There are growing calls for an inquiry into why an historic waterway on Sydney’s south-western fringes is drying up.
Environmentalists say despite recent heavy rains, water levels at Thirlmere Lakes near Picton are continuing to decline.
They fear longwall mining operations nearby might have fractured the underground aquifers.
The New South Wales Government and the mining company involved both reject that, but Jeff Angel from the Total Environment Centre has backed calls by the Opposition and Greens for the issue to be properly investigated.
“We’re not happy with assurances from the industry; we’re not happy with assurances from bureaucrats who haven’t done a sufficiently in-depth job,” he said.
“We want an external process where all the facts can come out and the government and public can make a fully informed and transparent decision.”
The Opposition will move a motion in parliament for an inquiry, and Greens MP Cate Faehrmann says that is needed.
“What we need to be really sure of is that longwall mining isn’t to blame for this,” she said.