aquatic ecosystems of the Grose River using freshwater invertebrates, showed that more than 10km of the river was ecologically degraded by toxic water originating from the coal mine. Water chemistry suggested that toxic levels of zinc were responsible for the pollution and ecological degradation. The NSW EPA accepted the surrender of the EPL (#558) when commercial mining ceased, even though polluted water continued to emerge from the mine. It appears that this pollution discharge now occurs in a regulatory vacuum. When it was in operation, the EPL allowed the mine to release highly elevated levels of zinc, hundreds of time higher than ecosystem protection guidelines recommend. Time to make a change Reforms of water pollution licensing are needed in NSW. Licences need to include all pollutants being released from waste discharge points. Licences need to include concentration limits and monitoring requirements for all environmentally hazardous pollutants in each discharge. The NSW Government demanded this type of information from Sydney Water when it was corporatised . Providing the information turned out to be an important incentive for Sydney Water to clean up beaches, and particularly its discharge of sewage into the ocean (some may remember the 1980s fight against sewage pollution at Bondi, Malabar and North Head). The standard of treatment was improved and the quality of water for swimming has improved. This example of good pollution management has turned out to be a very isolated one. The cumulative impact of all licensed discharges needs to be considered. The EPA should