Photo: Brooke Mitchell for Sydney Morning Herald
How we started
The Cadia Community Sustainability Network was formed in 2021 by a group of concerned residents living and working in the Cadia Valley. We have lived alongside the Cadia mine since it began in the 1990s and have found over the last few years what had been a relatively benign operation in the valley adjacent to our farms has become increasingly intrusive and potentially threatening to our district.
Community members initially formed a group to work together to respond to a proposed increase in production (Modification 14). In early 2023, at the suggestion of Assoc Prof Ian Wright (Western Sydney University), we had ALS analyse some dust and water tank samples. The CCSN discovered that our water tanks appeared to have been contaminated by a range of heavy metals and the playground at Panuara was contaminated with lead dust.
The CCSN have subsequently embarked on a range of watertank tests, blood and hair analysis and soil tests. We are now working with the community to protect this highly productive agricultural country for future generations.
Our Objectives
To safeguard the economic, social and environmental future of our district
To protect this highly productive agricultural district for future generations
To sustain our businesses alongside the mines activities and ensure we can be viable into the future
To protect the environment, particularly the air and river systems in our district. The Belubula River flows directly into the Lachlan River
To protect the health and well being of all who live and work in the Cadia region
To ensure that the mistakes in regulation and reporting which have occurred in our district cannot happen again
All mines and regulators must adopt and comply with the Principles for Sustainable Development as adopted by the Law Society of Australia
Our Principles
The Law Society of Australia cites nine principles for their Policy for Sustainable Development. These principles are enshrined in Australias common law and reflect our commitments to the United Nations principles for sustainable development:
Sustainable use: Natural resources should be exploited in a manner which is sustainable or prudent or rational or wise or appropriate.
Integration: Effective integration of economic, environmental and social considerations in the decision-making process.
Precautionary principle: If there are threats of serious or irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation.
Intergenerational equity: The present generation should ensure that the health, diversity and productivity of the environment are maintained or enhanced for the benefit of future generations.
Intragenerational equity: People within the present generation have equal rights to benefit from the exploitation of resources and from the enjoyment of a clean and healthy environment.
Conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity: Conservation of biological diversity and ecological integrity should be a fundamental consideration in all resource management and planning decisions.
Internalisation of environmental costs: Environmental costs should be internalised into decision-making for economic and other development plans, programs and projects likely to affect the environment.
Global dimension to implementation: The global dimension of environmental impacts of policies and actions should be considered.
Interdependence of environmental protection and human rights: Decision-making about development that affects the environment or involves the exploitation of natural resources should respect, protect and fulfil human rights.