The Yarrangobilly River runs past the popular Yarrangobilly Thermal Pool. Photo: Paul Sims/NPWS.
Snowy Hydro Limited has been fined a total of $60,000 after two waterways in the Snowy Mountains were polluted in separate incidents earlier this year.
The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) said sediment-impacted water entered Talbingo Reservoir, which is used for fishing and water sports, and the Yarrangobilly River, which runs past the popular Yarrangobilly Thermal Pool, in separate incidents in May and July 2025.
In the first incident, the EPA said water carrying sediment from stockpiles of tunnel boring material flowed into an unnamed waterway and the reservoir, which is also called Talbingo Dam, after a sediment basin and silt curtain failed.
“About 18,000 litres of sediment water was later removed,” an EPA spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said in the second incident, sediment-impacted water entered the Yarrangobilly River when an obstructed dirty water drain diverted polluted water around a sediment basin for around 14 hours during rains.
“The drain had not been included in a pre-rainfall inspection, and sampling following the event showed elevated turbidity downstream of the discharge,” they said.
Snowy Hydro was issued two $30,000 penalty notices, one for polluting waters in May and the second for failing to maintain a dirty water drain in July.
“The penalty infringement notices issued by the NSW Environment Protection Authority for two incidents fall short of the strict environmental protection standards we expect on Snowy 2.0 from our principal contractor Future Generation Joint Venture,” a Snowy Hydro spokesperson said.
“FGJV has taken corrective action, which includes improved water management and sediment control, to minimise the project’s environmental impact on Kosciuszko National Park.
“On this occasion, we will be passing the full amount of the infringement notices to FGJV.”
EPA executive director Steve Beaman said effective sediment and erosion controls were essential on large-scale projects, especially near sensitive areas like Kosciuszko National Park.
“Given the scale of these incidents and the water monitoring and clean-up measures taken, any environmental harm was likely limited, but the risk remains very real,” Mr Beaman said.
“This site is close by to some sensitive environments that support diverse and unique ecosystems, and it’s vital we protect the species that depend on them.”
In 2023, a Snowy Hydro contractor received a $15,000 fine for allegedly allowing about 9000 litres of “sediment-laden water” to run into a river in the national park.
Original Article published by Albert McKnight on About Regional.
