Coffs Council says ‘No’ to mining exploration near catchments

The City of Coffs Harbour unanimously passed a resolution to co-sign a letter from the Clarence Valley Council to the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces requesting mineral exploration and mining be prohibited in the Clarence water catchment.

The original recommendation was to protect the area's drinking water sourced from the Clarence catchment, but the new resolution explicitly prohibited mineral exploration and mining to ensure drinking water safety.

Shae Fleming, Clarence Catchment Alliance (CCA) campaign coordinator, applauded the resolution saying, “It’s a no-brainer – water catchments, especially those located in flood zones, should be completely off the mineral exploration and extraction map.”

The CCA met with Ministers in NSW Parliament on 5 August to present evidence and policy-based requests, and are still awaiting formal responses from both the Minister for Planning and the Minister for Natural Resources.

Contamination by toxic metals could result from mining near water catchments