Metropolitan Collieries Pty Ltd has been ordered to pay over half a million dollars following a prosecution by the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) for two significant pollution incidents in 2022.
The incidents involved the discharge of coal fines and sediment-laden water into Camp Gully Creek, which flows into the Hacking River system and the Royal National Park in Sydney’s south.
The NSW Land and Environment Court fined the company $196,560 after it pled guilty to water pollution and licence breaches.
Additionally, Metropolitan Collieries must cover the EPA’s legal and investigation costs, amounting to $304,806.
Of the fine, $150,000 will be allocated to the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to fund water quality and environmental monitoring programs in the Royal National Park and Garawarra State Conservation Area.
The breaches occurred due to the company’s failure to maintain its Turkeys Nest Dam at its Helensburgh mine site.
The dam overflowed during rainfall, releasing coal-contaminated water into the creek.
According to EPA Executive Director of Operations Jason Gordon, coal sediment buildup in the dam blocked pumps that should have transferred water to a treatment plant, exacerbating the overflow.
“These discharges were unacceptable,” said Gordon.
“We expect much stronger environmental performance from all our licensees, especially when their activities neighbour our beautiful national parks.”
The EPA emphasised its commitment to holding polluters accountable, noting that it required Metropolitan Collieries to clean up the affected areas immediately after the incidents.
The NSW government has since doubled maximum penalties for such offences from $1 million to $2 million per incident.
In May 2023, stricter conditions were imposed on Metropolitan Collieries’ environmental protection licence following another pollution incident in late 2022, for which they received additional fines totalling $30,000.
These conditions include real-time water quality monitoring and enhanced stormwater management practices.
The pollution incidents have raised concerns about their impact on local ecosystems.
Camp Gully Creek and its surrounding areas form part of an ecologically sensitive region.
Studies revealed that macroinvertebrate populations downstream were negatively affected, disrupting the food chain.
This is particularly concerning given recent efforts to reintroduce platypuses into the waterways of the Royal National Park.
The EPA’s actions reflect growing public and governmental scrutiny of industrial operations near protected areas.
