-proofing’’.
Story said the company’s advice from the Environment Department was that the Hunter Valley receives significant rainfall, on average, every three years which would fill the voids.
‘‘This project can be the modern day Snowy River hydro scheme underpinning economic, social and environmental progress for northern NSW,’’ he said.
‘‘It is a project of state if not national significance and has the support of all three levels of government on a cross-party basis.’’
The company says the system would be so extensive that just one of the available voids would hold 193 gigalitres of water. Sydney Harbour holds 500 gigalitres.
‘‘The project provides significant ongoing employment opportunities for the existing mining workforce with a similar skill set required,’’ Story said.
‘‘The project will be a significant economic engine to drive agriculture, viticulture, forestry, recreation and sports, and renewable energy.’’
The company is in negotiations with the mining companies who own the three voids, so cannot reveal their exact location until a final agreement is reached.
But NSW Minerals Council chief executive Stephen Galilee confirmed that filling voids with water and turning them into lakes was an option for the Hunter Valley.
‘‘As mining is a temporary use of the land, the industry is always looking for ways to utilise that land post-mining in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way, and to continue to deliver jobs and economic opportunities for local communities,’’ Galilee said.
‘‘It takes a co-ordinated approach from the mining industry, government, the local community and the future landholder to ensure that this meets regulatory standards.
‘‘Through the Upper Hunter Mining Dialogue, there has been consideration of a range of mine closure opportunities including specifically examining the experience of Germany, where the lakes district has been developed.’’
Story said there would be ‘‘no adverse interaction between the voids and the Hunter River system’’.
‘‘The water can be purified to drinking water standards over a period of three years,’’ he said.
‘‘This enables supply into the Hunter water supply system and recreational use, which has even higher standards of quality and purity. ‘‘
Story said there was ‘‘sufficient rainfall in the Upper Hunter to fill the voids as they become available on a progressive basis’’.
‘‘There is no adverse impact for the Hunter river system. The scheme will augment and
‘‘This project can be the modern day Snowy River hydro scheme underpinning economic, social and environmental progress for northern NSW.’’ Greg Story
Hunter Valley Lakes Corporation
strengthen the capabilities of the Hunter River to provide domestic water and irrigation.’’
Story said filling the voids with water was a ‘‘superior environmental outcome’’ to backfilling.
The company, which has briefed senior NSW ministers, says rehabilitation charges imposed on the mine operators would be used to contribute towards the cost of the lakes development.
‘‘We have met with ministers and mining companies and communities, all of whom are in favour of the concept,’’ Story said.
The company is now seeking state government funding for early scoping and feasibility studies.
A senior government source said the company had met several key ministers and there was strong interest in the project, although more work needed to be done.
One key concern of the government is understood to be the higher evaporation rates in NSW than in the lakes system in Germany.