Scientists warn of ‘irreversible’ damage to endangered swamps near Sydney if longwall mining continues

Coal mining under Sydney’s drinking water catchment is drying up endangered swamps and scientists say the damage is irreversible.

A University of New South Wales research team compared the soil moisture after rainfall events in wetlands above underground longwall coal mining to that of unmined swamps.

The work was focused in Dharawal National Park, south of Sydney, and further south in the…