Walk highlighted risk to Sydney’s water

On the 21 February hundreds of people started a week long walk through Sydney’s western suburbs to bring to light the risk coal seam gas poses to Sydney’s drinking water.

Starting at Cataract Dam walkers travelled 160 kilometres through Camden, Campbelltown, Liverpool, Fairfield, Prospect, Parramatta, Auburn, Ryde and Gladesville and ending at Parliament House in Sydney.

Ten community groups organised the walk, including the Western Sydney Environment Network, Stop CSG Macarthur, Parramatta Climate Action Network and the Nature Conservation Council of NSW.

“We need to protect Sydney’s water for future generations. In the lead up to the NSW state election, we want watertight assurance from party candidates that they will end the dangers to Sydney’s water quality, quantity and affordability, organisers of the walk said.

“Underground coal mining is cracking the tributaries of Cataract Dam and other reservoirs south of Sydney. Coal seam gas fracking has already come too close to houses and water infrastructure.

“We are also concerned that Sydney Catchment Authority, the authority on water quality, is being abolished and the government is further commercialising water provision. Our water supply is a public good and must be governed to ensure the public interest is honoured.”

If water conservation means a lot to you, your family and our future generations then support actions such as this walk.