How to deal with derelict mines

Experts in mine site rehabilitation and clean-up will gather in Singleton, NSW, on 6–8 December to discuss the best ways to clean up old mine sites that may still be leaking toxins and pollutants into water, air and the human food chain.

Hosted by the Cooperative Research Centre for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE) and the University of Newcastle, with support from the NSW Department of Industry, Dealing with Derelict Mines 2016 is the inaugural summit on abandoned mines. It will attract an international mix of experts, researchers and decision-makers from academia, government and industry to exchange knowledge, experience and research innovations.

“Unfortunately, a lack of appropriate policies during the first century or so of mining in Australia has resulted in an estimated 50,000 abandoned mines scattered around our landscape, some dating as far back as the early settlement of the continent by Europeans,” said conference host Professor Ravi Naidu, managing director of CRC CARE.

“Every one of these is a potential source of acid drainage, runoff and dust containing various metals that may be toxic and affect the health and safety of people living nearby, as well as the health of our environment, rivers, groundwater and so on.

“We need to be aware, when we start a mine, that it does not stop producing contaminants when mining operations cease. It may continue to leach toxins and blow dust into the environment for decades, even centuries, affecting future communities that spring up around it.”

The summit will particularly focus on a risk-based approach to mine-site rehabilitation. Instead of considering the total contaminant content of a site, a risk-based approach considers the contaminant fraction that actually poses risk to humans, animals, plants and microbes, and consequently designs end use according to contaminant exposure and associated risks. This can the cost of remediation without compromising human and environmental health.

“This summit will focus on devising the most cost-effective ways to clean up and remediate all forms of mining operations, for the protection of people and their livelihoods and of the wider environment,” said Professor Naidu. “It is to demonstrate Australian world leadership in this field.”

The event will be held at Singleton Diggers, with a welcome reception on the evening of 6 December followed by two full days of presentations. For more information and to register, visit www.crccare.com/derelictmines2016.