Bulgamatta (The Grose Valley), is the last undisturbed part of Dharug Country. Through it runs an ancient river that has shaped the land over millions of years. Bulgamatta meets with Dyrubbin (The Nepean), bringing all the stories, sediments and anything else she collects, to that great river system that nourishes the land from here through Darkinjung and Kuring-gai country and out into the ocean. What we do here matters for miles. It matters to platypus, eels, dragonflies and dolphins. To the many other more-than-human-kin we share our earth with.
There is another story, another incredibly ancient one, as old as the river. This place was once warm swampy forest, and where that forest fell and decayed there are now long seams of coal. In 1959 Canyon Colliery, a longwall coal mine was established above the head waters of Bulgamatta. They operated there until 1997 when they finished their operations and closed their mine. While they did remove much of their infrastructure, their mine continues to release water into Bulgamatta. Water that is highly contaminated with zinc and other heavy metals.
Kindlehill Senior School has been conducting a geographical investigation of Bulgamatta and the impact of Canyon Colliery. We have met with Uncle Chris Tobin and looked at the work of Professor Ian Wright and conducted water testing. We have been asking ourselves, what can we do to stop this leaching, to protect this beautiful valley and its precious waters? We are intending to expand this project and are hoping to approach the EPA and NSW and Federal Government. We would like to invite them, as a gift to our World Heritage area soon to be 25 years old, to implement exemplary practices for rehabilitation and restoration of this site. This would effectively ensure that this special place would remain healthy, as a World Heritage Area should be. It could also provide a best practice example for cleaning up after the many other mines that continue to leach toxins into waterways and ecosystem both in Australia and globally.
With support of The Conservation Society, we would love to engage young people in conservation. Our thinking is, that you protect that which you are connected to. For this reason, we are holding an event at Govett’s Leap on Sunday 8th of December from 3-5pm. The event, looking into Bulgamatta, will include storytelling from First Nations Elders and scientists, music and activities that aim to connect people of all ages to this story. We hope to expand this project next year and continue to find ways to engage young people in the Blue Mountains in action for country.
We know that when a community cares about something, it can change things for the better.
In solidarity for our wild places,
The Kindlehill Senior School team and students
Originally a high school teacher in the public system, Lynn has also taught at TAFE and in community settings. In the Steiner context, she has previously been a kindergarten and primary school teacher. In addition to her roles as Chair and Principal, Lynn is High School Co-Ordinator, teaches Geography and History, and co-ordinates the Outdoor Education Programme. Lynn has a B. Arts (UWA) and a Dip. Ed. (WA Secondary Teachers College).
