Dr Wright, a lecturer and post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Western Sydney, told the Advertiser he believed Illawarra Coal had provided accurate information in its environmental assessment – but what he saw still worried him.

‘‘Based on the data in that report the current mining operation is causing water pollution,’’ he said.

‘‘They record up to 3500 microsiemens and lots at 1000 in electrical conductivity and salinity, but the guideline is between 200 and 300.

‘‘Once we get above 1000 we do start to get ecological problems with the plants and animals that live in the waterway. And I haven’t even talked about heavy metals yet.’’

Dr Wright made a submission to the environmental assessment given to the Planning Assessment Commission stating that the proposed Bulli Seam Operations Project would further damage the area’s aquatic life.

Dr Wright said for a project which was to be approved for the next 30 years, it was important that water quality be assessed.

‘‘When you change the water quality it will change the types of animals,’’ Dr Wright said.

‘‘Based on salt levels like that we will start to get a shift and a loss of aquatic plants and then as we go up the food chain it’ll affect the animals that feed off them.’’

He said mining was important in the local community and the project employed many residents, but things could be done better.

‘‘We’re getting pretty good at mining but not at cleaning up the environment,’’ Dr Wright said.