NSW Government Archives - Mayfield Mines

Solving Mine Water Flooding in Mayfield Not in the Public Interest – Minister Courtney Houssos

June 9, 2025

According to the Minister Courtney Houssos (Minster for Nature Resources), the mine water flooding in Mayfield (and other suburbs) “does not affect public health or safety, nor does it affect the local environment“.

As per NSW Government goals, the primary objectives of the Legacy Mines Program are to:

reduce or eliminate risks to public health and safety;
reduce any impacts to the environment;
stabilise and prevent further degradation of legacy mine sites; and
remove or contain contamination at its source and prevent it from spreading.

The secondary objectives are;

detailed site assessments and preparation of remediation action plans
engineering design work
physical safety works (for example, fencing, grating or filling shafts)
erosion and sediment control works
management of acid mine drainage and contamination
stabilisation and revegetation of sites
monitoring and review remediation works

In 2020, a Legacy Mines report on “Groundwater Conditions at 38 Maitland Road Mayfield” exposed a network of abandoned mine working in Mayfield, which is causing subsidence damage to properties and government assets. That water from broken Hunter Water pipes are filling an already flooded mine system, which is then causing in the community including our properties. This mine water flooding is evident throughout Mayfield. During this Legacy Mine investigation, Subsidence Authority NSW withheld geotechnical information even though it had been asked many times by various government departments. Whilst the Legacy Mines showed evidence that the problems were affecting the entire community, it was ignored.

Fast forward to 2025.

The problem of mine water flooding in abandoned mine workings cannot be hidden any longer. Neighbouring properties are now also pumping mine water out of their flooded properties, the footpath and roads are continuously subsiding and Litchfield Park is permanently flooded.

If the problem is widening, affecting multiple properties, causing damage to government assets, and spreading….how is this not in the public interest?

Litchfield Park May 2024 Flooding

Litchfield Park May 2025 Flooding

Litchfield Park June 2024 Flooding

Litchfield Park June 2025 Flooding

Subsidence Advisory NSW Acknowledge Mine Workings Privately

April 11, 2025

38 Maitland Road was abandoned by us in 2014 due to subsidence issues and flooding. We tried to get support from a variety of government agencies including Subsidence Advisory (Mine Subsidence Board), Newcastle City Council, Hunter Water, and more… All could not explain why the buildings were cracking and why we had water flowing into the buildings.

In 2015, we try to sell 38 Maitland Road Mayfield, and allow a developer to handle their own investigation where they hired independent geotechnical engineers. These included RCA Australia, Northrop Engineers and Cardno (Stantec).

As part of the analysis, the Cardno/RCA conducted lengthy geotechnical investigations including borehole testing and concluded that it is most likely the borehole coal seam and mine workings are approximately 7m below EGL from the building at the front of the site. An updated mine workings map was created and shared with SA NSW.

In 2015, David Sedgman (acting District Manager) from SA NSW is discussing the development application with our 3rd party buyer. His first paragraph to the proposed buyer is;

ENQUIRY NO: TENQ15-13682N1
LOT 1 DP 782225 SEC NO 38 MAITLAND RD MAYFIELD

This property is located within a proclaimed Mine Subsidence District. The purpose of a District is to prevent damage through surface development controls that take account of the risk of damage by subsidence from old, current and future mining.

In Feb 2016, Ian Bullen (District Manager) from SA NSW continues discussions with the 3^rd party buyer;

“I have had a look at the geotechnical report as well as Northrop Engineers comments, the use of bored piers would need to be assessed on merit when you submit your DA drawings, it will be the decision of the Board as to weather they believe that bored piers will address the issues with shallow mining and the long term stability of the structure.”

“Due to the extremely shallow depth of the workings the Board would not be able to confirm or comment that the workings will or will not collapse causing damage to the infrastructure and or injury to the public. This is something that your Geotechnical consultant would need to comment on, if the Geotechnical consultant believes the risk is high then they need to specify a suitable method such as grouting to make the workings safe.”

Note: Ian Bullen was the SA NSW representative that met with us on site in 2012 and 2015 stating that there were no mine workings on our properties.

After a long process, the developer walked away from the property, remediation costs with the ongoing water problem making this property unmanageable.

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2002, Mines under our building as discussed with engineer (GIPA)
2012, No mines under our buildings as told to us by SA NSW
2015, No mines under our buildings as told to us by SA NSW
2015, Mines under our building as per David Sedgman SA NSW (GIPA)
2016, Mines under our buildings as per Ian Bullen SA NSW (GIPA)

Subsidence Advisory NSW Acknowledging Mine Workings under 38 Maitland Road

2015 Mine Water Flooding 38 Maitland Road

Subsidence Advisory NSW The Art of Doing Nothing (whilst looking like doing something)

April 10, 2025

I believe corruption starts here all will be explained in upcoming posts.

In 2012 and 2015, SA NSW visited our 38 and 42 Maitland Road Mayfield premises. During the visits, they suggested there were no mines under our buildings.

Maitland Road had subsided and there was a sinkhole in the kerb (Newcastle City Council informed everyone that the hole was because of an old 1968 telegraph pole stump which was eaten by termites, creating the 3m wide crater), SA NSW suggested that the problems may be caused by old mine workings under Tarin Street.

There is subsidence in opposite streets, subsidence on Maitland Road, sinkhole in the kerb, subsidence in our buildings and brown water flowing into our lower warehouse. With all of this, no one can tell us anything, other than its not related to them.

With no solution, its time to sell.

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2002, Mines under our building as discussed with independent engineer (GIPA)
2012, No mines under our buildings as told to us by SA NSW
2015, No mines under our buildings as told to us by SA NSW

2012 Maitland Road Sinkhole

2012 Maitland Road Subsidence Evidence after previous repair

2012 38 Maitland Road Ground Floor

NSW Government Coverup

April 9, 2025

As more and more information is becoming available, its very evident that the NSW Government Coverup has been well in place for a number of years. After been told there were no mine workings beneath our properties for over 13 years, independent/government evidence on hand shows that the government has been aware of the mine network and has purposely withheld this information, in what we can only assume, to speed up as much financial losses that we bankrupt.

Every building has honeycombing cracking and subsidence, every building has water damage due to mine water, 38 Maitland Road has been derelict since 2014, our office has been flooded since 2019….sinkholes along Maitland Road kerb, subsidence on the footpath, and subsidence cracking throughout Maitland Road was still not enough for NSW Government to acknowledge underground mine networks.

We were waiting for both legal advice, and, waiting for GIPA (freedom of information) documents. Let’s just say the NSW government has made it so difficult to get any information. After waiting six months to receive documents, we found a lot of information was still being withheld.

People have come forward, evidence has been found, corruption has been exposed. I believe deceit, corruption and wilful delaying tactics have been used in order to coverup the truth about abandoned mining in Mayfield. Everything will be exposed.

What mine….oh that one.

Mine Map Maitland Road Mayfield in 2002

Mine Subsidence Maitland Road Mayfield (1884)

December 11, 2024

Mine Subsidence Maitland Road Mayfield (1884)

Two years before the entire mine network was abandoned (in 1886), parts of Maitland Road were closed due to mine subsidence.

Below is an extract from historical newspaper and government reports;

Mr J McKenzie, inspector of the coalfields, has made a report by telegram and letter, to the Minister for Mines in reference to the undermining of the Maitland Road.

“On arriving at Peppertown yesterday I found another pitfall had taken place on AA Co or southern side of Great Northern road caused by Spennymoor side taking away the coal adjacent to the road..

I went down the Spennymoor Company’s pit, at Peppertown, with Mr Inspector Dixon today, and examined the roof of 10 4×5 yard bores which some time since were driven across the road by the Ferndale Coal company, and also made a careful examination of the workings up to where the recent pitfalls had taken place, through the Spennymoor company having worked out the coal under some portion of the footpath on the southern side of Maitland Road”.

Peppertown = Mayfield East
Spennymoor = Colliery between Maitland Road and Litchfield Park
Ferndale = major colliery in Tighes Hill and Mayfield East
Spennymoor Colliery & Ferndale Colliery were joined by mining under Maitland Road.

140 years later, mine subsidence continues in the same locations. However government departments are still saying that there are no mines under us, or, “unsure” if mining occurred.

There is no confusion – thanks to historical Newspaper and government records, it explains well why subsidence continues and repeats in the same locations.

Maitland Road Subsidence

Maitland Road Footpath Subsidence

Sinkhole 2012 Maitland Road Mayfield

38 Maitland Road Subsidence 2012 (after repair)

38 Maitland Road Subsidence Footpath

What has been happening over these last 12months with Mine Subsidence in Mayfield?

October 29, 2024

What has been happening over these last 12 months?

More subsidence, more mine water flooding, but no action from government agencies. In these photos;

– footpath subsidence in front of Thompson mechanics is now at ridiculous level

– Litchfield Park has been flooded most months

– Myola Street is peppered with potholes

– new subsidence in all buildings

– ongoing mine water with crazy humidity levels

44 Maitland Road Meeting Room 241029

38 Maitland Road 241029 – More Cracks

Maitland Road Footpath Thompson

Myola Street Potholes and Litchfield Partk Flooding

Subsidence Advisory NSW Withholding Information – Just the Facts

October 23, 2024

“Subsidence Advisory NSW is the NSW Government agency responsible for supporting property owners living in areas where subsidence from underground coal mining may occur.”

Since our last posts 12 months ago, new information has emerged that Subsidence Authority NSW has purposely withheld information from us.

Just the facts;

In 1886, a network of mine workings were interconnected, flooded and abandoned in our region. This land was then sold to the public, with services built over the abandoned mine network.
Over 15 years ago, water and subsidence damage started occurring in our property, later spreading to other properties.
Subsidence Advisory informed us that there are no mines underneath our property. Government agencies are using this information.
Our subsidence and mine water flooding has been allocated as a Legacy Mines problem. Over these years, various agencies believe water from stormwater and Hunter Water assets are finding their way into our properties.
During a Legacy Mines Report in 2020 (commissioned by the NSW Deputy Premier), via Freedom of Information documents, we found that Subsidence Authority withheld mine map information resulting in the consultants to use 1886 mine map data and not the most recent geo-referenced mine maps.
In March 2023, we requested Subsidence Authority to meet with us as there is conflicting information. After being delayed for months, we were told we needed to lodge new mine subsidence claims. These were lodged in June 2023.
Due to ongoing lack of support from Subsidence Authority, in May 2023 we applied for mine maps beneath our property via the NSW Resource Regulator. In August 2024, we received these maps which show multiple abandoned mine workings beneath our buildings. We understand that Subsidence Authority delayed the release of these maps.
In order to receive these geo-referenced mine maps, we needed to sign a non disclosure agreement that last for 50 years. Therefore we cannot show you the full extent of the evidence.
These current geo-reference street mine maps show a network of abandoned mines that are interconnected, from Mounter Street to under our buildings. The maps show direct correlation between subsidence and mine water flooding in our buildings and neighbouring streets.
Since the lodgement of the June 2023 subsidence claims – Subsidence Authority has avoided sharing information, visiting the sites, or meeting with us.

Is the NSW government through its agencies, taking all steps possible to hide the truth and bankrupt us?

Subsidence Authority Mayfield Region Claim Outcomes

Broken Hunter Water Pipes on Ingall Street direct Correlation in Water Flows in Office

July 24, 2023

If you have been following our problem on mayfieldmines.com, you would understand that the abandoned mine network in Mayfield is full of water, and everytime extra water enters the network, it pushes the water out from mines under Maitland Road into our buildings.

In 2020, a Legacy Mines NSW Report suggested broken Hunter Water pipes on Clara Street Mayfield were a significant factor in water flows into our buildings. During their 4 month investigation, Legacy Mines were taking regular water readings inside the abandoned mines. Legacy Mines drilled a bore on Clara Street as part of their investigation. During their work they noticed that the street had recently been repaired, and after investigation, they found that a garbage truck has subsidence on the street exposing a Hunter Water leaking water pipe. After the pipe was repaired, the water flow significantly dropped.

Clara Street – Hunter Water Repair

Professor Fityus suggested that water from broken pipes is entering the abandoned mine network and flowing into our properties. He wrote;

Comparison of the date of the repair with the seepage flow data reveals a perfect coincidence between the date that the repair was made and the data that the seepage rate made a sudden reversal and began to decline rapidly. To assess the plausibility that the leaking main could be the primary driver of seepage flows in thehttps://www.mayfieldmines.com/broken-hunter-water-pipes-ingall-street-direct-correlation-water-flows-office/?preview=true area, the dial before you dig service was used to ascertain the nature of the water mains in Clara Street. It determined that the pipe was an old style cast iron, concrete lined pipe, approximately 80mm in diameter, and connected to a larger main at either end.

Based on the water pressure in the area and the length and internal diameter of this pipeline at the location of the break, it is estimated that when intact, the flow through the pipe might be quite low most of the time, and probably less than 60 litres/minute in most circumstances. However, if there is a complete break, and the break is supplied with water from both directions, the maximum flow in this pipe could be in the order of 600 to 1000 litres/minute. If the break is not complete, such as in the case of a leaking joint or corrosion hole, then the flow will be less than it is for a complete break, but it depends on how big the hole is. It is plausible, however, that the pipe could be leaking as much as several tens of litres per minute (enough to feed the observed seepages at #38 ‐ #44), without there being a noticeable effect on the local supply or the water leaving the supply system; that is, it could occur un‐noticed for an indefinite period of time.

Upon inspecting the site of the repair 2 days later, there was no evidence of any muddy outwash from the site of the break, however traces of clean construction sand were still evident around the margins of the hole, suggesting that water from the leaking pipe was lost into the ground and did not produce significant volumes of outwash at the surface.

Clara Street – Hunter Water Repair – Water Flow

In July 2023, there are many broken Hunter Water pipes in Mayfield East which are directly opposite our buildings. Recently, the MP for Newcastle, Tim Crakanthorp asked Hunter Water water to investigate the increased water flow into our premises that has resulted in new water locations within the internal buildings (here and here). Hunter Water found a number of broken assets. In this video, we show another example of direct correlation between water running and slowing/stopping in one of our buildings – this time, broken Hunter Water pipes along Ingall Street which we believing were feeding extra water into the abandoned mines, with water then flowing into our meeting room on the ground floor of 44 Maitland Road Mayfield. Once Hunter Water repaired the Ingall Street broken Hunter Water pipe, water stopped flowing from the wall cavity.

Legacy Mine Maps Appeal

July 19, 2023

We have appealed the decision from the NSW Resource Regulator and asked them to reconsider. Below are the reasons why they rejected to provide us the maps, together with our reply to Subsidence Advisory and the NSW Resource Regulator on why we should receive.

• under section 121(6a) you must demonstrate that there is a legitimate concern about a risk to the health and safety of a person and that the provision of the survey plan available is likely to lessen that risk. You have not demonstrated how the provision of the plans are likely to lessen the risk to health and safety from any mine workings.

Since your last visit in 2019, we have had wall collapse almost inline with the subsidence events on Maitland Road. I have enclosed a photo of such collapse for your reference. Subsidence Advisory has previously taken photo of this area during you 2019 visit. As you can see, there is a safety aspect of the mines/location.

38 Maitland Road Wall Subsidence Comparison

• under section 121(6b) you must demonstrate that there is a legitimate public interest. A public interest is distinguishable from a private interest, where a private interest could be considered a self-interest to pursue a course of action for individual circumstances. No clear public interest has been demonstrated.

In a number of previous reports to the Government bodies including Subsidence Advisory, I have provided details about sinkholes in front of 38 Maitland Road. These holes are directly in front of our building. Please find enclosed the 2012 sinkhole (previously I sent you this in 2019 – this now was bigger than the 2020 sinkhole) and the sinkhole in 2020 after your subsidence team visited ….As you can see, these should be in the public interest.

38 Maitland Road Footpath Sinkhole Comparison

We are now waiting for the NSW Resource Regulaor for the final decision.

Why are Old Legacy Mine Maps Kept from the Public?

July 19, 2023

Are old legacy mine maps kept from the public so that people do not fully understand they are in a mine subsidence district, or to minimise the amount of claims registered by home owners. During our discussions with home owners in our area, we found that many did not know that their properties were beneath a mine so they never fully understood why their wall was cracking or the garage subsiding. Then we also have owners who told us they applied for subsidence damage, only to be told they are not in the “zone of influence”. Lastly, we also have the situation on hiding the true costs of constantly repairing subsidence damage.

In areas such as Mayfield, we need an open and frank discussion about the waste of money and resources that relate to the old legacy mines, particularly;

legacy mine maps to be added to the https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/spatialviewer/ website allowing homeowners to receive information about the old legacy mines that would include the year of mining, the map of the mining including depths/etc and any remedial work that has been completed. Since many of the maps date back to the 1800s, a non-guarantee in accuracy would be agreed to by users – we all use it as “best guide” but not 100% accurate
open and public record of mine subsidence claims. If people are worried about privacy concerns, then at least the street name, total claims, and total houses should be listed.
cross referencing with agencies such as Newcastle Council (road, kerb, stormwater, etc..) repairs, together with Hunter Water (pipe repairs) should be help with Subsidence Advisory for action plans to solve hot spots.

It seems to us that by keeping information secret from the public, Subsidence Advisory does not disclose the true cost of constantly repairing people’s homes, or roads, etc… And there is no public accountability for the costs to keep repairing public roads, sewer, Hunter Water pipes, stormwater etc…. in mine subsidence districts.

Its our money. Beside the issues on our properties, when we started looking at the overall management of legacy abandoned mines in the Mayfield and Newcastle area, we found a big problem where no agencies talk with each other, and all just handle the very minimum work needed to solve “today’s” problem. So when you look at streets which have 30+ repairs, or the same pipe system being repaired year after year, at what point should one of these government bodies take some responsibility?

Mine Subsidence Mayfield