A guide to leading practice sustainable development in mining

It is much easier and cheaper to remove the hazardous substances while personnel
and equipment are available. Cleaning up abandoned sites such as the former
Yerranderie mine in New South Wales is a much more expensive undertaking (LP
Hazardous p.27). Yerranderie is an historic abandoned silver-lead mining town
southwest of Sydney near the World Heritage Listed Blue Mountains National Park.
The site is approximately 12km upstream from Sydney’s major water supply dam,
Warragamba. Mining at Yerranderie occurred between 1898 and the 1930s with
significant silver, lead and gold being recovered. Minimal rehabilitation occurred
post mining. In 2003, intensive environmental studies found that small areas of the
site had arsenic contamination levels which were potentially hazardous to human
health and the surrounding environment, in particular Sydney’s water supply dam.
At some locations the material contained up to 25% arsenic. Existing fencing and
signage surrounding these areas could only be considered a temporary solution
to protect the health and safety visitors to the historic site. For these reasons, a
robust longer term management solution was required. The successful project
resulted in substantial rehabilitation of the Yerranderie site. Risks to the surrounding
environment and Sydney’s water supply were reduced and safety was improved for
visitors and tourists.
Figure 5.23 – Yerranderie mine site before rehabilitation
158 LEADING PRACTICE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR THE MINING INDUSTRY