Water Study Progress
In April 2006, Bickham Coal Company commenced detailed water resource investigations in and beyond the proposed Bickham site. A comprehensive community consultation process is also to run parallel with the detailed water resource studies.
The Water Resource Assessment and draft life-of-mine Water Management Plan are a direct response to recommendations made by the Director General of the Department of Planning. Such recommendations arose from the study Coal Mining Potential in the Upper Hunter Valley - Strategic Assessment released in December 2005.
This Study fulfilled a commitment made by the Government in January 2004, which followed approval of the bulk sample at Bickham. It was carried out by the Government under the auspices of the Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources, the Department of Environment and Conservation, along with the Department of Mineral Resources. The investigation focussed on the potential short and long-term impacts of mining on the water resources in the catchment, including any cumulative impacts.
The Study addressed the entire Upper Hunter Shire, which, at the time, comprised of Scone Shire and about one third of the former Murrurundi Shire - a section southwest of the crest of the Great Dividing Range. The total area is approximately 4,973 km². Once complete, the Water Resource Assessment and its findings will be available on this website, along with an outline of the draft life-of-mine Water Management Plan.
The following scope of work for studies leading to preparation of a Water Resource Assessment and Draft Water Management Plan is available to download:
The following Water Study updates are available to download:
The following summaries of the original posters on display during an information day are available to download:
- Water Resource Assessment - Water Sampling Sites (PDF -245Kb)
- Original Draft Mine Development Plans (PDF - 1.2Mb) (Note: This has since been revised, the revised version will be released in the first quarter of 2009).
The following presentations have been made to various community groups throughout the approval process and are available to download:
- Water Studies May 2006 - Hunter Catchment Community Reference Group (PDF - 1.3Mb)
- Bickham Council Presentation June 2006 (PDF - 533Kb)
- Original Water Users Presentation 23rd October 2006 (PDF - 1.9Mb)
- Original Water Users Presentation 30th October 2006 (PDF - 1.9Mb)
The following Water Resource Assessment & Draft Water Management Plan is available to download:
If you have any questions or queries regarding the water study please contact us.