The Natural Resource Access Regulator on Thursday said it commenced action in the NSW Land & Environment Court, charging the Whitehaven unit for two alleged breaches of the Water Management Act 2000.
"Whitehaven has previously publicly addressed aspects of NRAR’s investigation, including noting the complexity of the water management system in NSW and the fact that some of the alleged non-compliances concern practices widely observed in the NSW coal mining sector," the spokeswoman said. Georgina Woods, NSW coordinator for the Lock the Gate Alliance, said the group was “pleased to see NRAR finally hold Whitehaven to account and look forward to the results of its investigation into illegal groundwater take at Maules Creek mine".