About IRRM
Illawarra Residents for Responsible Mining is a community group that formed in 2011 to oppose the expansion of the Gujarat NRE No. 1 Colliery in Russell Vale (now named Wollongong Coal Ltd’s Russell Vale Colliery) in NSW, Australia. We advocate for responsibility in mining, mining which puts the health and well-being of ordinary people and of the environment ahead of corporate mining interests.
About Wollongong Coal
Wollongong Coal wants to expand coal mining in our drinking water catchment, but the company has a record of financial weakness, technical incapacity and frequent breaches of the conditions of its mining licence.
About the expansion
Wollongong Coal plans to expand the Russell Vale mine, mining a third seam of coal beneath two previously mined coal seams up to the shores of the Cataract Reservoir in the “protected” Special Areas of Greater Sydney Water Catchment. The area above this mining is unstable, riddled with – and still moving as a result of – previous mining. And while in recent times coal was trucked out of the Russell Vale Colliery, Wollongong Coal now plans to process the coal on site in the densely populated residential area.
Wollongong Resources Ltd announced on its website that Russell Vale mine would enter Care and Maintenance on an annual basis. ![]()
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Russell Vale mine owner urged to go one step further and close it for good
www.illawarramercury.com.au
Company's announcement drew criticism of 'madness'