The Save Water Alliance agrees with the Upper Nepean Groundwater Community Reference Group (UNGCRG) that more research must be conducted into the effects of mining the Southern Highlands aquifer at Kangaloon.

MORE RESEARCH NEEDED

The Community Reference Group (CRG) opposed the construction of the Upper Nepean Borefield. Failing that, it called for a moratorium on the construction of the Kangaloon borefield.  A five-year moratorium is the minimum period of time for such testing if the results are to have the necessary degree of reliability required in the circumstances.   

A study completed by the Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation (SMEC) stated that further studies were needed on the sustainability of groundwater extraction.  SMEC questioned the ecological effects on ecosystems dependent on groundwater and concluded that:

‘There is much work to be done, before the following key questions can be answered: What level of groundwater extraction is sustainable and what level of extraction does not pose an unacceptable threat to groundwater dependent ecosystems?  This is the core question that must be addressed by the Sydney Catchment Authority prior to water extraction.’  

NSW Farmers’ Association Catchment Task Force Chairman, Jonathan Bell says that if the precautionary principle was properly applied, the borefield must not be allowed to go ahead.  

The Iemma Government was warned by the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) that its plan to extract billions of litres of Southern Highlands groundwater is unsustainable water mining.  In relation to the proposed borefield at East Kangaloon, the IAH also warned that the environmental impact could be massive, with a significant impact on many farms in the Southern Highlands. 

  The Association also warned that the proposed extractions could also impact on a major proportion of ‘surface flow’ that is currently sustained by groundwater discharge. 

  A local drilling contractor who has worked the district for 30 year’s, says that between 1999 and 2005, groundwater levels have dropped by around 10 metres.  He also stated that other bores in the district show even greater stress and that a bore on the corner of Kangaloon and Tourist Roads. This drilling contractor says that one particular bore drilled in 1986 has dropped from 28 metres to 86 metres. 

  This contractor, who knows the area better than most says the East Kangaloon borefield is simply not feasible.  ‘The water that the Government speaks of is just not there.  Within 12 months, he says, the SCA are proposing to extract 30-40 times more water than the whole district currently pumps.  It’s a total disaster, the East Kangaloon borefield has to be stopped!’  

  According to a report prepared by the NSW Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources in 2004 three parishes in the Wingecarribee Shire were at that time already using groundwater entitlements exceeding calculated sustainable yields and other parishes were approaching their extraction limits. It is probable the situation will now be worse given the lack of rainfall but continued dependence on the groundwater. There is a need for bore levels in the Shire to be assessed for a clear understanding of the true groundwater situation in the Southern Highlands.