On Sunday 28th January 2024, Greater Sydney Landcare’s Streamwatch and Local Landcare Coordinator Jessica Lumbroso attended the premiere of ‘Coal Creek’ and took part in a panel discussion focused on water quality monitoring.
The Importance of Water Quality Monitoring
‘Coal Creek’ is a documentary by film maker James O’Connor. It documents the work of concerned citizens to shine a light on the damage being done to the Royal National Park by a neighbouring mine – Metropolitan Collieries, the oldest continually operating coal mining operations in Australia.
Filmed in 2022, ‘Coal Creek’ shows repeated pollution events by the mine into Camp Gully Creek, which carries the pollution into a major artery of the Royal National Park—the Hacking River.
Citizen scientists led by Sutherland Shire Environment Centre have been advocating for the mine to be held accountable. The Camp Gully Creek Streamwatch group conducted water quality monitoring at this site.
Scientists from UNSW re-introduced platypuses into the Hacking River in Royal National Park in May 2023, after an absence of more than 50 years since any confirmed sightings of these iconic native animals.
In September 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) commenced proceedings against Metropolitan Collieries in the NSW Land and Environment Court for the water pollution incidents that occurred in 2022.
Streamwatch – Shining A Light On Water Quality
The Streamwatch program fosters environmental stewardship across the Greater Sydney region, providing training, support and equipment that allows community groups to monitor water quality and protect their local waterways.
Water Quality Monitoring Panel Discussion
During the event Jessica Lumbroso took part in a panel discussion, which also included:
- Dr Ian Wright – a recognised expert in the field of water quality, freshwater ecology, water policy and the science and management of water pollution. The Environmental Defenders Office has previously engaged him as a specialist consultant, and he has separately provided independent expert testimony on environmental science matters for the NSW Land & Environment Court.
- Bob Crombie – a former Royal National Park head ranger who first flagged the issue of coal waste in the Royal. Bob has been monitoring water quality in the Royal National Park since the 1970s, and was a key figure in Sutherland Shire Environment Centre’s advocacy for World Heritage listing for the park. Bob took many of the photos that showed the full impact of the coal waste pollution in Camp Gully Creek and down through the Hacking River to Audley.
- Jess Whittaker – a resident of the Illawarra who has a passion for preserving and restoring local waterways. She is a citizen science participant who has worked with the NSW EPA and Dr Wright to investigate pollution in local waterways.
- Kaye Osborn – who has been organising with Protect Our Water Alliance (POWA) since 2019.
- Cooper Riach – Sutherland Shire Environment Centre board member. Cooper has been actively monitoring the pollution in the Royal since 2021. He is currently a member of the Centre’s Camp Gully Creek Streamwatch program.
Get Involved in Streamwatch
Are you interested in monitoring water quality near you? Get involved in Streamwatch – a citizen science initiative that enables community groups to monitor the quality and health of local waterways.
Streamwatch provides the education and equipment you need to monitor water quality. The data you collect can be used to alert authorities to pollution and biosecurity issues. Protecting our waterways is a vital part of protecting our environment for all. Get involved today.
