Reports on the impacts of the Dendrobium coal mine west of Wollongong have been released, revealing "disturbing" fracturing and bulging, putting Sydney's drinking water catchment at risk.

The coal mine is located underneath the Metropolitan Special Area, which provides a buffer zone of bushland around catchment areas to protect drinking water.

As well as seam-to-surface fracturing across parts of the mine, there has been an unexpected finding of valley bulging alongside Sydney's major dams.

"It's now clear why [NSW Department of Planning] withheld these reports from WaterNSW, the Office of Environment and Heritage and the community for as long as they could," said National Parks Association of NSW mining projects officer Peter Turner. He described the affects to the catchment as "grave, extensive and much more severe than warned of".

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-13/dendrobium-coal-mine-putting-water-catchments-at-risk/8937612

It is VITAL that the New South Wales government WITHDRAWS the approval is has given to the expansion of the Dendrobium coal mine IMMEDIATELY and takes EVERY possible measure to ENSURE the SAFETY of this FUNDAMENTAL source of drinking water for Sydney and surrounding areas.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jul/31/mining-expansion-under-sydney-water-catchment-approved-without-full-data