A gold mining company in Western Australia has been fined $41,000 after authorities found a flood left damage “so significant it could be seen in satellite images”.
The Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) said Bellevue Gold Limited drew saline water from disused mines in the northern Goldfields between December 2019 and March 2020, with the intention of “pumping the water into surface pits”.
The company was charged with causing material environmental harm and not being licensed for the emission under the Environmental Protection Act 1986, which carry maximum penalties of $250,000 and $100,000 respectively.
During sentencing, Perth Magistrates Court Magistrate Andrew Matthews imposed a fine of $31,000 for causing material environmental harm and $10,000 for not being licensed for the emission.
The company was also ordered to pay $4663 in costs.
A DWER spokesperson said about 145,000 kilolitres, enough to fill about 60 Olympic-sized swimming pools, was discharged into one surface pit and overflowed into the environment through a vent shaft connected to the pit.
“The resulting hypersaline spill extended over 46 hectares and affected approximately 16 hectares of native vegetation and associated ecosystems,” the spokesperson said.
“Initially the discharge killed all native vegetation in the area and left a visible salt scar on the land.
“While subsequent rainfall dissipated surface salts, the salinity of the soil remained elevated in May 2022.
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“Although saline-resistant species such as chenopods had started growing in the area, other coloniser species such as acacias had not recovered, even after approximately two years since the discharge.”
Bellevue Gold Limited declined to comment when contacted by 9News.com.au.
It looks like the mouth of hell opening up. In some sense, it is
However a spokesperson referred to a statement on the company’s website which said “there is native vegetation re-growth on the formerly salt-affected areas” and photographic monitoring would be ongoing.
DWER executive director for compliance and enforcement Kelly Faulkner said the environment needed to be protected.
“In this case, the discharge left an impact so significant it could be seen in satellite images,” Faulkner said.
“It is the responsibility of mining companies to ensure they have the correct permissions to discharge water or otherwise impact the environment.”
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