SUBSIDENCE
These pictures are of Wenham Cox Road - cracked due to underground subsidence near the Stratford Coal Mine. The picture shows parallel cracks across the road, and extending into the paddock on the left towards Dog Trap Creek. Gap about 10m and downthrow about 0.5m.

Other similar subsidence has occurred.

Farmers in the Liverpool Plains area are complaining about aquifer loss and subsidence on their properties (the Land 15/12/05)

Effects on Rivers

* Open cut coal mining penetrates the water table, affecting streams, dams and aquifers

* Long-wall underground mining has cracked the beds of rivers in NSW causing loss of water ( link to rivers sos)

* Blasting can cause major damage to fault lines as seen by the "error" following a mine blast on June 28 at Stratford Coal mine. In this case the damage threatens Dog Trap Ck and the impact study on "surface and groundwater flows" (Gloucester Advocate Aug 2006) was not commissioned until after the damage was done.

* Some coal can release toxic impurities into streams.

* Gas drilling penetrates aquifers

* Gas extraction releases mineralised water. Holding dams have seeped and been breached

* Ruby & Gold mining can penetrate river beds and deposit silt and other impurities into streams