Category Archives: Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events

Water Quality Forum

SOMR with Southern Cross University and the University of New England will present results of long-term monitoring focused on arsenic and antimony in the Macleay River at Bellbrook.

At the Forum, scientists from Southern Cross and New England University will discuss the seasonal behaviour of arsenic and antimony, answering questions such as how much is being transported downstream, when, in what form, and what are key controls that regulate that transport.

They will also examine the impacts of the catastrophic 2019 bushfires on water quality in the Macleay River and look at how the river recovered from this extreme event.

7th August, 5:00 pm for a light supper, talks from 6-8pm at the Anglican Church Hall, 30 Kemp Street, West Kempsey

SOMR Update January 2024

In January 2013, more than 100 Macleay Valley residents gathered at the Bellbrook Hotel to find out about the water contamination from antimony mines in the catchment. Soon after, SOMR was formed and incorporated. Ever since, the group has focussed on issues of contamination from past and present mining as well as other impacts on the economic, health and recreational lives of communities down-stream. In pursuing this focus, SOMR has forged links with various Government, research, legislative and industry bodies and has become a reasoned voice keeping the community informed.

11 years on, the most relevant issues are

  • Oven Mountain Pumped Hydro
  • Hillgrove Mine
  • Upper Catchment – New England and Armidale Regional Council area
  • Gravel Extraction at Turners Flat
  • SOMR Information Forum in March 2024
  • Universal Declaration of the Rights of Rivers

For more details click here