Breaking Apart

Illawarra Mercury

Saturday February 2, 2008

HUGE cracks in the water catchment area behind Mt Kembla have heightened concerns about the effect of longwall mining in the region.

The Mercury was given exclusive access to the Sydney Catchment Authority land to see the chasms that have opened up in the forest floor.

The cracks are above BHP Billiton's Dendrobium mine, where longwall mining has been underway for just over a year.

? SARAH ALLELY REPORTS P4-5