Dealing with legacy mines in the 21st Century

Willem Westra van Holthe
Minister for Mines and Energy

The Territory Government is using new technology to remotely monitor legacy mining sites in remote and isolated parts of the Territory.

A program of installing the remote monitoring stations at key sites across the Territory has begun, with two monitoring stations already installed and transmitting data to the Darwin office. 

Minister for Mines and Energy, Willem Westra van Holthe, said a further two similarly equipped sites (Redbank Mine & Goodall Mine) were planned to be in place prior to the onset of the 2014/15 Wet Season.

“Due to the Territory’s challenging climate and limited access to some remote sites during the Wet Season, it is important that data monitoring continues even when our staff can’t physically be there,” Mr Westra van Holthe said.

“We are making full use of satellite and mobile broadband technology to transmit real time data to mining officers which is a huge step forward in monitoring these sites.

“The monitoring equipment will collect data that includes pit water levels, rainfall, humidity, wind speed and temperature. 

“At one site that is completely inaccessible for up to six months of the year, it will allow solar pumps removing contaminated groundwater to be monitored and remotely controlled from Darwin.

“This information will build a picture of the site over the year during periods of high and low rainfall and will assist with long term water management strategies.

“Congratulations to all the staff in the Department of Mines and Energy who are working in this space. It is truly remarkable what is being achieved.”

The Department of Mines and Energy’s Legacy Mine Unit is undertaking a field program to compile an inventory of legacy sites to enable assessment of their risk to the environment and provide valuable information in determining remediation options.

The introduction of the Environmental Rehabilitation Levy has generated the revenue to begin addressing the Territory’s legacy mining liabilities.

The levy has collected about $6.5 million to date, and funds a range of activities intended to ensure mining legacies are strategically addressed and the current mining activities do not develop legacy issues. A portion of the funding will go into a legacy mines remediation fund that will be saved up for undertaking larger projects. 

Source: ProjectLink.com.au

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