The contamination due to past mining and mineral processing activities is the key issue relevant to land
values which have been significantly degraded. Dumping of mine waste by previous site operators has
resulted in land contamination across most of the Mount Morgan Mine. Contaminated runoff and
seepage from existing mine infrastructure are actively contributing to land contamination both within
and downstream of the Mount Morgan Mine.
6.4.2. Rehabilitation
The amendment does not propose any changes to rehabilitation strategies or objectives in a way that
results in different impacts on environmental values or increases environmental harm than what is
previously permitted under the EA. All disturbed areas the subject of this amendment application will
be rehabilitated or restored to achieve sites that are:
Safe to humans and wildlife;
•
Non-polluting;
•
Stable; and
•
• Able to sustain an appropriate land use after rehabilitation or restoration.
This amendment seeks to build upon the rehabilitation commitments that exist for the Sandstone Gully
TSF on the basis that the tailings properties for the Upper Mundic Gully TSF are similar as they originate
from the same processing plant, however recognise a different land outcome for final rehabilitation.
Both TSFs shared similar geometries in that they are valley TSFs that ultimately reduce stability risks
as they leverage existing landforms as buttresses whilst limiting seepage of surrounding historically
placed waste material.
Heritage Minerals submitted a PRCP for the Mount Morgan Mine site to respond to a Not Properly Made
notice on 30 May 2025. At the time of this EA amendment application submission, the PRCP was
deemed properly made and a request for information had been issued to Heritage Minerals. Although
the PRCP schedule is not approved, many TSF specific rehabilitation methods from the PRCP have
been relied upon to inform this amendment application.
6.4.2.1. Appropriate Land Use
The DNRMMRRD medium and long-term remediation strategies for the site do not contemplate an
ongoing active use for these areas at the completion of Heritage Minerals' reprocessing activities. On
the contrary, Heritage’s reprocessing activities are themselves reflected as the remediation outcome
for this land, supporting the position that there is no further active use for the land following the
completion of Heritage’s activities.
On 6 February 2025, DETSI made an amendment by agreement to Table F2 of the EA to require a
rehabilitation outcome of 'land management monitoring and maintenance of rehabilitated areas' for all
mine features. This is consistent with DETSI’s Information Sheet – Non-Use Management Areas
(ESR/2019/4954). An outcome of 'land management monitoring and maintenance of rehabilitated
areas' confirms that the land cannot be rehabilitated to support another use that is unrelated to mining.
149
Wulguru Technical Services Pty Ltd – Supporting Information to Amend an Environmental Authority
Powered by FlippingBook