New research has challenged water modelling data used by Chinese mining giant Shenhua to predict the groundwater impacts of its proposed Watermark coal project.
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The research, conducted by the Water Research Laboratory at the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of NSW, found that modelling used in the mine's environmental impact statement underpredicted the rate and extent of drawdown during times of drought.
The modelling inputs - called 'Specific Storage', control the rate at which groundwater pressure levels are predicted to decline in response to mining.
The researchers found the majority of the specific storage coefficients in the project's EIS model were unrealistically high. This led to an inaccurate prediction of groundwater response to changes in recharge.
Shenhua Watermark has been contacted for comment.
The mine's opponents have called for the project to be reassessed in light of the of the research findings.
The findings found some of the model inputs chosen to predict groundwater impacts could not be matched to actual aquifer data. The inconsistencies were confirmed using expert analyses by other independent water experts.
"The new modelling demonstrates that when the correct figures are used, the resulting predictions show a far more rapid lowering and loss of water pressure in the underground aquifers and a significantly larger, transient zone of adverse water drawdown impact than the predictions presented in Shenhua's EIS," Susan Lyle, landholder and Chair of Caroona Coal Action Group said.
Ms Lyle said the findings confirmed the community's concerns that planning approval had been granted on the basis of flawed modelling.
"It is unacceptable that proper science seems to again be pushed aside during the political processes leaving this region to bear unacceptable risks to our longevity," she said.
"The Planning process must take into consideration this latest research. This project has not received final approval and I call upon our governments at all levels to ensure these findings are incorporated into the decision-making process. Australia cannot afford to risk any water, anywhere."
The Newcastle Herald reported in January that the state government had altered strict requirements for a detailed investigation of the coal mine's impacts to groundwater and vegetation.
Days before Christmas last year the Planning Department announced it had agreed to Shenhua's request to modify development consent for the Watermark project.
The changes allowed Shenhua to commence pre-construction works before it has submitted studies on the mine's impacts to vegetation and groundwater - which fall under the "water trigger" laws.
These management plans were imposed in 2015 by former federal Environment Minister Greg Hunt, when he issued a general approval.
Liverpool Plains farmer, John Hamparsum, was outraged that Shenhua's development consent had been altered.
"We're disgusted that the NSW Government has capitulated to Shenhua yet again," Mr Hamparsum said.
"They have repeatedly stated that the best science would apply to this mine before any work was done, and now they've thrown that out the window."