This week the environment movement launched a campaign against two important mining expansions mooted for the Lithgow area.

Heartened by the success of the previous campaign that halted the Coalpac open cut project at Cullen Bullen, lobbyists have turned their attention to Centennial Coal’s underground operations at Springvale and Angus Place mines.

Centennial is seeking an extension of its existing operations at both sites.

And again the arguments are very familiar — a threat to shrub swamps in the Gardens of Stone, pollution of Sydney’s water supply, and this time even a ‘possible impact on the Emirates Wolgan Valley Resort’.

The joint statement quoted the Nature Conservation Council of NSW CEO Pepe Clarke, the Colong Foundation director Keith Muir, vice president of the Blue Mountains Conservation Society Tara Cameron and vice president of the Lithgow Environment Group Chris Jonkers.

They pointed to successful previous campaigns involving both Centennial Coal and the then Delta Electricity in relation to water pollution and environmental damage issues.

Mr Jonkers claimed that longwall mining has ‘killed the Wolgan River’.

Centennial currently has applications before State Planning to extend its licence at both Springvale and Angus Place, regarded as essential to continuing operations in the medium to longer term.

Lithgow Council has voted unanimously to support the application and is also supporting a revised proposal for the Coalpac project.

Public submissions on the Centennial applications closed last Monday.