Image from Professor Fityus – Ground Water Conditions 38-44 Maitland Road Mafield
I have used extensively reports from the Royal Commission on Collieries Report 1886 and Professor Fityus report titled “Report on Groundwater conditions at 38‐44 Maitland Rd Mayfield” commissioned by Legacy Mines and released to us on July 2020.
Both reports prove my theory that the problem has been spreading in Mayfield for some time. What I did not know, is that the authorities have known about the issues for over 137 years and kept this information from the public. That there has been systematic failure by authorities to act and will keep ignoring the problem indefinitely.
In my opinion, these reports prove that for 137+ years, the authorities have known that the mine network is interconnected, and, permanently flooded. Further;
#1. Authorities know that the legacy mines in Mayfield are completely unstable due to;
- various aquifers connected together due to mining practices.
- legacy mines being collapsed during mining, others left with pillars “so thin as to be invisible”
- no separation in many of the mines were adhered to resulting in mines have direct connectivity between them.
- mining occurred “off the record” with miners taking extra meterage and not on official maps
#2. Subsidence has caused stormwater and water pipes to break and fill the mine, which then under pressure, permanently floods 38-44 Maitland Road, but also, explains why Mayfield is so wet. Further, mine grouting in the region as well as other events, has put water in the legacy mines under more pressure resulting in water rising to the surface.
#3. Authorities have withheld information from the public for all these events.
Unless the situation is addressed, mine subsidence damage, and continued flooding in the Mayfield, area will continue to spread.