A transformative plan to convert disused mining voids in the Upper Hunter into a vast network of lakes is gaining significant traction, with proponents now confident they can overcome critical water management challenges.
From Pits to Paradise: The Hunter Lakes Scheme
The ambitious Hunter Valley Lakes Corporation project aims to link at least four former mining pits to create large-scale water storage and a major tourism precinct. After seven years in the investigation phase, the proposal has garnered support from local councils, MPs, and the mining industry itself.
Greg Story, a director of the Hunter Lakes Corporation, revealed that recent work has focused squarely on resolving issues of water balance and potential contamination. He pointed to encouraging research from German consultants LEAG, who pioneered the successful Lusatia Lakes District from old coal mines.
"The research shows that once a void has been filled with water, it will not suck in saline water from the below-ground aquifer," Mr Story explained. He said the system would reach a state of pressure stabilisation, preventing interactive flow between the lake and the aquifer.
Climate Change Presents an Unexpected Opportunity
In a surprising twist, changing weather patterns may actually aid the project's viability. Analysis of recent rainfall data indicates that the task of filling the massive voids could be less daunting than initially feared.
Increased flooding events in the Lower Hunter over the past six years could provide a solution. Mr Story proposes redirecting this excess floodwater, which would otherwise be lost, through irrigation channels and into the mining voids.
"Perversely, climate change is actually changing the fundamentals of the project," he noted. "That is assisting the fundamentals for our project because we can channel that excess water, which would otherwise be wasted, into the void."
Seeking Funding for a Valley-Wide Solution
The corporation is now actively seeking federal funding to conduct a formal feasibility study. If realised, the scheme promises a coordinated approach to post-mining land use and rehabilitation in the Hunter Valley, inspired by the German model.
Mr Story argues the lakes would deliver a "vastly superior environmental outcome" while creating a crucial freshwater bank. This water would support irrigation, urban supplies, and industries including power generation, agriculture, horticulture, renewable energy, manufacturing, and the equine sector.
Upper Hunter MP Dan Repacholi is a vocal supporter, highlighting the project's potential to tackle water security and employment simultaneously. "The Hunter Lakes Scheme is smart, practical thinking that delivers water security, jobs and mine rehabilitation all at once," Mr Repacholi said.
"This project turns old mine voids into long term assets for the Hunter. It's about water security today and jobs and opportunities for future generations. This proposal deserves serious consideration."
The plan represents a bold reimagining of the Hunter Valley's industrial landscape, aiming to turn environmental liabilities into enduring community and economic assets.
